We just purchased our first travel trailer. We are looking at purchasing a new tow vehicle. Would like recommendations on what tow vehicle is best what to avoid. We will be towing a bunkhouse GVWR is 7,500 lbs. TIA for your recommendations.

Chevy 1500Ford F150You should get the trailering package.You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.

Tongue weight will need to be about 1000 pounds. Many half tons won’t be rated for that weight. My 1500’s max is 970 pounds. Avoid half tons.

bgum wrote:Chevy 1500Ford F150You should get the trailering package.You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.Lol, 5 pages in the TT forum with an owner scared of his own shadow and a buncha folks telling him how bad it will be with his capable half ton and the same weight trailer…..Fwiw, any 7500lb trailer is absolutely half ton towable and I agree with you. Just struck me funny is all!

OP, tow vehicles to avoid?Since you literally provide no other parameters for consideration to your very open ended question…avoid these….Anything mid size. Any smaller less capable full size suvs. Any half tons that are base model drivetrains. No go karts Definitely no motorcyclesCompact cars and mid size cars are out of the question. No minivansThat should aboot cover it!Next caller please…

bgum wrote:Chevy 1500Ford F150You should get the trailering package.You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.FordRamGMCTrucks either 1/2 ton (F150/1500), 3/4 or 1 ton from the three American manufacturers. A HD truck lets you move up to a heavier TT later without buying a new truck. With tow packages for the 1/2 ton trucks. Avoid other brand pickups (like Toyota) which are not suited for towing. Try all three trucks brands out, you will like one more than the others probably.Get a good towing hitch, a weight distributing hitch (WDH)When towing keep your speed down to 55-62 mph, mostly stick to the right hand lane on highways and just let people pass you.Your fuel mileage with be optimal in that range. Expect mpg in the 8 to 12 mpg range. And towing stability is much better and safer in that speed range.

Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations | Good Sam Community

bgum
Explorer
May 15, 2022
Chevy 1500
Ford F150
You should get the trailering package.

You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 15, 2022
Tongue weight will need to be about 1000 pounds. Many half tons won’t be rated for that weight. My 1500’s max is 970 pounds. Avoid half tons.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 15, 2022
bgum wrote:
Chevy 1500
Ford F150
You should get the trailering package.

You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.

Lol, 5 pages in the TT forum with an owner scared of his own shadow and a buncha folks telling him how bad it will be with his capable half ton and the same weight trailer…..
Fwiw, any 7500lb trailer is absolutely half ton towable and I agree with you.
Just struck me funny is all!
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 15, 2022
OP, tow vehicles to avoid?
Since you literally provide no other parameters for consideration to your very open ended question…avoid these….
Anything mid size.
Any smaller less capable full size suvs.
Any half tons that are base model drivetrains.
No go karts
Definitely no motorcycles
Compact cars and mid size cars are out of the question.
No minivans

That should aboot cover it!
Next caller please…
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 15, 2022
bgum wrote:
Chevy 1500
Ford F150
You should get the trailering package.

You will be a little heavy for the lighter trucks such as Tacoma etc.

Ford
Ram
GMC

Trucks either 1/2 ton (F150/1500), 3/4 or 1 ton from the three American manufacturers. A HD truck lets you move up to a heavier TT later without buying a new truck. With tow packages for the 1/2 ton trucks. Avoid other brand pickups (like Toyota) which are not suited for towing. Try all three trucks brands out, you will like one more than the others probably.
Get a good towing hitch, a weight distributing hitch (WDH)
When towing keep your speed down to 55-62 mph, mostly stick to the right hand lane on highways and just let people pass you.
Your fuel mileage with be optimal in that range. Expect mpg in the 8 to 12 mpg range. And towing stability is much better and safer in that speed range.
Retired_Enjoy_L
Explorer
May 15, 2022
We were thinking of a Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon or Toyota Sequoia, rather than a truck. Thoughts on that for towing?
ppine
Explorer II
May 15, 2022
Retired,
Your choices are a little light for your current trailer. They have shorter wheel bases. What happens if you get a slightly larger trailer or get off the main highways?
rjstractor
Nomad
May 15, 2022
Retired Enjoy Life wrote:
We were thinking of a Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon or Toyota Sequoia, rather than a truck. Thoughts on that for towing?

The full size SUVs listed share many of the same components as full size pickups. I would look at a Suburban or Expedition Max for the extra space and wheelbase. The Sequoia's max tow rating is under the GVWR of your trailer. Also, payload can be an issue with any of the full size SUVs. Hitch weight on your trailer will be over 1000 lbs which eats up much of either a 1500 series pickup or full size SUVs payload.
bgum
Explorer
May 15, 2022
The 3 tv you are considering are marginal and would limit your selection of trailer. If you are set on those then reduce your weight of trailer as well as the length. Trucks do a much better job of towing and can be as nice inside as a suv.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 15, 2022
“We were thinking of a Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon or Toyota Sequoia, rather than a truck. Thoughts on that for towing? ”

I owned three Tahoes…’01, ‘07 and ‘15 and liked them all but I would not tow 7500 pounds with any of them. Max maybe six thousand. Wheelbase is another issue with a Tahoe. It’s too short for stability when a truck passes.