Sure, it can tow it, but can it really "pull" it?

[AtlCamper]

We've had our 2017 Grey Wolf 26dbh (dry weight 5800lbs, 7750lbs loaded) for almost 2 years. Our current TV is a 2012 V6 Dodge Durango and we're looking to upgrade to a truck. I've read the sticky posts about looking at towing guides to ensure it can handle pulling 7,800lbs. So I'll be looking at trucks that can pull 9,000+ (currently looking at Dodge and Ford).

I'm looking for recommendations on engine size/type that can pull the weight and go up hills and the foothills of the Smokies at a decent speed. With my V6 durango, I slow down to 50mph going up the rolling hills of north GA.

On the Ford side, I believe the V6 Ecoboost and the V8 are the engines I'd want. Do other brands also have a V6 that can pull well, or is it just the Ford V6 ecoboost?

Brian

[llr]

The echo boost is the only V6 I would consider for towing anything except a pop-up or rpod type of trailer

[Kimber45]

I think your camper needs a diet. You have to be close or over payload. At looking for 9k pounds of towing you are at the top end of 1/2 range and bordering HD range. No V6 truck is going to tow that unless it has turbos or supercharges attached.

[AtlCamper]

The 7750 loaded weight is spec on it's max capacity. I expect our packed weight is about 6300. We have lots of empty storage space.

[mawilson]

You could do a lot worse than an F150 3.5L EcoBoost with the Max Tow package. That truck has the highest tow capacity of the F-150 line. The 5.0L V-8 would work but, for my money, the EB is a much better choice. When I replace my 5.0L F-150, it will be with the 3.5L EB MaxTow. Your actual mileage may vary.

[MillMitch]

Hello from another Durango TV. Can't help a whole lot with the truck question, but if you look around you can find a 150/1500 w/ the tow specs you are looking for. I checked our local Ram dealer online and found a 2014 w/ a 10k tow capacity for about $20k. Ram's are easy to check because they have a website that you can key a VIN into (see attached, i hope). Our TT is a little lighter than yours, 5100 dry, 7600 GVW and probably towing at 6k-6.5k. I'm hitting the CAT scales when the snow melts and will post results. Our TV is my wifes daily driver, so I won't be getting a truck until i get tired of the Mustang
You make due with what you have. Good luck.

[Steeljag]

Very happy with our EB when it was used to tow, and as a daily driver !

[SailorSam20500]

My trailer has a max weight of 7,642 and actual of 6,950. i just got back from a trip to Florida. Up and down I-75, i had speed control
set at 65 mph. Truck easily maintained that. I don't remember the truck going below 6th gear (10 speed trans). Normally, the trans was in 8th or 9th. It will get into 10th on extended flat sections (Ohio).
Mileage towing varied from 8.1-12.2 mpg.

[vmax]

Oh boy let the jousting begin. Get a Ford diesel either 00-03 7.3l or a 07-08 6.0 that's been built right. Stay away from any 08-11 6.4 unless you like pain. Don't buy new anything. The Ecoboost guys will swear by them but the heat generated from turbos on a gasser is way too excessive for longevity of the powerplant. See ecoboost forums. Get a diesel and you'll be a happy camper.

[Bose04]

we tow more than that with our 8 cylinder toyota Tundra. Up and down the White Mountains in NH.

[JohnD10]

This might work, but you'll probably have to add some air bags:

[rmoore0852]

The V6s other than the ecoboost are pitifully underpowered. The ecoboost is a good engine. If you are set on staying with a gas 1/2 ton look at a gas V8 or the ecoboost V6. You didn't mention if you were buying new, but the Ram Ecodiesel is a good option. Chevy and Ford are both offering 1/2 tons with 6 cylinder diesels for 2019.

Are you ever considering going larger in the trailer? If that is even a possibility you could consider going to a 1 ton SRW truck now. If you ever switched to a fifth wheel or larger TT then you would already have the truck to haul it. If you decide to make the jump to a HD truck, buy the 350/3500. The 250/2500 look and ride exactly the same, but have much less payload. I wish I had bought the 3500 instead of the 2500 I currently have.

[JimMorrell]

Since 2011, I have pulled a 7600# (dry) trailer with my 2011 F-150. It has a 5L V8, w/tow package. The V6 Eco Boost has slightly more power. I climb the Sierra Nevada, as well as the California Coast Range with no problem. The 2018 F-150 models have more towing power than mine.

[thebrakeman]

Any 1/2-ton pickup, properly equipped, will be able to handle a 6500 lb pull-behind camper. But once you start talking about significant hills, dealt with frequently, something with forced-induction is a big help. Unless you want diesel and/or 3/4-ton, that means F150. The 2.7L EB would do it. The 3.5L EB would do it better.

[bajamike1]

The more important question isn't if you can tow it but can you stop it?

[RobertDS]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

This might work, but you'll probably have to add some air bags:

LOL, but isn’t that trailer a bit nose high? Wouldn’t air bags would make it bit worse?

[rthomaslyons]

People - almost any truck can tow almost anything on the flat. What you need to get your head around is can you stop the thing safely and quickly when your going downhill with a tail wind and someone cuts you off or some other emergency occurs. Also when people are passing you and can't quite make it with oncoming traffic on a 2-lane highway. Can you power out of that situation so the other guy can drop back or be able to hit your breaks so he can get by you before all of you are in a 3-way (wreck). Buy the extra power as a safety feature. I've been driving ¾ ton Dodge Rams for years and the big motor and larger brake circumferance has likely saved my life more than once and that of others.

[Franklins Mom]

We tow with a 2017 3.5L Eco Boost with Tow Pkg/Built in Brake Controller and 125L tank – max tow is just under 11,000 lbs with 2000# payload.

22 MPG not Towing and 14 MPG Towing

We tow a Rockwood Mini Lite 1905 which is approx 3900# loaded and it tows like there’s nothing behind me.

My only regret is that I didn’t purchase this truck earlier as I have been towing with a Honda Ridgeline for 3 years before and it was so painful having to listen to the high rev’s all the time and worrying about ruining the transmission and filling up the tank every 150 miles or so.

Now I can go 450 miles on a full tank and drive like nothing’s behind me….and the backup camera is great for hooking up !!

[sasch]

Towing a FR 5er scaled at just over 7000 lbs with a Dodge Ram 1500 3.0 eco diesel from MI to SD/MX and back and it does great. Not to mention 14-15 mpg.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by RobertDS

LOL, but isn’t that trailer a bit nose high? Wouldn’t air bags would make it bit worse?

Not if you put the air bags on the trailer.