Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-21-2021, 03:03 PM   #1
Retired O&G
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Coeur dAlene, Idaho
Posts: 11
Tow vehicle recommendation

Pulling a 2015 windjammer 3008W, 34.5’ length, about 8,000# weight (loaded).
Trying to decide between a 2017 Toyota Tundra SR5 with Class IV tow package vs a 2015 GMC 2500 HD gasoline with tow package. From a power and stable towing platform, which is better? Thanks!
adamstee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 03:04 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
clarkbre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 1,151
For that size trailer, 3/4 ton at a minimum.
__________________

2017 Forest River Surveyor 247BHDS...
...Tugged by a 2016 F250 XLT FX4 SuperCrew, Shortbed 6.2L, 4wd, 3.73...
...Joined with a Husky Centerline TS 800-1200lbs WDH
clarkbre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 03:12 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
JDR76's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: WA
Posts: 195
HUGE Tundra fan here, but that trailer is too much for a half ton truck. I'd go with an HD.
__________________
2022 Flagstaff MicroLite 25BRDS
2021 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition TRD Off Road
JDR76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 03:38 PM   #4
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
Forget the Tundra, the trailer's loaded tongue weight will exceed its payload capacity, once humans and truck cargo is added.
Tundras are notorious for low payload capacities. Maybe the 2022 Tundras will have that addressed.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 03:48 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 143
I definitely would go with the 2500 at that weight/length of a trailer.
__________________
2020 Ram 2500 Tradesman 4X4 14,300 max tow, 3089 payload
2022 Coachmen Catalina 323BHDSCK
Equalizer 4 point WDH
FrankH35 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 03:49 PM   #6
llr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,670
That is pretty much in the middle between my old and new TT and I would have to agree with a 3/4 ton plus.

We had a 2014 chevy 3/4 and hated the ride not towing so we went to a well equipped for towing F150 and had to downsize the TT as we are not going back to a 3/4 tone truck unless it was just used for towing, however then we would get a MH instead.
__________________
Almost not an SOB
Artic Fox 3018 5th Wheel - on order
Grand Design 2800BH TT 2021
Prior TT 2017 Flagstaff 831CLBSS Classic Ultra lite - SOLD 5/21
TV 2024 F350 DRW - on order
TV 2017 F150 6.5' bed 3.5 Eco-boost Max tow 1800lbs payload
llr is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 08:09 PM   #7
Retired O&G
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Coeur dAlene, Idaho
Posts: 11
Thank you for your replies, it seems the 3/4- ton minimum hands down. Now to find one we can afford��
adamstee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 10:42 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,167
Quote:
Originally Posted by adamstee View Post
Thank you for your replies, it seems the 3/4- ton minimum hands down. Now to find one we can afford��
Unfortunately, this is a bad time to buying a truck. The supply/demand imbalance is projected to last well into 2022, and possibly even into 2023.
__________________
2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
AlaskaErik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2021, 02:45 AM   #9
Member
 
KJ6MTJ - John's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Elmore, AL
Posts: 54
Id go with the Chevy 2500 with the tow package. 3/4 ton will let you walk the dog, and not let the dog walk you. This is my personal opinion but I think once you get over 7,500 lbs., ought to consider 3/4 ton territory. I'm using a 1/2 ton to pull my 24RLXL around and would imagine a longer or heavier trailer would most likely be pushing it. My Ram is rated at 8500 max tow since I have street gears (3.21) in it, I personally like to stay at least 1,000 lbs. away from max. If you run things at Max at the time, your just going to stress stuff out and lead to some failure long-term.
__________________
John Fertsch - HAM=KJ6MTJ - GMRS=WRQZ336
2021 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 24RLXL
5300 Dry, Max 7500, Easy Lift Recurve R3 WDH
2019 Ram 1500 Bighorn - 5.7 Hemi with 3.21 Gears
Max tow is 8500 LBS with 1788 Payload capability.
KJ6MTJ - John is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2021, 05:33 AM   #10
Camping the Natural State
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 756
Seriously ? Everyone is saying 8000 lbs is too much for any halfton ?
__________________
2021 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2614 BS
ARhappycamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2021, 05:39 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
marinerjoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 504
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARhappycamper View Post
Seriously ? Everyone is saying 8000 lbs is too much for any halfton ?


