1/2 ton or 3/4 ton
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โOct-22-2019 11:17 AM
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!
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โOct-23-2019 05:50 AM
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.
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โOct-23-2019 05:35 AM
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.
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides
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โOct-23-2019 04:23 AM
All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
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โOct-22-2019 11:40 PM
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.
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
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โOct-22-2019 11:05 PM
- 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.
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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โOct-22-2019 08:28 PM
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
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โOct-22-2019 08:13 PM
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
Equilizer Hitch
Honda EU2000
"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"
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โOct-22-2019 07:45 PM
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.
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!
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โOct-22-2019 07:33 PM
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.
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500HD 6.0l 268k miles (retired)
2016 Heritage Glen 29BH
2003 Flagstaff 228D Pop Up
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โOct-22-2019 07:11 PM
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โOct-22-2019 04:40 PM
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โOct-22-2019 02:48 PM
2016 Nissan XD 5.0L Cummins
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โOct-22-2019 02:23 PM
2oldman wrote:ShinerBock wrote:or, "You won't even know it's back there."
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"....
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.
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
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โOct-22-2019 02:11 PM
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
TT - Zinger 270BH
WD Hitch- HaulMaster 1,000 lb Round Bar
Dual Friction bar sway control
Itโs Kind of Fun to do the Impossible
~Walt Disney~
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โOct-22-2019 01:32 PM
2oldman wrote:ShinerBock wrote:or, "You won't even know it's back there."
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"....
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
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer