dwb4 wrote: The underneath of my 93 chev 1500 does not look like any car I have looked under
Before the advent of Front wheel drives, in the 80s and back, the 1/2 ton pickups shared many components with the auto lines...Examples.. The Maverick used the 4.9 straight 6 and this engine was used in the pickups in the F100s, F150s. The Brakes were carlike,, small, and the trannys were shared ... Example,, the 1982 and up GM 700 r4 were also used in the firebirds and camaros...Radiators were small, axles would interchange... Back in the day, a 1/2 ton was good for the dump runs, moving folks etc.. They were not a tow beast...
The half ton is not the way to go. In order to have a safe tow vehicle for that size of trailer, it should be a minimum of a 3/4 ton. With todays trucks, there are huge differences between half and 3/4 tons. Bigger brakes, bigger transmissions, differentials, radiators, frames etc... Ford Super Duties don't really have anything in common with their 1/2 tons siblings. The weight distributing hitch is not only there to allow you to pull a load with a bigger hitch weight, but also to better ballance your vehicle. Once you have picked a larger tow vehicle, the thing that will really make the difference is the gearing of the truck. A 5.4 L with 4.30 gears will probably pull as well as a V10 with 3.73's. As far as fuel economy is concerned, you'll have to realize one thing - you are buying a working vehicle. Different truck/engine/gear combinations will yield better results. Manufacturers spend millions trying to solve this problem. If there were an easy fix, they would have done it by now. If you really want to save on fuel, slow down.
Interesting posts...we just bought a 2005 Chevy 1500 CC short bed, took it out towing our 28 ft TT last weekend (don't ask me the weight, don't know off hand, but it's not light) and it was excellent. We contemplated the 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton, and for the price/fuel economy we opted for the 1/2 ton. Definitely made the right choice. This truck doesn't even know our TT is behind it. Don't get me wrong, love those 3/4 ton trucks but please don't tell me my 1500 is equal to a car. That's just laughable. Doesn't really even deserve a response, but I can't help myself!
I always love the fact that the people who have the 3/4 ton or larger trucks think that there is no 1/2 ton truck that could possibly tow a paper bag on wheels. I personally tow a trailer that is almost 6000# dry and have had no problems so far. I do agree that I may not be the first one to the top of a hill or my ride may not be as bumpy when I am not pulling, but hey, I guess those are trade offs that I will have to deal with. When I started trucking a had a 290 Cummins. Definately not first on race day. When I replaced the motor, I put a 400 Big Cam Cummins in and guess what....I still made the same number of trips and made the same money each day. I think that if you tried to pull your TT with a 1/2 ton and are happy, by all means, do so and don't listen to the people who think you need a tractor to pull a pop-up.
2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab
2006 Springdale 267BHLGL
Prodigy Controller
Honda EU2000is
Me, Wife and 3 year old camping buddy daughter
PAWildcat wrote: Regardless of what you get, make sure it israted to tow enough for you. We have friends that bought a F-250 and were told by the used car salesman it could tow 12,000#. After several RV dealers, one checked it out and found it is only rated to pull 7,200#. And he has found out it does not like pulling near the limit as he pulled another persons TT and was all over the road. Same with the Expeditions, I know the Eddie Baur package with the 17" wheels used to pull ht e tow rating down alot. So do your homework and you will be better off in the long run.
My 6.0L/3.73 is rated for 13,000. What did your friend buy?
over the hill and enjoying the view
diesel pickup and 5th wheel trailer.
dpark wrote: I always love the fact that the people who have the 3/4 ton or larger trucks think that there is no 1/2 ton truck that could possibly tow a paper bag on wheels.
I agree (to a point) with you. A 150/1500 truck can tow much more than a popup.
I've had the 'Burb in my signature (7.4L, 3.73 gears) since I bought my 6,000 lb fully loaded TT. It has been the primary TV for the TT.
Along the way, I decided I wanted a TV to take the TT fishing from time to time with my buddies. My wife had the 'Burb as her daily driver and didn't like driving my Ford Ranger.
So I shopped around and bought a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9L engine--the model with the highest towing capacity that year. It did a pretty good job of towing the TT. I was well within the capacities of the Dodge.
On one of our vacations, I towed the TT with the 'Burb over the mountains to a campground. I ended up towing the TT back with the Ram on that same route about a week later. Those same hills that I towed up at 55 mph with the 'Burb I had to take a 40-45 mph with the Ram.
To me, there is a marked difference between the 2 tow vehicles in power and stability when the TT is lashed up to them. I've also towed my buddy's 7,000 lb. boat with both vehicles and came away with the same impression.
Had I always had the Dodge and never experienced towing with the 'Burb I would have been satisfied with it. But since I had a direct way to compare vehicles, I know the difference.
So when my wife decided she wanted a smaller sportier car, I traded in the Dodge Ram and kept the 'Burb as my primary driver and to tow the TT.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
There is no doubt that most 1/2 ton trucks have decent towing capabilities. Before I got my 3/4 ton I was towing the same TT with my V8 Trailblazer, with very little difficulty. The main reason I went with the 3/4 ton over the 1/2 ton is for the simple fact that a 3/4 ton is designed and built to tow heavy loads full time. A very high percentage of 1/2 tons never even pull anything. Bottom line, a 3/4 ton has larger brakes and suspesion for towing durability.
As you can tell by the date of my original post on this thread, I have put a lot of time and research into this decision.
You can buy a 1/2 ton that is capable of towing or you can buy a 1/2 ton that isn't. I personally have 4:30 gears, 381hp, 400ft/lb torque, trans cooler and big brakes. My 1/2 ton is made to tow.
I used to own a Ford Expedition with a 5.4 and 3:55 gears. It couldn't tow worth a darn. I learned the hard way with a 6,000lb TT.
It all comes down to the equipment you have installed and using the truck for the right job. Can I tow a popup? You bet! Would I tow a 9,000 lb TT....you bet.
Offline
but please don't tell me my 1500 is equal to a car. That's just laughable. Doesn't really even deserve a response, but I can't help myself!
