Help making a decision on truck purchase.

[Camaurice]

I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.

[mkirsch]

Keeping what you got isn't free.

I'm already off to a rip roaring start this year. Went to pull my trusty 2002 Silverado 3500 out of the barn, won't barely move. Bunch of transmission codes.

I think my 2015 Silverado 1500's torque converter is coming apart too. It's got the "shutter" that everyone posts about and it's right in that mileage range where the torque converters go bad. Just Saturday it started throwing a message "Service 4WD" and won't shift into 4x4.

[Grit_dog]

And it took til page 4 for the first 1 ton recommendation! Lol. Good job guys.

I love how much some of you make up or read into someone’s post when replying…it’s fun to read the responses.
But back on topic, yeah it’s totally half ton towable. But depends on what the OP expects to do with the truck overall, how many miles towing, expectations of how well it will tow, where towing will occur, propensity for mods to the truck (some folks can’t or won’t do modifications) and how much power u want out of the skinny pedal.

Now, by 20-30-40 years ago standards a new hot rod half ton will probably be acceptable performance wise, even moreso if you’re sticking to low altitude and flyover states.
But I can tell you matter of factly that a new 5.3 10speed GM towing package won’t pull real grades at the speed limit. Even at low altitude.
A 6klb boat is a 5000rpm run at maybe 60 mph tops up a 6% grade behind that truck.

Just providing perspective. If the op has a 6.0 4 speed gasser now, and ok with the performance then new 1/2 ton can be as good or a bit better. If the OP has a LBZ, even bone stock, he will find any NA new gasser very disappointing.

[blt2ski]

Jerry,

Looking up the specs, they do say a gvwr of 7000. BUT it has two 3700 lb axles! So the trailer suspension shoukd be able to go higher. The BIG question woukd be frame etc.
When all is said and done, with proper loading etc, the three I saw online at Winnebago are towable by a majority of the 15 series trucks. I can find exceptions, my family of 6 in a crew cab with 1409-1500 lbs of HW, to name one that a 15 woukd not work. Id be pitentially over loading the 9200 gvw 3500's ive had in the past. I woukd pull them as i woukd not be over thee RA by 500-1000 lbs.

IF the OP need a newer truck, a properly setup 15 should be looked at for the reasons they stated. A 15 will not be smaller in size propirtions generally speaking enough to say its smaller.

marty

[rhagfo]

Camaurice wrote:
I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.

I chuckle at these "Getting a 150/1500 so I have a smaller truck! We Park Host and drive many different Park trucks from Nissan Frontiers to F550 dump trucks. Just the other day drove a newer F150 CC LB that felt every bit as big as our Ram 3500 CC LB DRW!

Do yourself a favor get at least a 2500/250, if not a 3500/350 SRW there isn't that much size differences.

[deltabravo]

cptqueeg wrote:
Keep your truck for towing, etc and get a Toyota Corolla Hybrid to conserve fuel. Buying a new big$$$, less capable, truck to conserve fuel is pointless, you'll conserve money by not buying it.

Bet answer yet.

Think of all the fuel you can buy with the extra money you will be spending making an expensive truck payment every month.

[MFL]

Hey Marty...from my experience, purchasing/shopping for several new FWs, the dry wts given are for the entire trailer, sitting on the scale, disconnected from truck. The dry pin wt is normally about 20% of this figure. So, if the entire dry wt of trailer is 5,500, the dry pin would be 1,100. Then fully loaded 7,000, sitting on the scale, truck disconnected/trailer only, would have 1,400 pin wt, when reconnected to truck.

This the reason some FWs with 10K gvwr only have 4,400 axles. Mine has 5,200 axles, but a 12,110 gvwr.

Jerry

[blt2ski]

Grit,

That part where it list wieght, later the hitch wieght.... a bit confusing to me... as most trailer soecs list an axle, hitch and total....
assuming you're correct, I'm reading and understanding correctly. Yes, you woukd have about 1400 lbs of payload for clothes, food etc.
I'll stick with one has up to around 7000 on acles, an additional 1500 hitch, for a total of around 8500 gvw.
I never have liked gvwr's that are not listed as the sum of the parts.
I would bet a proper setup GM with a 5.3, 6.2 coukd pull this trailer at wieghts im showing. Even the TD or turbo 4cyl have appropriate specs to do so. its more of an issue from a paylod standpoint for the trucks themselves.
I also think my 4.3 woukd generally speaking pull it too. Elevation might be an issue above 5-6000'. I'll still get from point A to B in one piece. My biggest worry would be the AAM 8.5" 10 bolt RA. A 9.5 like in the V8 rigs, no questions.

no right or wrong per say.

marty

[Grit_dog]

CWilson wrote:
I suspect the salesman will say.

The price is MSRP, non negotiable.
However I do see some half ton models do have factory incentives with quite a few on the lot. They're specific models with specific powertrains and options. Most likely what was sitting in storage lots for months waiting on chips. Good luck with any of these Covid vehicles. Sales folks will outright laugh at you currently if you want to order an HD truck optioned how you want it and expect to get something off of MSRP. The local GMC dealer here will tell you MSRP to order on a 3500, and they're only getting allocated less than 6 a month so you go on the waiting list with no solid dates.

Personally I think anyone who buys a vehicle right now new, with interest rates spiraling up, and all the shortage/manufacturing BS you'll be getting due to the effects and after effects from Covid, is a complete fool. Be prepared to spend plenty of time at the dealer for recalls and other warranty foolishness.

Unless things have changed in the last 2-3 months, last fall most 1/2 ton models save for the top of the line models could be found with serious discounts again. Like pre Covid discounts. Or close to it.

