Towing with 1/2 ton trucks

[satdog01]

x2 on what Dogpatch said. I now have a Silverado 2500 diesel towing a 34 foot Flagstaff. Performs like a dream in the mountains. See a lot of 1500s all brands struggling on some of the pulls around here, not to speak of the 18 wheelers. Will not own another tv without a exhaust brake! Even with diesel being more per gallon, the increased mpg is well worth it. Can run 275-300 miles before I need a refuel, plan my stops on this figure.

[Filterman]

Well, I may be the loan wolf out here but been pulling a 28RKS Wildcat (8000lb dry) with a 2012 F150 SCREW, 7700GVW , Max Tow Package, 6.2L gas, 373 diff, 6 spd auto for the past two seasons. Last year was a big one, we did a trip from White Rock, BC to the Arctic Ocean at Deadhorse Alaska, 13400KM ,LOTS of 8-10% grades up and down and a fair bit of 10-14 in the far north Dalton Hwy. Did all the weight measurements, GCVW, GVW and payload and was legal on all counts with full fuel, the two of us and 3 months worth of gear. 11.2 MPG total for the summer, highway, city etc so real happy. I went with the 150 to stay lower to the ground because my wife has mobility issues . Very happy with the combination. If I had a wish , it's for a diesel with an engine brake for getting DOWN out of the passes, going up is fine. I should also pre qualify this by saying I'm not a speed demon. Towing over 60MPH isn't something I do with any regularity. I like 55-60 as a relaxed cruising speed in our land of mountain passes. I spent my life travelling professionally and want to continue to stay safe.

[Brim1162]

We tow 8528 IKWS with 2500 HD Sierra HD 6.0 it's just enough don't know If I would tow with less...IMHO


Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500

[WolfWhistle]

Originally Posted by robsshots

What year truck are you talking about? The new F-150 ecoboost fords with the 3.73 rear end have a 12,000 lb tow capacity when properly outfitted. And you'll get in the high 20's mpg when not towing... .... Only white-knuckle time was coming out of Montana on an 8% grade downhill and I had warped rotors. Just sayin'...speaking from experience...

To the OP, you have opened a can of worms, my friend. You have let the brand loyalists, the "my truck can pull a house and still get amazing mileage myth", guys have the soapbox... but... BUT, keep in mind you have to stop what you are towing and 250/2500 and for sure 350/3500 are designed for this... not to mention handling sway much better. Hauling is more relaxing when you are not pedal to the metal and worrying about burning up the brakes or rotors; that is my experience.
WW

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

To the OP, you have opened a can of worms, my friend. You have let the brand loyalists, the "my truck can pull a house and still get amazing mileage myth", guys have the soapbox... but... BUT, keep in mind you have to stop what you are towing and 250/2500 and for sure 350/3500 are designed for this... not to mention handling sway much better. Hauling is more relaxing when you are not pedal to the metal and worrying about burning up the brakes or rotors; that is my experience.
WW

Amen..............Can of worms indeed.

Have an F-150, not an ego or max anything. 5.0, reg cab 8' bed.
Have a GMC 2500HD, 6.0, double cab 8' bed.

The overall towing experience with the 2500 is night and day better than the F-150. When it comes to stability and stopping power, they are not even close to being in the same league. I can make that statement because I have done it both ways. (yikes, Havercamp go's both ways) Sometimes I go both ways on the same day. Don't let the 6K GVWR hybrid in the sig fool you, I have also towed flatbeds with excavation equipment often, as well as a few larger TT's.

With the 6K hybrid and the F-150, I wouldn't even think about not using a WDH. With the hybrid and the 2500, I don't even think about using a WDH. Just drop it on the ball and go. I have to keep looking back to see if the trailer is still there with the 2500, with the F-150 I know its back there.

Lighter is not better from a stability and control perspective when it comes to towing, and never will be.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

I wouldn't even think about not using a WDH. With the hybrid and the 2500, I don't even think about using a WDH. Just drop it on the ball and go. I have to keep looking back to see if the trailer is still there with the 2500,.

