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Message
Towing a Travel Trailer with a 1/2 Ton Truck
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:09 am
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:09 am
Looking to purchase a trailer sometime in the near future to use as base for traveling out west. Colorado, Utah, Arizona, etc. Models I have been considering range from 3,900 - 4,500 LBS dry. 21' to 25' overall length. Currently I have a 2015 Sierra 1500 that is rated to tow 6,300 LBS.
Not having much experience towing, I am curious to see what ya'll think about that setup. Most of my research has lead me to believe that either I need to size up in truck or get a smaller trailer. I imagine we will be using it often, as my job allows me to travel a lot and its just me, the wife, and dog. Worth it to upgrade to a 3/4 ton to take the abuse of towing up mountains or can my current truck handle it fine?
Not having much experience towing, I am curious to see what ya'll think about that setup. Most of my research has lead me to believe that either I need to size up in truck or get a smaller trailer. I imagine we will be using it often, as my job allows me to travel a lot and its just me, the wife, and dog. Worth it to upgrade to a 3/4 ton to take the abuse of towing up mountains or can my current truck handle it fine?
22
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:11 am to Woadie
I would upgrade truck so that you're a little more flexible with your trailer weight and size range.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:20 am to Chad504boy
quote:
I would upgrade truck
one with a tow package that has a specific tow mode
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:22 am to Woadie
quote:
can my current truck handle it fine?
Yes.
The biggest issue won't be the weight, it'll be the wind in West Texas and New Mexico.
I tow a 16ft trailer with a big Sxs when we go. With gear on trailer it's over 5k.
Max towing for my vehicle is 5k.
Other than poor fuel mileage, it's fine.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:25 am to Woadie
quote:
Currently I have a 2015 Sierra 1500 that is rated to tow 6,300 LBS
That sounds like you have a base V8 with tall gear in the rearend. No towing package, no frame hitch, no trans cooler, etc.
Out West, you will have steep inclines both up grade and down grade. You will also encounter high winds.
I would upgrade. It's not just about pure weight being towed.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:29 am to Woadie
A few rambling thoughts:
- People who are really into trailers will tell you that you always need a bigger truck. Some if this is just to justify they truck they wanted more than needed and some of it may be true. Just take it with a grain of salt
- You can certainly pull trailers that size with a half-ton, especially the lower end of that range
- that said, the tow rating on your half ton is pretty low. I think mine is 9800 for comparison and that's not even the heavy towing package.
- What do you intend to do with your trailer? I think a lot of people get way too much trailer. If it's mainly going to function as a deer camp and you might tow it somewhere occasionally, then go big. If you're moving it around constantly and all your're doing in it is sleeping and fricking then you really don't need all that much.
- I think with what you described I'd get something on the low end of what you are looking at (or even a little smaller) and then tow the shite out of it with the truck you have. After a few months of that, you'll know exactly where to put your money in regards to a bigger truck, trailer, or both.
- alternatively, rent a similar sized trailer from rvshare or another site and take it somewhere for a week to test out the size and your truck.
- People who are really into trailers will tell you that you always need a bigger truck. Some if this is just to justify they truck they wanted more than needed and some of it may be true. Just take it with a grain of salt
- You can certainly pull trailers that size with a half-ton, especially the lower end of that range
- that said, the tow rating on your half ton is pretty low. I think mine is 9800 for comparison and that's not even the heavy towing package.
- What do you intend to do with your trailer? I think a lot of people get way too much trailer. If it's mainly going to function as a deer camp and you might tow it somewhere occasionally, then go big. If you're moving it around constantly and all your're doing in it is sleeping and fricking then you really don't need all that much.
- I think with what you described I'd get something on the low end of what you are looking at (or even a little smaller) and then tow the shite out of it with the truck you have. After a few months of that, you'll know exactly where to put your money in regards to a bigger truck, trailer, or both.
