RV weights?!!!

[dodge_guy]

So we were at an RV show and I was poking around a bit and started to look at the weight stickers. found some "1/2 ton towable" TT`s with dry weights starting at 8k lbs, one was 8700lbs!!! now, I`m not a weight police member at all, but come on!

Then I was looking at some class A`s. one looked real nice good layout with bunks and plenty of storage. the only problem.......1200lbs of CCC. with people alone that will be 800lbs!!! that leaves 400 lbs for stuff. now I know I pack heavier than most people, but I don`t know of any family that will only have 400lbs between clothes, food, bedding, chairs, and cooking utensils among other things. my trailer alone carries 2klbs of "stuff".

So to all new RV`ers looking to buy, look at all the weights (dry, GVWR and CCC) and don`t listen to the salesman or the smiling 1/2 ton truck sticker! If it sounds like it wont work, it most likely wont!

shop carefully!

[ExxWhy]

dodge guy wrote:

irishtom29 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I see you guys are missing my point. How the heck is a normal old 1/2 ton going to tow an 8700lb dry trailer? Keep in mind this one had bunks so it was for a family. Loaded for a trip it will be over 10k lbs!!! Are you guys still comfortable (power wise) towing it with a higher geared 1/2 ton?

I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!

If your point is that no 1/2 ton will handle it you're simply dead wrong. A reasonable statement would be that some, or even many 1/2 tons won't. You need to get wise to the current state of 1/2 ton trucks---there are some that have the payload, the receiver and the power.

I tire of people who think I missed their point when I disagree with it.

Re-read my post, that's exactly what I said! I would not want to tow a loaded 8700lb dry TT with even a properly equipped 1/2 ton! and if you have to go so far as finding a needle in a haystack 1/2 ton to tow a TT that will still be maxed out then you may as well just go to a 3/4 ton with the proper capacity!

I was happily reading along and agreeing with you until this! I too snicker at the half ton towable designations and always felt like you had to be very careful with the choosing of the half ton truck to tow some of these beats. Most won't, but undoubtedly SOME will.

I know nothing about these newer half ton trucks, never even so much as taken a test drive. I do know something about towing with an Excursion since I have one and tow a trailer about the same size as yours. 1st gen eco boost engines are rated for more HP and about the same torque as our V10. They are paired with a 6spd transmission which is surely a big improvement over the 4spd we have. As far as payload goes, I think they are about the same if you get the F150 with the high GVW. 1600 lbs or so. One thing the EX has going for it over the F150 is it weighs more which in theory resists being pushed around by the trailer more than a lighter truck would. In practice, I suspect they would tow about the same.

Maybe we should be looking for a truck with more capability instead of towing with our maxxed out rigs! 🙂

[bid_time]

Irishtom - I think your peeing into the wind. Doesn't make any sense to me either.

[irishtom29]

dodge guy wrote:

irishtom29 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I see you guys are missing my point. How the heck is a normal old 1/2 ton going to tow an 8700lb dry trailer? Keep in mind this one had bunks so it was for a family. Loaded for a trip it will be over 10k lbs!!! Are you guys still comfortable (power wise) towing it with a higher geared 1/2 ton?

I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!

If your point is that no 1/2 ton will handle it you're simply dead wrong. A reasonable statement would be that some, or even many 1/2 tons won't. You need to get wise to the current state of 1/2 ton trucks---there are some that have the payload, the receiver and the power.

I tire of people who think I missed their point when I disagree with it.

Re-read my post, that's exactly what I said! I would not want to tow a loaded 8700lb dry TT with even a properly equipped 1/2 ton! and if you have to go so far as finding a needle in a haystack 1/2 ton to tow a TT that will still be maxed out then you may as well just go to a 3/4 ton with the proper capacity!

First you don't understand your own writing and the meaning of the word no and now you're on an exclamation point binge.

1/2 ton trucks with over 2000 pounds payload and receivers rated over 1200 pounds are easy enough to order and far more common than needles in haystacks. It's a matter of knowing what's available and getting it, simple enough. Some 1/2 tons have more payload than diesel 3/4 tons. I doubt you really know how well a modern properly equipped 1/2 ton handles your theoretical load. But reading pickup forums one reads of many satisfied users of modern 1/2 tons and fairly large trailers. So should I believe the people using these rigs or you?

[dodge_guy]

irishtom29 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I see you guys are missing my point. How the heck is a normal old 1/2 ton going to tow an 8700lb dry trailer? Keep in mind this one had bunks so it was for a family. Loaded for a trip it will be over 10k lbs!!! Are you guys still comfortable (power wise) towing it with a higher geared 1/2 ton?

I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!

If your point is that no 1/2 ton will handle it you're simply dead wrong. A reasonable statement would be that some, or even many 1/2 tons won't. You need to get wise to the current state of 1/2 ton trucks---there are some that have the payload, the receiver and the power.

I tire of people who think I missed their point when I disagree with it.

