New guy, not sure which tow vehicle to choose

I would recommend determining what RV you want to purchase. Look at the GVWR of the trailer. This number is the maximum your trailer can weigh. Take 15% of that number. This is the approximate amount of weight it will place on your trailer hitch. This number goes against the payload capacity of your tow vehicle. Add the hitch weight, the weight of your passengers and equipment you will haul in your tow vehicle. This number needs to be less then the payload capacity of your tow vehicle. If you are "good" on those numbers, you can look at the "towing capacity" number the manufacture places on your truck. It is again a good idea to ensure that the tow vehicle has the capacity to tow the GVWR of your trailer (as opposed to the UVW unloaded or dry weight). Hope this is not too confusing. Good luck.

Most truck specs are for a stripped model. Add options and the payload values go down. Don't get too little truck. I would look hard at the 6.4 gas engine if you want a gas Dodge Ram. If it was me looking at a 30 foot travel trailer that could easily weigh 8000 or more pounds the 250/2500 series truck is what I would purchase. Some 30 foot travel trailers like the Arctic Fox can weigh 10,000 or more pounds. That is quite a bit for a half ton truck. As stated above, find the RV you want first, then you can decide on the truck.

Your first RV is almost never your last, you might go for a pre-owned TT to learn what you want in your next RV, so having a little more truck now to later tow the future RV can be very beneficial as you move through the tiers of RV's until you find the ideal one.

The rule of thumb is 13 percent of the total trailer's weight will be on the tongue. An 8000 pound 30 foot TT will have about 1000 pounds on the ball; add another 75-100 pounds for the hitch. The truck's payload needs to also accommodate people, dogs, bbq, bicycles, kayaks, firewood, tools, chairs, generators, and all other stuff we seem to take camping in the truck.

Are you a solo traveler? The reason I ask: If you have to take a back in site towing a TT, unless you're really good, at some point, you're going to lose sight of one of the rear corners. Then you're parking by sound, and it isn't a pleasant one. I travel by myself in a MH towing a Jeep Wrangler 4 down. If I have to take a back in, its a lot easier to unhook the Jeep, move it out of the way, back in with both back corners in my mirrors at all times, and park the Jeep in front. BTW, that's only happened once in 10 years. But several times its been really nice to stop to use the bathroom without having to get out in the rain.

What is a TT?

jmtandem wrote:
Most truck specs are for a stripped model. Add options and the payload values go down. Don't get too little truck. I would look hard at the 6.4 gas engine if you want a gas Dodge Ram. If it was me looking at a 30 foot travel trailer that could easily weigh 8000 or more pounds the 250/2500 series truck is what I would purchase. Some 30 foot travel trailers like the Arctic Fox can weigh 10,000 or more pounds. That is quite a bit for a half ton truck. As stated above, find the RV you want first, then you can decide on the truck.

Your first RV is almost never your last, you might go for a pre-owned TT to learn what you want in your next RV, so having a little more truck now to later tow the future RV can be very beneficial as you move through the tiers of RV's until you find the ideal one.

The rule of thumb is 13 percent of the total trailer's weight will be on the tongue. An 8000 pound 30 foot TT will have about 1000 pounds on the ball; add another 75-100 pounds for the hitch. The truck's payload needs to also accommodate people, dogs, bbq, bicycles, kayaks, firewood, tools, chairs, generators, and all other stuff we seem to take camping in the truck.

What is a TT?

Travel Trailer.

Payload. Tongue weight goes to payload, as does everything else you put in the truck. 1,200 in payload can quickly evaporate with 800 in tongue weight, hitch, firewood, a few people in the cab, etc.

Thank you for the advice

Here is a good place to start.

http://www.learntorv.com

Consider trailer first, then the tow vehicle. Then when getting the tow vehicle, get one bigger than you anticipated. 3 years from now you'll be trading your camper for a bigger one, and then you'll be kicking yourself for having a truck that is too small.

Also, you can never have "too much" truck. Get bigger than YOU think. It will never be a wrong decision when it come to towing!

If you think a 1/2 ton will work, get a 3/4 ton. If you think a 3/4 ton will work, get a 1 ton. Chances are your first RV will not be your last and might as well have a TV sufficient to handle the current and next purchases up front.