Trailer Weight vs Truck Capacity (I know, I know....)

[unh044]

I'm sure you will all feel that this topic is beaten to death, but in spite of a TON of reading, I'm still not sure I understand, so I figured I'd better ask.

I'm looking at a 37foot long trailer, a K-Z 329ik, which weighs 8100ish pounds empty. GVWR on it is 9500 pounds. Thus begins the issue...

My current truck is a 2016 Silverado 1500, 5.3, and 3.42 gear ratio. My read is that my truck isn't big enough for this camper. I can probably get it home empty, but once stuff starts getting added to it, I'll be over weight very quickly.

I've been looking at new rigs, and done the math, and on paper the new Ford F150s, outfitted properly, appear to be able to handle the weights. Again, this is on paper, according to the math. Everyone seems to say, though, that they wouldn't tow a camper this size with a 1/2 ton pickup, no matter what the math shows.

So... what is the 3/4 ton going to give me that the properly outfitted 1/2 ton won't?

I'd rather have a 1/2 ton, since this is my daily driver, and I think a 3/4 ton will get old quickly on the frost heaved roads of New England. Having said that though, I know that safety is more important than comfort, so if I have to put up with driving a tank, so be it. I just want to better understand the "why" of it.

Feel free to use small words, and pretend I'm an idiot.... thanks!

[Grit_dog]

VoodooMedicineMan wrote:
No less than a 350 dually preferably a 450 dually

I'd say 5500 is required......

[kw_00]

Good choice on the 2500, see my sig. I have similar fifth wheel and wouldn't consider a 1/2 ton for that job. I may have missed it but what 2500 truck did u go with?

[Cummins12V98]

unh044 wrote:
So that you can all rest assured that I'm not out there being a menace to the motoring public.... I picked up my 2500 this week. Haven't done any towing yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll feel better in this than I would have in the 1500.

Thanks for all the input.

Fill in your sig. Post pics when u can.

[unh044]

So that you can all rest assured that I'm not out there being a menace to the motoring public.... I picked up my 2500 this week. Haven't done any towing yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll feel better in this than I would have in the 1500.

Thanks for all the input.

[2012Coleman]

So go ahead and do it, then come back and ask if there is an ointment to treat your white knuckles.

I think your math is wrong. If your that much in love with your 1500, buy a smaller TT - one within it's limits. Airbags and shocks don't increase payload.

Good luck getting this thing home as your tongue weight will be well over 1000 lbs - how did you calculate that? Did you check the weight limit on the receiver?

You hauling your family in that setup, or are they driving in a separate vehicle? I wouldn't put my family in that one.

Good luck - you seem to be in need of it.

[lanerd]

patriotgrunt wrote:
I used to tow a 4000 lbs bass boat behind a 3/4 ton Dodge and I never knew it was back there. Later, I sold the Dodge and went to a very capable F-150. It towed the boat fine but I definitely knew it was back there. I could feel it as I drove and especially when I came to a stop. I then traded that truck in for a 3/4 F-250 and again I tow that boat without knowing its back there. Now imagine three times the weight and how much the difference in towing will be.

Although the 1/2 ton can do the job, the 3/4 ton is just built to tow. It's much more capable, stable, and safer.

There is a HUGE difference between pulling a bass boat with little or no appreciable tongue weight than a TT with a 1000 lb tongue weight. Apples and oranges.

I'm sure the main issue here with the OP would be the payload capacity of the tow vehicle. Once you load the trailer/hitch plus people, animals, tools, camping equipment, etc.... you will be at or over the 1/2 ton payload capacity and probably the RAWR also.

Ron

[Cummins12V98]

STABILITY!!!

[LarryJM]

atwowheelguy wrote:
Here's a difference in the 150 and a HD truck.

My 1-ton "SD" E-350 and yes it has a factory label that says "Super Duty" has a dana 60 semifloat 8 bolt axle rated at 6,084. They changed from a full to semi float in 2001 on the Vans and during a tech seminar with Ford Factory suspension reps back in 2002 I questioned this change in even my 78 E-250 had a full float rear axle and their reply was "they have never had a documented failure in the higher rated semi float axles on any of their vehicles. So while the concept and added security of a full vs semi float is there, it's an added security that is not realistically needed.

You might disagree, but I now have 100K on my Van and my rear axle weight has consistantly been withing 200lb of the max rating on my rear axle when towing over 50K of those 100K miles.

Larry

[atwowheelguy]

Here's a difference in the 150 and a HD truck.

[SouthpawHD]

Lots of great info posted. So I'll give you my experience: I previously had a 27' Jayco and towed it with a 1500 GMC and it towed just fine. Upgraded to a 2500 Chevy and it towed awesome. Upgraded my trailer to a 34', and outside of towing just a few miles, there's NO WAY I'd want to or enjoy towing that size with anything less than a 3/4 ton. As a matter of fact, towed it to Yellowstone this summer and it handled perfectly.

Now, can it be done with a 150? Probably. Go visit the Ford EcoBoost forum and those guys tow some CRAZY weights. But I can't imagine it would be any fun.

[patriotgrunt]

I used to tow a 4000 lbs bass boat behind a 3/4 ton Dodge and I never knew it was back there. Later, I sold the Dodge and went to a very capable F-150. It towed the boat fine but I definitely knew it was back there. I could feel it as I drove and especially when I came to a stop. I then traded that truck in for a 3/4 F-250 and again I tow that boat without knowing its back there. Now imagine three times the weight and how much the difference in towing will be.

Although the 1/2 ton can do the job, the 3/4 ton is just built to tow. It's much more capable, stable, and safer.

[bid_time]

The best thing to do is figure out what "payload" capacity you need. Make sure you allow for how much stuff you will have in the trailer and how much stuff you will have in the truck. Then buy a truck that has the payload rating (see the yellow sticker on the door in the truck) that you need (and all the other ratings also).

The calculators here can help out with that. clicky

I agree with you, a 3/4 ton does not make a very good daily driver, First Hand Knowledge. Just because you need a hammer doesn't necessarily mean you should be using a 20 lbs. hammer.

[FireRob]

With out reading all other replies I'll say this. Go drive some of the 3/4 and one ton's. You might be surprised how smooth and comfortable riding they can be. My previous Ram 2500 had coil springs on all four corners and my wife loved riding in it. She even admits riding in my 3500 dually is a better ride than her minivan. Now about my '05 2500. She hated riding in that one. You can even get a Ram 2500 with air suspension on all four corners that I would assume is an even better ride then the coil springs (haven't drove one so can't give my opinion)

All my talk about the 3/4 tons. I also agree with the first couple replies. Go with a 350/3500 and never have to worry again about what you might haul.

[korbe]

The biggest safety feature I noticed in comparing my old F150 and the new F250 was the brakes. Big difference. Huge difference in power also.