I should'a got a bigger trailer

[jesseannie]

We have been on the road for a couple of months now mostly on the Oregon coast. I have been checking out what others are towing with their half ton rigs.
We have a 26' no slide trailer that is right at 6000# loaded ready to roll. This much less than what my owners manual for my half ton pick-up says is my max. I am very comfortable with it. Frankly I would not want to go much more but that is just me I guess.
We have seen trailers up to 30' with multiple slides behind half tons.
There was a 28' two slide next to me yesterday being towed by a Chevy Tahoe. Across from me right now is a 26' Arctic Fox with a slide behind a half ton.
Just because it says "half ton Towable" doesn't mean you should.
Do your own research buy right and be safe out there.

jesseannie

[Slate_CM]

myredracer wrote:


I've towed with an F150 and now an F250. Big, big difference. Some say their 1/2 ton tows like a dream and as if there's nothing back there but until you've towed with a 3/4 ton you won't know how much better it is. You can't tell nowadays what the difference between a 1/2 & 3/4 ton is by looking at them- some 1/2 tons are more capable than 3/4 tons for tow & payload capacity if properly optioned. Too many people go by just tow capacity but for TTs, it's payload cap. that's more important. TV and trailer brakes are another important factor.

It's not just about being at or under ratings, it's about how comfortable it is to drive. I've towed up and down the west coast from Ca. to BC and there's hills just about everywhere you go and with plenty of curves. I've done just about everything that can be done to optimize sway and handling for towing our TT and I enjoy towing in the hairiest of drives. Some ought to try some "fun" drives like say hwy 199 from Grants Pass out to the Or. coast then see how your 1/2 ton that is near it's limit performs. When I did that with our old F150 & TT, I wanted to get out and kiss the ground when I got to the coast... 🙂

Made that drive with my TT quite a few times, both directions.

[RobertRyan]

braindead0 wrote:

3oaks wrote:
Why do you feel you are right and anyone else towing a larger trailer than yours with a "half ton" is wrong? Did you know the specs on their tow vehicle and their trailer combinations? :R

My RAM 1500 is rated to tow 10,210 SAE J2807 compliant. Would I tow that much with it? Not likely and certainly not for more than a short trip. Personally I loath these claims of "1/2 ton towable" as it means nothing in reality but people pretend it does. I've seen tow ratings on 1/2 ton pickups ranging from 3500# all the way up to 10,600#

Lot of people here in Australia, would shake their head at such ratings.I have never seen anything smaller than a US 3/4 ton pulling a Caravan or 5th Wheeler. US 1/2 ton?
No crazy.

[aerbus32]

Experienced trailer boaters used to acknowledge that you do not exceed 80% of the manufacturer's tow rating. I never seem to hear this from RV'ers. Years back we had a 1/2 Ford Chateau Wagon (full size van). It was a magnificent tow vehicle for our 21' Sea Ray. It didn't do nearly as well with our a 'lightweight' TT we had for a very short period of time. Both were well within the 80% boaters rule. My suspicion was that the boater was just so much more aerodynamic. That was confirmed by a trailer servicing place I talked to.

[dodge_guy]

I wouldn't be to upset if you purchased a smaller trailer than you wanted and are now regretting it! You can fix it easily by trading it in on a larger trailer that is still in your tow rating.

[myredracer]

Campfire Time wrote:
Just because they were towing these large trailers doesn't they were having a great experience. Moreover, too often people will have a setup, tell you "it tows great!", never having actually towed with a more capable tow vehicle. In other words no reference point.

X2...

I've towed with an F150 and now an F250. Big, big difference. Some say their 1/2 ton tows like a dream and as if there's nothing back there but until you've towed with a 3/4 ton you won't know how much better it is. You can't tell nowadays what the difference between a 1/2 & 3/4 ton is by looking at them- some 1/2 tons are more capable than 3/4 tons for tow & payload capacity if properly optioned. Too many people go by just tow capacity but for TTs, it's payload cap. that's more important. TV and trailer brakes are another important factor.

