Do I need to buy a bigger truck??

[gozagswoohoo]

I have a 2005 Ford F150, 2wd (front), XLT, V8. When we were buying our travel trailer (27' Jayco JayFlight), the dealer made it sound like we would pull that thing with ease. Well....I feel like my truck is STRUGGLING to pull this! Especially up any long or gradual hills...

I'm CONSTANTLY pushing 3000 RPMS while pulling it. Initially, it was pulling it REALLY pooly, but then someone told me I needed to have overdrive OFF. I have never pulled anything behind my truck. Not even a little lawnmower trailer or anything. So, I don't know WHAT it should feel like to pull something. I just know this feels kinda rough. Our ABS dash light came on yesterday while pulling it, I still haven't checked what that means.

Anyway...the wife wants me to start looking at F250's, or Chev 2500's. I don't know.

Thoughts??

[TWP723]

Upgrade definately.

[Edd505]

Can go wrong with the F250SD the 27 Jayflight is about 8k too much for a 1/2 ton.

[Iraqvet05]

What is the dry weight of that camper? I had the same towing experience with a 2007 Silverado 1500 pulling around 5700 lbs. The gearing wasn't idea (3.42) and the 5.3L engine seemed inadequate in the rolling hills of Missouri. If you are looking at the 2500s, look for one newer than 2008. The 2008's and newer have the 6 speed transmission and will tow better.

[SouthCo]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

What is the dry weight of that camper? I had the same towing experience with a 2007 Silverado 1500 pulling around 5700 lbs. The gearing wasn't idea (3.42) and the 5.3L engine seemed inadequate in the rolling hills of Missouri. If you are looking at the 2500s, look for one newer than 2008. The 2008's and newer have the 6 speed transmission and will tow better.

My 2007 LBZ duramax has the Allison 6spd trans. But i agree it's much better...

[Iraqvet05]

I don't know what year the GM diesels came with a 6 spd transmission. I believe GM briefly had a 5 speed but the 6.0 gassers didn't get a 6 speed until 2008....maybe even as early as the 2007.5 when they went to the new body style.

[bedrck46]

Originally Posted by gozagswoohoo

I have a 2005 Ford F150, Well....I feel like my truck is STRUGGLING to pull this! Especially up any long or gradual hills...
but then someone told me I needed to have overdrive OFF.

Just my opinion But you should tow with the O/D off. It doesn't make much difference if you had it on or off when going up steep grades as the trans will shift to where it needs to be. By having the O/D off will prevent the trans from Hunting when you encounter even the shorter grades. Plus its less wear and tear on the trans, although with it off you will suffer on mileage which is the least of my concerns when towing.

And yes you do need to upgrade

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

What is the dry weight of that camper? I had the same towing experience with a 2007 Silverado 1500 pulling around 5700 lbs. The gearing wasn't idea (3.42) and the 5.3L engine seemed inadequate in the rolling hills of Missouri. If you are looking at the 2500s, look for one newer than 2008. The 2008's and newer have the 6 speed transmission and will tow better.

Had almost the same 1500 GMC 5.3L w/a 5k 5er and found out quickly it was not enough truck for the NM mountains. I wouldn't tow with out a diesel now there is no comparison. Got a friend that's got a diesel? Go for a ride and see the difference.

[Subaru297]

What v8 is in your truck? 5.4 or the 4.6? 4 speed transmission too right?

What axle ratio do you have?
3.31:1 / 3.55:1 / 3.73:1 / 4.10:1

I think your truck is probably up to the task you just have to get used to revving it up and the poor mileage associated with that. We need more info on your truck to tell you for sure. And we need more specs on your trailer. Model and year or GVWR and what the weight is ready to camp.

Cheers

[GrayHawk51]

Originally Posted by gozagswoohoo

I have a 2005 Ford F150, 2wd (front), XLT, V8. When we were buying our travel trailer (27' Jayco JayFlight), the dealer made it sound like we would pull that thing with ease. Well....I feel like my truck is STRUGGLING to pull this! Especially up any long or gradual hills...

I'm CONSTANTLY pushing 3000 RPMS while pulling it. Initially, it was pulling it REALLY pooly, but then someone told me I needed to have overdrive OFF. I have never pulled anything behind my truck. Not even a little lawnmower trailer or anything. So, I don't know WHAT it should feel like to pull something. I just know this feels kinda rough. Our ABS dash light came on yesterday while pulling it, I still haven't checked what that means.

Anyway...the wife wants me to start looking at F250's, or Chev 2500's. I don't know.

Thoughts??

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOL..... Like you, I was once a newbe ! Had a 2005 Dodge Dakota V8. When I went to buy my 25 ft Airstream TT the sales guy said almost word for word the same thing! "Oh yea, you got a V8 ! It can tow the trailer with no problem!.

Being uninformed in the art of towing, I bought the AS and on my first trip (to Yosemite) I had nothing but problems in over heating, and going up hills, the engine would over heat! On the Yosemite trip the engine got so hot that the truck started shutting down on me. Talk about major stress, I barely made it up the hill when the engine shut down. I don't know what I would have done had it shut down going up the hill as there are no pull outs...

I truly believe there was some sort of "intervention" by the powers that be! Upon our return home, I noticed this "clicking sound and the truck was over heating to the point that I had to stop about every 1/2 hour to let it cool down.

