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1/2 ton or 3/4 ton

SRadke
Explorer
Explorer
Hey Everyone!
My wife and I are looking to buy a truck and trailer within the next year and need some guidance. I posted in the TT forum with this same type of question and I am getting some good responses, but thought I would post here as well just in case there are more/different opinions here.
We are looking to buy a bunkhouse style TT with a GVWR of around 7,500 lbs. To pull it our initial thought was to us a 2018 F150 2 wheel drive V8. The math works on the payload, towing, and gross weight, but it is pushing the upper limits of what the truck is able to do.

What do people here use to pull trailers like this?

What kind of margin do y'all like to keep between what you are pulling and the limits of your truck?

Would it be better to go with a slightly older 3/4 ton truck than a slightly newer 1/2 ton truck?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
99 REPLIES 99

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
SRadke wrote:
To pull it our initial thought was to us a 2018 F150 2 wheel drive V8. The math works on the payload, towing, and gross weight, but it is pushing the upper limits of what the truck is able to do.



I don't like to push the limits, I would rather have a considerable margin for safety, handling, power and reliability. But then I travel where I want and don't plan on using just the easy routes that suits a marginal truck. No, you will not be fine if your numbers just meet some chart.

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
cavie wrote:
1/2 ton and 7500# yea it will work......in the low country. If you intend to do any kind of mts you will need a 3/4. You wanna be comfortable or on the edge of your seat all the time. Do you want to pass a very slow moving semi or play follow the leader? The choice is yours.

The 1/2 ton GM with the 420hp/460 torque....or Fords F150 3.5 Ecoboost engine at 395 hp and 470 torque will pull that 6k-7k TT up the mountain just as fast or as easy with no more stress than some heavier 3/4 ton with a smallblock v8 gas engine with less hp/torque.

Now a 3/4 ton with the diesel will run up the mountain easier.

GMs NHT package 6.2 engine 8-10 speed tranny or Fords F150HDPP 8-10 speed tranny will not have any issues handling a 7500 gross weight TT.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

cavie
Explorer
Explorer
1/2 ton and 7500# yea it will work......in the low country. If you intend to do any kind of mts you will need a 3/4. You wanna be comfortable or on the edge of your seat all the time. Do you want to pass a very slow moving semi or play follow the leader? The choice is yours.
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. Retired Building Inspector.

All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.

ktosv
Explorer
Explorer
ShinerBock wrote:
"I never heard someone complain that they had too much truck"


LOL...after nearly four years of daily driving a 1 ton Express my wife complained about it. She no longer cared for the ride. Sold it and moved to a 1/2 ton for the ride. We tow accordingly now vs with the Express it hauled and towed anything we needed.
Kevin and my...
Wife and six kids
2017 Suburban (5.3L/6A/3.08)
6x12 Enclosed Utility

Sold...2011 Express 3500 (6.0L/6A/3.42)
Sold...2010 Passport Ultra Lite 2910

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
If you buy a truck that really is within ratings...you are fine.
- Make sure you understand how payload is calculated.

The only caviot I would add is how much are you planning to tow?
- A few weekends a year, short distance, not a lot of mountains, 1/2 ton is a good option.
- Full time 10-20,000miles with lots of time in the mountains, bumping up to 3/4 ton is nice.

Also, do some price checking. 3/4 ton trucks are often not greatly different in price from maxed out 1/2 ton trucks.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

owenssailor
Explorer
Explorer
My 2017 Silverado 1500 has a payload rating of 1980 lb. Our 31 ft trailer loaded for winter travel weighs 6700 lb. The truck handles that with no problems at all. with the equal-i-zer hitch we do not get bothered by transports passing on freeways. With the 8 spd tranny the 5.3 V8 has enough power everywhere we have travelled which includes the atlantic coast along the Gulf and over to the Pacific at San Diego. The truck was oedered to tow the trailer an does what it is supposed to do.
2011 Jayco 28U
2012 Chev Silverado Crew Cab 5.3 6 spd 3.42 (sold)
2017 Chev Silverado Crew Cab 5.3 8 spd 3.42
Equal-i-Zer 1400/14000
RotoChocks

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Explorer III
The math works fine as long as you don't go bigger. If you think you might someday go 3/4 ton
2016 6.7 CTD 2500 BIG HORN MEGA CAB
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
Equilizer Hitch
Honda EU2000

"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Explorer II
seems like the first topic of feedback is payload/etc. etc. However, IMHO there are a few other differences that could sway you one way or the other. My observations.

1) Many 1/2 ton "crew cab's" have a shorter std box than a 3/4 ton. less cargo room.
2) Many 1/2 ton are shorter overall than the comparable 3/4 ton.
3) Many 1/2 tons have a lower step in height than 3/4 ton.