The issue is most often NOT the hauling capability, but rather the available cargo capacity for the truck. If the tongue weight was 10% or 800 lbs, you’d have used half of a 1,600 lb payload (example number). If each of two passengers weighed 250 lbs, that leaves 300 lbs for additional cargo in the truck. If the WDH weighs 100 lbs, you’re down to 200 lbs for additional cargo.
__________________
Joe
Current: 2022 Keystone Cougar 26RBS
Past: 2020 Rockwood MiniLite 2205S
Past: 2018 Flagstaff MicroLite 21FBRS
Past: 2005 Flagstaff Classic 625D
TV: 2016 Ford F-150 3.5 EcoBoost
marinerjoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2021, 11:38 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,167
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARhappycamper View Post
Seriously ? Everyone is saying 8000 lbs is too much for any halfton ?
An 8000 lb trailer would over gross my 2016 Silverado 1500. My 2019 Silverado 1500 with the max trailering package would probably remain within all the limits, but it's still a light duty pickup. Short trips would be fine, but I wouldn't want to tow a trailer that heavy all over the country year after year. The cumulative wear and tear would simply grind it down. A 3/4 ton truck would be much more suitable for the long term.
__________________
2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
AlaskaErik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2021, 11:57 AM   #13
llr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,670
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARhappycamper View Post
Seriously ? Everyone is saying 8000 lbs is too much for any halfton ?
Probably not too much for a F150 HDPP, no idea if dodge or GM have something similar.

It also depends what you are towing, a 10k boat is probably not an issue.

With a TT it is also (or more) a factor of the length. My prior TT was too long and to get it stable required about 17% which was too heavy for the payload.

My current trailer is 32' and 8000lbs gross and it tows well with my truck. I could never get the old trailer 37' and 9500lbs gross to be consistently safe to tow. My true safe limit is probably between these two but how do you know where.
__________________
Almost not an SOB
Artic Fox 3018 5th Wheel - on order
Grand Design 2800BH TT 2021
Prior TT 2017 Flagstaff 831CLBSS Classic Ultra lite - SOLD 5/21
TV 2024 F350 DRW - on order
TV 2017 F150 6.5' bed 3.5 Eco-boost Max tow 1800lbs payload
llr is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:40 AM   #14
Retired O&G
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Coeur dAlene, Idaho
Posts: 11
Sold on the 3/4-ton! Now how about comments on a 2015 GMC 2500 Denali 6.2 gas VS a 2014 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins. Cost differential $4k higher on diesel, but mileage differential 40k lower on the diesel. Consider I’ll tow 12k miles/yr. Thanks
adamstee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 05:56 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 190
Tow vehicle recommendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by adamstee View Post
Sold on the 3/4-ton! Now how about comments on a 2015 GMC 2500 Denali 6.2 gas VS a 2014 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins. Cost differential $4k higher on diesel, but mileage differential 40k lower on the diesel. Consider I’ll tow 12k miles/yr. Thanks


Get the 6.7 Cummins. You will be glad you did
__________________
2019 Ram Big Horn 6.7 Cummins
2020 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS
RobRockz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 06:10 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
njfishing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 927
Quote:
Originally Posted by adamstee View Post
Sold on the 3/4-ton! Now how about comments on a 2015 GMC 2500 Denali 6.2 gas VS a 2014 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins. Cost differential $4k higher on diesel, but mileage differential 40k lower on the diesel. Consider I’ll tow 12k miles/yr. Thanks
You'll likely see a 30% improvement in towing MPG with the diesel.
-12000 miles @ 10 miles per gallon for gas is 1200 gallons x $3.50 per gallon you're at $4200
-12000 miles @ 13 miles per gallon for diesel is 923 gallons X $3.75 per gallon you're at $3461

You're savings on fuel is $739 per year with the diesel.

