Fabguy
Auburn, Washigton
Senior Member
Joined: 03/29/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
Libertarian wrote:I can certainly get a 90s model. I guess I don't understand the terminology well. Obviously a 3/4 ton truck can tow more than 3/4 ton...so why is it called a 3/4 truck? How would I know if a newer 1/2 ton truck has enough power to tow...should I also be looking at the vehicles horsepower?
IMHO... The terms 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton need to disappear...
In the early 60's a truck with a GVWR of 6000 lbs was considered a half ton, while a 3/4 ton had a GVWR of 8000 lbs and we NEEDED to have stickers on the side of our trucks.
Now, all of the manufacturers produce trucks with a 1500, 150 badge and they have a GVWR ranging from 6700 lbs to 8200 lbs...
And, to put it simply... When those terms were VALID... A half ton truck had an available payload of 1000 lbs (meaning it was designed to be loaded to 1000 pound more than it weighed from the factory).. While a 3/4 ton had an available pay load of 1500 lbs... or 3/4 ton.
We as consumers need to do our homework!
Jeff
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD 8.1/Allison/4:10/Prodigy brake controler/Dual Cam HP
Pulling a 2004 Sprinter 274 RLS
|
usmc616
Orange County, New York
Senior Member
Joined: 09/29/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Once you find a truck you like, take down all the features and then lookin the owners manual or online to see the tow rating.
1/2 ton trucks are either 1500 or 150 models.
3/4 ton trucks are either 2500 or 250 models.
1 ton trucks are either 3500 or 350 models.
In older trucks ( 1990's models) a 3/4 ton truck will be needed for the TT you want to tow. The older trucks did not have the towing capacity the newer ones now have.
SEMPER FI
Joe,Joyce 4 kids & 3 dogs
2004 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4 V-10 3.73 Gears, Hellwig Swaybar, Bilstein Shocks & Steering Stabilizer, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Super Duty Tow Mirrors
Reese Dual Cam & Prodigy Brake Controller
2010 Jayco G2 32BHDS.
|
selectsplat
Chesterfield, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
No need to get a truck that's 30 years old.
You can easily get a 2000's Silverado or f150 for under $5k. Either of those would be a little tight on your weights, but will pull that just about anywhere you want to go except up mountains. I *just* sold my 2003 Tahoe with 130k miles on it for $5k, and it pulled the Trailrunner in my sig (slightly heavier than yours) well enough. I just couldn't take it into the mountains, and I really didn't like trips more than 4 or 5 hours.
A 2000's Suburban 2500 can be had for the same price or less and you'd barely know it was back there.
2011 Heartland Trail Runner 27FQBS
2010 Bayliner 175
2008 Toyota Tundra DC 5.7L iForce 4wd
2003 Chevy Trailblazer 4.3L 4wd
2006 EZGO PDS
Thousand Trails Memeber
|
selectsplat
Chesterfield, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Also, one more reason you really don't want to go with an old truck if you can help it... 6 speed transmissions. 6 speed transmissions have made towing alot easier.
|
unimogdave
Ontario
Senior Member
Joined: 02/20/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Lots of comments being thrown around like "any 1/2 ton will tow that" to "you need a 3/4 ton."
Two points, My 2011 Silverado 1/2 ton is only rated to tow 5,800 lbs. My 1988 Chev 3/4 ton (305 cu in, turbo400) would not tow comfortable a 7,500 lb trailer. (good for a Truck Camper.)
Since the OP is not familiar with tow vehicle options and specs, you can't go wrong with an older dually. I would just say that you should do a lot of research. Google is your best friend. If you find something in your price range, come back to forum for advise.
|
|
|
CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
Senior Member
Joined: 03/01/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
selectsplat wrote:No need to get a truck that's 30 years old.
You can easily get a 2000's Silverado or f150 for under $5k. Either of those would be a little tight on your weights, but will pull that just about anywhere you want to go except up mountains. I *just* sold my 2003 Tahoe with 130k miles on it for $5k, and it pulled the Trailrunner in my sig (slightly heavier than yours) well enough. I just couldn't take it into the mountains, and I really didn't like trips more than 4 or 5 hours.
A 2000's Suburban 2500 can be had for the same price or less and you'd barely know it was back there.
Not around here you can't.
|
CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
Senior Member
Joined: 03/01/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
Here is the about the same pickup I bought last summer for 14
http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/2004/Chevrolet/SILVERADO-1500-PICKUP-1-2-Ton-V8/Extended-Cab-LT-4WD/Standard-Equipment
|
selectsplat
Chesterfield, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Guess I'm lucky in that they are very plentiful in my area.
Silverados
http://richmond.craigslist.org/ctd/2885980703.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2913530213.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2861441567.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2910049537.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2909198917.html
Suburban 2500s
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2911278011.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2887669440.html
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2877870878.html
|
rpounds
California - I'm not old, so how am I a
Senior Member
Joined: 06/25/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Trailers can't be towed with anything less than a 1 ton diesel with dual wheels and an air train horn 
'05 Dodge Ram CTD Quad Cab 4x4
'11 Dutchmen 277RLS
Our Blog
|
selectsplat
Chesterfield, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Libertarian wrote:I can certainly get a 90s model. I guess I don't understand the terminology well. Obviously a 3/4 ton truck can tow more than 3/4 ton...so why is it called a 3/4 truck? How would I know if a newer 1/2 ton truck has enough power to tow...should I also be looking at the vehicles horsepower?
As one of the previous posters said, the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton designation originally came from the amount of PAYLOAD a truck had, not the amount it could tow.
Most 1/2 trucks used to only have a ~1000 payload (that all changed in 2007 when Toyota made a 1/2 ton truck with a 1700lb payload, and everyone else had to follow suite to keep up) Very basically, that just means the amount of weight a truck could handle on it's axles.
Towing capacity is completely different. Obviously, a trailer that sits on it's own axle(s) doesnt' have to put all of it's weight on the truck's axles. Towing has more to do with how much weight a truck's engine and transmission can handle.
|
|
|
