We sold our tow vehicle. We have a 2013 Premier 32bh and our 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 just wasn't quite cutting the mustard. It towed just fine as long as the road was flat. We decided that we better upgrade to a 2500 or we will end up with a ruined truck. So we sold it on Craigslist. Luckily we don't have a camping trip planned until March.My question is this - does anyone have any recommendations on tow vehicles - make, model and year? We've been looking at used in the range of 2005 - 2008. The 250/350 range. Thanks,Karen

Ford F-250 with a 6.8L, MY's 2005 and up.

Chevy with the 8.1 it is bullet proof

How much do you tow? Will you be getting a bigger/heavier trailer in the not to distant future? If you are sticking with what you have, the big gassers will do fine. Towing thousands of miles a year, through mountains or flat lands, take a look at diesels. Be careful of the Ford 6.0. In some of those years, they had major problems. Can't go wrong with DMax or Cummins.

Our TT is 6500#. So we need something that can easily tow 15,000#. We don't plan on upgrading our TT anytime soon.

Crawfordville wrote:Our TT is 6500#. So we need something that can easily tow 15,000#. We don't plan on upgrading our TT anytime soon.Easily tow 15000# = one ton diesel

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clubhouse
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
I'm a Chevy guy, my upgrade was from a '04 Chevy 1500 5.3 3.73 to '07.5 LMM Duramax. Towing with diesel is such a nicer experience vs a gasser in my experience. Also, having a 6 Speed is much better than my previous 4 speed transmissions.

If you don't mind the Chevy's classic body style I'ld look for Duramax with the LBZ, less emissions requirements and better towing fuel economy. That said I wanted the newer style so I got the LMM engine. Very pleased with the truck.
wski
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
2500 Dodge RAM diesel should do a fine job.
APT
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
camp-n-family wrote:
Our TT is 6500#.

I think you may be off a little here too. That looks to be a dry weight for that trailer. My 31' Premier weighs 6400lbs dry but is nearly 8000lbs once loaded. I suspect you'd be closer to that too.

...which is why a 2005 half ton was not cutting it.

Diesels get picky in that time frame. 2008 mandated new emmissions requirements and systems. Some people favor the prior, some the newer. I'm not sure I could stomach Ford's 6.4L from that time, and certainly not a 6.0L.

How many non towing miles with this be used for each year? If you were happy with the prior Chevy, how about a 2007.5+ GM HD gasser? 6.0L+ 6-spd rocks!
camp-n-family
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Our TT is 6500#.

I think you may be off a little here too. That looks to be a dry weight for that trailer. My 31' Premier weighs 6400lbs dry but is nearly 8000lbs once loaded. I suspect you'd be closer to that too.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
Crawfordville wrote:
The 15,000# pounds that I'm referencing is the weight of the following:
TT (6500#)
Gas in truck
bicycles
firewood
food
3 - 5 people
weight of the truck itself

With our Chevy 1500 we were around 13000 to 15000 pounds. The total that the Chevy could pull (the gross weighting) was 13,000.

The TV that we're looking at are 250 diesel. According to the owners manuals the gross rating is 22,000#.

Am I misunderstanding something?
Seems to me that your mixing up payload with tow capacity which are two different things. Gas in truck, bicycles, firewood, 3 - 5 people along with tounge weight get subtracted from payload of the TV. Your not towing this weight - your hauling it. Payload is often exceeded before towing capacity. Although the TV you mention seems more than adequate.
Crawfordville
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
The 15,000# pounds that I'm referencing is the weight of the following:
TT (6500#)
Gas in truck
bicycles
firewood
food
3 - 5 people
weight of the truck itself

With our Chevy 1500 we were around 13000 to 15000 pounds. The total that the Chevy could pull (the gross weighting) was 13,000.

The TV that we're looking at are 250 diesel. According to the owners manuals the gross rating is 22,000#.

Am I misunderstanding something?
brirene
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Crawfordville wrote:
Our TT is 6500#. So we need something that can easily tow 15,000#. We don't plan on upgrading our TT anytime soon.

Somethings not right with one of those numbers, and I assume its the 15k. No way a 1/2 ton would work for that. Assuming your 6500 figure is close to correct, a 3/4 ton should fit the bill, unless you pack an extraordinary amount.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
I think you should buy new. The Ford dually King Ranch 4 wheel drive will tow that trailer easily. Perhaps $65000+ but, hey, you only live once!
Mvander
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Crawfordville wrote:
Our TT is 6500#. So we need something that can easily tow 15,000#. We don't plan on upgrading our TT anytime soon.

Easily tow 15000# = one ton diesel
Crawfordville
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Our TT is 6500#. So we need something that can easily tow 15,000#. We don't plan on upgrading our TT anytime soon.

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