Half ton towing

[Keeth1123]

Looking at these numbers and forums for towing and it is very annoying. Most of these trailers say micro or light but have 900 to 1,000 lb tongue weights. Basically, you need a 2500 to tow anything but a pop-up camper.

[Timmo_]

Methinks there is more to 1/2 ton vs _____. The gear ratio variable is the wild card with motor size a close 2nd.

My 2005 F150 (5.4L, 4x4 Lariat Supercab and with all the options, 144.5" wheel base) with 3.73 gear ratio has rating (with stabilizer bars) of:

GCWR: 15000 lbs
Max trailer towing: 9300 lbs

The F250/F350 version (5.4L, 4x4, Supercab, 144.5 wheel base with 3.73 gearing)
GCWR: 16000 lbs (1k bonus to F150)
Max trailer towing: 9200 lbs (100 lbs less than F150)

BTW, Ford says the F250 numbers are within a 100 lbs of the F350.

Now, if we change the F250/F350 gear ratio to 4.1, it is a different game.

GCWR: 18000 lbs (3k bonus to F150)
Max trailer towing: 10700 lbs (1400 lb bonus to F150)

And (drum roll please) jumping to from 5.4L to 6.8L engine is where the big jump pops up, the towing capacity increases to 13,600 lbs and 15,100 lbs respectively.

LOL, who would have thought the trailer towing capacity would be 100 lbs less for the F250/F350, when compared to identical engine and gear ratio of my F150.

That's why I purchased an F150 over the F250/F350 to tow my Nash 20' TT (GVWR 7000 lbs)...and it is a joy to drive sans my Nash TT.

[goducks10]

Average TW for Flagstaff Micro Lights is 670 lbs per their brochure weights. For most 1/2 tons thats a good starting point. Most 1/2 ton receivers can handle north of 1,000 lbs.
Average brochure UVW is 5438 lbs.
Again perfect start for 1/2 ton buyers.

[mdcamping]

Keeth1123 wrote:
Looking at these numbers and forums for towing and it is very annoying. Most of these trailers say micro or light but have 900 to 1,000 lb tongue weights.

yup

Had my newly purchased 7500 GVW 24RBS Jay Flight has a listed 650# tongue weight, had the dealer/service weight the tongue in their lot prior to closing the deal. Come out to just over 900 lbs, 40% over. My present Jayco X20E is about 30% over listed weight.

Mike

[spoon059]

Keeth1123 wrote:
Looking at these numbers and forums for towing and it is very annoying. Most of these trailers say micro or light but have 900 to 1,000 lb tongue weights. Basically, you need a 2500 to tow anything but a pop-up camper.

Half tons have a ton of variables. A 3/4 ton ton truck IN GENERAL is a better vehicle for towing. They are the same size as half ton trucks, but they are more robust in terms of frame, engine, transmission, brakes, wheels, tires and duty cycle.

I towed with a half ton and loved it. I bought a new camper that should have been fine (on paper), but after we loaded up all the stuff associated with kids, firewood, bikes, etc, we were overloaded and the tow experience was poor. Upgraded to a 3/4 ton and it tows so much better. Less movement, less push, less noise. It just felt more solid all around.

I will never own a half ton truck again. The price difference to move to a 3/4 or 1 ton is pretty minimal, and the upgrade in towing experience is well worth it with a growing family.

You can absolutely tow a smaller trailer with a half ton, but you limit yourself to trailer size and "stuff" that you bring with you.

[Bobbo]

Keeth1123 wrote:
The micro light 25fkbs has caught my eye. 7,800 pounds gvwr on it

So I guess the estimate is 780 pound tongue + WDH = 880

The amount of weight on the tongue is 10% to 15%. The 10% number is, in my opinion, light. To prevent sway, you should try to get closer to the 15% number. With a 7800 pound GVWR, I would recommend assuming a tongue weight north of 1000 pounds. Plus the WDH, of course.

