Which truck do I buy for my Travel Trailer?

[Tony2238]

Hi, I have purchased a new Coachmen Catalina 35' travel trailer that has a empty weight of 7300lbs. Keep in mind that I will never haul water because of the extra weight aND I don't see overy 1000lbs wOrth of cArgo either, so my guess is a total weight of around 8500lbs???? I'm considering a Ford F250 diesel. Just now starting my research and would like some experienced replies. Thank you so much.

Tony

[deltabravo]

I'd say any 3/4 ton (2500 / 250) series truck aloing with a diesel engine is a great truck to get.

I own two diesel trucks. The diesel makes towing so much more effortless.

[mtofell1]

2500 is the right tool for the job. Sure, you can turn a stuck nut with the small wrench and kill yourself doing it but it sure works a lot better when you go get the right tool. Diesel or gas of any reasonably new truck will be fine. I tow similar weight with a newer 2500 gasser through all kinds of mountains out west and it's fine. I did it before with a diesel and it was better but only slightly.

The game is so much more than power. The 2500 suspension, brakes and other things is night and day compared to a 1500. I'd opt for a newer (better mpgs) gasser as opposed to an older diesel where you're paying the premium for the diesel you don't really need.

[myredracer]

OP, my suggestion also is for a 3/4 ton truck for something that heavy & long. 3/4 ton trucks also have beefier brakes and frames. Used to tow with an F150. Now have an F250 with V10 and 4.10 rear end. Excellent towing machine for our 29' 7K lb TT and a huge difference from an F150. We bought it as an ex-lease return vehicle and are very pleased for the amount of $$ we have into it.

You *might* get away with a 1/2 ton for shorter trips with not much elevation change. But as you are in Ca., I'd go for the 3/4 ton. If you don't absolutely need it, I find a 2WD as a 4WD takes away payload capacity and are approx. 5" higher off the ground. Also, a long bed and/or super or crew cab with longer wheelbase will help for towing a longer TT.

I also recommend shopping for a TT by GVWR to be safe. Not only are dry weights fictitious, you can't trust published CCC numbers either. Our TT for ex. has an advertised CCC of 1200 lbs. However, loaded up for an ordinary weekend camping trip, there is only about 200 lbs of CCC left and just one full holding tank would put us over the GVWR. Manufacturers weights vary all over the place though, but the problem is you won't find any published wet weights for a TT all loaded up for camping.

Tony2238 wrote:


Can you or anyone tell me where there are scales to weigh a tt?

Besides a CAT scale, also a commercial hwy weigh station scale. Can't mess around at one though and hold anyone up. May not find a spot to unhitch the TT or to do another pass. List of state weigh stations here. These are good if you just want the weight of your TV or just total weight of TT + TV.

Another is a grain elevator, which I have done once but not exactly the nicest of places to take an RV through and for unhooking or going for multiple passes.

Concrete plants also have scales but I would expect a pretty messy and busy place. Maybe a problem for multiple passes?

If at a CAT scale and doing multiple passes, tell the attendant inside so you don't get charged for each pass. I spent several hours once at a CAT scale doing multiple passes to adjust the WDH. All for $10. You may get stuck waiting for a line of commercial trucks to run through the scale too.

[ttavasc]

Tony2238 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Always check the sticker on uvw on the trailer.my travel trailer was quoted at 6800lbs but the sticker which put on the factory while leaving with all accessories and 2 propane tank is 6333 lbs. My travel trailer is 473 lbs less then the online and dealer specs.

Can you or anyone tell me where there are scales to weigh a tt?

http://catscale.com/

Put your zip code in the locator on the lower left of the page and see what pops up.....

[Tony2238]

silverfz wrote:
Always check the sticker on uvw on the trailer.my travel trailer was quoted at 6800lbs but the sticker which put on the factory while leaving with all accessories and 2 propane tank is 6333 lbs. My travel trailer is 473 lbs less then the online and dealer specs.

Can you or anyone tell me where there are scales to weigh a tt?

[padec21]

06Fargo wrote:
A tow vehicle with a trailer weight rating of around 2x what you actually want to tow makes for a nice setup.

Can't be done with a TT

[93Cobra2771]

joshuajim wrote:

mosseater wrote:
Color me "crazy" then, because every trip I take I pull out with 34' and 8000 lbs. .

