Thinking of going 3/4

[The_Rhino]

The added expense of both buying the diesel and maintaining it means you have to have a good reason to justify the cost

For a number of years I drove all types of 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks towing all types of HD equipment for construction-related work. IMO the 3/4 ton gassers offered the best bang/buck. The 1/2 ton F150's didn't have enough payload to be useful & needed constant brake work when used for regular towing. The Dodge/Ram 3/4 tons ran & ran with little maintenance... The F350 diesel duallies had a stiff ride & although they were towing beasts, they cost 2X as much to maintain once the powertrain warranty expired. Around here the best/most affordable smaller shops can all work on Hemis but diesel mechanics charge a premium. Not only do they cost more per hour, but they charge more labor-hours for similar work. I cannot remember a bill less than $1500 from the diesel shop...

So, as noted in my earlier post, when it was time to buy a personal truck to tow our 8,000 lb. TT, I chose a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC w/5.7 Hemi that only cost me $14K vs. $30K for a similar age diesel... Newer transmissions have tow/haul modes that keep gas engines in their power bands & even though our setup is near our truck's GCVW I had no lack of power towing throughout the Smoky Mountains last summer.

That said, if I were towing over 10,000 I would definitely choose a diesel & for tall 5ers I would recommend a diesel dually. However, the OP has a 7,000 lb. TT, so IMO you should save money & buy the truck you need now. If you buy wisely, you can trade-up without losing your shirt. My 2011 Ram is still worth what I paid 3 years ago ($14K), especially since I added a like-new fiberglass cap found on CL for $500....

Also, since my (affordable) truck is nearly paid-off, it makes for an easier trade-in. I will have the title soon & can get better offers from private sellers vs. getting ripped-off at the dealership... The worst case scenario is being upside down on a TV or TT loan...

[mnoland30]

I've towed boats for year. I had an old drum brake 1/2 ton, and could not come to a stop coming down a steep hill. I've driven 3/4 tons since. The brakes are bigger. If your trailer brakes fail for some reason, a 3/4 ton will still stop.

I bought my first diesel last year. I got a great deal on a used one with 25,000 miles on it. I love it. I can drive freeway speeds without issues, and I can climb mountains at 12,000 ft. You lose 3-4 % power for every 1000 feet in elevation gain. At 12,000 ft. that adds up to a big loss of power. I've spent lots of hours straining up hills at 35 mph. It stinks.

I'm only pulling a 4400 lb trailer, but it pulls like a dream. That said, oil changes cost an arm and leg, and maintenance is higher. If you go gas, go with the biggest engine you can. Come out west and visit. I've been to the Smoky's and they are hills, not mountains.

[Phenom]

I drove a couple lightly used F250's today. Wow. What a difference in feel. I could tell after those two drives that towing with these would be much better. The ride wasn't rough at all. Maybe only slightly rougher than my truck. The power was a little lacking in comparison, but I expected that. I was looking for a heavier feeling truck. Not a fast one.

Now the bad. All these trucks sit higher than my tundra and my 11 year old 70lb dog can't get up there. That made it no go with the CFO. Also the clearance between the back seat and door frame is so small, the dog would have to squeeze to get back here even if it could get up there. That's a different thread though.

So, I'll keep looking. I really like the F250, but I'll check out Ram and Chevy next.

[Ford Idaho]

Someone here removed the rear seat and built a platform for their dog to lay on.

With that a simple folding ramp would give the 11 year old a way up and in.


Not sure that is an option for you.

[updhaul]

A 2500 GM product with a 6 or 6.2 gas engine is a good choice also since you have a new tt already. The diesel will cost $10-15,000 additional in initial purchase cost and you will recoup much of that cost when you get rid of it but you might find a place for it. I bought ramp for dog but he doesn't fully appreciate it. Over time the additional fuel cost and additional fuel mileage will balance. Resale of all 3/4 tons is good. I've had both and couldn't justify additional cost myself. Good luck

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by updhaul

The diesel will cost $10-15,000 additional in initial purchase cost

WOW, you are way off. It's about $8000, and the truck will always be worth at least $8000 more, so it doesn't really cost anything.

[bfhammer]

Are you looking at new or used? For example my 2009 2500 hemi is only rated for 8350 lbs towing vs the 2016 at 13000 for the hemi. 2500 lb payload vs over 4k on the 2016.
I'd avoid ford if it's a daily driver of any distance as they ride like a buckboard. Be sure to check the capacity by the specific year of any truck you are considering.

[Skyliner]

I skipped the 3/4 ton and went from 1/2 ton to 1 ton. Believe it or not, its often possible to get a 1 ton for about the same as a 3/4 ton because many feel the 1 ton doesn't drive as well as a 3/4 ton.

Why a 1 ton? For almost nothing to a little more in cost over a 3/4 ton you have increased tow and cargo capacities for future growth. I have yet to find a single camper who hasn't gotten something bigger over the years after their initial purchase.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by TonyD

I skipped the 3/4 ton and went from 1/2 ton to 1 ton. Believe it or not, its often possible to get a 1 ton for about the same as a 3/4 ton because many feel the 1 ton doesn't drive as well as a 3/4 ton.

