1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton

[Noz]

I currently am driving a F250 V10.  The only reason I own it is for the occasional venture with my 38 foot 5800 travel trailer. I can't affor two trucks and I am getting real tired of muscling the beast around.  I am well aware of the idea that most pickups with any kind of V8 can pull the trailer but it takes a 3/4 ton to stop one.

Is this indeed true if the trailer has working brakes?

[Sedalia Dave]

12 minutes ago, Noz said:

I currently am driving a F250 V10.  The only reason I own it is for the occasional venture with my 38 foot 5800 travel trailer. I can't affor two trucks and I am getting real tired of muscling the beast around.  I am well aware of the idea that most pickups with any kind of V8 can pull the trailer but it takes a 3/4 ton to stop one.

Is this indeed true if the trailer has working brakes?

 

It all has to do with the vehicle's GCWR. As a general rule 3/4 ton trucks have beefier brakes than 1/2 ton trucks so they have a greater GCWR. 

 

There may also be lower GCWR when pulling a bumper pull trailer vs a 5th wheel / gooseneck.

Edited May 26, 2018 by Sedalia Dave

[Pat Riot]

I had a boat with a trailer. Combined weight 4550 pounds plus fuel and anything else on the boat. The trailer had two axles and surge brakes. This thing was a bear to tow with my S10, rated for towing 5500 pounds (my @&$).

 

It was easy to tow and stop with our Suburban 1/2 with two wheel drive. It had the towing package which rated it for 10,000 (bull spit) pounds...sorry, that Delta House sneeze kicked in...anyway, I would feel confident towing probably 6000 pounds but I am not sure I would be comfortable beyond that.

 

Hope that helps a little.

[Charlie Plasters, SASS#60943]

I have a chevy silverado 3/4 ton that I used to tow a bumper hitch 34 foot trailer. The backend of the truck sagged and bounced too much for me so I had the springs beefed up to similar to a 1 ton. Towed very nice after that. Braking was never the issue specifically but the extra cab and long bed helped things in line.

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Many late model well equipped 1/2 ton trucks can tow trailers that were previously in the 3/4 ton truck range.  Some even boast 12,000 lb tow ratings.  The cargo carrying capacity (tongue weight) is often the limiting factor on a 1/2 ton.   A travel trailer over 30 feet is going to be a handful with ANY 1/2 ton truck.   

[Krazy Kajun]

17 minutes ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said:

Many late model well equipped 1/2 ton trucks can tow trailers that were previously in the 3/4 ton truck range.  Some even boast 12,000 lb tow ratings.  The cargo carrying capacity (tongue weight) is often the limiting factor on a 1/2 ton.   A travel trailer over 30 feet is going to be a handful with ANY 1/2 ton truck.   

Yup, I can tell you that from recent first hand experience.

 

Kajun

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

NOZ 

 

  having pulled lots of trailers , I would prefer to have a 3/4 ton , AIN'T much worse than hitting the brakes and them NOT  catching 

 

  even tho , I have it happen , with bigger equ. I relly like not being banged up any worse than I am already 

 

  got a mite spooky bringing a tractor home , when the trailer brakes failed , on the 20 ft trailer , behind the white F150 , you have seen that truck 

 

  NOT a ride I would say , was fun , at least it had 4 wheel disc , that I had just replaced all the way around , so the truck brakes were as good as they could get 

 

  stay safe 

 

  Chickasaw 

[Catlow4697]

Weight can be a factor but I have found that the frontal area of your trailer must be factored in as well plus tongue weight 

tires are another factor some half ton pickups tires are not suited for real towing

then we are back to where are you going to tow trailer no hills small hills or large hills

A new 3/4 ton with power steering takes almost no effort to drive. 

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

My last 1/2 ton truck was a56 Ford, everything else has been a 3/4 or 1 ton. In my experience the mechanical things (brakes, shocks, u joints, etc) don't wear out as fast on the heavier rated trucks when towing. Don't have any experience with the newer 1/2 tons that are rated to tow heavier loads. My last 4 trucks have been 4 wheel drive too. I currently have a F350 crewcab, shortbed in 4x4 with a Powerstroke diesel. Does everything I want it to do and more.

[Blackwater 53393]

A lot of the answer depends on your hitch rig!!  Most folks just drop the trailer on the hitch and plug up the electrical and go!!  WRONG!!!!  With a trailer your size, I recommend an EZ-lift hitch with stabilizer!!  It re-distributes the weight to the entire chassis of the tow vehicle and thus levels out the load and specifically enhances braking.  The added stabilizer bar helps tremendously with cross wind and buffeting from large vehicles when traveling on major thoroughfares.  A properly outfitted pickup, working within its designed towing capacity, is greatly enhanced with the proper hitch. 