[Keeth1123]

MitchF150 wrote:
The name of the trailer is not really a good indicator of it's weight.. Neither is it's brochure 'dry weights'...

Look at the sticker for the rigs GVWR. Sure, you don't load anything in your rig, so you'll never get to that weight, but look at it anyway, because eventually, you'll get there... ha, ha... 🙂

I have a #7000 GVWR TT that is called a "Mini-Lite".. It's loaded for bear and I carry full load of fresh water too!

Tow it with an F150.. OMG.. 🙂

Plus I load the bed with all kinds of stuff too..

Tows fine and made a few mods to help, but in the end, it's a great tow and has some
108,000 miles on it now..

In the end, get the rig that works best for you and if it works, "you chose wisely".. If not... Well, then "you chose poorly".. 🙂

Good luck! Mitch

The micro light 25fkbs has caught my eye. 7,800 pounds gvwr on it

So I guess the estimate is 780 pound tongue + WDH = 880

[edd210]

In 2017 I bought a Coleman 192RD and was pulling it with a 1500
Silverado with the large V6. Okay if you tow on flat land. Looked at Ford trucks and bought a F250. The dealer said I could tow wth a F150 but the package I needed would cost a third more than the F250. It was not as much the tongue weight but the towing power. We went to a campground with a 25% grade and had no problem. F250 the better deal.

[ktmrfs]

until around 2020 model years, 3/4 ton cc 4x4 diesel had about the same cargo capacity of a similar 1/2 ton, 1800-2400lbs. GM finally bit the bullet and made the std 2500 the next class up, same as a 1 ton with a 11,500 GVWR.

Other than that, there really isn't much difference in cargo capacity between similar configuration 1/2 and 3/4 ton, And most 1/2 tons are more than capable of handling a trailer with a 1000lb tongue weight and a few passenger and some stuff in the bed.

[MitchF150]

The name of the trailer is not really a good indicator of it's weight.. Neither is it's brochure 'dry weights'...

Look at the sticker for the rigs GVWR. Sure, you don't load anything in your rig, so you'll never get to that weight, but look at it anyway, because eventually, you'll get there... ha, ha... 🙂

I have a #7000 GVWR TT that is called a "Mini-Lite".. It's loaded for bear and I carry full load of fresh water too!

Tow it with an F150.. OMG.. 🙂

Plus I load the bed with all kinds of stuff too..

Tows fine and made a few mods to help, but in the end, it's a great tow and has some 108,000 miles on it now..

In the end, get the rig that works best for you and if it works, "you chose wisely".. If not... Well, then "you chose poorly".. 🙂

Good luck! Mitch

[ken56]

I had a Silverado 1500 and pulled a 30ft. Coleman with it. No problem. 6800 lbs. with a close to 800 lb. tongue wt. fully loaded and ready to camp. It was a rear kitchen floor plan so that took some of the weight off of the tongue with all the kitchen weight back there and water tank over the axles. Trailers are out there that are 1/2 ton friendly.

[NamMedevac_70]

Most folks I see towing microlite TTs are using a WDH with the anti sway bars or chains. This bumps up their towing capacity on the truck hitch. The TTs are not as lite as they look.

[GrandpaKip]

1800 lb payload
600 lb tongue weight
6000 lb gross
5000 lb loaded ready to go
Wachu talkin bout Willis?

[Keeth1123]

My door says 1565 max cargo

2 adults and a 1k tongue weight and your done.

Looking at flagstaff micro 25fkbs. Acccordijg to every forum on the net, the listed weights are way off. So when you add hundreds of pounds to get the teal weight it’s always over or at best exactly at it.

[Lwiddis]

Maximum tongue weight on a Silverado 1500 is 1,250 pounds.

[dodge_guy]

My Excursion (built on a 3/4 SD chassis) had an 1800lb payload. My 16 Ram 1500 has a 1650lb payload.
You could pull something with a 1000lb tongue weight and that leaves you with enough for a driver and passenger and some other stuff.