Why all the hate on 1/2 ton tvs

[Dreenn]

Like the title says I have read many posts that basically suggest that towing a 30ish foot Tt with a 1/2 ton truck is wrong and your going to Indanger your family and anyone around you on the road that said I have a few questions

I just bought a 30foot Tt dry weight is 5200 loaded is 7500 I believe by the manufacture sticker I am towing it with a 2014 gmc 1500.

I looked up max tow rating on my gmc in the manual and used my window sticker for refers to what was equipped it said max was 9600 pounds now looking at my door sticker I don't see 9600 pounds anywhere on it am I missing something?? Or is my truck rated to tow a lot less then what the manual says

Sorry for the poor grammar typing on my cell phone

[marcsbigfoot20b]

TOOBOLD wrote:
I think people hate on the 1/2 tons is because they started with a half ton and have moved up and notice the significant towing difference. Everything seems ok when you have nothing to compare it to.

We previously had a 5.4L f150 and it towed our 6500lb trailer okay except on the Grapevine. I told DH one time if a strong wind came we would go backwards. After the timing chain died on that F150 we moved up to a F350 v10 and what a significant improvement in towing. That's why a lot of say we would not do it again.

I also got tired of worrying about what went into the truck because of payload. The F350 has 3000lbs of payload I can put what I want in it.

You did a better job than me of explaining it. 😉

[scbwr]

For what it's worth, I'm very happy with my rig as listed in my signature. I also feel that my Tundra could handle another 500 lbs. or so quite easily. After that, I'm not so sure. A larger, longer trailer, althought built to be light (under 8K) is still a big sail when in crosswinds, so that can make a big difference in how a rig tows. If I had a bigger/longer trailer, I would have a Hensley hitch and use my Tundra if the weight (loaded) was 7K. But, if I went with a bigger rig, I would also be prepared to look for a 3/4 ton truck in the event things didn't work out.

[TOOBOLD]

I think people hate on the 1/2 tons is because they started with a half ton and have moved up and notice the significant towing difference. Everything seems ok when you have nothing to compare it to.

We previously had a 5.4L f150 and it towed our 6500lb trailer okay except on the Grapevine. I told DH one time if a strong wind came we would go backwards. After the timing chain died on that F150 we moved up to a F350 v10 and what a significant improvement in towing. That's why a lot of say we would not do it again.

I also got tired of worrying about what went into the truck because of payload. The F350 has 3000lbs of payload I can put what I want in it.

[Terryallan]

marcsbigfoot20b27 wrote:

3oaks wrote:
Yea, doesn't everyone know nothing less than a 350 dully is safe to tow anything. :R

Towing over 6000 lbs is a matter of.....
1/2 ton = good
3/4 ton = better
1 ton dually = best

Tow the same trailer with a 1 ton dually and get back to us.

F450 even better,
F650 even better

A 10 wheeled 35000lb over the road Freightliner would be even better. but NOT needed.

If folks are scared to tow a little over 6000lb with a F150. I would suggest a Freightliner. No sway, good braking, won't be pushed around by the TT. You won't even know it is there. Try it, and get back to us

[marcsbigfoot20b]

3oaks wrote:
Yea, doesn't everyone know nothing less than a 350 dully is safe to tow anything. :R

Towing over 6000 lbs is a matter of.....
1/2 ton = good
3/4 ton = better
1 ton dually = best

Tow the same trailer with a 1 ton dually and get back to us.

[itguy08]

camp-n-family wrote:
Payload!! You will max out on payload well before the magical tow rating. Half ton trucks these days just don't have much payload. As low as 850lbs in some trucks.

Don't buy a POS Pretty Boy Ram and you'll have more than 850lbs. No Guts, No Glory, Ram.

Both Ford and GM have 150/1500's with over 2000lbs of payload so you need to work within your truck's weight ratings.

I've got an 2011 F150 Ecoboost, Max Tow with ~1875lbs of payload according to the yellow sticker. Plenty for a decent size trailer.

[coolbreeze01]

How silly......

[Huntindog]

jaycocreek wrote:

Say you added some custom floor mats (36 lbs). Available payload is now 1500.

That's about the silliest thing I have heard in the history of towing!

Like it or not... It's the TRUTH.

You either believe in the numbers (with all of the fine print), or you don't.

Many of the 1/2 ton proponents fall into the "don't" camp... Because the TRUTH is something they can't face.

This sort of thing happens all the time on many subjects.

As I draw closer to retirement, I am seeing reality slapping many I know in the face.. Those that ignored the necessary financial planning for many years, figuring that it would just magically work out.... And now find themselves no longer able to fool themselves.

It is part of the human condition.

