Is it worth upgrading the truck?

[Rickdicks]

I have a 30-foot Jayco, towed with a Chevy 4WD 1500LT. Has enough horsepower to haul it but handling not great. I'm considering upgrading to a 2500HD.

Has anyone here had a comparable set-up that has towed with similar vehicles? If so, was the difference in handling noticable? I'm just looking for general guidance T this point, so anything somewhat similar could provide valuable info.

Thanks.

[eow]

The new TV’s wheel base is important. For a 30 foot TT, you want at least a 160” WB.

[CAG]

I haven’t but it will be a world of difference just in stability alone. The next problem will be getting a truck at all. I think the back order list for any vehicle is a mile long and used trucks are scarce also.

[Rickdicks]

Originally Posted by CAG

I haven’t but it will be a world of difference just in stability alone. The next problem will be getting a truck at all. I think the back order list for any vehicle is a mile long and used trucks are scarce also.

That's not a problem. I have plenty of time, so something will come available. My current vehicle has a highly desirable package, so I won't have any trouble getting a dealer's attention. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth the hassle first.

[Rickdicks]

Originally Posted by eow

The new TV’s wheel base is important. For a 30 foot TT, you want at least a 160” WB.

I hadn't thought about the impact of a longer wheelbase. That should improve the handling.

[Marcm157]

I traded my F150 with the 3.5 Eco for a 250 after my first year. The 150 had plenty of power and actually pulled better than the 250 but she just didn't handle the weight as well as I would have liked. I dearly miss my 150 but don't regret the swap...

[Rickdicks]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I traded my F150 with the 3.5 Eco for a 250 after my first year. The 150 had plenty of power and actually pulled better than the 250 but she just didn't handle the weight as well as I would have liked. I dearly miss my 150 but don't regret the swap...

That's just the sort of feedback I'm looking for. My 1500 is powerful enough, but handling is not as good as I would like. So would you say the difference in handling is significant? I'm particularly interested in 2 things: how much sway you feel in one vs. the other, and how it handles when being passed by a large truck.

[Quantum]

I've never read any regrets to upgrading your tow vehicle.

Many say they had done it sooner.

[GHen]

For me, I upgraded also for safety. The HD (or super duty) have much bigger brakes, axels, springs, much larger fuel tank. Hmmm, maybe bigger radiator, heavier frame that won’t twist as much.
We had a 1500, it drove like a car which was nice until we put weight on it, then with the springs nearly overloaded it swayed a lot. Our 2500 is solid with weight. We went diesel.

2500 and 3500 Trucks used are rare right now, last week my brother found his 1800 miles away and flew to drive it back.

I wish I would have gone to a 3500, but that’s another story.

If new, I think all 3 US trucks make equally great trucks, each having different special equipment.

[NewBlackDak]

I went from a Titan to a RAM 2500. The Titan had plenty enough power, but even after using scales to setup the WDH it wasn’t super stable. Tractor trailers and big fifth wheels passing would suck the whole rig in. With the 2500 I didn’t even notice someone passing.

[Mikec557]

We started out with a 1500 Chevy Silverado, new. Plenty of power to pull (v8 with towing rear differential) but we were over weight on both GVWR and GRAWR. It had a little wiggle during high winds and trucks passing us. But it pulled great.

We sold it at a loss and bought GMC 3500HD DURAMAX (diesel), single rear wheel. Holy cow what a difference. Stability is rock solid. Yes, the diesel pulls like an elephant, but that's not what you're asking about. I think it's the suspension and heavier weight that make it so rock solid.

I will say this, I hated losing about $10,000 selling the 1/2-ton. My knee jerk reaction was to never let that happen again. So I bypassed looking at 3/4-ton trucks. This is not a knock on 3/4-ton trucks and those that love the ones they have. But I have read where people upgraded their RV and now wonder if their 3/4T has enough weight capacity. Gawd how I'd hate to have that feeling again. If there is ANY chance you will upgrade to a longer or heavier RV, I would recommend that you get a 1T rather than a 3/4T. Nobody ever worries they have too much truck. The worry is only whether you have enough truck.

Just my two cents.
Mike

[Camper_bob]

I did it. Went from a GMC Sierra 1500 to a Ram 2500 4x4.

The 1/2T handled my trailer ok, but I was nearly at max. I spent some time and effort getting it dialed in best I could with what I had. Put some suspension helpers on the rear of the GMC, and it helped. Ran my rear tires at max sidewall PSI, and that helped some too. But at the end of the day, I was still at my max, and that wasn't comfortable for me. Nothing bad ever happened, but I always knew how close I was to the margin. We started looking at MUCH longer trips, and had a kid, so I upgraded to the 2500 and never worried about weights again, and never looked back.