Every once in a while someone says something like this-- and it bugs me a tad. I know there is difference between truck sizes when towing but really???
I bought a used Chevy HD 2500 diesel with Allison tranny. We towed a light weight 25' Rockwood Ultralite from KY to FL and back. I had that trailer 5 years and had it weighed a couple of times. It weighed 4050 LBS wet, loaded ready to hit the campground.
Sure the HD 2500 smoker pulled it easily but I KNEW it was back there. When your pulling a 2 ton trailer that effectively makes your rig 25 feet longer
than without it- IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Sold the HD and kept my 1500 Silverado. Could not fall in love with the
HD because it was a basic work cab 4 door with manual windows and not many extras besides radio AC and power locks and cruise. Also got a measly 1 mpg more with the diesel than my gasser and that didn't equal any savings due to higher per gallon price on diesel fuel.
I only kept the 2500 for 3 months. I re-sold it to a guy with a honking big 5th wheel who was just going to tow in the state.

Happy Trails!

[davel1971]

the ones who think their 1/2 tons pull like semi trucks, have never experienced the relaxed feeling you get with a heavy truck. I've towed with small vehicles like an old Toyota (that weighed under 3000 with 2 people in cab), Bronco II. I've have 1/2 tons, a Yukon, GMC 2500. Until my current 3500 diesel, I never knew what I was missing. Until you have your self, you can't make a fair comparison.

[rockfordroo]

Remember that not all 1/2 tons are created equal, either.

My 2009 Silverado 1500 Owners Manual lists 99 permutations (cab size, bed size, engine size, transmission, rear end, trailering package, etc), with towing capacities from about 4K to almost 12K. That's a pretty big spread.

The 2015 Owners Manual has 51 permutations, from 4600 to 11,800lbs.

So you can't just ask "Can a 1/2 ton pull an XXXX trailer?" You have to ask "WHICH 1/2 ton do you want to use to pull an xxxx trailer?"

[Dogpatch]

Every vehicle has it's limits. Know what they are and stay within it!

My Ram 3500 is a Towing Beast, however, it is an SRW and there are things I wouldn't want to attempt to tow.

If you're getting down to counting the weight of the change in your pocket, you're too close to maxing out your trucks capabilities. You'll move your trailer, but that's not going to make for a stress free experience.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Remember that not all 1/2 tons are created equal, either.

My 2009 Silverado 1500 Owners Manual lists 99 permutations (cab size, bed size, engine size, transmission, rear end, trailering package, etc), with towing capacities from about 4K to almost 12K. That's a pretty big spread.

The 2015 Owners Manual has 51 permutations, from 4600 to 11,800lbs.

So you can't just ask "Can a 1/2 ton pull an XXXX trailer?" You have to ask "WHICH 1/2 ton do you want to use to pull an xxxx trailer?"

that's the whole problem right there. People see someone or hear someone say they pull XXXX lbs with brand X 1/2, they figure they can do it too. Couldn't be further from the truth. The towing range on 3/4 and 1 tons is MUCH smaller

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Every once in a while someone says something like this-- and it bugs me a tad. I know there is difference between truck sizes when towing but really???
I bought a used Chevy HD 2500 diesel with Allison tranny. We towed a light weight 25' Rockwood Ultralite from KY to FL and back. I had that trailer 5 years and had it weighed a couple of times. It weighed 4050 LBS wet, loaded ready to hit the campground.
Sure the HD 2500 smoker pulled it easily but I KNEW it was back there. When your pulling a 2 ton trailer that effectively makes your rig 25 feet longer
than without it- IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Sold the HD and kept my 1500 Silverado. Could not fall in love with the
HD because it was a basic work cab 4 door with manual windows and not many extras besides radio AC and power locks and cruise. Also got a measly 1 mpg more with the diesel than my gasser and that didn't equal any savings due to higher per gallon price on diesel fuel.
I only kept the 2500 for 3 months. I re-sold it to a guy with a honking big 5th wheel who was just going to tow in the state.

Happy Trails!

Oh brother, should of known better that to even jump into this thread. Yes...really. Sorry to bug ya.

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Every once in a while someone says something like this-- and it bugs me a tad. I know there is difference between truck sizes when towing but really???

Sure the HD 2500 smoker pulled it easily but I KNEW it was back there. When your pulling a 2 ton trailer that effectively makes your rig 25 feet longer
than without it- IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Dan,

Surely you must realize when someone says "I towed my XYZ and didn't even know it was there" they are speaking to the ease of pulling, stopping, handling, etc.

They aren't talking about passing vehicles, turning corners, going into parking lots or backing into a campsite.

