Is this a can of worms?

[mleekamp]

Okay, A friend with 3/4 ton Dodge noted my 1500 (half ton) has too little tow capacity. True, there is a difference, I don't argue that at all. But look at this...

in 2000, I had a 2500HD Chevy with a 10k tow rating (WD hitch)
in 2005, I had an F150 with 9500k tow rating (WD)
today, I have a 1500 GMC with a 9700k tow rating (WD)

I also currently have a 1979 Chevy with a 5k tow rating (WD).

My point to my friend is that over the years, the 1500 has become what the old 3/4 ton trucks were...they evolved. I keep within my tow rating no matter what, but am I correct thinking the half ton trucks have double capacity than what they used to?

Remember the 1500HD's? Ford even had F250 and F250 Super Duty (before it became just the SD model).

What do you think?

[rhagfo]

mleekamp wrote:
Okay, A friend with 3/4 ton Dodge noted my 1500 (half ton) has too little tow capacity. True, there is a difference, I don't argue that at all. But look at this...

in 2000, I had a 2500HD Chevy with a 10k tow rating (WD hitch)
in 2005, I had an F150 with 9500k tow rating (WD)
today, I have a 1500 GMC with a 9700k tow rating (WD)

Well sorry to say I would rather tow that 9,700# trailer with my 2001 Ram 2500 than a new 1500, running gear is still far more stout under a 12 year old 2500 than a new 1500. I will say the 1500 has improved brakes, but the Ram was still rated at 8,800 GVWR.

[APT]

TomG2 wrote:
My 2012 Silverado 1500 had a payload capacity of 1,550 pounds. My 2013 Silverado 2500HD has a payload of 3,040 pounds. Therein lies the difference. If you decide to tow a 9,700 pound trailer with your 1500, you will be dangerous and disappointed.

Tow ratings and RVing do not mix well. Towing a boat at the tow rating with only a driver is usually under all ratings and plenty safe. An RV, not likely.

I do agree that today's half tons are more capable than those of thirty years ago.

I agree they accelerate quicker than year ago. Seems payloads are about the same, or a bit lower with the average equipment a lot more than 30 years ago.

[The_Texan]

TomG2 wrote:
If you decide to tow a 9,700 pound trailer with your 1500, you will be dangerous and disappointed.

I do agree that today's half tons are more capable than those of thirty years ago.

Wrong on your assumption of dangerous and disappointed. I tow 10K with the 1500 in my signature, which is UNDER the rated limit, in the mountains of the west and am very happy with the performance and the stability. I do NOT have to tow with that truck, as we have ¾t and 1 ton diesels at the ranch to use, but I find the Silverado is just as capable and more comfortable than the larger trucks, at that weight.

[Vulcaneer]

Bob Landry wrote:
You can hit over $60K for a F150 King Ranch with all the whistles and bells. That's a lot of coin for any truck, let alone basically a grocery getter.

F-150 trucks in Texas must be painted in gold leaf. I'll bet you can exceed $45K....But $60K? What kind of bells and whistles are on those babies?

[Vulcaneer]

mleekamp wrote:

in 2000, I had a 2500HD Chevy with a 10k tow rating (WD hitch)
in 2005, I had an F150 with 9500k tow rating (WD)
today, I have a 1500 GMC with a 9700k tow rating (WD)

I also currently have a 1979 Chevy with a 5k tow rating (WD).

My point to my friend is that over the years, the 1500 has become what the old 3/4 ton trucks were...they evolved. I keep within my tow rating no matter what, but am I correct thinking the half ton trucks have double capacity than what they used to?

What do you think?

Not sure they have DOUBLED. But I would agree todays 1500's are way beyond what a 1500 used to be some 10 to 15 years ago. More in tow capacity, but only somewhat more in payload capacity.

Since you are pulling a TT with a WD hitch, I think your 1500 will do it just fine. As long as your loaded TT weight is below the rating. The WD hitch should make your described tongue weight well under your payload capacity.

[Bob_Landry]

mleekamp wrote:
Okay, A friend with 3/4 ton Dodge noted my 1500 (half ton) has too little tow capacity. True, there is a difference, I don't argue that at all. But look at this...

in 2000, I had a 2500HD Chevy with a 10k tow rating (WD hitch)
in 2005, I had an F150 with 9500k tow rating (WD)
today, I have a 1500 GMC with a 9700k tow rating (WD)

I also currently have a 1979 Chevy with a 5k tow rating (WD).

