Best vehicle for towing

[John319]

I have a dodge ram 1500 4x4. It does a good job, but need to tow a little more when we upgrade our camper.
I need to tow at least 12,000 lbs camper. I've been researching a lot. I have a large family at full capacity, 8 people. But sometimes just 6. Been trying to find a vehicle that will tow what we need it to tow and to seat everyone. Was looking at the Ford Expeditions with the 3rd row seating, but it doesn't seem to tow more than 9,000 lbs.
I don't want to go with a 2500 or 3500 truck. I've been finding that the v-6 vehicles with Turbo boost can tow what we need.
I know I can't be the only one out there with this issue.

I welcome all input.

HELP!

[mikeysotp]

12,000+ pounds and 8 people?

[JohnD10]

You don't want to buy the truck you really need to tow the heavy load you want to tow...

And are more interested in the seating arrangements for a large number of people in the vehicle instead?

You need to look at big motor homes...not trailers.

[ard58]

Sure the V 6 turbos will pull 12K's, but not safely. Not heavy enough, braking will be better with 3/4 ton or larger. Maybe you should check into a class C motorhome.

[John319]

This will be my daily commuter as well. So, trying to stay away from this size truck. In a perfect world and gas prices lower, I'd jump right on it.

[llr]

how often do you have 8 people? if very often a truck is not an option as they seat 6 people max.

also with 8 people at 150lbs average is 1200lbs, at least 1500lbs TW plus gear you will need at least 3000lbs payload. there at least used to be dually vans available, not sure the specs but it may be the only choice for a TT, a motor home is an option but you still need to pay attention to the payload.

I don't believe any SUV will have the payload needed.

[kenandterry]

John319.....

How do you transport 8 people in one vehicle today?
How do you transport 6 people in one vehicle today?
Daily commuter for just one person Monday to Friday?

Realistically your only set up to tow 12,000 lbs camper, AND maximum seating capacity for 6 people is a 1 ton pickup!

You haven’t even considered the extra weights of....clothing, foods, camping supplies, fluids (gasoline, propane, onboard water or waste water)

[JohnD10]

Your current 1500 is already too small of a truck for the trailer you want to pull, even without all of the people!

And with the number of people you want to take, you still need at least a 3/4-ton truck at minimum and then consider having someone else drive another vehicle to haul some of those family members.

Or one of these:

[John319]

We have to use 2 vehicles for commuting. Before we bought this camper, we were considering the Ford Expedition with the 3rd row seating. Since we couldn't pull the camper that we really wanted, we opted for the smaller version that we could tow with the Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. Since we are looking to upgrade both, we wanted to start off right. May end up getting the 2500 version just for towing and either keep my current truck or upgrade to the expedition.

[Teetime]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Your current 1500 is already too small of a truck for the trailer you want to pull, even without all of the people!

And with the number of people you want to take, you still need at least a 3/4-ton truck at minimum and then consider having someone else drive another vehicle to haul some of those family members.

Or one of these:

That's good, still laughing...

[wicked1]

One of these

https://www.complexmania.com/wp-cont...7_VIK_2516.jpg

[dustman_stx]

I am pretty certain you can get a 3500 Chevy passenger van with the duramax diesel. That's the only thing I can think of that will do what you want- assuming you're open to a travel trailer.

[007matman]

I transport 6 of us with this..

This would do it..

[John319]

That's a beautiful truck. One of my first thoughts actually. Gas would kill me.

[007matman]

Ford Excursion would work too. That would haul 8 and have similar towing capacity.

[John319]

Ford Excursion looks great! How's it on gas? Would it be any different than a 2500 pickup?

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by Teetime

That's good, still laughing...

That first one with the Army truck I took over in Elephant Butte, New Mexico this past June.

Saw it on the way to the Walmart Store in T or C!

[Flybob]

I feel like you are setting yourself up for disappointment. You can't defeat physics. It is going to require a certain amount of energy to move and stop a large trailer and 8 people. That is going to require fuel. Also you should be using the load capacity of the TV for your calculations and not the towing capacity. Towing capacity is a marketing term and essentially assumes that you are only pulling the trailer with no additional weight added to the TV. Think 4 wheel farm hay wagon. You need add 100lbs for hitch, weight of passengers and tongue weight ( approx 12-15% of loaded -not empty trailer weight). That number needs to be less than the load capacity on drivers door jamb.

[Kaadk]

Don't look at tow ratings and think you'll be able to tow that AND have people in the vehicle. Tow ratings are really just:

GCWR - Weight of vehicle - a moderate allowance for a driver only = tow rating.

According to this towing guide:

https://www.ford.ca/cmslibs/content/...de_EN_2018.PDF

The best GCWR you can achieve in the F150 is 18,400 lbs is for a very select set of options. The base curb weight of that same configuration is list as 4,711 lbs.

18,400 - 4,711 = 13,689 lbs.

12,000 lb trailer, so 13,689 - 12,000 = 1,689 lbs.

Options you have on your truck are going to eat into that number. For instance, to get the 18,400 lbs GCWR, you need their max tow package, which adds weight to the base curb weight. The base cure weight also doesn't account for the 26 gallons of gas, or the tow mirror option, or the AC, or the mud flaps, wheel well liners, carpeting, tonneau cover, bed liner, tools, etc..

Yada, Yada, Yada, long story short, you'd have to custom order a 'very' specific built F150, exactly optioned specifically for maximum towing, and you'd still probably have to be the sole occupant, with your SO following with the rest of the family in the mini-van or whatnot.

[007matman]

Diesel.. gets 12-13 mpg towing. Similar truck with Gas is probably 8-10