Advice on needed tow capacity for new pickup truck

[chrisdd23k]

I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need?
Other Weight Factors
2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbs
gear roughly 800lbs
tanks are empty when traveling
food/drinks 200lbs

[afidel]

APT wrote:

afidel wrote:

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds

Source?

I have not seen 2018 models specifically, but I have not seen a 2009+ CrewCab Ram 1500 with more than 1500 pounds of as equipped payload from the Tire and loading sticker. I typically see 1300 while GM/Ford are more like 1700 for trucks with equipment people actually buy volume leaders, not fictitious brochure max payload models. Some higher trim/optioned Ram models are under 1100. I welcome data to suggest otherwise as the Hemi, Ecodiesel, and 8-spd trans are great for towing!

According to their calculator a crew cab, full bed, hemi powered 4x2 should have 1,630 payload. Shortbed bumps it up another 50lbs (not worth it IMHO given the reduced wheelbase, but if it's a daily it might be the right compromise). Quad cab full bed gets you 1760 with the hemi and 1880 with the 3.6, though the 3.6 drops your max tow to 7,600.

[APT]

afidel wrote:

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds

Source?

I have not seen 2018 models specifically, but I have not seen a 2009+ CrewCab Ram 1500 with more than 1500 pounds of as equipped payload from the Tire and loading sticker. I typically see 1300 while GM/Ford are more like 1700 for trucks with equipment people actually buy volume leaders, not fictitious brochure max payload models. Some higher trim/optioned Ram models are under 1100. I welcome data to suggest otherwise as the Hemi, Ecodiesel, and 8-spd trans are great for towing!

[mikakuja]

I also speak from experience and agree with those that have said, go with a 250/2500 series truck, you won't regret the decision. Even though you can tow that trailer with a 1500 that is equipped and set up correctly, it is still too much trailer for a 1500 IMO.
I have been through the experience personally and put many miles of near maxed out weight towing with a 1500. Most of the time it was fine, but when s**t starts to go sideways it can get nasty really fast.. The larger truck is soo much more capable in every aspect.. I actually relax while towing now.

[falconbrother]

Personally, in the 1/2 tons I think that Ford edges out on Chevy. But, in the new-ish trucks they are both capable. Of course the 3/4 ton will do "better" than any 1/2 ton. But, you go to the campgrounds and they are chock full of 1/2 tons towing all kinds of trailers, even 5th wheels. My uncle has the Ecoboost Ford and he pulls a flatbed with a farm tractor on it, including implements, up Black Mountain several times a year. I don't know what the weight is but, I have no doubt that it's plenty heavy, including hitch weight.

If your TV is also your daily driver, like mine, that is a consideration as well. My Suburban is towing a 5800 (dry). My limit is 7200. I never tow with anything in the tanks. It's just the two of us and a couple of pug dogs. The 5.3 Suburban 1500 isn't ideal. But, it does OK and get us where we're going. Setting the trailer brakes, getting the WD hitch right, packing the trailer without too much stuff up front are all things I do to make it work and feel stable. We have never had sway issues, the long wheel base handles the weight good. The 5.3 pulls pretty good. It needs RPMs on long uphill pulls to be happy. That took some getting used to for me.

I came out of a motorhome that had a 454/turbo 400 and would pull it's self and my little CRV anywhere. Big, huge, difference in how the big block and the small block plus transmission puts power on the road. Point is, you would be happier all around with a heavy chassis and a big powerful engine. But, the 1/2 tons will do it. It's almost a coin toss between Ford and Chevy, in real world applications. I like Chevy but, I would buy the Ford Ecoboost with the heavy tow package.

[LifeInsideJack]

ljr wrote:

bid_time wrote:

LifeInsideJack wrote:

Additionally it's not about pulling, it's about stopping.

Every truck is tested according to NHTSA standards and is fully capable of stopping 100% of its GVWR regardless of the badge on the side.

Stopping is one thing. Keeping GVWR under control over a long, steep grade and then stopping is quite another.

I agree with both statements. But, it isn't stickers that will make a driver comfortable behind the wheel.

The freeways are fluid and situations change quickly. Steep grades, inattentive drivers, spare tires loose and coming at you will test your setup very quickly.