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

I have several cousins who love their trucks.

One bought a little front drive car back when gas hit 450 a gallon.

He found a lot less wear and repair on the truck and it was so easy

to drive and park the little car.

Yes it means two plates and so on but saves on that big truck.

Sort of the right tool for the job, taken to cars.

Best

CR

I buy older cars with nearby dealers.  Routine stuff is easy but you'

may need a factory part from time to time.

 

[Charlie Whiskers]

  I had a 72 Ford 4x4 1/2 ton with a 390. I bought a 18ft Rockwood Mini Lite bumper tow trailer that weighed 3500 when loaded. I had a car come out of a blind intersection and onto the highway without stopping, I thought I'd never get my rig stopped with out using the rear end of his to do it at 65mph.

  To be safe I had the front end changed out from a 74 Ford Bronco with Disc brakes, NO one made a disc brake conversion for the front end of the 72  Ford 4x4....2 wheel drive yes, but not the 4x4. It stopped better after doing that but it could still be a chore in a hurry. I bought a used 95 Ram 2wd 3/4 ton with a Cummins. It tows better and stops a whole bunch better than the old 72 did, plus the fuel mileage is double what that 390 ever got towing anything.

[Marshal Hangtree]

Big 3/4 ton brakes are your friend.  If the trailer brakes fail or you loose electrical connection to them, you'll be glad you have those big beefy rear brakes.  Overkill, in this case, is always better than underkill.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

The brakes on a 3/4 ton are worth it. Has the drive line to handle it too. 

Most 1/2 ton trucks pretty much use passenger car size brakes.

I say this a someone who drives a 1T dually 4x4....

BTW: most multi axle rv trailers only have brakes on one axle..........

OLG

Edited May 26, 2018 by The Original Lumpy Gritz

[The Shoer 27979]

17 hours ago, Noz said:

I currently am driving a F250 V10.  The only reason I own it is for the occasional venture with my 38 foot 5800 travel trailer. I can't affor two trucks and I am getting real tired of muscling the beast around.  I am well aware of the idea that most pickups with any kind of V8 can pull the trailer but it takes a 3/4 ton to stop one.

Is this indeed true if the trailer has working brakes?

Noz

Remember  this picture  when you start thinking about brakes.

This was a mechanical  failure  of my brakes on that truck. I had a choice  to ether make a hard right that I was going to fast for(because of mechanical  failure ) or taking out 5 occupied  cars

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

What I'm gonna say, is from someone who held a Class 1 CDL with all endorsements for over 30 yrs.

Brakes, are your LIFE ...... 

OLG

 

[Marshal Hangtree]

^ Bingo!

[Badlands Bob #61228]

1/2 ton trucks are great for towing as long as you stay within your capabilties.  My truck has an OEM trailer brake controller, 4 wheel antilock disc brakes and electronic sway control.   Towing a 6,000 lb RV with dual axles and brakes on both trailer axles, I don't have any problems stopping.  I also use a Equal-i-zer 4 point weight distribution hitch to keep everything where it's suppose to be.

[Fireball #7709 Life]

I've always hauled with a Dodge Cummins equipped, single wheel 3500(1 ton).  Everything is bigger or rated to higher loads: axles, brakes, driveline.  While it may not be "necessary", and it will cost more, I appreciate the ease of which the heavier duty truck handles the load.  These days, I prefer not to get my adrenaline rushes on the road, "getting by" with less of a machine.  

Edited May 28, 2018 by Fireball #7709 Life

[Dubious Don #56333]

On 5/25/2018 at 6:06 PM, Noz said:

I currently am driving a F250 V10.  The only reason I own it is for the occasional venture with my 38 foot 5800 travel trailer. I can't affor two trucks and I am getting real tired of muscling the beast around.  I am well aware of the idea that most pickups with any kind of V8 can pull the trailer but it takes a 3/4 ton to stop one.

Is this indeed true if the trailer has working brakes?

LOL,

If you don't like driving that you prolly don't wanna drive my Beastie Girl; one ton Ram double cab long bed. Way bigger than I wanted or needed but the wife and especially ME, fell in love with'er first time out. Didn't even gewt outta the dealer parking lot. Excellent road truck all by herself. Just a dream to drive. Will tow anything I can hook up back there, too.