Continuing to do research. My motorhome was so much easier!
"Towed a 30' Nomad TT with a 96 GMC 1/2 ton (5.7/3.73) for 7 years. We took trips all over the country. We were right at the upper limits of the truck but we did fine. Our first long trip introduced us to sway. After this we bought a Hensley. Money well spent with no regrets"
"Hi i think its funny when people get on the hype of 1/2 ton
pickups, they should do their home work, i pull a wilderness 280bhs
6800lb with a dodge ram 1500 392 rear axle. that being said dodge 1/2
ton and 3/4 ton trucks share the same brakes,worked for dodge 20yrs.
just use your common sense and you'll be ok i have thousands of miles
towing with 1/2 ton trucks"
"I towed a 33' travel trailer with a 1/2 ton pickup truck for a full season which included a trip from central Ohio to Maine and back. I was under every weight rating for my truck according to the scales when I weighed it fully loaded to go camping. The ONLY time I was worried was when I was going downhill and had a sudden (it was sudden because I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been) left corner popped up in front of me. I could "feel" the trailer trying to push the back end of my pickup truck a little sideways as I went around the corner.
Would I do it again? Yes, but that incident was always in the back of my mind."
"I tow with a 34 ft. TT with a ½ ton. I am about 400 pounds under the total gross weight allowed for the vehicle and 600 pounds under the TT gross weight. We traveled 7k miles last year, a lot of it through the Eastern Mountains with no problems. TV has 130” wheelbase and is AWD. One panic stop when a deer ran in front of us in PA. I believe if you stay within the specifications of the TT & TV, use a good anti-sway hitch & good brake controller there should be no issues. I have been towing various kinds of trailers all my life and only once owned a truck over 1/2 ton. This argument will never end. You need to do what is comfortable & best for you."
"Old schoolers are right when they say that 3/4 ton vehicles tow better than 1/2 tons. With that said, if you have a newer 1/2 ton with a large V8 and 3.73 gears or higher, you can safely tow a pretty big trailer. In the coming years, you're going to see the industry shift to light weight trailers and 1/2 ton tow vehicles. Owning a 3/4 or 1 ton tow vehicle is a luxury, and the future campers of America are not going to be able to rationalize that luxury as much as we've seen in the past. Ford's 2012 (projected) 1/2 tons are going be capable of pulling of 12,500lbs or more. That, coupled with higher quality light weight trailers is the future of the travel trailer lifestyle. Count on it."
"We tow a Sunline 276SR with our 1500 Ram using an Equalizer hitch. It is right at 30' from the ball to the bumper and the weights are about the same as you are talking about."
"The question is not would the 3/4 ton pull better. I have no doubt that you are correct. The question is do you need a 3/4 ton to pull the Spree (or other lightweight, 1/2 ton designed trailer) safely and with acceptable performance? The answer to that is no; a 1/2 ton truck or large SUV will meet the bill for the OP. As bobbyg indicates, the car and RV industries are moving away from the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. I would not be surprised in the next decade to see those vehicles offered only through special order, possibly with restrictions based on verifiable need such as farming or other heavy duty requirements."
"We tow a 32" Prowler TT which when loaded weighs in at 7800 lbs. Our tow vehicle is an 07' Ford F-150 Supercrew short box with the tow package and 3.73 rear end and the Triton 5.4L engine. It handles very well, and sway isn't an issue. Sure, we don't fly up the hills, but we can keep up to traffic flow. Proper weight distribution in the trailer is important. Stay under the speed limit and allow plenty of stopping room. Also get a GOOD brake controller, this forum has some great advice on them, and don't be afraid to use the trailer brakes. Certainly a 3/4 ton can give you more power and maneuverability, but we've really been pleased with our 1/2 ton and this TT. Towing the lighter Spree should be a breeze for you. Have fun!"
"I once saw a member here post in no less than 4 different RV forums until he got the answer he wanted - still happens from time to time here... And people will find a way to justify anything when it's what they want - it's called human nature
"
"If you plan on winning a race while towing and working the lanes through traffic like an ambulance then you are best to consider a truck built more like a tank. On the other hand if you plan to do 55 to save a few bucks on fuel, are in no hurry to pass, won't sweat the line up behind you going up the hill and will buy a WDH for those windy open stretches and good handling, you will be just fine.
Towing is partially about attitude. I have a good friend that is embarrassed if he has a line up behind on a hill climb and would rather stomp on the accelerator and burn the fuel than be the guy that annoys folks for even one minute. I, on the other hand, think the highway is not a motor speedway and unless there is an actual ambulance on my tail (for which I will pull over) I think I am teaching folks a lesson in patience. "
"You all do know that a light or ultralight 30' trailer can weight THOUSANDS of pounds less than a 24' regular trailer right?"
"I pulled a 19' trailer with my 1/2 ton Suburban. Then went to a 32' lightweight trailer and pulled it with the same Suburban and an Equalizer hitch. The 32' actually pulled easier and smoother than the 19'. I am quite happy with my Suburban. I am even more happy that I don't have a 3/4 ton truck payment"
" I have a 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 with the Vortex Max 6.0L and 3.73 gearing and pull a K-Z Spree 290 BHS which is around 30' and have had no problems towing it. Our truck seeems to have plenty of power to accelerate on the freeways,etc. and I am happy with the way it tows, the gas mileage could be better but you can't have everything. "
"I to fall in the class of towing a 30' with a half ton. You really need to watch the total weight. I have not had any problems towing my TT. We go a bit slow up hills, but I can deal with it. If you use your truck as a daily driver there are many things to consider. I own my truck and replacing it at this point is out of the question. As for the bakes if the TT brakes and the controller are working properly there should not be a problem. One thing to keep in mind is that vehicles such as mid size trucks /SUV's and even some mini vans carry a 1/2 ton rating. That said I would only use a full size 1/2 ton for towing something that large. A good rule of thumb is to keep the loaded weight 1000lbs below the max tow capacity. "
"Try again,yes limits are just that,limits and there are people who disregard them.Then again some of the weight police belive that if you are to tow a pop up,you better be towing with a 1 ton dualy diesel and if you try anything less then you shouldn't be towing.I am one of those towing close,not over but close to the limits and do just fine.It is true that ever TT and TV combination is different so many people on both sides love to give his opinion and that is what it is,an opinion.Can't we all just get along. "
"i tow 6500 lbs all over the state of ohio and west virginia in the form of a 30' travel trailer with a ford f-150 5.4 tow package and a 3.55 gear ratio 30,000 miles no problems yet. "
Ontario
At the end of the day many of us will take feedback with a gain of salt - use what is helpful and discard the rest.
Youroo!!
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