If you're going diesel, Cummins is probably the best choice and if it's older and does need DEF, all the better.
__________________
Gerry Z
2018 Forest River Heritage Glen 272RL
2018 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5 Ecoboost Max Trailer Package
Curt Trutrack WDH
HD Roadmaster Active Suspension
3200 Firman Generator/Inverter
njfishing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 07:15 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,049
Quote:
Originally Posted by adamstee View Post
Sold on the 3/4-ton! Now how about comments on a 2015 GMC 2500 Denali 6.2 gas VS a 2014 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins. Cost differential $4k higher on diesel, but mileage differential 40k lower on the diesel. Consider I’ll tow 12k miles/yr. Thanks

Been where you are with this decision a few years ago. The truck with the 6.7 Cummins is superior to the gas engine. I've towed fifth wheels with both engines and will never go back to a gasser.

I know owners that've had their Cummins trucks for many years and hundreds of thousands of miles and plan to keep 'em for many more because they're such work horses. With a gas engine, you won't get anywhere near the torque output of a Cummins diesel.

The diesel engine can be a bit more costly to buy, to fuel up, and to repair, but well worth it compared to a gas engine. I'm actually surprised the difference between the two is so little. Although the fuel costs more, you'll go further on a full tank with the Cummins. Not only will you get better gas mileage while towing, diesel trucks normally have larger fuel tanks than their gas counterparts. Plus, even though repairs costs more, the engine will last longer than the gasser because its designed for the heavy wear and tear of towing.

Also, a diesel truck will allow you to move to a larger RV, if you wish to do so three or five years from now. For any RV larger than what you're looking to buy now will likely require you to upgrade again to a diesel truck down the road.
__________________
2020 Forest River Sabre 37FLH
2013 Ford F-350 XL Crew Cab 6.7L Diesel DRW
Tulip, the Wonder-Shepherd
GPs37FLH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 07:16 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
jeff64's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 2,371
The new 6.6 gas gm is a good choice. Gets about 25% better fuel economy than my 2014 gm hd did with the 6.0 and 4.10 gears. Tow capacity on conventional towing is 14.5K.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Forest River Forums mobile app
__________________
2016 Flagstaff 27VRL Emerald
14K Equalizer
2020 Silverado 2500HD CC 4X4 6.6L gas 3.73
jeff64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 01:13 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,167
Quote:
Originally Posted by adamstee View Post
Sold on the 3/4-ton! Now how about comments on a 2015 GMC 2500 Denali 6.2 gas VS a 2014 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins. Cost differential $4k higher on diesel, but mileage differential 40k lower on the diesel. Consider I’ll tow 12k miles/yr. Thanks
Just check the payload rating on the Ram. A family member has a 2018 Ram 3/4 ton with CTD and its payload rating is only 2149 lbs. That's only 239 lbs more than my Silverado 1500. The Denali will have a much higher payload rating.
__________________
2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
AlaskaErik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2021, 08:15 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Germanrazor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 260
The only thing I will add is always buy more truck than you CURRENTLY NEED. Reason being, you will ultimately most often down the road buy something bigger to tow and you have to repeat again the entire process. Too much truck in payload and power and towing ability better than something that will easily work for your need but close in rating of what you have. Just my two cents and not worth a plug nickel in most circles.
__________________
I am just a spoke in a broken wheel......

Tow vehicle: 2020 Ford F-250 4WD Super Duty 7.3 XLT FX4 Crew

TT: 2021 Grey Wolf 26 DBH
Germanrazor is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tow, tow vehicle

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:55 AM.