Why a 1 ton? For almost nothing to a little more in cost over a 3/4 ton you have increased tow and cargo capacities for future growth. I have yet to find a single camper who hasn't gotten something bigger over the years after their initial purchase.

got that right. As far as I'm concerned, most everyone should skip 3/4 tons and look at single wheel 1 tons. Virtually same price, ride the same, with MUCH more payload capacity. Everyone ends up getting a bigger camper sooner than they at first think so. Get the right truck the first time, not the 4th time like me

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by davel1971

got that right. As far as I'm concerned, most everyone should skip 3/4 tons and look at single wheel 1 tons. Virtually same price, ride the same, with MUCH more payload capacity. Everyone ends up getting a bigger camper sooner than they at first think so. Get the right truck the first time, not the 4th time like me

Yep, my 1 ton single rear wheel was my 3rd truck and I regret not getting a 1 ton to begin with; it would have been much cheaper.

[BandJCarm]

Payload for Chevy is about 4,300 for SRW and about 5,600 for DRW. Payload is a big difference in the two 1 ton trucks........ Kingpin of the trailer we ordered eats up about 44% of that in my Dually......but about 58% in a SRW one ton. And in the 3/4 I just traded in, payload from the door panel was only 2,286.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Payload for Chevy is about 4,300 for SRW and about 5,600 for DRW. Payload is a big difference in the two 1 ton trucks........ Kingpin of the trailer we ordered eats up about 44% of that in my Dually......but about 58% in a SRW one ton. And in the 3/4 I just traded in, payload from the door panel was only 2,286.

but the difference from 3/4 ton to SRW 1 ton is even bigger. You gain over 50% more with the 1 ton SRW vs 3/4 ton. For basically same price.

[BandJCarm]

True.......but I thought the original question was to upgrade from a 1/2 ton, and the question was which 3/4 or 1 ton to go with. Maybe I misunderstood the question. It's past my bedtime!

[D-maxx dave]

We went from 1/2 ton chev to a 3/4 ton diesel. Yes, you will feel the difference, in a good way!
I'll not address mileage, or your next RV, but we've had , 09, then '12, then new 5ver, now '15 3500 SRW. Trade right, get what you need. Don't like to worry when we're retiring for the wknd!

[Filterman]

Because my wife has mobility issues, when I bought our last TV, I wanted to stay as low to the ground as possible. I bought. 2012 7700GVW F150 S/Crew Towmax package, 4X4 6 spd 6.2 L gas. We tow a Wildcat 28RKS which is heavy for its size (8000LB dry. ) Our maximum GCVW that I've seen and only once was still 300 lbs under maximum allowable. No handling problems and I think we have seen some of the toughest terrain you will pull in North America ( last year north to the Arctic Ocean via Fairbanks.) The 6.2 delivers plenty of power through the 6 spd auto. We averaged 11.2MPG over the entire three month trip. That's highway, mountains city etc. Lots of 10% plus grade. The only place I wished for diesel was an exhaust or engine brake in the really intense down hill pushes but no issues. My preferred cruise speed is around 97KPH ( 60MPH) for you folks south of the 49th.😊

[Too Tall]

I've never heard anyone pulling a TT say, "I've got too much tow vehicle". IMO, You can't overkill it when pulling an 8 x 11 wall down the highway.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

I've never heard anyone pulling a TT say, "I've got too much tow vehicle". IMO, You can't overkill it when pulling an 8 x 11 wall down the highway.

that's exactly how I feel. I tow a 36 foot 12,00 lb 5th wheel with a diesel dually. I'm at 1/2 my towing capacity. The stability is amazing. Don't feel the wind. Don't feel passing big rigs. No swaying from road conditions. Just a relaxing drive. Why would anyone want to drive with a constant death grip on the wheel?

[wyo700]

I pull a 7000 pound loaded toy hauler 27 feet. With a tundra. Never have felt uncomfortable or under powered. I debated the same thing as you when getting a new truck. Glad I went with a tundra. I have a 2009 Chevy 3/4 with 6.0 for a work truck. I have never been near 7000 pounds towing with it but the power between the 6.0 and the 5.7 is not even close. The tundra would run circles around my work truck. And the stability didn't feel that much better to me wear I had to run out and get a 3/4. With the TT your are towing I would stick with your tundra. Now if you went bigger then yeah 3/4 would be better but I would go to a diesel. Everyone is always bashing on half tons even if they are towing a pop up. Not bashing on 3/4 tons but they have there place in your case I would say it's not needed.

[Phenom]

Today I happened across a '14 2500HD 2WD LT with a dmax in my price range. Marked way down and GM certified with 27K on the clock. I drove it about 40 miles. Averaged 20mpg highway and surface roads. Definitely too much truck for my trailer but it sure was nice. I could see that thing making towing a whole new experience. It's tempting with 25 months bumper to bumper between the two warranties and 24 months of scheduled oil changes.

[davel1971]

don't be afraid to go with "too much truck". The trailers always seem to grow faster than you first anticipate.