Buy the most truck you can afford and want to drive. You won't be mad at yourself for having something too big.

[afidel]

APT wrote:
GM: Get the 5.3L 8-spd with either 3.42 or 3.73 axle.

Ford: Get the 3.5L Ecoboost with 3.55 Axle

Both should have ample payload. While I agree that towing with a 3/4 ton would be "better", 7000-7500 pounds loaded with 1700 pounds of payload and plenty of power matches well to both those trucks. Ram 1500 has payload deficiencies.

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds, if that little difference matters you probably should have bought a 2500/250 to begin with. The F150 goes to 2300 pounds even without the fleet only HD package (and you can get the bigger 36 gallon tank, the one thing I wish my Sierra had as it would mean basically never having to fill up while connected as it's rare I go more than 400 miles in a day).

[APT]

GM: Get the 5.3L 8-spd with either 3.42 or 3.73 axle.

Ford: Get the 3.5L Ecoboost with 3.55 Axle

Both should have ample payload. While I agree that towing with a 3/4 ton would be "better", 7000-7500 pounds loaded with 1700 pounds of payload and plenty of power matches well to both those trucks. Ram 1500 has payload deficiencies.

[troubledwaters]

chrisdd23k wrote:
I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need?
Other Weight Factors
2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbs
gear roughly 800lbs
tanks are empty when traveling
food/drinks 200lbs

Tow capacity is not what you should be looking at. You should be looking at Payload rating on the yellow sticker in the drivers door. You need something with around 2,000 lbs payload capacity.

And like someone else said, the badge on the side doesn't matter. The payload sticker is what matters.

Some good unbiased information here.

[sgfrye]

i speak from 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton truck towing experience..... 3/4 ton will be much better match and make camping more relaxing for you. (the towing part)

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

chrisdd23k wrote:
I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need?
Other Weight Factors
2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbs
gear roughly 800lbs
tanks are empty when traveling
food/drinks 200lbs

🙂 Hi, you need to consider payload of the truck. Five adults can max out the payload on some fancy models.

[handye9]

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.

[ljr]

bid_time wrote:

LifeInsideJack wrote:

Additionally it's not about pulling, it's about stopping.

Every truck is tested according to NHTSA standards and is fully capable of stopping 100% of its GVWR regardless of the badge on the side.

Stopping is one thing. Keeping GVWR under control over a long, steep grade and then stopping is quite another.

[Atlee]

With that trailer, and since you haven't bought a truck yet, I highly suggest you go straight to a F250/2500HD truck. Even if you pack relatively light, you're at nearly 1000# tongue weight. (6150 dry weight plus 1000# cargo x 13% tongue weight = 929#. Much more trailer cargo or closer to 15% tongue weight and you're at or over 1,000# tongue weight.

And you haven't even counted passengers, 4 legged friends, cargo in the bed of the truck and the hitch.

I have a F150 with the Heavy Duty Payload Package and I only have 2286# of cargo capacity, and I'm pulling a trailer whose GVWR is 6500#.

The price difference between a 3/4 ton and 1/2 pickup is pretty negligible.

chrisdd23k wrote:
I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need?
Other Weight Factors
2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbs
gear roughly 800lbs
tanks are empty when traveling
food/drinks 200lbs

[bid_time]

LifeInsideJack wrote:

Additionally it's not about pulling, it's about stopping.

Every truck is tested according to NHTSA standards and is fully capable of stopping 100% of its GVWR regardless of the badge on the side.

[BubbaChris]

When Ford and Chevy are testing max payload for towing, they're using a flatbed trailer with a low-profile set of weights for cargo. As a result, I've seen good advice here that suggests not going past 80% of rated capacity of you're towing a Travel Trailer.

As others have said, your in-truck cargo (passengers and more) plus hitch and tongue weight are almost guaranteed to exceet the Payload Rating for most 1/2 ton trucks.

I'm not that close with my Expedition EL (a Ford F150 dressed as an SUV), and my TT was weighed at just over 6,100 in our first year. So I've likely added 200 lbs of gear since then.

I've done a lot to get it to tow comfortably, as we'd have the Ford anti-sway logic kick in and scare the daylights out of us at times. I even invested in LT tires to tighten things up. All that said, I can guarantee you my next tow vehicle will be a 3/4 ton