I upgraded my hitch around the same time as well. When it was all said and done, I LOVED my truck, and it handled my trailer VERY well.

My ONLY regret in the Ram 2500 was not holding out for 4.10 rear axle. Mine had the 3.73. So it did fine, but the 4.10 would've been better.

Solid tow all the time, and since I had over 3300 lbs payload (6.4L Hemi), I never worried about taking along a generator, extra fuel, air compressor, firewood, bikes... whatever I thought we'd need in the back of the truck. Plus I got a lot of use out of it at the deer lease; it hauled many a water tote up some pretty sketchy goat trails. I never worried if I had enough truck...

[Rickdicks]

Originally Posted by GHen

For me, I upgraded also for safety. The HD (or super duty) have much bigger brakes, axels, springs, much larger fuel tank. Hmmm, maybe bigger radiator, heavier frame that won’t twist as much.
We had a 1500, it drove like a car which was nice until we put weight on it, then with the springs nearly overloaded it swayed a lot. Our 2500 is solid with weight. We went diesel.

2500 and 3500 Trucks used are rare right now, last week my brother found his 1800 miles away and flew to drive it back.

I wish I would have gone to a 3500, but that’s another story.

If new, I think all 3 US trucks make equally great trucks, each having different special equipment.

Beautifully stated! Many thanks!

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by Rickdicks

That's just the sort of feedback I'm looking for. My 1500 is powerful enough, but handling is not as good as I would like. So would you say the difference in handling is significant? I'm particularly interested in 2 things: how much sway you feel in one vs. the other, and how it handles when being passed by a large truck.

Difference in handling is significant. I do still experience sway at various times but it is much easier to control. I still feel the push from passing trucks but not nearly as much as I did with the F150. To be fair, the 150 was an aluminum truck and weighed a lot less than my 250. The biggest trade off is the lack of ride comfort when not towing. The F150 was an awesome ride - The F250 well she's a truck!

[bamorris]

I have a Jayco 27BHB, about 32’ total length. Initially towed it with my 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab. Like you, power was just fine but towing stability was lacking. Well it only took me a few camping trips before I bought a RAM 2500 with the Cummins. Towing stability and comfort is dramatically better. The trailer no longer exerts any noticeable control over the truck. The 2500’s suspension controls the weight much better.

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I traded my F150 with the 3.5 Eco for a 250 after my first year. The 150 had plenty of power and actually pulled better than the 250 but she just didn't handle the weight as well as I would have liked. I dearly miss my 150 but don't regret the swap...

Did exactly the same and feel the same… loved the f150 with 3.5 engine, and it would out pull the 6.2 any day, but handling is far better in the f250 hands down.

OP def get a 2500.

[Rickdicks]

Thanks for all the feedback, folks. That was very helpful.

[Big1]

Yep, you can't go wrong a 1/2 towing a TT at 30" is kind of you will have problem, it can do it but you want to go with a 3/4 or a 1 ton if you can. I would bypass the 3/4 if you are planning on going diesel and get the gas 3/4, the 3/4 diesel payload is going to be around 2100lbs.

The 1 ton diesel can go as high as 4+++lbs, with the 1 ton you will prepare if you decide to go bigger later.

[GHen]

Ditto on the one ton, wish I had done that. One by one our whole family is upgrading to 1 tons. Relatively little money difference over a 2500. The ride is so much better on a 1 ton now compared to 10 years ago. They are really getting those springs and overloads figured out and lots more capacity.

[Chamdaddy]

Same situation, Last year we bought a 33' Jayco that the salesman said would be no problem for our F-150 5.0L. Even with a good WDH, our trip home from the dealership was white knuckle the whole way with 18-wheelers passing us on the interstate. Our first camping trip was the same result, the truck had plenty of power, but it would just push us around on the highway. We stopped at the CAT scales on the way out and we were right at max payload. Two months later, just before the COVID shutdowns, we purchased an F-250 with the new 7.3L gas engine. Since then we have put on about 4,000 miles on the travel trailer including the mountains of NM. The driving is much more pleasant without having to fight the sway and push from big rigs. Keep in mind a 3/4 ton truck will not ride like your 1500 particularly when empty, but the safety factor is my main concern. You will probably hear this a lot, but if you choose to move up from a 1/2 ton, make the step to a 1 ton. Very little price difference,very little if any ride difference but probably a 1,000 more pounds of payload for future needs. I actually have a 2022 F-350 on order to replace my F-250 just for that reason. Hope this helps.