Re-read my post, that's exactly what I said! I would not want to tow a loaded 8700lb dry TT with even a properly equipped 1/2 ton! and if you have to go so far as finding a needle in a haystack 1/2 ton to tow a TT that will still be maxed out then you may as well just go to a 3/4 ton with the proper capacity!

[Lantley]

bikendan wrote:
1/2 towable marketing isn't any different than the minivan/CUV-towable marketing.
it's all smoke and mirrors and using specs that a minority have to justify using the label.

look how all those minivan/CUV-towables have 3500lbs GVWRs but extremely low CCC amounts. they don't expect buyers to pay any attention to the CCC or hitch weight numbers, only the magical 3500 number.

because they can find a handful of 1/2 configurations, that can tow some of these 1/2 towables(especially 5th wheels), gives them the right to use the "1/2 towable" label.

A long time ago my mother taught me to wrongs don't make a right!

Just because there are other misleading ads doesn't make it OK or justify misleading 1/2 ton advertising:S

[bikendan]

1/2 towable marketing isn't any different than the minivan/CUV-towable marketing.
it's all smoke and mirrors and using specs that a minority have to justify using the label.

look how all those minivan/CUV-towables have 3500lbs GVWRs but extremely low CCC amounts. they don't expect buyers to pay any attention to the CCC or hitch weight numbers, only the magical 3500 number.
7
because they can find a handful of 1/2 configurations, that can tow some of these 1/2 towables(especially 5th wheels), they think it gives them the right to use the "1/2 towable" label.

[Lantley]

irishtom29 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I see you guys are missing my point. How the heck is a normal old 1/2 ton going to tow an 8700lb dry trailer? Keep in mind this one had bunks so it was for a family. Loaded for a trip it will be over 10k lbs!!! Are you guys still comfortable (power wise) towing it with a higher geared 1/2 ton?

I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!

If your point is that no 1/2 ton will handle it you're simply dead wrong. A reasonable statement would be that some, or even many 1/2 tons won't. You need to get wise to the current state of 1/2 ton trucks---there are some that have the payload, the receiver and the power.

I tire of people who think I missed their point when I disagree with it.

I think his point is 95 per cent of the 1/2 tons on the road will not be within their ratings.
I agree marketing a 8700 lb. dry trailer as 1/2 ton towable is misleading.

[irishtom29]

dodge guy wrote:
I see you guys are missing my point. How the heck is a normal old 1/2 ton going to tow an 8700lb dry trailer? Keep in mind this one had bunks so it was for a family. Loaded for a trip it will be over 10k lbs!!! Are you guys still comfortable (power wise) towing it with a higher geared 1/2 ton?

I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!

If your point is that no 1/2 ton will handle it you're simply dead wrong. A reasonable statement would be that some, or even many 1/2 tons won't. You need to get wise to the current state of 1/2 ton trucks---there are some that have the payload, the receiver and the power.

I tire of people who think I missed their point when I disagree with it.

[drsteve]

dodge guy wrote:
I think you did miss it. Oh well.

Yup... You need to know the specific capabilities of your truck. The truck in my sig has a payload rating just over 2900 lbs. My buddy's 4x4 Duramax/Allison 2500HD is rated at 2300. My neighbor's Z71 1500 crew cab has a payload capacity of 1400 lbs. Some 1/2 tons are even less.

[dodge_guy]

bid_time wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
...I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!...

I didn't miss your point at all. I don't think your point is valid. Half ton, 3/4 ton 1 ton; If you have the payload and other ratings to haul the load your good to go. Doesn't matter what the number on the side of the truck say. Over generalization on your part. Sayonara.

I think you did miss it. Oh well.

[bid_time]

dodge guy wrote:
...I think some missed my point that no 1/2 ton will be able to handle it. and even the HD Eco Boost or just about any HD 1500 will have a hard time!...

I didn't miss your point at all. I don't think your point is valid. Half ton, 3/4 ton 1 ton; If you have the payload and other ratings to haul the load your good to go. Doesn't matter what the number on the side of the truck say. Over generalization on your part. Sayonara.

[1320Fastback]

ScottG wrote:

1320Fastback wrote:


My 92 D250 has a 10,120 tow rating?
GCVR in the manual says 16,000lbs.

Mine was 3.73 diff and auto. Maybe your was 4.10 and manual?

Ah, mines a 3.54 and a 5 spd. Amazing the derating difference for the auto.

[Lwiddis]

Look, copper, I take the fifth.

[goducks10]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. 1st time buyers will either have a hard time towing and upgrade their truck or they'll get bored and only go out 2-3 times a year. The rest of the year the TT sits in storage.

[FLY_4_FUN]

Lets face it, those that know and understand the numbers will always want to help/protect those that don't. Somewhere in the middle many are towing heavy/hard and safe thereby proving it can be done. When I see cars flipped over in the ditch with a skiff of snow on the roads its obvious that skill and experience has so much more to do with being safe than the actual equipment being used.