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Started By
Message
What truck would the OB want for towing 8-10x a year?
Posted on 7/29/25 at 10:47 am
Posted on 7/29/25 at 10:47 am
Im slowly starting to look at some trucks with the idea of upgrading my 22’ bay boat in the future. The boat Im looking at weighs approx 3500lbs with the 300hp engine. This does not include 90gal of fuel, tackle, batteries, etc. All of this in my head would be around 5000-5500 lbs to tow
I tow approximately 8-10x a year, which is not often so that leads to my question, do I look into a gas or diesel engine in half ton.
Every gas truck I have looked into has its issues. If you were currently in the market, what would you buy and why? Really leaning more towards ride quality since towing would be minimal.
Eta: current tow vehicle is a 2019 Sequoia with a gvwr of 7400lbs
I tow approximately 8-10x a year, which is not often so that leads to my question, do I look into a gas or diesel engine in half ton.
Every gas truck I have looked into has its issues. If you were currently in the market, what would you buy and why? Really leaning more towards ride quality since towing would be minimal.
Eta: current tow vehicle is a 2019 Sequoia with a gvwr of 7400lbs
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 10:48 am
13
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:01 am to sonoma8
quote:
current tow vehicle is a 2019 Sequoia with a gvwr of 7400lbs
This should be fine. You certainly won't do any better from a reliability standpoint.
Assuming brand new:
Me personally, a ram 2500 gas burner. It's currently the only thing that is a decently good value for the cost. They have steep discounts right now and obviously would handle your towing needs easily. The ram 2500's don't ride bad at all due to the coil spring rears. It has the best total driveline package currently offered on the market IMO. Lowest cost and least risk out of everything from what I can tell right now. Likely to be cheaper than a half ton ford or chevrolet.
Half ton only, tougher decision. PROBABLY a ford eco boost. Definitely not a ram. Chevrolet would be fine if you can still get the 5.3 V8.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:10 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Half ton only, tougher decision. Definitely not a ram.
Ram is bringing back the 5.7 Hemi. I would absolutely consider buying a Ram once that happens. I know everyone likes to shite on em, but they've been some of the better work trucks for us. Chevys either have transmissions or dropping a valve, the Fords have trans problems in the 8 speeds, and Eco Boosts are a crap shoot on keeping turbos alive.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:11 am to sonoma8
Are you a crazy man? Ride that Sequoia until the wheels fall off. Any vehicle you buy today is an absolute crap shoot.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:12 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Why would you go EcoBoost over the 5.0?
Also, screw anything GM. This coming from a GM owner.
Also, screw anything GM. This coming from a GM owner.
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 11:13 am
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:23 am to GREENHEAD22
quote:
Are you a crazy man?
Thats the wifes ride and thats the plan, but we have considered trading it in. I drive a 23 Camry as my commuter. I have considered the Hemi as an option. Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:23 am to sonoma8
I towed a 26ft power boat with a big block 496 with my Ram 1500. No issues whatsoever. 5100# dry weight plus ~100 gallons of fuel on board.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:23 am to BadatBourre
quote:
Ram is bringing back the 5.7 Hemi. I would absolutely consider buying a Ram once that happens. I know everyone likes to shite on em, but they've been some of the better work trucks for us
I don't have a very long experience, but I just bought a 2023 ram 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi in it and I have to say I'm pleased so far. I did a good bit of research on it and the ride is really smooth. I have cloth seats, but me and my wife find them really comfortable. Probably not going to have the greatest resale value, but if I'm able to drive it for as long as I want to the resale value will be crap on anything at that point.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:31 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
This should be fine.
Would airbags help the suspension since there is an increase in weight from what Im currently towing? My boat now is approx 4k lbs loaded out
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:31 am to sonoma8
quote:
current tow vehicle is a 2019 Sequoia
ah, the good ol SUV pulling a bay boat that holds up everyone at the launch
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:45 am to sonoma8
As long as the trailer is properly set up there shouldn't be much tongue weight increase. A weight distribution hitch would help more than air bags if there's too much tongue weight.
I used to really like air bags but now I do not. They're expensive, PITA to install, will leak at some point. They work, but a weight distribution hitch is much easier.
I'd certainly just try it with the sequoia before I went bought another truck just to deal with a slightly bigger boat. It's easy enough to drag it over the scales and see what you've got.
I used to really like air bags but now I do not. They're expensive, PITA to install, will leak at some point. They work, but a weight distribution hitch is much easier.
I'd certainly just try it with the sequoia before I went bought another truck just to deal with a slightly bigger boat. It's easy enough to drag it over the scales and see what you've got.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 12:39 pm to sonoma8
If you are not towing 10k regularly
I’d stay w a gas engine.
Any 150/1500 or full size SUV will do.
I’d stay w a gas engine.
Any 150/1500 or full size SUV will do.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 1:22 pm to sonoma8
Coming from someone who has to have a diesel, there is no way in hell I would own one unless I needed it.
In your case, I'd stick with the gas burner.
In your case, I'd stick with the gas burner.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 1:52 pm to mudshuvl05
I'd stick with what you have.
That said, if it were me, I'd look at a f250 gasser, but a 150 would be fine too.
That said, if it were me, I'd look at a f250 gasser, but a 150 would be fine too.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 2:19 pm to TopWaterTiger
So theres no reason to believe my sequoia wouldn't be able to tow this boat a few times a year? Im sure Im def going to notice it back there, but id rather hold on to what i got rather than buying a truck just to pull this boat a couple times.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 2:26 pm to sonoma8
I think it'd be a bit overkill to get a diesel just to tow a boat 8-10x's. I think the Sequoia is more than sufficient.
I will say that when I did tow a smaller boat with an SUV (Tahoe), it was more difficult than with a truck. Not really to tow it, but to back it in places. Remember a friend acting like I was a spaz for having some difficulty backing down into a small ramp at the camp. Then they backed the trailer in when picking up the boat and realized it's a lot more difficult with the blind spots that come with the SUV vs. Truck. This was all pre backup camera, but still.
I will say that when I did tow a smaller boat with an SUV (Tahoe), it was more difficult than with a truck. Not really to tow it, but to back it in places. Remember a friend acting like I was a spaz for having some difficulty backing down into a small ramp at the camp. Then they backed the trailer in when picking up the boat and realized it's a lot more difficult with the blind spots that come with the SUV vs. Truck. This was all pre backup camera, but still.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 2:29 pm to sonoma8
quote:
So theres no reason to believe my sequoia wouldn't be able to tow this boat a few times a year?
Correct
quote:
but id rather hold on to what i got rather than buying a truck just to pull this boat a couple times.
for sure
Posted on 7/29/25 at 4:42 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
Why would you go EcoBoost over the 5.0?
Anecdotal experience. Don't have many half ton trucks at work so my experience is limited to who I know and what they say. I only know one person with a 5.0 ford. He got about 225k out of it with relatively little issue. I know of 3 eco boosts that went that far with relatively little issue as well. I just like the eco boost better.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 4:51 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I have heard that towing with an SUV can lead to transmission getting warmer because of the design of SUV Body vs a Truck body and the amount of air flow or lack of air flow a SUV body allows. Anyone else heard of this or that just BS.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 4:56 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Yep. I run a 2021 Ram 2500 w/ the 6.4. Pulls my 24’ center console great. It’s a fantastic truck. I opted for the Tradesman package and the 3.73’s.
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