Trust me, my truck tows my 40' 15,000 lb. 5th wheel with ease, but I know what's behind me.
Personally, I chose the Ram 3500 because I know what it can do without it bustin a sweat. AND I ain't "white knucklin it" when I come to a steep grade! LOL

[bruane]

Originally Posted by robsshots

What year truck are you talking about? The new F-150 ecoboost fords with the 3.73 rear end have a 12,000 lb tow capacity when properly outfitted. And you'll get in the high 20's mpg when not towing. I have a 2014 and tow a Rockwood fiver weighing 7800 dry weight. We towed over 7,000 miles last year, up mountains and down, 5%, 6% grades, no problem. I passed many a motorhome going up those mountains, maintaining 60 mph. Only white-knuckle time was coming out of Montana on an 8% grade downhill and I had warped rotors. Got those fixed under warranty and smooth sailing since. Get 10.5 mpg towing, 23 highway when not. Took a 300+ mile drive around Olympic Peninsula and got 24.3 mpg. 2016's do even better with 700 lbs of weight taken out of the truck. Just sayin'...speaking from experience...

X2 and I have asimilar 5th wheel as you

[emm-dee]

A neighbor used to pull his 17,000 pound trailer with a Ram dually and wasn't comfortable with that. He got a Freightliner Sport Chasis truck with something like 1,200 or 1,300 pounds torque. That solves all the perceived problems.

[bruane]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

A neighbor used to pull his 17,000 pound trailer with a Ram dually and wasn't comfortable with that. He got a Freightliner Sport Chasis truck with something like 1,200 or 1,300 pounds torque. That solves all the perceived problems.

Haha! Thats one up on the 3/4 and 1 ton bigots that believe that they are paid by their respective favourite manufacturers but in reality are passing money to them as they laugh back.

Happy New Year and enjoy what works for you.

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by bruane

Haha! Thats one up on the 3/4 and 1 ton bigots that believe that they are paid by their respective favourite manufacturers but in reality are passing money to them as they laugh back.

Happy New Year and enjoy what works for you.

That must be coming from one of the overloaded 1/2 ton/5th wheel owners we're trying to reason with before they run into trouble! LOL

[Crusadernoob]

Originally Posted by lheslop

I am using a Ram 1500 Quad cab to pull a 2005 FR 8283SS 5th wheel that fully loaded is within the maximum allowable for the truck. It works hard but does well. I am avoiding mountain trips but am comfortable in rolling countryside. If I had the $ I would move up but considering that 95% of the time, the truck acts as a car, I am happy with my 1/2 ton.

This says it all, and if you think 1/2 ton again just re read, let that sink in.

[bruane]

Originally Posted by Dogpatch

That must be coming from one of the overloaded 1/2 ton/5th wheel owners we're trying to reason with before they run into trouble! LOL

Haha! Im overloaded with the cash that I saved buying and the ongoing gas that I save on with the ecoboost mileage. Haha! once again.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Remember that not all 1/2 tons are created equal, either.

My 2009 Silverado 1500 Owners Manual lists 99 permutations (cab size, bed size, engine size, transmission, rear end, trailering package, etc), with towing capacities from about 4K to almost 12K. That's a pretty big spread.

The 2015 Owners Manual has 51 permutations, from 4600 to 11,800lbs.

So you can't just ask "Can a 1/2 ton pull an XXXX trailer?" You have to ask "WHICH 1/2 ton do you want to use to pull an xxxx trailer?"

You also have to ask which trailer also. Mine showed 1950 pin weight but on the scales at 11,380 has 2,740 pin weight and at the 12,000 in my 5er would have over 3,000 payload requirement just for the pin weight.
"I" think one of the requirements of ownership of RV should be to weight it on cat scale ready to camp and check it against the trucks specs. Then you can make an educated decision on if you want to put your love ones in the truck or not. Because stubby pencil can be 800 lbs off like I was!

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by bruane

Haha! Im overloaded with the cash that I saved buying and the ongoing gas that I save on with the ecoboost mileage. Haha! once again.

Fortunately, the company vehicle allowance I receive pays for my New Ram 3500 Laramie Diesel 4x4 and almost covers my insurance, maintenance and monthly fuel costs (all but about $150).

My 2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Diesel actually gets better gas mileage than the 2013 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Ecoboost I just sold!

HaHaHa! and once again HaHaHa!