Newb advice - 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton to pull TT

[Audionut]

This is my first post on irv2 and I'm very grateful to have found this great resource for camping.

I am very new to the camping world and my wife and I, (no kids), just bought a used 34’ travel trailer and need to buy a pickup to pull it with. I was hoping to get a 1/2 ton truck because it will be my daily driver and a 1/2 ton is just a bit more convenient.

However, the more I research I am thinking a 3/4 ton truck might be a better idea. We are going south in the winter to Texas from South Dakota, so we will be putting some miles on it. And we plan to see other parts of the country as well.

Can anyone deduce from the specs below that, yes we should get a 3/4 ton? Or should we go through the calculations to figure it out? Is there a link to that?

At first I thought I could install Firestone Ride Rite or some air bags on a 1/2 ton pickup and we would be good to go. But the more I read maybe a 3/4 ton would be the right choice?

Our camper does come with the “Equal-iz-er” WD system, if that helps. And for what it’s worth, I drove 18 wheelers years ago for a living so I have no qualms about pulling a trailer.

TIA for any advice.


2015 Forest River RV Salem Hemisphere Lite 272RLIS

Sleeps --5
Slides -- 2
Length ------ 34 ft 4 in
Ext Height ---11 ft
Hitch Weight -- 845 lbs
Dry Weight ----- 6975 lbs
Cargo Weight ---2351 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity -35 gals
Grey Water Capacity - 48 gals
Black Water Capacity -30 gals
Tire Size - 15"


EDIT: I forgot to mention that if we go with a 1/2 ton pickup I would want one with the larger engine, ie, GMC 6.2L V8.

[450Donn]

For length alone you need a 2500 truck. I dont understand your comment about a 1500 being more convenient? 1500 and 2500 series trucks are identical in basic configuration. The differences come in frame and running gear. Heck, most trucks clear up to 3500 have nearly identical bodies.

[1bigmess]

A potentially 9300 pound trailer could easily have a tongue weight of 1200 pounds. Get the 2500. Yo9u'll be much happier with the entire experience.

I have a 2500, and it is my daily driver, and a damned good one. It hauls more groceries than a half ton pickup.

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by 450Donn

For length alone you need a 2500 truck. I dont understand your comment about a 1500 being more convenient? 1500 and 2500 series trucks are identical in basic configuration. The differences come in frame and running gear. Heck, most trucks clear up to 3500 have nearly identical bodies.

Thanks. I guess I should have said more comfortable ride?

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

A potentially 9300 pound trailer could easily have a tongue weight of 1200 pounds. Get the 2500. Yo9u'll be much happier with the entire experience.

I have a 2500, and it is my daily driver, and a damned good one. It hauls more groceries than a half ton pickup.

Thanks for that perspective. I never thought of that combined weight. Wow, I am such a rookie here.

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by 450Donn

For length alone you need a 2500 truck. I dont understand your comment about a 1500 being more convenient? 1500 and 2500 series trucks are identical in basic configuration. The differences come in frame and running gear. Heck, most trucks clear up to 3500 have nearly identical bodies.

Is there a calculation for the length/weight like that?
Thanks.

[1bigmess]

Originally Posted by Audionut

Thanks. I guess I should have said more comfortable ride?

Would you rather have a smoother ride when not towing, or a better and safer towing experience?

Once you start getting a 150/1500 truck equipped to carry serious weight, you're in 250/2500 territory in cargo carrying capacity and price.

So many folks are buying the 2500's for their big diesel engines and using them as daily drivers that the manufacturers are equipping them very nicely.

Go test drive all of them, really. And realize that when you're in the half ton rigs, you're towing experience will not be as good and possibly not as safe as when driving the three quarter ton with that trailer behind it. 10K pounds will make a real difference to how the tow vehicle will act.

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

Would you rather have a smoother ride when not towing, or a better and safer towing experience?

Once you start getting a 150/1500 truck equipped to carry serious weight, you're in 250/2500 territory in cargo carrying capacity and price.

So many folks are buying the 2500's for their big diesel engines and using them as daily drivers that the manufacturers are equipping them very nicely.

Go test drive all of them, really. And realize that when you're in the half ton rigs, you're towing experience will not be as good and possibly not as safe as when driving the three quarter ton with that trailer behind it. 10K pounds will make a real difference to how the tow vehicle will act.

I guess better and safer towing would be the correct answer. I can always drive the wife's car when/if I got tired of the 3/4 ton. We just retired so we both don't need vehicles at the same time.

