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10-09-2014, 08:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 266
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Is the term 1/2 ton towable is a stretch?
I read though a lot of the post but did not see this question.
We pull our 30 foot DSRE with a Tahoe 5.3 tow package 3.43 in tow mode. It will barely pull it on flat ground. If you set the cruise at 65 MPH or above it will not hold it. It slows enough that it has to shift down to regain the set speed then shifts back up. The process never stops. If we drive 60 MPH on flat ground it pulls OK but at 60 MPH on the interstate will get you ran over. This started the day we pulled it home. Is the term 1/2 ton towable is a stretch. WE knew before we bought the TT a new TV was in the future because we go to the West Coast or Rockies ever year. We get around 8 MPG at 60 MPH if we increase up to 65 MPH it drops to 6.5 MPG So now we are looking for a 3/4.
So what I am wondering is am the only with this problem?
Does the Ford Eco Boos do this
What about the Ram Hemi does it do this?
Does the newer Chevys have this problem?
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10-09-2014, 08:24 PM
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#2
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: N/A
Posts: 567
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Towing a 30' with a Tahoe might be a stretch. I don't think a Tahoe has the same towing capacity as a 1/2 ton pickup. That being said. I have a Tundra 5.7l with 4.30 rears and never use cruise control while towing. I try to keep constant foot pressure on the throttle petal meaning that I slow down going uphill. I tow a 39' 11,000 lbs TT and get about 9 - 10 mpg. Using cruise control ruins my mpg. I run about 60 mph on the interstate. You will get used to getting run over at 60. P.s. You are not the only one... Keep a look out for the idiots who think we are idiots.
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10-09-2014, 09:12 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Blaine
Posts: 294
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I was watching a video on the Internet. Flt (fast lane truck) put it on. I was watching it for towing they compared all kinds of trucks. The said their is not a standard for towing capacity. I think the guy used the term magic towing dust. So another words do alot of research before buying your next tow vehicle. Also remember someone might say the truck tows a x trailer great but the next guy who has the same setup might say it doesn't tow it well. I think alot has to do with your comfortability maybe guy a doesn't mind taking it slow and barely makes it up to freeway spends by the end of the ramp. To me I'm a little more conservative I would like a tv to be over kill heck I'm looking at a diesel for towing my 5000ib trailer 6 times a year. More truck less stress. If I do get a bigger truck ill have to get better trailer tires so I can go at least 70 to75 miles an hour. I know I wouldn't want to go any faster than though.
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2014 6.6L Duramax 2500hd CrewCab
2018 5th wheel on its way
2011 x23b (sold)
05 f150 5.4 v8 (sold)
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10-09-2014, 09:34 PM
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#4
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: N/A
Posts: 567
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All trailer tires are only speed rated to 65 mph. I tow at 60 mph because it is comfortable and safe. My Tundra will tow as fast as you want to go, but common sense says less is more.
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10-09-2014, 09:53 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Spicewood, Texas
Posts: 913
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__________________
2015 338RETS Eagle Premier gloss sides., king.
2012 Ram 3500, crew cab 4x4 duelly Deleted
16k miles, 530HP, 1000 +torque.
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10-10-2014, 03:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 1,795
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1/2 ton towable is a huge stretch. All that means is that it has a lower dry tongue weight, because the limitations of a 1/2 ton are usually payload.
That being said, an SUV generally has less payload and less towing capability than a 1/2 ton.
Your GM 5.3 is on the lower HP side of things, and the small 3.43 gears aren't ideal for towing, they are geared more towards higher fuel economy. Your best bet is to lock out your highest gear, which is overdrive, and keep your RPM's up.
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10-10-2014, 03:59 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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My tow vehicle (see signature line) pulls with authority. Your gear ratio is too low. 3.43:1 is for maximizing fuel economy not towing. I'd go with a 3.73:1 for best all around performance...good for towing but doesn't kill your fuel economy like 4.10 gears will.
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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10-10-2014, 08:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
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I tow a 28 BHBE with my '12 GMC Sierra 1500 2WD, and this is the MOST I would ever tow with this truck. In fact, I think it's a bit much for the truck. So I see where you're coming from with your Tahoe, and I think that trailer is a bit much for it. The gears are not right, the payload isn't enough, and the 5.3 is a little anemic IMO. I'm looking into getting a RAM 2500 CC with the 6.4L Hemi for my towing needs, but that's about 3 years out, so I make due for now.
I can't stand that all these dealers and manufacturers throw around that "1/2 Ton Towable" garbage. Most 1/2 Tons won't be equipped to tow the weights they're talking about.
Anyway, as spoon059 mentioned above, let it rev. I put mine in T/H (which locks out 6th gear) and manually shift the transmission to 4. At 68 mph, the engine revs at about 2900-3000 rpm and doesn't shift at all. I will let the speed drop on significant grades, and I'll pick up speed if I'm coming up on a grade with a little more pressure on the pedal. Mileage is actually pretty decent even though the engine is spinning that fast, but it's RIGHT in the power band, and it likes that spot. I don't really like going that fast, but that's where the truck likes to be, and it doesn't get better unless I drop down to about 55, which is possible on most roads, but I don't like doing it on the Interstate.