[3oaks]

Yea, doesn't everyone know nothing less than a 350 dully is safe to tow anything. :R

[handye9]

dewey02 wrote:

jaycocreek wrote:

Say you added some custom floor mats (36 lbs). Available payload is now 1500.

That's about the silliest thing I have heard in the history of towing!

Weathertech for a F150 Crewcab = 12 pounds. But I do agree with his basic premise - the weight adds up really fast on things you didn't even think about. Always best to weigh your TV and TT fully loaded to see where you stand.

You guys missed the bed liner, cap, hitch, camping load, and family weight, they're not exact either. It was, just an example to point out how things add up.

[goducks10]

One reason why 1/2 tons get a bad rap is because they are 95% the ones who come on here and have TT towing issues. Very rarely will you read about a guy with a 3/4-1 ton truck complaining about the truck getting push/pulled by their TT.

BTDT 2010 F150 towing 7300lbs @31'. 900-950lb TW. 1857lb payload. After loading the truck up I was at GVW 7650lbs and right near the RAWR of 4050lbs.

1/2 tons do have their place. There just at the lower end of TT weights. Keeping the loaded TT to 6000lbs or less will remove some of the payload issues. The troubles arise when 1/2 ton owners look at the tow rating and think they can tow 9500-12,000lbs.

Such is the life of an average 1/2 ton owner towing a heavy long TT.

[Terryallan]

Dreenn wrote:
Lots of good disscussion here it's good to see more 1/2 ton towers now another question I have a w/d hitch and bars and sway control how do I know what brand it is it came with the camper and how do you firgur out what the tounge weight with wd hitch is

Weigh it. Many WDHs add 75lbs to the truck. Just to be clear. The tongue weight does NOT change just because you add a WDH. Some weight is transferred thru the hitch to the front of the TV, and some to the TT itself. But ALL the weight is still handled by the hitch.

As for the brand. If it is a normal WDH, meaning not a dual cam or something like that, and as you have already stated it is not. then brand really doesn't matter. they all do the same thing. But usually the name will be on the hitch somewhere.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

My TT is a 27 ft at 7000lb.

Towed with a 99 Tahoe 1/2 ton with lots of mods.

Air bags, upgraded brake master cylinder, better rotors, Hawk pads, Rancho shocks, HD tow package with 3.73 and HD Trans cooler, 05 Denali electric cooling fans, 1.6 ratio double roller rockers, Vmax intake manifold, Jantzer ported throttle body, 0411 LS1 PCM with custom tune, long tube ceramic coated headers with 3 " exhaust, Flowmaster 50 muffler. 20" wheels with XL tire ratings.
Truck is pretty bad ass.


Then I got a 2000 Ford F-350 crew cab long bed 7.3 diesel dually.

NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE!
No more crappy braking, no more getting pushed around by the trailer, wind or semi's. Now more lack of torque, etc.

I would never tow my trailer with the tahoe again holding both hand on the wheel at all times.

[seaeagle2]

dockmasterdave wrote:
I understand that some 1/2 tons have a low payload but, I have two F 150 xlt's a 2010 and a 2014 with crew cab. 1 is a 4.6 v8 the other an ecoboost. They both have a payload of @1700 lbs.
That would be 500 lbs in the truck, and 13% tongue weight of a 9000lb trailer.
I don't want to try it, but it would be withing rating.
I previously had an 06 and a 94. All had about 1600 to 1700 lb payload.
No special equipment, not stripped down trucks, 2 were even the base v6.
I have to think the "extremely low" payloads are the exception as opposed to the norm.
My opinion FWIW.

isn't that 500 lbs minus you and your passengers ?

[dewey02]

jaycocreek wrote:
Ya well,don't forget your cell phone and extra battery...

So what's going to happen with that 12 pounds putting you over?Flat tires-broken axle-bent rims-overheating or the hitch falling off..

Funny thing is if he drives 15 miles or so he just lost 12 pounds of fuel and he's back to being safe.:B

I tow my 30ft trailer with my F-150 and don't worry about floor mats for sure..It tows with little different than with my sons HD-2500 and better than the older 3/4 tons I had.

Just sold a 1976 Ford F-250 because the newer F-150 towed much much better than the older truck I towed large trailers and fifth wheels with.

Set-up correctly and driven correctly a modern 1/2 ton is a towing machine.

I hear you. I think your last sentence is the clincher. If someone knows what they are doing and stays within what their truck is capable of, they are just fine. My point was that it wasn't just the 12 pound floor mats, but all the little things that actually can add up if you aren't paying attention. Don't eat that 1/4 lb. McDonald's burger unless you first visit the restroom at Mickey D's! 🙂