It's not just about being at or under ratings, it's about how comfortable it is to drive. I've towed up and down the west coast from Ca. to BC and there's hills just about everywhere you go and with plenty of curves. I've done just about everything that can be done to optimize sway and handling for towing our TT and I enjoy towing in the hairiest of drives. Some ought to try some "fun" drives like say hwy 199 from Grants Pass out to the Or. coast then see how your 1/2 ton that is near it's limit performs. When I did that with our old F150 & TT, I wanted to get out and kiss the ground when I got to the coast... 🙂

[jesseannie]

Original poster here.
Wow what a bunch of grumpies.
I was making observations about what people are towing.
I did not ask to see their weight slips and specs of their trucks.
I wasn't passing judgment on any one.
I tow with a half ton and am happy I just said I would not be comfortable with some of the trailers they were towing.
Some of you guys need to get another hobby.

jesseannie

[djsamuel]

Us out West wrote:
How about the dealer?

That is the dealer:

http://www.suttonrv.com/

[Us_out_West]

How about the dealer?

[Deleted_per_op]

DanNJanice wrote:

TooManyTents wrote:
When I bought our most recent trailer, the salemans's first question was "what are you going to tow it with?". I found the one I liked and wanted to see the next size bigger just for grins. Salesman said "I'll show it to you, but I won't sell it to you because you can't tow it with your truck". Fair enough & there's the kind of salesman I want to do business with.

Feel free to post the name of the dealership. Honest dealers/salesmen deserve to be rewarded with our business.

Hey neighbor!
George M Sutton in Eugene OR. I don't remember the name of the salesman off the top of my head.

[mitw44]

I wish dealers were more interested in educating their customers on understanding towing weights, and matching trucks to trailers. I like my dealer and have bought two trailers from them, and will continue to buy from them, but they just don't seem to either know much about proper hitch setup, or don't focus much on it.
I bought my first ever RV, a Surveyor 235. It was around 3500 lbs, and my Toyota Tundra towed it fine. When I traded up to my Work and Play 18 EC, they assured me the Tundra would handle it. I wasn't as educated back then, and while the 5600 lb trailer was within the Tunda's capabilities, I didn't realize the tongue weight on a toyhauler is much heavier than a similar weight conventional trailer.
The brochure listed weight for the tongue is 1163 lbs. My Curt system is 8000 lbs/800 lbs tongue weight. After a few tows, I upgraded to my F250. I have finally figured out my Curt system is under rated, and i plan on weighing my rig to get an actual number, and then ordering the right size Blue Ox.
I talked to my dealer the other day, and they said they don't weigh rigs prior to installing hitches, and suggested a Curt system with 1000 lb bars, which will still be too light. I asked about the Blue Ox and they said they could order it, but don't stock it, because their customers are sensitive about price, so they sell and install the most inexpensive, basic wdh systems. My salesman, who is likeable, admitted he had no knowledge of wdh systems, or how to set them up

I just wish dealers would take the towing part of our lifestyle more seriously.

[Campfire_Time]

Just because they were towing these large trailers doesn't they were having a great experience. Moreover, too often people will have a setup, tell you "it tows great!", never having actually towed with a more capable tow vehicle. In other words no reference point.

[goducks10]

I see the OPs point. Sometimes you just know when someone's really over weight. Doesn't take much to know. Just educate yourself.
A month or so ago I saw a guy with the same exact 5th wheel I have and he was towing it with a Tundra. My loaded pin is 1800lbs. Not saying that his weighs that much and for all I know he could just as easily be heavier. Dry pin is 1400lbs. Load up a 5th wheels front basement with just a few things and the slider hitch he was using and I guarantee he's over weight. He didn't look all that comfortable cruising up the freeway either.
FWIW I tow mine with a 3/4 ton and am very comfortable.

[Walaby]

Im past the point of passing judgement on what others do with regards to towing. If someone asks me for my input, I will provide it, other than that, Im butting out of their business.

On the forums here, I'll offer my .02 cents worth, if someone is asking questions, because I've been there, done that. Learned a lot from folks here, and for that I am eternally grateful, and figure it is my responsibility/contribution to pass on my thoughts. But, again, that is if asked. Otherwise, what they do is their business and if they are happy with their setup, and how it tows, far be it from me to tell them otherwise.

Just this past weekend, saw a guy with a 5er with a Ford F250. Chatted with him earlier, and he said it towed like a dream. When he was leaving, the truck was squatting quite a bit under the load. Far be it from me to counsel him on his choices. He says it was fine, so that's the end of that.

Mike

[patnchris]

All half ton pick ups are not created equal. Back in the 80's, I had a Chevrolet 2500 pick up, I used to tow a 22 ft trailer.It had a 5.7 V8. I currently own an F150 with tow and payload package. It has a smaller engine, but it is twice as capable as mu old 3/4 ton Chevy. And I tow the traoler to prove it.