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Open Roads Forum > Towing

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Playtime II

No. VA

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:09am

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When it is pulling a TT.

As my signature shows, I have a 2007 F150 SuperCrew, 5.5bed(SWB) with the 5.4L and 4x4 and 3.73 gears and 20"(Factory) Rims. The books/websites say 'generically'; Tows 9200 and I thought that was about as good as it gets for a 1/2T that is also my everyday vehicle.

I finally got around and opened the door (and the manual) and read the specs of my configured TV:

Max Cargo (tire label): 1329
GVWR (door label): 7200
FGAWR (door label): 3750
RGAWR (door label): 3850
GCWR: (manual for this TV config): 1450
Max Tow: (manual for this TV config): 8700

I know to subtract the weight of my bed cap and bed mat: 224 and the weight of the passengers (me, DW, DD, 3 dogs): 530 from my cargo max. Leaving only 575 for cargo AND hitch weight! My TT has a stickered Hitch weight of 703!

I really do not want to get the actual loaded weights at the scale as we love camping and we cannot afford to replace the TV with a 3/4T.

Denial is a wonderful coping mechanism.

* This post was edited 04/27/12 08:21am by Playtime II *

Playtime IV
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BarneyS

S.E. Lower Michigan

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:14am

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You are certainly not the first one to discover this!

You have found the main problem with trying to tow large TT or 5th wheels trailers with the 1/2 ton truck - lack of carrying capacity.
By the time you load it up with fuel, people, and some gear, you don't have too much left over for hitch weight.

That said, there are MANY people out there towing over their ratings and get along fine. You might wear out your truck a bit earlier or you might even have a catastrophic failure, but that is the chance you take. I would recommend you watch your vehicle maintenance very carefully and check everything over regularly.

Us 3/4 ton and 1 ton owners have to watch it also. When we go to Florida for the winter we take a LOT of stuff with us and I usually weigh either on the way down or on the way back home. I am usually overloaded on my truck GVWR by about 200lbs when hitched up on those trips down and back. I don't worry about it. My truck has 230,000+ miles on it and still going strong.

Barney

* This post was edited 04/28/12 12:46pm by BarneyS *

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SkyPiGG

Southeastern PA

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:29am

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I have a similar set up. I'm probably beyond my payload capacity at times, but I press-on anyway.

I'm not sorry I got my half-ton. For as much as I tow (maybe 5 or six trips a year), it's not a huge burden for it, and I enjoy the smoother ride and better mileage.

Drive-on!

SkyPiGG
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Desert Captain

Tucson

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:34am

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"Denial is a wonderful coping mechanism. "

(Also a big muddy river in Egypt).

Welcome to the real world of "half ton" trucks. Long before we half tonners get any where near our rated tow capacity we have reached the payload limits. I love my half ton but clearly understand it limits. My 4600# TT is 4000# under the tow rating, and 3500# under the GCWR but I am only a couple of hundred pounds under the trucks GVWR (the Leer adds about 200#).

A TT with 7500#of GVWR is going to generate around 1000# of tongue weight and no, I don't give a rats hat what the dry weight is and neither should you. Pull it with a half ton and you will be overloaded unless you spend the bucks for heavy duty/max payload model. Don't think so? Try a run down to the Cat Scale honestly loaded for a typical trip...or just pack your bags for Egypt.

skipnchar

Topeka or somewhere else

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:34am

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I really don't know of ANY manufacturer that sells "half ton trucks" these days. It's the consumer who won't let go of the tag. Ford sells F 150 (not half tons) and GM and Dodge sell 1500 trucks, (not half tons) and the foreign makes have their OWN designation for their trucks but don't believe even they refer to them as "half ton", MOSTLY they call them "full size" trucks. It's really been as long ago as the 60s when F150 were considered half ton trucks and about the same time for the others.

Nothing wrong with towing with a "half ton" truck but you have to have the RIGHT half ton truck to do it safely. I'm a strong believer in staying within your SAFETY ratings which are axle ratings and GVWR. Other drivers on the roads don't get to vote on whether you should tow overloaded or not but it's their fate in your hands also. Whether you tow beyond your trucks TOW RATING is entirely up to you as the only thing it endangers is your warranty.

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2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
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DrBaker

Oklahoma

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Posted: 04/27/12 08:37am

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Playtime II wrote:

........ as we love camping and we cannot afford to replace the TV with a 3/4T.

I don't understand this comment.

A few years back I was in the same situation with a tiny trailer and an overloaded late model 1/2 ton truck. I simply sold the truck and then purchased a 3/4 ton truck with the money from the sale of my 1/2 ton. In fact I chose to get a 3/4 ton that was a few years older and then kept the remaining money in my pocket.

Why wouldn't you just get a 3/4 ton that has the same value as your current 1/2 ton?

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Playtime II

No. VA

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Posted: 04/27/12 09:07am

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Replacing the TV is not being considered at this time for the following:

Current TV: Paid off; has the add-ons (e.g. A.R.E. cap w/door) that would not fit another TV; daily drive mpg (ave 14); daily commute ride comfort (ave 3hrs/day); fits into our stick home garage w/only 4" to spare...

Other TV: Must be a used TV for equal "value"; daily mpg lower?; insurance +/-?; won't fit in garage; taxes?; state registration?; bed cover/cap?...

Temporary financial bind (pending lawsuit against employer for whistleblowing suspension) so we are not wanting to take on any new expenses/new purchases in case we lose the lawsuit.

Supercharged

Az.

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Posted: 04/27/12 09:08am

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You can never get a pickup to small.

2005 Chev 5.3 Supercharged 395HP 425 T hp. Two wheels on front, 2 on back. one seat, tint windows. front and rear bumpers, headlights, windows. Door on each side. Heater, floor mats, 6 Reese candy bars, junk behind seats, some dirt. Pulls so hard.

powderman426

ohio

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Posted: 04/27/12 09:27am

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Playtime II wrote:

14mpg on a daily commute.
Does that truck have a gas pedal or just an on/off switch?
I get about 17-18 mpg on a 3/4 ton.
That sounds real low.

Ron & Charlotte
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I started with nothing and I still have most of it left

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