1/2 ton or 3/4 ton

[SRadke]

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!

[Huntindog]

mich800 wrote:

IdaD wrote:
An HD truck in OP's scenario is a no brainer. It's literally more truck for the same money, and it not only works better for the current trailer but also allows for more flexibility moving forward - and the compromises in moving from a 1/2 ton to a SRW HD are minimal. I think the compromises involved in moving from a SRW HD to a dually are much more significant.

I wouldn't say it is a no brainer. Everyone has a list of priority items. If a 1/2 ton that falls into the category of towing trailer and meets the other criteria better than a larger truck why should they make a purchase that falls short in the other areas.

And I don't subscribe to the mantra here to over purchase as you may upgrade later. If that is the case everyone would purchase a 4+ bedroom home as their first house because who knows if you will have kids or the parents/in-laws need to move in later. And switching trucks is surely easier than switching houses.

Houses appreciate. Trucks depreciate.
Big difference.

[IdaD]

The only thing I'd throw out as an additional note on that spreadsheet is that SB is correct that there are some specific variables depending on where you live and how you do things that may move those numbers a bit. But the bottom line is, for most folks the ownership cost difference of gas versus diesel is not material. The area where there is a very material difference is performance, especially towing.

[ShinerBock]

Here is my total cost analysis based on a Ram. It will be different for you depending on many things such as PM intervals/cost between the two, fuel prices in your region, interest rates, re-sale values and so on.

[IdaD]

SRadke wrote:
Just wondering.

What are the additional costs associated with a diesel engine vs a gas engine? I am trying to work up a cost benefit analysis.

(yes... I know I am a nerd...)

ShinerBock has a very detailed spreadsheet that breaks it down in in really good detail. You can go find it or maybe he'll see your question and post it. Spoiler alert - the diesel truck is actually a bit cheaper overall. You do have to pay more up front, but provided that's in your financial wheelhouse I'm not sure why you'd want the gas truck unless there are some unusual circumstances involved. Maybe living in an urban area with limited diesel availability, living in the great white north where diesel gelling can be a problem, etc. Absent those situations why not opt for the marginally lower cost coupled with substantially better performance?

[SRadke]

Just wondering.

What are the additional costs associated with a diesel engine vs a gas engine? I am trying to work up a cost benefit analysis.

(yes... I know I am a nerd...)

[danrclem]

SRadke wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input! I really appreciate it!

Based on the responses I think I will be "safe" so long as the math works. Since I am buying a new-to-me truck and the price difference isn't very large between the two styles of truck (from what I have seen) I think I am going to go with a gas 3/4 ton. This way we can grow to a larger camper in the future if we want without having to worry about the truck.

Has anyone had a particularly bad experience with the gas variants of these trucks? (I would rather stay away from the diesel engines because I have never owned a diesel and have never worked on one before.)

A Ford F250 6.2 gas will pull your camper with ease. I have one and it pulls my 10,000 GVWR camper with ease. It's a good engine and has a proven track record. The only thing that I don't like about it is the fuel mileage.

[goducks10]

Me Again wrote:
For a RAM/Hemi you want a newer one with 8 speed tranny rather than the original 6 speed.

x2.

[mich800]

IdaD wrote:
An HD truck in OP's scenario is a no brainer. It's literally more truck for the same money, and it not only works better for the current trailer but also allows for more flexibility moving forward - and the compromises in moving from a 1/2 ton to a SRW HD are minimal. I think the compromises involved in moving from a SRW HD to a dually are much more significant.

I wouldn't say it is a no brainer. Everyone has a list of priority items. If a 1/2 ton that falls into the category of towing trailer and meets the other criteria better than a larger truck why should they make a purchase that falls short in the other areas.

And I don't subscribe to the mantra here to over purchase as you may upgrade later. If that is the case everyone would purchase a 4+ bedroom home as their first house because who knows if you will have kids or the parents/in-laws need to move in later. And switching trucks is surely easier than switching houses.

[IdaD]

An HD truck in OP's scenario is a no brainer. It's literally more truck for the same money, and it not only works better for the current trailer but also allows for more flexibility moving forward - and the compromises in moving from a 1/2 ton to a SRW HD are minimal. I think the compromises involved in moving from a SRW HD to a dually are much more significant.

[Me_Again]

For a RAM/Hemi you want a newer one with 8 speed tranny rather than the original 6 speed.

[ib516]

SRadke wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input! I really appreciate it!

Based on the responses I think I will be "safe" so long as the math works. Since I am buying a new-to-me truck and the price difference isn't very large between the two styles of truck (from what I have seen) I think I am going to go with a gas 3/4 ton. This way we can grow to a larger camper in the future if we want without having to worry about the truck.

Has anyone had a particularly bad experience with the gas variants of these trucks? (I would rather stay away from the diesel engines because I have never owned a diesel and have never worked on one before.)

No, the gas 3/4 tons do a great job within their limits. I had a 2014 Ram 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi and 4.10 gears and I towed a 5th wheel that weighed in at 12,000#. I had no issues at all.

[SRadke]

Thanks everyone for the input! I really appreciate it!

Based on the responses I think I will be "safe" so long as the math works. Since I am buying a new-to-me truck and the price difference isn't very large between the two styles of truck (from what I have seen) I think I am going to go with a gas 3/4 ton. This way we can grow to a larger camper in the future if we want without having to worry about the truck.

Has anyone had a particularly bad experience with the gas variants of these trucks? (I would rather stay away from the diesel engines because I have never owned a diesel and have never worked on one before.)

[ShinerBock]

I think the worst part about 3/4 tons are the gas engine options. I know why Ford would never put a 3.5L EB in a 3/4 ton truck, but I would love to have one if I only towed 11k a few times a year. That was the reason I went with the F150 HD over a 3/4 ton with my last truck. I would still be driving it if the wife didn't want a 14k RV.

[deltabravo]

ktmrfs wrote:
3) Many 1/2 tons have a lower step in height than 3/4 ton.

Roger that. I looked at a 2020 Silverado HD truck the other day. They are very tall (and ugly too).

2020 Silverado 2500HD

[ShinerBock]

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.

I was the same with my old 99 DRW. That thing would get stuck in wet grass at the farm even with a Torsen diff I installed. I also hated driving it in the city. Eventually sold it for a SRW and promised myself that I would never got to DRW again. Luckily, SRW 3500 and 2500's today can the same if not more capabilities of DRW trucks back then.