My point to my friend is that over the years, the 1500 has become what the old 3/4 ton trucks were...they evolved. I keep within my tow rating no matter what, but am I correct thinking the half ton trucks have double capacity than what they used to?

Remember the 1500HD's? Ford even had F250 and F250 Super Duty (before it became just the SD model).

What do you think?

You are correct in that 1/2 ton trucks have greatly evolved. I have to question if they have progressed as for as the truck ads say they have. I towed 8000 lbs with a Tundra that's one of the stoutest 1/2 tons made. It was rated to pull 10,000, but I really felt that 8K was maxxing it, and I never did any heavy duty mountain towing with it, mostly Interstate and well paved level roads. I'm happier and more comfortable having traded up to a F250 and not worrying if I'm safe or not.
An example is the Ford Ecoboost. It may tow 11,300 and have a big payload according to the specs, but it will be interesting to see how a 6 cylinder, turbo or otherwise, is going to hold up to the rigors of continuous long distance, heavy towing with those turbos kicked in all the time. That's a lot of heat and a lot of stress on that motor, but Ford says it will do it. We'll see.
Bottom line is, when you're towing a heavy trailer across the Colorado Rockies, there's no substitute for payload capacity, braking capability, and cubic inches.

[the_happiestcam]

[Bob_Landry]

You can hit over $60K for a F150 King Ranch with all the whistles and bells. That's a lot of coin for any truck, let alone basically a grocery getter.

[crickeydog]

mleekamp wrote:
What do you think?

I buy 1 ton's to avoid being concerned about towing issues concerning what we tow.

Last week I saw a 2013 Ford 1/2 ton truck on a dealers lot that listed for $55K+. A 1/2 ton!!!:E Anybody pay's close to that kind of $'s for a 1/2 ton should get exactly what they deserve; A $50K pine straw hauler 2X4 pickerupper grocery getter soccer momma/daddy gasser.

Remember...you asked. JMHO.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[TomG2]

My 2012 Silverado 1500 had a payload capacity of 1,550 pounds. My 2013 Silverado 2500HD has a payload of 3,040 pounds. Therein lies the difference. If you decide to tow a 9,700 pound trailer with your 1500, you will be dangerous and disappointed. No, I cannot explain why manufacturers overstate the tow ratings of their half ton models. Sales, maybe?

I do agree that today's half tons are more capable than those of thirty years ago.

[the_bear_II]

I think you can never have too much truck for safety and reliability.

Towing an 8000 lb trailer with a 1500 and then with a 2500 or 3500 provides greater stability during unusual conditions and situations. Curvy mountain roads, extreme stops, wind/weather, long and steep grades or downhills, the more truck the better.

I started out with a Dodge Ramcharger, moved up to a 2500, then a 3500 and now have a 4500. I have never felt safer or more confident when towing now that I have the 4500. No more white knuckles on long steep downgrades or in panic stop conditions.

[blt2ski]

MOST rigs today have more tow capacity than they did when I first bought a new rig in 81. An 8 lug 2500 came with typically a 300CI I6 with maybe 105-110hp and 250-300 lb ft of torque. A BB had 200hp and just over 300 lb ft of torque. Today std motors in an 8lug rig seem to have 250-300hp, and mid 300 lbs of torque, with diesel options of 300-400hp and upwards of 800 lb ft of torque. Since tow capacity is more or less based on power, yes, ANY rig today has more potential than in the past.

BUT< one still has to deal with what the chassis can handle, or how much payload you have to work with. Even then, a typical 8lug rig has more payload today than they did in the past, so again, more potential for the ability to tow a higher wt trailer. This is also true of the 5 or 6 lug half tons too. Even the mini trucks have motors that are bigger and better than the 76 toyota I had back in HS.

I do not know what you are towing, I have my own personal limits to tow with a given truck. It is not what the manufactures rate things at. SOme cases I am lower, others higher. I'll personally go to about 2x the GRAWR of a given rig. I find that over this amount, the trailer starts to wag the truck per say in some instances. So for a typical 8 lug 2500, with a 6100-6800 RA, that is about 12-14K lbs of trailer. SOme are rated to over this. One can pull over this and be safe! That is just my personal limit. I would have no issues pulling that with todays SB8 motors either. As the trannies are better, motor stronger etc than BB motors of yor!

Marty