Made it home, took it too the dealer. Find out that I have a cracked head and blown header due to the stress and heat ! That was the bad news... Good news.... It was just 30 miles from being out of warranty !
Ended up the next day buying a Dodge 2500 diesel with "jake break" Never had any more problems after that !

Oh, and as for the dealer of the Airstream... Out of business !

[gozagswoohoo]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

What v8 is in your truck? 5.4 or the 4.6? 4 speed transmission too right?

What axle ratio do you have?
3.31:1 / 3.55:1 / 3.73:1 / 4.10:1

I think your truck is probably up to the task you just have to get used to revving it up and the poor mileage associated with that. We need more info on your truck to tell you for sure. And we need more specs on your trailer. Model and year or GVWR and what the weight is ready to camp.

Cheers

I am 85% sure mine is the 4.6, and yes, 4 speed transmission. I'm not sure the axle ratio....the dry weight of my TT is 6700.

[Crabman]

Please read my truck comparison after having towed my 31' trailer with both a 1500/2500.

As for your post I would tow in the hills with OD off and in tow haul mode. On flat land in tow haul mode, the truck should find the right gear there.

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...ces-11464.html

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by gozagswoohoo

snip... the dealer made it sound like we would pull that thing with ease. Well....I feel like my truck is STRUGGLING to pull this! Especially up any long or gradual hills...

...

Anyway...the wife wants me to start looking at F250's, or Chev 2500's. I don't know.

Thoughts??

Lesson #1: Never EVER listen to a trailer salesman regarding what your truck can do (or really much else for that matter; you know what they say about how to tell when a salesman is lying; his lips are moving). They're not in the truck business, they're in the trailer selling business. Most of them will tell you whatever you showed up in will tow whatever trailer you're looking to buy all day long, no problem. It astounds me how they stay in business sometimes.

If the wife says start looking for a bigger truck, I say don't wait another minute! When it came time for us to upgrade, I had to fight the wife every step of the way. She was all "but YOU SAID our truck could tow THIS trailer!" It finally took her actually seeing how much happier I was towing the trailer before she finally relented (yes, AFTER the new truck purchase). It also helped when I told her "sure, we can take the cast iron; don't worry about weight, it's not an issue any more, period. If it makes you happy, bring it. Don't worry, I'll let you know when you overload the trailer, but you'll NEVER overload the truck!"

If you're going to be using it, why not have the right tool for the job. If you can get by with what you have, that's sometimes okay in the short-run. In the end though, you'll remember the whole reason you bought the trailer in the first place, and it wasn't so you could wring your hands and worry about weight and whether your truck will survive the next trip. At least that's how it happened with me.

[djtho1]

You are likely to have a learning curve with this, so patience truly is a virtue. A new truck will not likely relieve you of turning those RPMs climbing hills. Most of that is just in the gearing. I regularly turn about 2700 RPMs on my diesel climbing. Before dropping money on another truck, see if you can borrow a friend's truck and see if you are more comfortable towing with it. You aren't describing any stability issues, so if the main issue is not being used to the increased noise and vibration of towing, that will come. Just remember to take all moves slowly, brake early, and keep it slow. Take short trips at first to get used to it.

[SouthCo]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

I don't know what year the GM diesels came with a 6 spd transmission. I believe GM briefly had a 5 speed but the 6.0 gassers didn't get a 6 speed until 2008....maybe even as early as the 2007.5 when they went to the new body style.

I'm with you. I don't know exactly what years of anything else had what trans. But you simply said 2500 and 2008. Just wanted OP and any reader looking for info to know there was a 2007 that had a 6spd.

[gozagswoohoo]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Please read my truck comparison after having towed my 31' trailer with both a 1500/2500.

As for your post I would tow in the hills with OD off and in tow haul mode. On flat land in tow haul mode, the truck should find the right gear there.

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...ces-11464.html

Thank you Crabman, very interesting and helpful thread.







One other question here, I read online in one or two spots that some models (I'm thinking it said late 90's??) of Dodge Ram had a lot of transmission issues when pulling things. I don't know if that's true at all, but have you all heard that Ram's are better/worse than others at towing??

[djtho1]

Pretty much all the truck brands had transmission issues at one time or another. If you are planning to tow, plan to, at some point, do some transmission work. Dodge's have had issues through at least 2006, Pretty much all Fords until 2003 or so have had issues (I have a 2000 F-350 and it toasted two stock trannies before we had one built for it. Since then, no issues). Chevrolet did a great thing with their Allison, but even they have some issues if the truck has been tuned. If buying used, just do some research and figure out which truck and brand's issues you can deal with the best. For example, a lot of people stay away from 2003 through 2007 Ford diesels because in stock form they have lots of expensive issues that affect reliability. In a half ton, in my opinion, you will likely have transmission troubles earlier because they aren't built to take as severe a load.

[Edd505]

Thank you Crabman, great read. Once you have towed with a 250/2500 you will never go back and the added torque of the diesel ...... finally did a programmer and now won't tow without that.

[djtho1]

I completely agree with that EDD. My only caution is that if you do a programmer to do gauges too to watch temps.

[dougfir1]

We just returned from a trip to Montana where we crossed three mtn passes. My half ton did OK towing our 23 FB (dry wt 4700#) but I think I am on the ragged edge where a 3/4 ton would make the trip alot easier. Also may I suggest you consider a 4x4. With the types of places we all take a trailer, that is a good insurance policy you probably won't get stuck. IMHO.