I used to pull an 8300# fiver with a 1/2 ton Dodge. We now pull with a Ford F350 SRW. No comparison, can you pull with a 1/2 ton yes you can, but I had supersprings, a hemi, and tow package. It was a terrible ride, and not enjoyable. There is no doubt in my mind just after towing a little over a 100 miles with the F350. Much safer and better ride.
I O W A !!! G O H A W K S !!!
2002 KZ New Vision 2457 5'er
2005 Ford F350 Superduty Supercrew SRW 6.0 liter PSD
B & W Turnoverball
I too looked at 5vers for my 1/2 ton. I ended up with the current TT becuase I was worried about the pin weight. Even though the current TT ( loaded ) has more hitch weight, the WD hitch will transfer some of that weight to the front axle.
11 Chevy Silverado Ext.Cab Z-71 4x4, 5.3 v8, 3:43 w/locker, Factory tow package, Equal-I-zer 1200#, Curt Class V Receiver
12 Cougar XLite 27RLS ( 960# Tongue, 6740# Gross as loaded)
Just the Wife and I.
I guess one of my questions is what do you guys consider "too small". We trailered for 18 years in a Jayco Eagle 215SD FW and it was "too small" for full-timing or even very much time together in the FW and we always towed it with a 3/4 ton pickup of one kind or another. "Upgraded" to a new FW, a Jayco Eagle SuperLite HT 26.5 RLS this year and tow it with a 3/4 ton as well, just can't seem to get away from 3/4 ton pickups. The FW is almost 30' long from front of pin to back of bumper and seems, to us, to have plenty of room for the two of us. Now, we don have a washer and dryer, no built-in generator or self-leveling devises, but it "big" enough for us. Has one slide-out for the couch and dining area and one for the wardrobe in the bedroom. We can stand up in the bedroom and the shower is big enough for me to take a shower and not have to worry about turning around and knocking something over in the bathroom. We also don't have a fireplace and a full corner couch somewhere in the FW, but all-in-all, it works for us. We will also tow our boat behind the FW when we go fishing somewhere so that factored into the decision to buy a "too small" FW. I believe that, unless you are going to be full-timing, this size FW is plenty big enough for a couple or, in infrequent circumstances, four or so people since we have a free-standing table and chairs instead of a table and bench seats. Also, when we took our shakedown trip this last week, all my clothes, shoes and underwear fit in the "wardrobe" beside the bed, leaving the DW's wardrobe and four-door wardrobe for her clothing. She didn't fill it up either.
2000 Ford F350 XLT 7.3L PSD CC 4x4 OffRoad SRW Long Bed
2008 Jayco Eagle 314BHDS (Momma Eagle)
Equalizer Hitch System (1400/14000lbs)
Prodigy Brake Controller
Curt XD Class V Receiver Hitch (1500/15000 lb)
MackinawMan wrote: As long as it's within specs who cares?
Which specs? The "tow rating" spec? The "GCWR" spec? Or the vehicles GVWR and GAWR specs?
Seems like most folks want to pick the 'spec' they want to go by and ignore the rest..
Besides, who ever said that the vehicles "tow rating" is meant for a full sized and loaded RV? There are lots of other trailer types out there that have very different tongue weights and wind resistance properties..
You can tow whatever you want with whatever you want and usually get down the road.. I'm guilty of towing over my trucks GVWR and GAWR, yet I'm not even close to the trucks "tow rating" or it's "GCWR"..
But, I'm comfortable with it and I know my trucks capabilities.. Everyone else has the right to make their own choices too..
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