So, before deciding just on payload etc. look at the box length, interior room, overall length and decide what fits YOUR needs and wants best.

For us, a long enough short box to haul motorcycles or loads of dirt, a large back seat to take 5 adults comfortably was high priority, and I sacrificed overall length, and step in height and turning radius and went with 3/4 ton. But again that was OUR priority, decide based on YOUR priorities.
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!

wowens79
Explorer III
Explorer III
My bunkhouse is a similar weight, and I tow with a 1500hd tha GM mad in the early 2000's, it has the drive train I'v a 3/4 and a 1/2 ton body. It handles the trailer pretty well, but could use a little more power. I'm looking at new trucks, and will definatley be going 3/4 ton, and probably with a gas engine.

You could tow with a proper 1/2 ton, but if you are buying a truck I'd go ahead and get the 3/4. The prices are not that much more, so the is not much downside.
2022 Ford F-350 7.3l
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500HD 6.0l 268k miles (retired)
2016 Heritage Glen 29BH
2003 Flagstaff 228D Pop Up

mtofell1
Explorer
Explorer
A capable 1/2 ton is doable with a 7500# trailer but you may have to pay attention to what/where you're packing. How much weight you carry in the truck (people, gear in the bed, etc.) is also a big factor. A 3/4 ton would pretty much allow you to just forget about weight and bring anything (or anyone) you want. So, if you want to have a good excuse to leave your mother-in-law at home, get the 1/2 ton. If not, get a 3/4 ton ๐Ÿ™‚

Me_Again
Explorer III
Explorer III
While boating and talking about right-a-way we always said tonnage wins hand down. The same can be said for tow vehicles. We towed a 16K 39' 5th wheel and now a 8K 27' TT with the same 2015 3500 RAM 4x4 CC SB. It towed/tows both just fine. Do I want to get rid of the 3500 now that the 5th wheel is parked in our summer RV park, nope! I love the 3500 diesel RAM. Chris
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

demiles
Explorer
Explorer
Which TV is most appropriate is going to depend on the trailer itself and not just its overall weight. Itโ€™s weight distribution by design (yaw inertia), axle position, tongue weight, and how itโ€™s loaded will make a difference. Both could be capable from a general point of view of overall weight and payload.
2008 Jayco G2 28RBS
2016 Nissan XD 5.0L Cummins

CaLBaR
Explorer
Explorer
2oldman wrote:
ShinerBock wrote:
I wonder how many times we are going to hear "You can never have too much truck" or "I never heard someone complain that they had too much truck"....
or, "You won't even know it's back there."


Just bought a RAM 3500 SRW with the 6.7 Cummins and I still know the trailer is back there and it is 9500 lbs loaded. Anyone who says they can't feel the trailer back there even if they have way more truck that they need isn't paying enough attention.

To the OP sorry to hijack the thread. You will be fine with a properly setup 1/2 ton. I did it for 11 years with a trailer same weight as yours.
2018 Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS
2019 RAM 3500 SRW Big Horn 4x4, 6.7 Cummins/Aisin
2007 Rockwood 8298 SS (Traded in 2018)
2009 Toyota Tundra 4x4 Crew Max 5.7L (Traded in 2019)
HP Dual Cam Sway Control
Prodigy Brake Controller

jerem0621
Explorer II
Explorer II
The answer is it depends.

Lightly loaded half ton truck with 175 lb man and a 120 lb woman and a mini dog... no problem.

1,000 lbs of flesh in the Cab plus a bed full of camping gear and 1,000 lbs of tongue weight and you are looking at an average half ton waiting for a scene of the accident

Thanks!

Jeremiah
TV-2022 Silverado 2WD
TT - Zinger 270BH
WD Hitch- HaulMaster 1,000 lb Round Bar
Dual Friction bar sway control

Itโ€™s Kind of Fun to do the Impossible
~Walt Disney~

blt2ski
Moderator
Moderator
2oldman wrote:
ShinerBock wrote:
I wonder how many times we are going to hear "You can never have too much truck" or "I never heard someone complain that they had too much truck"....
or, "You won't even know it's back there."


I know I have a trailer behind my empty 12k lb international. Be it a 3000-12,000 lb trailer. Knew it behind my dmax dually too.
One should always know feel that a trailer is back their vs no trailer.
As far as 15 vs 25 vs 35 series. My rwd reg cab basic 2500 has/had 300 lbs less door sticker payload than my mid trim dmax, 4wd crew cab dually...... But, if you go with axle ratings, dually is 2000+ lbs ahead of 2500.
It is no fun having to little suspension ability, as it is being shy on power. I'll take a correct sized chassis underpowered I've an overpowered under chassid'd rig.

Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer