Loaded trailer weight of 6200 lbs and people are saying get a 3/4 ton? You do not need a 3/4 ton truck...if you want to upgrade some day great but any of the newer 1/2 ton trucks will handle your current trailer perfectly.
Personally I would not want a 3/4 ton truck as a daily driver. When I was looking for a truck I did not want some huge beast to have to park or drive around town. I ended up getting a Tundra for my 6400 lb trailer (unloaded) and have been very happy with my choice but if you want gas mileage I would look at the Ecoboost or diesel.
2012 Evergreen Everlite 32RBK-DS
2011 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Rock Warrior
sheltonlp wrote: Loaded trailer weight of 6200 lbs and people are saying get a 3/4 ton? You do not need a 3/4 ton truck...if you want to upgrade some day great but any of the newer 1/2 ton trucks will handle your current trailer perfectly.
Personally I would not want a 3/4 ton truck as a daily driver. When I was looking for a truck I did not want some huge beast to have to park or drive around town. I ended up getting a Tundra for my 6400 lb trailer (unloaded) and have been very happy with my choice but if you want gas mileage I would look at the Ecoboost or diesel.
I'm tending to shy away from the bigger trucks for the same reason, although I'll keep an open mind and maybe take a test drive or 2.
When I originally bought the Durango, my preference was for the Tundra, but we needed 7 seats due to family circumstances. Those circumstances are no longer an issue, so a truck comes back into the running. I still like the Tundra, but quite a few people are also mentiong the Ecoboost, so time for a little more research and a couple of test drives.
Wow, is all I can say...
Just...WOW!
We used a one ton dually for a daily driver/tow vehicle for two years of full-timing. No problem. But then, we never use drive-throughs.
Now, however, I am thinking about down-sizing to a 3/4 ton, just don't need the dually anymore.
Personally, regardless of what trailer I had at the present time, if I wanted to up-grade tow vehicles I would most assuredly go for a 3/4 ton truck, diesel, manual transmission, with exhaust brake. Then, if at a later date, I wanted to get a larger trailer, I would be ready for it.
True, at the present time the OP may not need a 3/4 ton truck. But a couple years down the road, when he decides he needs a larger trailer, or perhaps a fifth wheel? what then? PLAN ahead, be prepared, all like that there!
Strange, folks seem to be OK with the thought that "Maybe you don't NEED a 4X4, but get one anyway, you never know!" but when it comes to truck size many will say "Nah, you don't NEED a 3/4 ton, go ahead and get the little toy truck, you can upgrade later if need be."
Again, Plan Ahead. You just might save money in the long run.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
We tow a 2011 Passport 290 that weights around 6500-7000 loaded. Our 1500 suburban did the job okay, but control (or the perception) kept us under 60mph. It did hills with a running start and 2nd gear. Was looking for a little more umphh in the power, control, handling areas. The ecoboost was the only 1/2 ton class engine we saw that would justify a vehicle change. Liked the 400+ torque rating at lower rpms and use as a daily driver. Was looking at 3/4 ton class...
However, an older F-350 dually diesel found us so we are now out of the market. Let me say that too much truck is a very nice thing, especially for DW. Before touching the truck we got 12.5 MPG towing. After doing some much needed maintenance I am hoping for 13+.
Early 1999 F-350 7.3 DRW CC, 4.10
(retired from towing) 02 Suburban 5.3 3.73
2011 Passport 290BH - Blue Ox Sway Pro
3 Kids, 2 Dogs, 1 Wife.
- 2013 Ram 1500 (395 hp Hemi and an 8 (yes eight) speed auto with full air suspension and lots of fuel saving technologies). Coming soon. Check out the videos on YouTube and THIS LINK. I think the 2013 RAM 1500 will be top of the class.
- Ram 2500/Hemi -- This comes with a completely different transmission than the 1500 series. It's a 6 speed, but a different 6 speed than the 2012 Ram 1500.
- F150 EcoBoost -- I drove one for a recent roadtrip. I was impressed with the power (at all speeds), but the transmission acted up. I doing some online searching, it is a common problem with the F150. A google search will tell the tale here, check it out if you're seriously shopping. Ford might be able to fix it with a reflash, but so far there are a number of online complaints about it. HERE'S A LINK TO MY F150 TEST DRIVE REPORT
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY or DIABLO PREDATOR tuning MBRP 4" Turbo back Scangauge2 for Boost, Coolant temp, Rail press & Trans Temp
Torklift Stable Loads
mowermech wrote: Wow, is all I can say...
Just...WOW!
So you are saying that everyone should have a dually 'just in case' they want to upgrade trailers one day?
There are plenty of folks that don't pull their trailers across the country, and don't need nor want a 3/4 or one ton truck. Today's half tons are more than capable of towing a 7,500lb trailer anywhere you would want to take it.
To the OP, I'd personally be looking at the F150 with EcoBoost. That is what I would buy if I were in the market for a new truck. I'll be trying to talk the wife into one in a few years when it's time for her to get a new ride....
When I originally bought the Durango, my preference was for the Tundra, but we needed 7 seats due to family circumstances. Those circumstances are no longer an issue, so a truck comes back into the running. I still like the Tundra, but quite a few people are also mentiong the Ecoboost, so time for a little more research and a couple of test drives.
You should definitely test drive the Ecoboost, there have already been over 100K of them sold since January 2011, there are more than a few owners on here that seem to be very impressed with their Ecoboost performance.
02 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4, prodigy and equalizer
07 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK
and no payments
The Ecoboost is by far the best 1/2 ton out for both mileage and towing purposes. You may not do better than a v8 towing but daily driving you will. The tranny issues are few and far between. Sure if you google it you will find some people w issues but as you know if you google any vehicle you will find people w issues. Some don't like to see a v6 on top of the 1/2 ton market. It is an excellent truck and when u drive one and see the interior you will be sold. Of course I'm a ford guy so I'm biased. If it wasn't the ford it would be the dodge but only in high level trim package cuz to me the base model interior is just that basic. With max tow package on an Ecoboost you don't need a 3/4 ton just ask the folks on here who tow with them.
"So you are saying that everyone should have a dually 'just in case' they want to upgrade trailers one day?"
No, not at all. If you actually READ (and understand) what I wrote, you would have seen:
"Now, however, I am thinking about down-sizing to a 3/4 ton, just don't need the dually anymore."
and:
"True, at the present time the OP may not need a 3/4 ton truck. But a couple years down the road, when he decides he needs a larger trailer, or perhaps a fifth wheel? what then?"
At no time did I state that everybody (or anybody) should buy a dually.
Yes, I do believe that the OP should look long and hard at a 3/4 ton truck, as opposed to getting a minimal, "good enough to do the job" truck. I simply advocate "Plan Ahead"! Instead of buying the minimum truck for the job, think about what the coming years may bring. Why buy two trucks when you can get one big enough NOW to do the job that you might need it to do later? Obviously, one cannot get a truck big enough for ANYTHING (a Class 8 truck at this time would be ridiculous), but going one size larger than needed is not a bad idea, IMO. It just might save money in the long run.
Saving money is a GOOD idea!
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