New TT owner needs tow vehicle input

PA23mb · 07-22-2016, 01:02 PM

I just got a JayFlight 23mb, 6250GVWR. I am unsure if I should go with a 2500 series pu or if a 1500 series will do it. The grand cherokee pulls it fine, but I want the bed space of a pickup. With 4 adults, tongue weight, gear, etc, I'm probably pushing the max GVWR on my jeep. I would like to hear what others think on this. Thanks.

SkyBound · 07-22-2016, 01:08 PM

A properly equipped half ton will be a perfect vehicle for that trailer, however you're not going to go wrong with a 3/4 ton either. If you're looking for a comfortable daily driver as well as better fuel economy then looking at a tow-equipped half ton is probably your best bet. You don't NEED a 3/4 for that trailer but like I said, it's not going to do you any harm.

Payload is your biggest concern in a half ton used for heavy towing. With 4 adults, gear and the trailer you will want a truck with at least 1600lbs of payload, if not more depending on how much gear and how heavy the adults are.

The new aluminum bodied F-150 would be ideal for that trailer. Massive interior space in the Super Crew, great payloads often above 1800lbs, and plenty of power. If you were to consider a truck like that, I would highly recommend going with the Max Tow package, not just the regular tow package. It adds lots of extras that are highly beneficial to travel trailer towing.

TWP723 · 07-22-2016, 01:26 PM

A newer 1/2 ton should do it. Like SkyBound said, 3/4 would be more than adequate. Remember, no such thing as too much truck.

need-a-vacation · 07-22-2016, 02:42 PM

Welcome and congrats on the new rig!!!!

As mentioned, the payload of the truck is what will be the limit, then the rear axle after that.

Know that all occupants in the truck, any cargo in the bed (coolers, bikes, firewood,etc), any accessories added to the truck (step bars, spray in bed liner- aftermarket, truck cap/topper or tonneau cover, etc), the wdh (weight distribution hitch), AND the tt tw (travel trailer tongue weight) ALL COUNT toward the payload of the truck. So depending on what the passenger weight is, and the estimated gear in the truck bed is, you may be just fine with a properly equipped 1500/150, but if you want to take a bed full of firewood, chances are that you will be overweight with a 1500/150.

In every truck (all vehicles) there is a yellow sticker in the drivers door jamb stating "All occupant and cargo not to exceed XXXXlbs".... Look for this sticker on every truck you consider!!! Know that the more options you add, the less the trucks payload could be. Ford does offer a max tow package which does increase the payload some, and they also offer the HD Payload package (think that's what they call it!) which will increase the payload even more when added to a max tow optioned truck.

Having the trailer puts you a step ahead. Try to get it all packed if possible for a trip (if you haven't fully "furnished" it yet having just bought it), and go weigh your current truck and trailer. This will give you a pretty good idea of your loaded tw. You can easily figure the passenger weight. Then try to estimate what you want to carry in the bed, and if you will add any accessories to the truck (topper/tonneau cover, step bars, etc. Add all these weights up and it will give you a ballpark amount of what you need in a truck. Then go shopping, checking the drivers door jamb of every possible truck!!!

When/if you do weigh the current set up, follow my signature link for the CAT Scale how to. You will want to weigh 3 seperate times. All explained in the link.

Good luck!!!

Coldfusion · 07-22-2016, 06:33 PM

Ram 1500...hemi

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Doboy Dawg · 07-22-2016, 07:20 PM

2500.

ykcamom · 07-22-2016, 08:14 PM

You don't need a 3/4 ton to pull that trailer. A 1/2 ton is more than ample. However, there is a bit of a tendency for us folk to upgrade to larger units. If you want flexibility in the future to go to a larger trailer, or a 5th wheel, then you might want to consider the 3/4 ton.

If not, there's no reason to go there.

270wsmhunter · 07-23-2016, 01:57 AM

Not many folks on here say "I wish I had a smaller pickup". My wife loves driving our 3500HD, and she is the one who wanted the diesel. Test drive a 1500 and head to the scales with camper in tow to see where your real world numbers are. I would have to believe that a 1500 would fit your needs just fine. We use to tow a 2011 Jayco 26BH with a 2008 Sierra 1500 5.3/3.73 and it towed fine, just not as comfortably as our 2500HD and 3500HD in the mountains.

cutie · 07-23-2016, 02:48 PM

We ordered the new GMC 1/2 ton with the new heavy duty max towing which can pull 12300 lbs,this was ordered as soon as we found out it was coming out. That was in 2013 picked up Feb.2014 and have been towing horse trailer with 2 1300 lb horses and tack through Smokey Mtns. since that time with no problems at all. with trailer and tack and horses approx.65-6800 lbs and now have been towing Eagle HT 5th wheel 7790 lbs loaded 9970 with ease. This is a SWB 1/2 Ton with Vortec 5.3 with max towing pkg. The max towing pkg is not the standard heavy duty pkg that is standard with GM tow pkgs. It is much heavier duty sits much like Z71 4x4 but 2 wheel with every thing beefed up to tow this much weight. Best purchase we ever made. We knew we would never tow more than this truck can handle and it rides and drives great up and down the mountains. Many 1/2 tons have the ability to tow this much now but we have done it for over 2 years and when your not towing,you get really great gas mileage with the vortec.

PMC · 07-24-2016, 04:09 PM

I'd run your current rig over to the scales and see what it really weighs and go from there. If it were me I'd prolly go 2500 just so I wasn't close to maxing anything out but that's me.

