Do I need to buy a bigger truck??

[norty1]

Sorry you got bad advice from a salesman. They are the last person I would listen to on that subject, but it sells campers! LOL.

You are gonna love your new truck, especially if it is your wife's idea!

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by norty1

Sorry you got bad advice from a salesman. They are the last person I would listen to on that subject, but it sells campers! LOL.

You are gonna love your new truck, especially if it is your wife's idea!

Wish my wife would tell me to get a beefier truck! She'd have me tow with a Volkswagen Rabbit if she knew it would do it! She has 0 concept on towing...none whatsoever. When we were looking for a TV, I told her we needed something with some UMFF behind it. We're towing a 9 million pound rv for Pete's sake! She thought we'd be "just fine" with our old 05 F150. I finally convinced her that it just won't do. Showed her numbers (GVW, GCVW, Axle weights, payload, etc. etc) and she finally conceded I knew what I was doing and to get a "beefier" vehicle.

Women..
Can't live with out 'em.

[Kahoneys]

WOW your wife told you to go look at new trucks!! Seems like you have the green light to go shopping and get an upgrade that both of you will like and will fit your needs better. The 2500's have heavier springs that will also handle the road better with your trailer connected and that may save you in the long run!

[GrayHawk51]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Wish my wife would tell me to get a beefier truck! She'd have me tow with a Volkswagen Rabbit if she knew it would do it! She has 0 concept on towing...none whatsoever. When we were looking for a TV, I told her we needed something with some UMFF behind it. We're towing a 9 million pound rv for Pete's sake! She thought we'd be "just fine" with our old 05 F150. I finally convinced her that it just won't do. Showed her numbers (GVW, GCVW, Axle weights, payload, etc. etc) and she finally conceded I knew what I was doing and to get a "beefier" vehicle.

Women..
Can't live with out 'em.

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X 2

[xtruckerbob]

When we bought our White Hawk we knew we would have to upgrade from our Tahoe but I was in on big hurry. I told her we would before any long trips. After she pulled our trailer one time ...... the next Monday we got that Duramax or I should say she got her a Duramax.

[ctbailey]

I upgraded from our 1/2 ton regular cab to my current 3/4 ton crew way before we ever pulled the trigger on this new camper. We were needing a crew cab, as the 1/2 ton regular cab was immediately too small once DD#2 arrived.

We went with the 2500 because I already knew I'd get 2-foot-itis eventually.

Now I'm looking at 1 ton crews! (Is that 1/4Ton-itis? ).

[Ont Pete]

My 2 cents on this, my salesman told me that my Toyota would pull my Eagle HT too, and I thought well it is an HT so....... I bought it. I joined the form here and half the people said it was too heavy and the other half said put bags in the truck and run it. So when i started doing the math there was no way that i was even going to be close to being legal or what I consider safe. Long story I upgraded to the F350 Diesel and absolutely love it! The torque out of it is amazing and I have yet to have a white knuckle experience and that is with 4k plus kms this summer.

Again long story short if you think you don't have enough then you have already made up your mind and no one will really change it. It will always be in the back of your head every steep grade or corner and every time you head out on a windy day.

PS. I still recommend the diesel they rev much lower than the gassers do!

[Northern Jay]

I have to admit, the more I read about the trials and tribulations of towing with 1/2 ton trucks, the more i think that they are "grocery getters". If you plan to tow anything over about 4000lbs, you should have a minimum of a 3/4 ton truck. Gas or diesel makes no difference to me. I am ok with higher RPM, and the extra gas that I may use over the diesel boys is worth the money saved ( I can buy a LOT of gas for 10-12000 bucks). My 3500HD Silverado with 6.0L Vortec does the hills and mountains in BC with ease. i can pass if i want to on the grades without having my foot on the floor, and still get reasonable mileage. (nobody gets great mileage while towing 9000lbs). I also feel that if your TT is over 22-24ft, You should have a 3/4 ton minimum for the added stability and safety of your family and the other motoring hordes out there on the hiways and byways of this great beautiful continent we all live on. Just my .02.
Happy Camping

[Firefighter78]

I had a 2005 F150 towing an 8000 LB trailer. Had the 5.4 with 3.73 rear. These triton motors build power at higher rpms, most F150's in that era had the 3.55, doesn't sound like much difference but it's huge when pulling. Check your axle
ratio. Also as mentioned earlier, turn off the OD. You will not hurt this motor running it at 3,000 RPMs. Mine seen sustained rpms at near 4,000 sometimes 6,000 RPMs pulling the mountain at Fancy Gap.

[Edd505]

I can only imagine what DOT would find if thy did the same kind of inspections they do on commercial rigs. It's worth not white knuckling down the road, getting there and back safe & rested with a vehicle that there is no question can handle the job. Last comment for this thread.

[Subaru297]

I rev out our 6.2L gasser in our Ford quite often when towing. For a while I would try to keep the rpm under 4500rpm or so but now that I have gotten used to the noise it will rev up to 6000 and hold there sometimes while climbing hills or merging onto the highway.

Ever since I have done that I am happier with the towing experience and power the 6.2 makes.

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

I rev out our 6.2L gasser in our Ford quite often when towing. For a while I would try to keep the rpm under 4500rpm or so but now that I have gotten used to the noise it will rev up to 6000 and hold there sometimes while climbing hills or merging onto the highway.

Ever since I have done that I am happier with the towing experience and power the 6.2 makes.

X2

[SouthCo]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

I rev out our 6.2L gasser in our Ford quite often when towing. For a while I would try to keep the rpm under 4500rpm or so but now that I have gotten used to the noise it will rev up to 6000 and hold there sometimes while climbing hills or merging onto the highway.

Ever since I have done that I am happier with the towing experience and power the 6.2 makes.

Yeah I don't enjoy feeling like I'm ragging out my truck. Been there. I'm sure it's fine but I don't like it. To each their own but that's why I finally bought a diesel... If you had access to both you'd tow with the diesel...