[Grit_dog]

Marty, the 5300-5600 brochure dry weights are inclusive of whatever the sum of the axle weights AND pin weight is.
Not arguing whether those numbers as published are accurate, but in your post, you tacked on a non existent “additional” 1100lbs pin weight. That should be subtracted from dry weight to get dry axle weights, not added to the overall dry weight.

[Grit_dog]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
@Nammedevac70.
I am thankful for your service in our military. Regardless of your petty internet posts. Thank you sir!

Your appreciation of my service is phony to me and others.

I’m sorry you feel that way. (Also genuinely)

[blt2ski]

the trailers i looked up have what I will call an artificial low gvwr. Yes brochure is 7000 lbs. Empty wt is listed in the 5300-5600 lb on axles, 1100 on hitch. so about 400-500 lbs of payload. They do have two 3700 lb axles.
In my view this trailer can go down the road at 7000 on axles 1400-1600 on the hitch. Which is doable by the heavier setup 15 series trucks. This is granted as large of a 5w I would want to tow. I woukd also assume OP is single or with a soiuse. If OP has 4 adult sized teens as I had, they woukd need a 25 series for oayload purposes
I would also want a 15 with a min 9.5" RA. Toyota jas a 10.5" iirc on some models. At 7' wide, a 5w, aerodynic ussues will be less than a ball mount.
if ordering new, the Ford with the HDPP or GM with its equal would be only choices imho. These two options give those rigs a payload in the 2500-3000 lb relm.
As noted, going from a 4sp auto 25 series, to a newer 15 series with the 8 or 10 spd, even the 6 sp as I have, I went from 10-13 to 17-22 with my GM V6 with equal power to my vortec 350. Better overall performance. I am missing 1500 lbs of door sticker payload. Thats a semi easy fix.

my 02 on this

Marty

[CWilson]

I suspect the salesman will say.

The price is MSRP, non negotiable.
However I do see some half ton models do have factory incentives with quite a few on the lot. They're specific models with specific powertrains and options. Most likely what was sitting in storage lots for months waiting on chips. Good luck with any of these Covid vehicles. Sales folks will outright laugh at you currently if you want to order an HD truck optioned how you want it and expect to get something off of MSRP. The local GMC dealer here will tell you MSRP to order on a 3500, and they're only getting allocated less than 6 a month so you go on the waiting list with no solid dates.

Personally I think anyone who buys a vehicle right now new, with interest rates spiraling up, and all the shortage/manufacturing BS you'll be getting due to the effects and after effects from Covid, is a complete fool. Be prepared to spend plenty of time at the dealer for recalls and other warranty foolishness.

[NamMedevac_70]

Grit dog wrote:
@Nammedevac70.
I am thankful for your service in our military. Regardless of your petty internet posts. Thank you sir!

I am responding to your constant petty post against me whenever I post anything or comment on this forum. Your personal dislike is plain to everyone and I have never attacked you or even know you knuckle head. Get over it Jackson.

My so called by you petty internet post contain links to recent business news articles related to the issue being discussed.

Your appreciation of my service is phony to me and others.

[Grit_dog]

Lots of talk about mpgs and lots of personal opinions or data.
Until a few years ago, you couldn’t convince me that any comparable half ton or HD gasser was appreciably different in mpgs from its competition +/- a few years or a decade.

That said I have owned, been assigned (work trucks) or been responsible for more trucks than most all “normal” consumers. Not all but a good cross section of brands and models all with significant seat time.
And despite some of the engine management issues with new tech and despite the curmudgeons’ views on transmissions with more than 4 maybe 6 forward gears,
I can say confidently a NEW 10 speed 350-400hp pickup will better the best comparative example of a fuel injected 4 speed truck from 15-20 years ago by several mpg….empty.
Towing is much closer or the same, or maybe worse if the better power and gearing makes your right foot a little itchier.

But apples to apples, for a normal lightly used consumer vehicle it’s not going to save you more in gas than it costs for everything else.

[Grit_dog]

Camaurice wrote:
I do not know how to reply to each individual, but want to thank everyone for their opinions. All makes good sense. Especially the one that says keep our 2500 and save money. The reason for possibly getting a new truck was because we are in snow country and our existing truck is not 4 wheel drive. We thought about selling our awd car and getting a 4 wheel drive truck Going down to one vehicle. We have a lot to think about.

Yup sounds like not just the towing question thing.
Be forewarned, your old truck, not being diesel and especially not being 4wd and even moreso if it’s only an ext cab may surprise you how little it’s worth, comparatively, even if it’s lower miles and great shape.
Your finances are none of our business so just general recommendations. And your vehicle uses/needs, suggesting you could downsize to one vehicle, seem to be a larger part of the equation than for most (that aren’t retired and/or only have one driver needin wheels).

Now the “but”. Gonna assume you’re realistically trying to overall save money with your change in vehicle choices and that is one of the greatest motivators in your query.
There are many factors to figure in, only one of which is towing the 5ver.
Your current truck even if it’s cherry and low mile is at best a 20% down payment on a new CC 4x4 half ton that is reasonably well equipped. Yet, if it is cherry, what’s it cost you a year for insurance (the only appreciable cost that is doubled up in your scenario)? Old car , old people assume good driving record, $100/mo or less with large liability limits and comp/collision. Peanuts if you drop the collision coverage even if you feel need to keep high liability.
My point is, if the truck is in great shape and reasonably will be for a while, there is not a more economical option than keeping what ya got. Period.

Anything beyond that is a want or need to upgrade based on use, preference or “can’t take it with ya.”

Oh and if ya ain’t in a hurry but still wanna upgrade, the falling prices (finally) haven’t hit near bottom yet.