1/2 tow eagle ht 38ft

[Hively04]

I’m thinking about buying a new truck 1/2 ton I tow a 38’ eagle ht weighs 8200lbs. Will it be enough?

[GHen]

No, not for my family.

Please post more information.
Make, model of your truck, all the weight and max tow weight numbers. Then, how many pounds you plan to put in the truck, people, hitch, fuel, tools everything.

Then how many pounds in the trailer, water, propane batteries.

After that I think you will discover the answer yourself.

I have a 29’ towing with a 2500, wish I had a 3500, the brakes and axels are so much bigger on the 2500. Coming down a pass with lots of weight and you will be glad you had a 2500 or above.

FYI the dealer will bend the truth to sell you an Rv.

https://i2.wp.com/tap.fremontmotors....hart.jpg?ssl=1

The charts will say it will work, I’ll let others chime in with their opinions.

[NewBlackDak]

Judging by the specs, I’m going to assume it’s the 320FBOK you’re looking at.

You cannot spec your tow vehicle based on the brochure dry weights. That is the lowest optioned variant possible with no battery or propane. Once you are loaded for camping, that lie of a brochure hitch weight is going to shoot up near 1500lbs. Use the GVWR when looking at specs.

On modern pickups, towing capacity is almost never your limiting factor for a travel trailer. It’s almost always the the payload/axle capacity. Towing a 10,000 lb boat or car on a flat bed is very different than towing a nose heavy box.

Let’s say you are able to find a half ton with the specs to make the real numbers work…
You now have an 8’ wide, 11’ tall, and 38’ long sail behind you. It’s going to throw around any half ton. Every breeze, and passing vehicle will be felt at the wheel. You might make it work with careful planning, but it won’t be a fun tow and you’ll be stressed by the time you get to your destination.

IMHO, that trailer is squarely in HD country.

[curver900]

remember a 3/4 ton diesel has about the same payload as a 1/2 ton gas... a 3/4 ton gas though with the new gas motors is a good idea...

[spoon059]

Originally Posted by Hively04

I’m thinking about buying a new truck 1/2 ton I tow a 38’ eagle ht weighs 8200lbs. Will it be enough?

You might be able to, but you'll be up against your payload pretty quickly. If buying a new truck to tow, jump straight to a 3/4 or 1 ton and get a much better truck for about the same price.

I know some will say that you can get a half ton that has the same payload as a 3/4 ton... that is just a paper number. A 3/4 ton truck is just a 1 ton truck that has been artifically derated on paper to keep its GVWR at 10,000 lbs or less. That is an arbitrary number for titling purposes, it doesn't mean that your 3/4 ton is only "capable" of that smaller payload amount.

In reality, a half ton with 2500 lbs of payload is at the far end of its capabilities, whereas a 3/4 ton has plenty of reserve to handle those weights.

But again, if buying new, I'd get a 1 ton for towing.

[NERVA]

The only way to do that with a half ton is getting a F-150 with The heavy duty payload package and a propride p3 hitch. The heavy duty payload package will give you the bigger brakes, thicker frame, larger axle, better shocks and suspension. The ride does suffer and rides more like a f-250.

[RedHorse1]

I’d expect you are in 3/4T territory. 8200#, is that from the sticker or a scale? What is your tongue weight?

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Hively04

I’m thinking about buying a new truck 1/2 ton I tow a 38’ eagle ht weighs 8200lbs. Will it be enough?

Your 2018 Eagle HT 324BHTS has a Jayco 'published' 8,605lb UVW (the actual 'as-shipped' UVW will weigh more) and a 10,950lb GVWR. The 324BHTS is 38' 4" long.

Check the 'yellow sticker' on the side of your 324BHTS, it will specify the actual 'as-shipped' UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight).

IMO your 324BHTS will require a 3/4 ton TV to safely tow under "loaded" conditions....., especially in less than ideal towing conditions.

I also question the source of the "8,200lbs" referenced. If it's just the TT's combined dual axle weight from a CAT scale, then the TT's tongue weight (supported by the TV) also has to be added to reflect the TT's "total" gross weight.

Bob

[Spower]

I have 30' TT I tow with a SRW diesel 1 ton truck, I would not tow it with anything less than 3/4 ton, but 1 ton is even better.

Just my opinion, I would never tow ANY bigger size trailer with a 1/2 ton truck!!

[cekkk]

Will a half ton pull it? Sure. However, I would ask that, if you go that route, you publish all your trips in advance so I can keep my family and myself off the highways you’ll be using. lol

[gobdeep]

Originally Posted by Hively04

I’m thinking about buying a new truck 1/2 ton I tow a 38’ eagle ht weighs 8200lbs. Will it be enough?

That's a good question to ask because it means you are researching ahead of time and not after the fact. There is an entire forum dedicated to tow vehicles and tow weights here: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f37/

I recently commented on a thread related to tow vehicles and tow weights: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...ml#post1013824

There are a few good post on this thread trying to help so I won't rehash what has been shared. However, I will say that if I see a 1/2 ton pulling at 38 footer down the highway in my jurisdiction, we might be having a chat on the side of the road not because I'm an arse, but I want to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you are first priority.

[Jsteinb456]

I bought a 2804bhok in Oct and had a 2020 Chevy trail boss . I pulled it one time and that was enough for me. constant motion from passing cars and trucks , very stressful and unsafe I went and bought a 2500 HD Duramax 3/4 ton truck and now I can relax and enjoy the drive. Totally different experience. The HT rating by the manufacturer should be removed.

[SkyBound]

"The HT rating by the manufacturer should be removed."

100% agree. It's shameful that manufacturers stretch the truth in unrealistic ways just to trick people that don't know any better into making a purchase. It's not a matter of people's money, it's a matter of people's safety.

In my experienced opinion, no half ton truck should be pulling more than a max 8,000lb GVWR trailer, and no longer than ~30 feet, and that's with the properly equipped and optioned half tons.

[Cincinnati Kid]

Anything is possible!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXgMal3C1U

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by SkyBound

"The HT rating by the manufacturer should be removed."

100% agree. It's shameful that manufacturers stretch the truth in unrealistic ways just to trick people that don't know any better into making a purchase. It's not a matter of people's money, it's a matter of people's safety.

In my experienced opinion, no half ton truck should be pulling more than a max 8,000lb GVWR trailer, and no longer than ~30 feet, and that's with the properly equipped and optioned half tons.

X2, Pulled a #7500 30' 5er with a GMC 1500, 2WD 6.2L with 3:73 gears and rear air bags at 25#. Scaled it but can't remember exact numbers, when loaded Pin was barely within specs. It did OK as long as it was in 5th gear, but I could tell it was back there and drove it very conservatively. Definitely made me feel it was at it's limit.