Catmike2 · 07-24-2016, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA23mb

I just got a JayFlight 23mb, 6250GVWR. I am unsure if I should go with a 2500 series pu or if a 1500 series will do it. The grand cherokee pulls it fine, but I want the bed space of a pickup. With 4 adults, tongue weight, gear, etc, I'm probably pushing the max GVWR on my jeep. I would like to hear what others think on this. Thanks.

There are great responses to your thread here. I was stuck in the decision tree on this issue a year ago when after 17 years our F250 decided by itself to retire. Couldn't wait for a new 2015 ... bought a F150 from dealer stock..... It's a 5.0 with tow/haul trans and backup camera (which is worth it's weight in gold). No max anything. It can tow 8k and our Jayco is 6k. So what could be the problem? Payload...... No, I have 1638 lbs.... Buttttt, I over pack the pickup on trips. Why, I have no earthly idea, but I do. Today, it would be a 3/4 ton...

SkyBound · 07-25-2016, 09:25 AM

A 2014 F-150 with the 5.0 that can only tow 8K? That can't be right. What axle ratio do you have? I'm pretty sure even the 3.31 rear end can handle 9300lbs.

Catmike2 · 07-25-2016, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyBound

A 2014 F-150 with the 5.0 that can only tow 8K? That can't be right. What axle ratio do you have? I'm pretty sure even the 3.31 rear end can handle 9300lbs.

Yes the rear is 3.31 and it's a crew cab, short bed. 8k is the tow number. Our TT's wet and loaded max is 6,000 so we're hardly stressed on that issue. However, I have to learn not to fill up the truck's bed with "like to have" items.

bobthesuper · 07-25-2016, 10:02 AM

My advice is free and you get what you pay for, but I just went through this with my TT. I have a 24FBS which tips the scales at about 5700 empty. I tried pulling with a 98 Tahoe it had 350 and a low axle ratio. It wasn't fun. I am not a mechanic but I would lean towards a 3/4 ton so you don't have the tail (your TT) wagging the dog (your tow vehicle) while towing. And I also agree with the gear ratio comment. As I read somewhere, the more gear you have towing the better. I've heard the 3:73, for Ford, is a pretty good ratio. Not sure what the equivalent is for other brands.

SkyBound · 07-25-2016, 10:07 AM

Bob, you illustrate a very good point with your post. Many people are all about engine power when it comes to towing, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Your 350 no doubt made some good power, but it just couldn't put it down efficiently. This was common in vehicles of that era due mainly to transmission inefficiencies. The modern 6 or 8 speed automatic transmissions are FAR better able to put the power to the axle efficiently. THEN rear axle ratio is the next factor, as a final torque distributor. You can have all the power you could ever want in an engine, but if gearing is poor it's not going to be pleasant.

That being said, the new half tons have mostly addressed this and are far more capable than 10 years ago.

TWP723 · 07-25-2016, 11:30 AM

Yeah, the 3.31's are about 7900-8100 lbs. towing cap. The 3.73's will give you a bit more. The "grannier" the gear, the higher the GCWR, the more torque.

bobthesuper · 07-25-2016, 10:36 PM

Thanks Skybound. I realized your point when I bought my new tow vehicle. It is a 2008 Ford Expedition. The 5.4 puts out a lot of torque and horsepower. All that is run through a six speed transmission and it tows my TT very well. I still would have liked the 3.73's but I'm happy!

Pcschwenke · 07-26-2016, 05:55 AM

My wife and I had a 2015 23MB and it was extremely easy to tow with our RAM 1500. No need for the 2500 if you plan to stick with this trailer for a while. At times, I forgot it was back there! This is the perfect weight trailer for a 1/2 ton.

need-a-vacation · 07-26-2016, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcschwenke

No need for the 2500 if you plan to stick with this trailer for a while. This is the perfect weight trailer for a 1/2 ton.

The hard part about posting this is PA has not returned and posted what the 4 adults weigh, or what the aproximate weight of the "gear" is which sounded like it is carried in the tv also. Rams have more than enough POWER to tow up to their "rated tow rating" (when properly equipped), but the issue still comes down to the available payload of the truck. Som Rams barely have 12-1300lbs of payload per the yellow sticker in the drivers door jamb from what owners have posted. So if PA has a passenger weight of 800lbs, gear weight of 300lbs, wdh at 100lbs, he probably doesn't have enough tv payload left for the tw (all weights just an estimate!!!).

This is the reason some of us have suggested he weigh the current rig, ready for a trip with all passengers, to see where he stands.... This will tell him if a 1500/150 tv is plenty, or if a 2500/250+ is needed. For all we know he would like to take a 1/4 bed full of firewood also.

PCS,

Glad to hear that the Ram worked very well for you. I just know that the way we all pack varies greatly, it is hard to say for certain that one will be under the gvwr of their tv. Heck, our 32 that has a dry tw of 920lbs was 1400lbs the one time I weighed the rig, without any water in the fresh tanks!!! I would rather see someone spend ~$15 at the CAT Scale before spending a ton more on a new tv to only find it they should have stepped up a a heavier duty tv.

LittleLuth · 07-26-2016, 09:00 PM

If you are in the buying process on your Tow Vehicle, I would STRONGLY recommend a 3/4 ton truck. I bought a 28bhbe (which is a bit heavier than yours) but I have been pulling it with an F150. I had the truck beforehand, but because of the towing experience I am moving to a 3/4 or 1 ton in the coming months. You won't be sorry you went for the higher payload and towing capacity. Unless you go with a diesel, you can often buy the HD gassers for about the same price as half tons. So, if you are in the market, just get the bigger truck. It will also give you some future proofing if you ultimately decide to get a bigger trailer or even a fifth wheel down the road.

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