Half ton to three quarter....... Worth it?

I pulled 5000 with a 2013 Silverado ext cab 4x4 and it was nice. I cant imagine pulling that much, especially those distances.

My son pulled about 6000 with the same model truck and after his first long trip traded it in on a 2012 Dodge CC 4x4 long bed CTD. It pulls the trailer like its not there.

Now he wants a fifth wheel but the selection gets down to rather lightweight 5ers if he wants to stay within the ratings of gvwr, gawr and gcwr.

You would probably love a 3/4 ton.

Here is how his and my 1/2 ton Chevy compared to what we have now.

2011 and 2013 Silverado 1500 pay load 1,650
2012 Dodge 2500 CTD payload 2130
My current 2014 3500 CTD CC payload 3,840

More is better.

Your putting a strain on a half ton that even though it can pull it, your beginning the wear cycle early. We have a 3/4 Suburban and not only is it built significantly heavier duty, it also allowed us to trade up to a heavier TT. When we put together the original setup, we didn't even consider getting another TT, but we got the bug and bought a larger heavier rolling hotel room. Wait till you get into the mountains or do long tows its a noticeable difference. I see half tons struggle and I drive right by them. Our next TV will be either a 3/4 or 1 ton as will progress upto a fiver for more storage, larger bed bath and living space as well as easier to tow

I don't tow a TT or other RV. But, I've never heard anyone complain that they had too much truck.
Years ago I had an F-250. It was a beast. I later traded it for a newer F-150.
It was like going from a truck to a passenger car. JMO

I pulled our TT the first 6,000 miles with my F150 It was a heavy 1/2 ton. It pulled it well at 8400lbs scaled and ready to go. Like you I was up against my payload and any additional would have put me over. I recently traded the F150 for a Ram 2500 which increased my payload by near 1000 lbs. I think I feel a little more comfortable.

Haggis are dubious at best (had them in Scotland)... can't imagine fish haggis.

That said, you didn't mention what power plants are in the two vehicles (the 1500 you have and the 2500 you're considering). The power train will make the difference going up the hills; brakes, weight and towing capacity will make the difference everywhere else (unless there's a diesel in the mix - that changes the comparisons on all points). I can tell you that there were two MAJOR areas of difference when we went from a 1/2 ton 5.3L gasser to a 3/4 ton diesel. 1) the diesel engines (no matter what make) are on a different planet in terms of torque for towing and compression brakes for going downhill. 2) The heavier weight of the 2500HD combined with the heavy-duty suspension and brakes meant that we no longer felt semis passing, white knuckled it going down steep grades, or stopping in a hurry. As a previous poster said, I've never heard of anyone complaining of having too much truck...

I have too much truck, I was thinking of trading to a minivan. Ha!!!

I just got my truck back in January, and while the payload is decent, I've mildly thought about what it'd be like to have a 2500/250 truck. But like the OP, I LOVE my truck!!! And a bigger truck probably wouldn't fit in the garage, be more expensive to maintain, and I could never get the same deal I got on my current truck. Maybe I should just get a boat....

A person can never have too much truck! Too little? Judging from the number of posts on the forums, I'd say absolutely a person can and often does have too little.
As for maintenance? Not even a question. Comparing similar drive trains, ie gas vs gas, they both will take 5 qts of oil, both will take 8 spark plugs, both will take four tires etc,etc,etc. Now, I will admit that a LT tire can cost more than a P metric tire. But they also carry more, are heavier, and can last longer carrying similar loads. IMHO it has nothing to do with cost, and everything to do with the right tool for the job!

You won't regret it.

Have an awesome truck. Born to pull and does great at it. It's a 4X4 Chevy Silverado, 1500, crew cab short box. My trailer is 8500 lbs and the family of four, plus two 100 lb dogs, plus a truck canopy and then gear makes the gcwr topic a bit sensitive.

There is a 2012 Dodge 2500 Laramie for sale here. 25000 kliks. Very nice and barely used. I am thinking of trading up to this bigger truck.

Want to drive from Yellowknife to Whitehorse and into Alaska next year as well as cross the Rockies and visit Vancouver.

Is this up sizing worth it? I am tossed around now when going down big hills and she struggles going up them. Maybe I should just suck it up and manage the present setup as I have done. I just keep thinking my trailer needs a beefier truck.

Love my truck and am even considering selling the TT and getting a boat to keep my truck.

If the 2012 Ram is a diesel you will flatten the hills. The towing difference between a gas 1500 and a diesel is not even in the same hemisphere. Be sure it has the exhaust brake as that is worth its weight in gold. Go for it. You will never look back and the smile on your face towing up mountains will be worth it all.

donn0128 wrote:
A person can never have too much truck! Too little? Judging from the number of posts on the forums, I'd say absolutely a person can and often does have too little.
As for maintenance? Not even a question. Comparing similar drive trains, ie gas vs gas, they both will take 5 qts of oil, both will take 8 spark plugs, both will take four tires etc,etc,etc. Now, I will admit that a LT tire can cost more than a P metric tire. But they also carry more, are heavier, and can last longer carrying similar loads. IMHO it has nothing to do with cost, and everything to do with the right tool for the job!

15 quarts of oil but no spark plugs. Spotted my 04 f350 on craigslist a couple of years ago. At the time I was just wanting a truck instead of the 95 4 runner I was driving. The guy who had it asked me why I wanted the diesel truck and tried to talk me out of buying it. The 5 er came 18 months later. Didn't need that much truck when I bought it but I am sure happy I did.