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-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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10-10-2014, 08:27 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CENTRAL NEW YORK
Posts: 984
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I have 4.10s in my Avalanche and with them its rated for 12,000 lbs and with 3.73s only 10,000 lbs. So I rather have the capacity than MPGs that really wont mean much in savings.
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2013 33 RLDS
2004 Chevy Avalanche 2500 8.1
2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2
2016 CTS 4 2.0T
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0
2015 Chrysler 200C AWD
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10-10-2014, 08:30 AM
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#10
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Woodstock
Posts: 1,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 33 RLDS
I have 4.10s in my Avalanche and with them its rated for 12,000 lbs and with 3.73s only 10,000 lbs. So I rather have the capacity than MPGs that really wont mean much in savings.
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I would much rather have the sluggish and better MPG. IF people behind me don't like it...oh well plus the thousands of dollars instantly lost in trading will buy a lot of gas
I tow 1500 miles a year and drive empty 10000.
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10-10-2014, 08:43 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CENTRAL NEW YORK
Posts: 984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nbhybrid
I would much rather have the sluggish and better MPG. IF people behind me don't like it...oh well plus the thousands of dollars instantly lost in trading will buy a lot of gas
I tow 1500 miles a year and drive empty 10000.
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I guess everybody's situation is different. I rarely use my tow vehicle except when towing or hauling
__________________
2013 33 RLDS
2004 Chevy Avalanche 2500 8.1
2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2
2016 CTS 4 2.0T
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0
2015 Chrysler 200C AWD
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10-10-2014, 09:01 AM
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#12
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Woodstock
Posts: 1,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 33 RLDS
I guess everybody's situation is different. I rarely use my tow vehicle except when towing or hauling
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with that fuel economy I can see why
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10-10-2014, 09:23 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: .
Posts: 580
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"Half ton towable" is mostly a sales gimmick. Half ton trucks don't have any business hauling more than 5000-6000 pounds. There's simply not enough chassis there to do it.
My half ton truck is my nice family vehicle. I've got a 19 year old dually that's dedicated to hauling the camper.
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10-10-2014, 09:32 AM
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#14
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Woodstock
Posts: 1,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etex211
Half ton trucks don't have any business hauling more than 5000-6000 pounds. There's simply not enough chassis there to do it.
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ummm
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10-10-2014, 09:45 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 311
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The Ecoboost is superb at pulling, however it should have the Max Tow package at the very least, or the HD package to get above 2000 lbs payload. However as I've mentioned in other posts it doesn't do too well when engine braking.
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2020 Ford F350 SRW Platinum CCLB 6.7
2022 Jayco Eagle HT 28.5RSTS
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10-10-2014, 09:48 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CENTRAL NEW YORK
Posts: 984
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I towed a hybrid that was 4500 dry and my half ton with 5.3L and 4.10 gears was not liking the hills of central NY at all. I think its capacity was low 8K and I would not want to be anywhere near that..
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2013 33 RLDS
2004 Chevy Avalanche 2500 8.1
2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2
2016 CTS 4 2.0T
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0
2015 Chrysler 200C AWD
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10-10-2014, 10:11 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Central California
Posts: 2,283
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IMO the term 1/2 ton towable means nothing since vehicle manufactures no longer make 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton, etc designated vehicles. Depending on the manufacture they make 1500/150, 2500/250, 3500/350, etc. These numbers no longer attribute to 1/2,3/4,1 ton, etc. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a 1500/150 that was only rated for 1000 lb (1/2 ton) capacity? That phraseology is some thing from the past that we consumers, RV marketers, sales reps still perpetuate to. This is a real disservice for the consumer that doesn't know how to or want to figure out the appropriateness of a specific TV/Trailer combination. In today's world that means you need to do the number crunching to determine if the combinations fits the specific ratings of the TV.
As far as pushing and exceeding the limits, or buying a combination one person may feel is inadequate, that is an individual decision. As a community we should share facts, or personal experience that is identified as such. We should not green light or red light an internet stranger's decision based on their specific circumstance that isn't necessarily the same as our own.
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2020 Ram 1500 5.7L
2007 Chevy Duramax LMM/Allison (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 29QBH (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 26BH (Sold)
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10-10-2014, 10:24 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: .
Posts: 580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nbhybrid
ummm
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Inferior brakes and suspension...
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10-10-2014, 10:49 AM
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#19
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Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Woodstock
Posts: 1,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etex211
Inferior brakes and suspension...
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and a 3/4 ton and 1 ton are greatly inferior to an MDT.
So what weight do you say a 3/4 has no business towing at?
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10-10-2014, 11:08 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: .
Posts: 580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nbhybrid
and a 3/4 ton and 1 ton are greatly inferior to an MDT.
So what weight do you say a 3/4 has no business towing at?
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I don't know, but it will certainly handle more than a half ton.
I tried it. I tried towing a previous camper of 8000-9000 pounds with my long wheel base half ton truck. I had brakes on both trailer axles, a good weight distributing system, and I even installed air bags on the rear axle of the truck. I was a nervous wreck every minute I towed with that.
Sure, you can hook a heavy camper on a half ton truck and make it go down the road, but it is inadequate for the job. It really is just trouble waiting to happen. The problem isn't the engine or the gears. It is everything else on the truck. It simply wasn't built for that task.
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