1/2 Ton TT Towers

[tuffr2]

I think Ford is the only manufacturer of trucks that has so many engines and wheelbases. A 163" wheelbase with the 3.5 Eco-Boost is for people that are serious about towing in comfort. I know GM people like the GM product and I don't blame them as I too like their trucks. Casey in point - Ford tailgate step vs the GM foot steps in the bumper. Ford started the step but GM does it better and much simpler.

[DR60]

Originally Posted by Rosy

I believe with the GMs, you can get either 3.23 or 3.42 rear gears with either the 5.3 or the 6.2. As you said, I would also go with 3.42, which also gets you the max trailering package.

My 1/2 ton has 3.90 rear gears, and the 3/4 ton has 4.11 gears. Both of these are older Dodges. My last GM had 4.11 gears also. The lowerer gears really make a difference when taking off or starting up a hill. The lower gears seem to make more difference than a higher output engine.
Both of these are pulling trailers that are at the upper end of their capacity. The 1/2 ton pulls a horse trailer that with two horses and all the tack, all the water and feed, etc.. is right at 5,000 lbs. DR

[DR60]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

it's a tough decision. my current rig is a 2010 gmc crew cab 5.3 with 342 gears. i'm on the west coast and its hilly i tow approx.. 3-4 k miles a year. the 5.3 gets good gas mileage non towing around 20 mph, 8-10 towing ( 6500#) I'm really wondering what 40 xtra hp and 2 more gears is going to do for me. i'm not excited about haveing to run 91 octane gas, just seems to be a step backwards for me. i want reasonable towing power, just a little more than i have now, and good economical gas milage as i use the truck a lot empty. what really is bothering me is that i don't want to spend 40K and my truck ( just a guess) for a new one or a couple years old and not be any better of than what i have now.
Jay D.

If you want to pick up some HP , without altering your smog system and without costing $40,000, Look into having a lower gear set installed. 3.73 or 4.11 will help flatten the hills! DR

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by DR60

If you want to pick up some HP , without altering your smog system and without costing $40,000, Look into having a lower gear set installed. 3.73 or 4.11 will help flatten the hills! DR

This has also crossed my mind
Jay D.

[tuffr2]

I looked into changing gears several years ago (about 7) and it was around $500. That is total with recalibration of speedometer. I would budget around $1,000 now and maybe $1,200.

I did not do this because I really did not trust my garage that much. It was a bit more complicated than I originally thought. There is a thread in this site discussing changing gears.

[Bowtie Jim]

Originally Posted by Rosy

Do you also calculate running costs (i.e. $/mile) or anything like that. 1.5 mpg on the 6.2 sounds better until you realize that 91 octane is about 85 cents a gallon more here than 87. 93 is more than that and it's just 91 with a bunch of ethanol in it.

Also, to get the 6.2, there's a higher purchase cost plus the cost to get into a higher trim level if you were considering a base or volume trim level.

I'm not too worried which truck cost more to run.
Yes if you want a 6.2 you have to get an LTZ or a High Country. Some Trail Boss trucks have the 6.2 also.
I use ethanol free 93 in my 6.2. $4.69 /Gallon. 88 is $4.09 near me.
Chevys standard engine is the turbo 4 banger. If I remember the 5.3 is a $1300 option , the 6.2 is $2500 so it's not that much more. The sticker prices on my trucks were $60,000 for the LTZ and $71,000 for the High Country. They are both absolutely loaded with every option available.
Prices are starting to come down a little. My guess is when they start getting 23s in they will come down a little more.

[kdauto]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I looked into changing gears several years ago (about 7) and it was around $500. That is total with recalibration of speedometer. I would budget around $1,000 now and maybe $1,200.

I did not do this because I really did not trust my garage that much. It was a bit more complicated than I originally thought. There is a thread in this site discussing changing gears.

I don't know how a legit shop could do it that cheap. I replaced the rear ring and pinion on my Suburban 15 years ago. A local shop I deal with had a "take-off" 3:73 set. With a few bearings and shims the parts alone set me back 400$. That was FIFTEEN years ago. I did check parts cost at several places too.

Re gearing a 2WD would likely be 1200-1500$. Make that at least double, probably more for a 4WD. Reprogramming speedo can be easy or incredibly difficult depending on YMM and gearset.

[Rosy]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I think the GM 6.2 using 91 octane is the only engine that can give the Ford 3.5 Eco-Boost a run for it's money. Both engines are very powerful and moves the truck with ease. That is the old Corvette engine I think.

I like the 6.2 because it is not turbo charged thus thinking it would last longer.

I've heard the new 3 4TT in the 2022 Tundra "feels" faster than the EB to guys who've driven both.

[runamuck]

maybe so but even if I could get over the looks of the thing, which I dont think I can, there are practically none to be had.

[tuffr2]

The new Tundra engine is a copy of the Ford engine so I count the Tundra as a Ford.

[varmonter]

I dont tow with a half ton. 5k empty is,like said above, a sales commission generator. So is the term towing capacity. It is all about payload.
If you figure 15% for a tt and you load it to let's say
6500lbs then that's about 975lbs of tounge weight. I dont recall what you said was your payload on the 1500..but most likely it's in the 1200 lb area. Wife an kids.dog,golf club's cooler canoe fishing gear water etc etc..
Wont be long b4 your overweight..
2500s originally came to mkt to meet the demand of towing bigger loads and providing a comfortable ride similar to a 1/2 ton.. my first truck was an o7 2500 gmc diesel. We quickly found out it wasn't enough truck. Our camper was 10k gvwr..we then bought a heavier trailer(we fulltime) and stepped up to a Ram 1 ton dually cummins. Night and day difference..
If you absolutly need your truck to be a daily driver. Then a 1 ton is a hard bullet to bite.
But if you can allow for 3 vehicles than get a 1 ton (you may want to upgrade your trailer someday ..buy once cry once) it gets the same mpg as the 3/4...but it's not as comfortable a ride.
Then buy a used prius for daily driving..

Our 2500 was a comfy ride ..on or off road.
Our 1 ton dually towing our trailer feels like a cadillac. Unladen and especially offroad it's a tad uncomfortable..

[Atlee]

2022 F150 Power Boost, XLT, SuperCrew, 6.5' Box, 4x4, 3.73 axle w/ E-locker, GVWR=7350#, CCC=1645#, GCWR=17000#, Max Tow=11000#.

2021 Coachmen 20SE TT, GVWR=6000#, Dry WT=4140#, CCC=1860#.

With the Equal-I-Zer hitch, I have zero problems with sway. The shocks are too soft, so I plan on putting on Bilstein shocks so it will stay planted better.

[MCCOHENS]

Our silverado is challenged on the hills, with a 4.8 and 3.42 it spends too much time over 4000 RPM. But it does the job, just barely. The best thing we did on this truck was 2500# rear springs and bilsteins. Trailer is single axle and the new springs/shocks make the ride much better. Sucks when empty but I bought a used prius for that stuff!

[Rosy]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

The new Tundra engine is a copy of the Ford engine so I count the Tundra as a Ford.

In what sense? It's a Lexus engine with a different displacement (despite what Toyota calls it).