Do I need to upgrade to a bigger truck

[thoremilly]

Originally Posted by youroo

I am saying what Many 1500 Ram owners have Posted/Installed to Coil Spring rears! I have seen "Before/After" bag installs on some Members 1500 Ram trucks,They made the Choice not Me! Did it "add" to the Towing capacity? NO,but their Rear Bumper was off the ground and their Headlights came back on the road! Youroo!! They also found out the "Flashy Cool looking O-Ring tires" that come on Most 1500 trucks are NOT made for HD Towing!

I have a 2500 ram 6.4 hemi cc lariat 3.73 rears, the tt is 34 ft never a problem. 1500 trucks do not give you the suspension or the heavier braking system and the difference in price is really not much when you think of the safety factor

[amblt]

Originally Posted by amblt

I don't think there is a quick and simple answer to this. You will have to consider that a tongue weight from 10 to 15 percent of the trailer gross @8140 will range from 814 to 1227 lbs. What does this do to your allowable payload? Also consider the GCVWR from your owner's manual.

In my case, I have a 2011 F150 w/5l V8, factory tow package and factory rated payload of 1964 Lb. My 5th wheel is 7000 empty (and 8140 loaded ). My pin weights with empty trailer at 15 and 25 percent are 1050 and 1750 respectively. At 8140 all up, they are 1220 and 2035. That's also not taking into account the 125 lbs or so for a 5th wheel hitch.

I do not consider it prudent to intentionally push any mechanical apparatus to 100% of its design capacity on a routine basis. I have seen many people on this forum suggest that a sensible limit is a maximum of 80% of rated capacity. I would agree with that. In my case, that would be a payload of 1571 lbs. I could only do that if and only if my trailer came out to 15% of gross on the pin.

So, to conclude, my 5th wheel trailer is on a seasonal site, and we are fortunate enough to be able also to afford a 19' travel trailer which tows like a dream and doesn't cut the gas mileage too much (worst case into a strong headwind was 16.8 MPG Imperial, or 20.21 in US measure). We like to take a few trips in the summer with the little unit.

Cheers to all.

I must correct my original post- my payload is 1694, NOT 1964 as I originally wrote- sorry for transposing the digits. My math makes more sense now, I hope.

Cheers

[amblt]

Originally Posted by bikendan

That's a terrible payload capacity for a 1/2 ton.
My Avalanche has more than that and it's not a real truck.
That's definitely going to hamper your decision.

If a ton is 2000 lbs then half must be 1000, right?. So why is 1100 terrible? It is a "Half Ton", is it not?

[dmdomokos]

I fall into the "been there done that" crowd. I towed a 2702WS dry 6250lbs, loaded about 7200lbs with a Suburban. I did that for a year and like another poster, I too on a long trip (to Yellowstone) traded up to a 2500HD diesel. Just couldn't take the slow hill climbs, fighting the engine temp and DW stressed out. So yes you can do it, but once you are able, upgrade and you will enjoy the tow rather than stress out on every long, hilly trip.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by amblt

If a ton is 2000 lbs then half must be 1000, right?. So why is 1100 terrible? It is a "Half Ton", is it not?

I agree and have no trouble towing on the east side of the Mississippi River with my Silverado 1500. Over 70k towing.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I agree and have no trouble towing on the east side of the Mississippi River with my Silverado 1500. Over 70k towing.

Have. You been through the Smokey Mountains yet? Coming home from the far side of Gatlinburg today I watched a Tundra with about a 26' TT crawl up a mountain like he had a 4 cyl. Doubt he wa doing 20 mph. Did great downhill though and that is east of the MS.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Have. You been through the Smokey Mountains yet? Coming home from the far side of Gatlinburg today I watched a Tundra with about a 26' TT crawl up a mountain like he had a 4 cyl. Doubt he wa doing 20 mph. Did great downhill though and that is east of the MS.

Have been from FL to Nova Scotia to Des Moines to New Orleans and back to Concord, NC. Go thru the Smokies every time we go to Little Rock to see our youngest and thru the Ozark Mtns on our way to our home town of Trenton, MO. We go up the mountains just like the semis do, in the rh lane. We never get below 40 mph, but we're not in a hurry either. Haven't seen a minimum speed limit in the mountains yet.

[aries75]

Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart. I can't justify buying a bigger truck and we use ours as a family vehicle. There are no Rocky MTNs here in Maryland or VA or PA. That a 1/2 can handle, thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

[mike.t]

Originally Posted by aries75

Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart. I can't justify buying a bigger truck and we use ours as a family vehicle. There are no Rocky MTNs here in Maryland or VA or PA. That a 1/2 can handle, thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Confusing.Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart.??
Indeed!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by mike.t

Confusing.Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart.??
Indeed!

Your post is what is confusing.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by aries75

Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart. I can't justify buying a bigger truck and we use ours as a family vehicle. There are no Rocky MTNs here in Maryland or VA or PA. That a 1/2 can handle, thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

No mountains??? Please do not go to SE VA or NW PA. So, besides that and towing a grocery cart what else can we help with?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

No mountains??? Please do not go to SE VA or NW PA. So, besides that and towing a grocery cart what else can we help with?

Yep, my 2012 Flagstaff 8528RKWS is a grocery cart that has been thru the Smokys, Ozark and Appalachians behind my 1/2T.

[aries75]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

No mountains??? Please do not go to SE VA or NW PA. So, besides that and towing a grocery cart what else can we help with?

Been through that part of VA when I drive home to GA. Going South on I-77

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by aries75

Been through that part of VA when I drive home to GA. Going South on I-77

Then you know there is a good hill at the NC/VA line. Some call it a mountain but would have to be a baby. Of course 1 guy here could haul a 5er up that one with a Chevy Luv....

[mike.t]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Your post is what is confusing.

Let me help ya out old timer. I think he meant to say CAN'T tow anything bigger than a shopping cart.not CAN. May be wrong though.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by aries75

Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart. I can't justify buying a bigger truck and we use ours as a family vehicle. There are no Rocky MTNs here in Maryland or VA or PA. That a 1/2 can handle, thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Originally Posted by mike.t

Confusing.Whats the purpose of having a 1/2 ton if you can tow anything bigger than a grocery cart.??
Indeed!

I agree. I don't understand the 1st sentence. Even if the poster left out a "not" after "can" it doesn't seem to make any sense. Half ton's CAN pull more than a grocery cart.