I suppose I would need to start a new thread if I wanted to ask "gas vs diesel"?

[1bigmess]

Lots of mountains, and you can afford the higher costs if you need repairs? Diesel.

Lots of flat land driving, and concerned about maintenance and repair costs? Gas.

It doesn't really need to be much more fought over than that I think.

[Mojim]

Originally Posted by Audionut

I guess better and safer towing would be the correct answer. I can always drive the wife's car when/if I got tired of the 3/4 ton. We just retired so we both don't need vehicles at the same time.

I suppose I would need to start a new thread if I wanted to ask "gas vs diesel"?

you can but everyone will say diesel! (not there money)

[GoLeafsGo]

You'd be better off researching the hundreds of threads asking that same question this year alone.

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

A potentially 9300 pound trailer could easily have a tongue weight of 1200 pounds. Get the 2500. Yo9u'll be much happier with the entire experience.

I have a 2500, and it is my daily driver, and a damned good one. It hauls more groceries than a half ton pickup.

Knowing the cargo weight is 2351 lbs max according to specs.

Is there a way to know, on the average, for 2 adult people, personal cargo, optional equipment, about how much weight would we realistically weigh? And how can you guesstimate the tongue weight?

Hitch Weight -- 845 lbs
Dry Weight ----- 6975 lbs
Cargo Weight ---2351 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity -35 gals
Grey Water Capacity - 48 gals
Black Water Capacity -30 gals

[tuffr2]

There is only 1 half ton truck I would consider to tow a 34' travel trailer with a GVWR of 9,300lbs.

That is a F-150 with both the Max tow and the Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP). That is the monster of half ton trucks. That F-150 has a longer wheelbase, thicker frame, more lug nuts on the wheels, tow mirrors, powerful 3.5 litre Eco-Boost engine, and a cargo capacity of just over 3,000lbs.

This unicorn of a truck does in fact exist. It will most likely need to be ordered as I have never seen one on a lot.

Or just buy any 3/4 ton truck and be done with it.

Now in 3/4 ton trucks in a few months the new redesigned GM trucks will be out. They will have a new 6.6 litre gasoline powered engine. Then the new redesigned Ram 3/4 ton truck will be out followed late in the year with the new redesigned F-250 with a new 7.3 litre gasoline powered engine.

When a redesigned truck comes out it will have more capacity with yet, a stiffer frame and more powerful engines usually.

The diesel engines have obscene amounts of power with 900 - 1,000 ft. lbs. of torque. I had a 2012 diesel with 400hp and 800 ft lbs. of torque that made towing a 5th wheel a breeze. The newer trucks are even better.

Gas engines have lagged behind the diesel development. In 2020 the gas engines from GM and Ford will be new but the diesel engines also get more attention.

I would even consider a used diesel truck from 2017 or newer.

If you look at a big 34' trailer you really can not expect a normal half ton truck to tow it...

[Audionut]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

There is only 1 half ton truck I would consider to tow a 34' travel trailer with a GVWR of 9,300lbs.

That is a F-150 with both the Max tow and the Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP). That is the monster of half ton trucks. That F-150 has a longer wheelbase, thicker frame, more lug nuts on the wheels, tow mirrors, powerful 3.5 litre Eco-Boost engine, and a cargo capacity of just over 3,000lbs.

This unicorn of a truck does in fact exist. It will most likely need to be ordered as I have never seen one on a lot.

Or just buy any 3/4 ton truck and be done with it.

Now in 3/4 ton trucks in a few months the new redesigned GM trucks will be out. They will have a new 6.6 litre gasoline powered engine. Then the new redesigned Ram 3/4 ton truck will be out followed late in the year with the new redesigned F-250 with a new 7.3 litre gasoline powered engine.

When a redesigned truck comes out it will have more capacity with yet, a stiffer frame and more powerful engines usually.

The diesel engines have obscene amounts of power with 900 - 1,000 ft. lbs. of torque. I had a 2012 diesel with 400hp and 800 ft lbs. of torque that made towing a 5th wheel a breeze. The newer trucks are even better.

Gas engines have lagged behind the diesel development. In 2020 the gas engines from GM and Ford will be new but the diesel engines also get more attention.

I would even consider a used diesel truck from 2017 or newer.

If you look at a big 34' trailer you really can not expect a normal half ton truck to tow it...

I was expecting to buy a good used truck with under 50k miles, and you have provided some good advice. Thanks.