what size truck do i need to tow a 26' trailer

[jimmurr]

I have a 2003 chevy silverado with a v6 4.3...will this be able to tow a 26' travel trailer, dry weight approx 5700 lbs. if not what kind of ford f-150 would i need?
i'm new at this and not truck savvy, just retired and purchased this new trailer...but now what? I'd appreciate some help. thanks

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[Maury82]

donn0128 wrote:
5700 dry will probsbly tranalate to around 9000 pounds loaded ready to go. While you could get by with a 150/1500 for nearly the same money you could step up to a 2500 and tow worry free. Ford is really proud of their 150 ecoboosts. And unless you got the max tow package I dont think you would be real happy.

When I first started lurking two years ago in order to learn about RVing, and what type of tow vehicle I needed. I knew little about towing a RV, but I knew which trailer I wasnted, and it's size weight and length I was looking at.

At first, I almost ate the information of needing a larger truck 3/4 truck for a certain amount of weight, but when I started reading these bias responses against 1/2 ton trucks, and this push towards getting a huge 3/4 ton or larger truck, then I had an epiphany... these are truck guys,and they love big trucks!!

All guys are not into this big huge truck thing, and I'm one of those guys who really don't care for trucks, but I need one for this RV. Without needing one for this RV, I wouldn't drive one if it was free.

I know some guys like really big, powerful and high torque trucks, and the bigger the better. Once I realized that, I completely tuned out all the comments about tow vehicle size.

I purchased a 37ft 8,300lbs dry travel trailer last year, and just ordered a F-150 SCrew, 3.5 EB, 4x4, XLT, 6.5 box, with the heavy duty payload package (11,500 tow/2,500lbs payload).

I know nothing about towing, but I trust my judgement on this one, much more than I trust these bias opinions about what size truck is needed to tow this size travel trailer.

That response to the OP was awful, and there is no way I would be so gullible to make such a serious decision based on that doom and gloom comment you made.

You should feel an obligation to help us new and inexperienced out there, and not impart you bias opinion towards your preference for huge trucks, when there are better options out there. Everyone doesn't want, nor like huge trucks, and we just need the size and save truck for the job.

[bob213]

Get MORE truck than you think you will ever need. This may be your first trailer and the next may be bigger or heavier. Nothing worse than a white knuckle drive. I can't imagine going up the 4 lane to Shaver Lake with what you have. To go east you need to go over Tahachipe or Donner Summit. West is Pachecho Pass or Kettleman. Get a bigger truck.
I know you are new but there are specific forums for posting your question. This is not the correct one (re:2oldman's post) Anyway...welcome to the forum.:)

[drsteve]

jimmurr wrote:
good info. i'm in the san joaquin valley in Calif. to get to any place like the lake or ocean we have to climb elevations up to 5000' or lower to get to the coast. So i guess much of the travel will be traversing hills. thanks, you gave me something to think about.

The 4.3 isn't going to cut it. You want a 3/4 ton truck with a V8. Your 5700 dry TT will be around 7000 loaded, with around 1000 lb of tongue weight. That might work with a 1/2 ton in the flatlands. With hills and/or mountains, you will need more.

[jimmurr]

good info. i'm in the san joaquin valley in Calif. to get to any place like the lake or ocean we have to climb elevations up to 5000' or lower to get to the coast. So i guess much of the travel will be traversing hills. thanks, you gave me something to think about.

[MarkTwain]

jimmurr wrote:
I have a 2003 chevy silverado with a v6 4.3...will this be able to tow a 26' travel trailer, dry weight approx 5700 lbs. if not what kind of ford f-150 would i need?
i'm new at this and not truck savvy, just retired and purchased this new trailer...but now what? I'd appreciate some help. thanks

You first need to figure what your RV plans look like. What % of the time are you going to be traveling in mountains, flat roads, freeways, county roads, east coast, west coast, south west areas, etc etc. Rank the areas by %'s. These %'s will give you some real life experiences from which to base your choice of a truck. All things being equal, my choice is to have more power and towing capacity than I actually need. IMHO

[Lwiddis]

Same size needed to pull a 25 foot or 27 foot trailer! Seriously, it’s all about weight of the TT, payload of the TV and people and stuff in the TV.

[jfkmk]

jimmurr wrote:
I've been reading about this ecoboosts...is it an add on or a certain type of engine? looking to purchase a 2007 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew Short Bed 4 speed automatic with a v8 and tow package (not sure what kind of tow package). would that do?

The eco boost is a twin turbo v6. My 3.5L eco boost makes an amazing 375 HP and 470 pounds of torque.

[jimmurr]

I've been reading about this ecoboosts...is it an add on or a certain type of engine? looking to purchase a 2007 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew Short Bed 4 speed automatic with a v8 and tow package (not sure what kind of tow package). would that do?

[jfkmk]

donn0128 wrote:
5700 dry will probsbly tranalate to around 9000 pounds loaded ready to go. While you could get by with a 150/1500 for nearly the same money you could step up to a 2500 and tow worry free. Ford is really proud of their 150 ecoboosts. And unless you got the max tow package I dont think you would be real happy.

3300# of cargo seems pretty extreme even if you factor in 50 gallons of water, What on earth do you take camping?

[2oldman]

Op.. how did you find your way to this section of the forum?

[donn0128]

5700 dry will probsbly tranalate to around 9000 pounds loaded ready to go. While you could get by with a 150/1500 for nearly the same money you could step up to a 2500 and tow worry free. Ford is really proud of their 150 ecoboosts. And unless you got the max tow package I dont think you would be real happy.

[Iraqvet05]

I towed about the same weight with a 2007 Silverado (5.3, 3.42 gears) and it towed OK on flat open road but it was a total dog going up any hill even in the low elevations of Missouri. Given that, I doubt you will be happy towing that much weight with a 4.3. If I had to pick an F-150 to tow 5700 lbs, I'd look at an ecoboost otherwise, I'd look at a 2500.

[LadyRVer]

My first fifth-wheel was at 6300# (weighed) and I had a F-150, small v-8 engine at the time. It got me there, bogged down on the roads in No. GA.
Traded it for a Dodge Ram 1500 with the V-8 Magnum and it towed like a boat.

I now have a 26' TT and am towing with a 2500 5.7 Hemi Dodge. Tows like a champ, but will downsize to a 150 or 1500, just a v-8 engine.

Doable.. probably, depends on where you live, where you plan to go, but IMO
a tad short on the power.