Color me crazy too as I pull a scaled 8000# trailer with my F150. Of course it has the HD payload package with 2592# payload and 11,300# towing. Thats greater than many 3/4 tons. Someone mentioned brakes. The brake rotors are almost identical in size to a F250. I don't know if this is a HD feature or standard on all F150's.

I'm not a Ford person, I think that this is the only Ford I ever owned, but it met my needs for both daily driving and towing. Did I mention that the gas mileage sucks when towing? Usually 7 to 9 MPG towing and 14 to 15 daily here in the west.

It doesn't matter, it's still a half ton. Nothing less than a dually will suffice for this size load. So what if you are within specifications? 🙂

[itguy08]

Tony2238 wrote:

So you tow 8000lbs with a 1/2 ton?

Yes I do. F150 with Max Tow and 1875 lbs payload. Tows fine.

[silverfz]

Always check the sticker on uvw on the trailer.my travel trailer was quoted at 6800lbs but the sticker which put on the factory while leaving with all accessories and 2 propane tank is 6333 lbs. My travel trailer is 473 lbs less then the online and dealer specs.

[Tony2238]

joshuajim wrote:

mosseater wrote:
Color me "crazy" then, because every trip I take I pull out with 34' and 8000 lbs. .

Color me crazy too as I pull a scaled 8000# trailer with my F150. Of course it has the HD payload package with 2592# payload and 11,300# towing. Thats greater than many 3/4 tons. Someone mentioned brakes. The brake rotors are almost identical in size to a F250. I don't know if this is a HD feature or standard on all F150's.

I'm not a Ford person, I think that this is the only Ford I ever owned, but it met my needs for both daily driving and towing. Did I mention that the gas mileage sucks when towing? Usually 7 to 9 MPG towing and 14 to 15 daily here in the west.

So how does it pull in the mountains or very steep grades? Thanks for your input.

[joshuajim]

mosseater wrote:
Color me "crazy" then, because every trip I take I pull out with 34' and 8000 lbs. .

Color me crazy too as I pull a scaled 8000# trailer with my F150. Of course it has the HD payload package with 2592# payload and 11,300# towing. Thats greater than many 3/4 tons. Someone mentioned brakes. The brake rotors are almost identical in size to a F250. I don't know if this is a HD feature or standard on all F150's.

I'm not a Ford person, I think that this is the only Ford I ever owned, but it met my needs for both daily driving and towing. Did I mention that the gas mileage sucks when towing? Usually 7 to 9 MPG towing and 14 to 15 daily here in the west.

[Atlee]

I hit the "quote" button in order let anyone reading to know exactly which post I'm referring to.

Sometimes I can't figure out what post a later post is referring to. For me, it helps to have the post that's being referred to included in the current post.

Sometimes I will not if I'm giving a general answer to the OP.

Tony2238 wrote:
So do you hit the quote button to reply to each post?

[mosseater]

Color me "crazy" then, because every trip I take I pull out with 34' and 8000 lbs.

Now, true, I have one of the cheater 1/2 tons. My payload rating is 2200 lbs, but the truck handles it fine as far as handling and composure. What I long for is more torque and a few more gears (4spd). The only place I really mind it is highway entrance ramps getting up to speed. Obviously, bigger hills I'm in line with the rest of the 18 wheelers, so mysery loves company there, but I average about 8mpg towing and use it as my daily driver too. Personally, I'd opt for a longer wheelbase 250/2500 series with a larger gas engine, but if you like diesel, nothing wrong with that. Just be aware it eats your pocket book at buying time and your payload rating all the time. Them oil burners tend to be heavy.

[hawkeye-08]

Specs are changing all the time as mfgs try and one up each other..

A general guide (certainly are many exceptions, but this is what I tell folks that ask),

1) up to around 7,000lb travel trailer, most modern gas half tons (150/1500) will do fine

2) from 7,000 to 10,000lb travel trailer, most gas/diesel 3/4 tons (250/2500) will do fine. Many half tons can tow this also, but payload is often the limiting factor

3) over 10,000lb travel trailer, one ton or bigger, you will be much happier with diesel, watch the payload

Yes, I know folks that tow 14k trailers with F150, but I don't.

My brother was looking at a monster 38' double that was "within" his tow rating. I asked him two questions, how's the payload work out? and can you get that monster into the campgrounds you like? They kept they current trailer and added electric tongue jack, cordless drill to work stabilizers and a couple other upgrades... decided the new one they were looking at was too big for them (way over on the payload and wouldn't fit in many of the campgrounds).