chrisdd23k wrote:
Other Weight Factors
2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbs
gear roughly 800lbs
tanks are empty when traveling
food/drinks 200lbs
When you go looking at trucks, open the drivers door and check out the tire / loading sticker. It will have a number for max occupant / cargo weight. That the truck's capacity to carry (AKA payload) the weight of everything in it or on it. The weight of your distributing hitch and the trailers tongue (AKA hitch) weight are both counted as cargo weight in the tow vehicle.
If you exceed that payload number, you're also exceeding the GVWR.
You're already using 800 - 1000 lbs of that capacity. Your trailer is going to use another 1000 - 1100 lbs. Most of the 1500 / F150's you'll see, won't have that kind of payload, and those that do, may not have the seating / cab size needed to carry your family.
In most cases (doesn't matter 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton, etc) the weak link is payload.
You may also want to look at the owners manual of the trucks. The towing section will have statements similar to (1) Your max tow weight is limited to the weakest link in your overall towing ratings. (2) As you ad weight to your vehicle with aftermarket accessories, people, and cargo, your available payload and towing capacity are reduced pound for pound.
If you're set on not going with 2500 / F250, you may want to look at Nissan Titan XD. Make sure it's the XD version. I've seen some (crewcab, 4X4, gas engine) with 2100 lbs payload. The diesel version is a couple hundred lbs heavier, thus, the payload is a couple hundred less. Two wheel drive would also give a little more payload than a 4X4.