- alternatively, rent a similar sized trailer from rvshare or another site and take it somewhere for a week to test out the size and your truck.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:34 am to Woadie
Weight wise your truck engine will handle that all day. Stopping power is totally different. Hot rotors, warped rotors, etc...
Might need to upgrade your rotors and brake pads but your truck has plenty of power to pull that.
Might need to upgrade your rotors and brake pads but your truck has plenty of power to pull that.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:42 am to Tridentds
quote:A properly set brake module prevents that. In fact, when my two fifth wheels were set up properly, they assisted in total braking.
Weight wise your truck engine will handle that all day. Stopping power is totally different. Hot rotors, warped rotors, etc...
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:46 am to AlxTgr
Correct. Towing heavy without trailer brakes is dangerous regardless of the truck. The trailer should mostly stop itself.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:48 am to Woadie
With a those weights a 1/2 ton will work but not the one you have. Going to need one with the full size V8 and tow package.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:53 am to AlxTgr
quote:
quote:
Weight wise your truck engine will handle that all day. Stopping power is totally different. Hot rotors, warped rotors, etc...
A properly set brake module prevents that. In fact, when my two fifth wheels were set up properly, they assisted in total braking.
This is a great point. Whatever trailer you get, make sure it has brakes. If your truck doesn't have a brake controller installed, get an aftermarket one. Take the 2 minutes to set up when you hook up the trailer. Makes a world of difference.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:55 am to ccard257
Thanks for all the responses. Lots of good info.
Mainly we will use this trailer as a base for outdoor activities. The wife and I are avid mountain bikers, so the plan is to use it to travel to good MTB destinations, set up shop and go from there. Maybe jump from spot to spot every 3 - 4 days. Two week trips are the timeline most likely.
I want to go as small as possible. Smaller footprint the better. The wife wants a little space in the trailer to hang out in, in case of bad weather and other BS. Also bathroom is a must. She is definitely not going in the woods.
LINK /
This is the smaller one I was looking at. Just as a reference.
Mainly we will use this trailer as a base for outdoor activities. The wife and I are avid mountain bikers, so the plan is to use it to travel to good MTB destinations, set up shop and go from there. Maybe jump from spot to spot every 3 - 4 days. Two week trips are the timeline most likely.
I want to go as small as possible. Smaller footprint the better. The wife wants a little space in the trailer to hang out in, in case of bad weather and other BS. Also bathroom is a must. She is definitely not going in the woods.
LINK /
This is the smaller one I was looking at. Just as a reference.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:02 am to Woadie
You'll pull and stop that with zero issues.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:08 am to Woadie
FWIW, there are TWO numbers on you vehicle you need to look at when towing. The first one is easy to come by, the second not so much.
You have to look at both the towing capacity of your vehicle AND the maximum cargo capacity of the vehicle. You have to subtract the tongue weight from the cargo capacity of the truck. For example, our F150 has around 11K lb towing capacity, but only 1900 lbs cargo capacity. Given a 800 lb tongue weight of our trailer, that only leaves us 1,100 lbs for cargo, passengers fuel, everything you are going to put in the truck while towing. You can find the GVW value on the inner door frame of your truck.
You have to look at both the towing capacity of your vehicle AND the maximum cargo capacity of the vehicle. You have to subtract the tongue weight from the cargo capacity of the truck. For example, our F150 has around 11K lb towing capacity, but only 1900 lbs cargo capacity. Given a 800 lb tongue weight of our trailer, that only leaves us 1,100 lbs for cargo, passengers fuel, everything you are going to put in the truck while towing. You can find the GVW value on the inner door frame of your truck.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:13 am to Tridentds
quote:
Stopping power is totally different. Hot rotors, warped rotors, etc...
I don’t tow anything big at all, just a bay boat on the smaller side, 19 foot skeeter. But I have several friends who tow larger boats and travel trailers. Stopping power is the thing they always talk about with the larger vs smaller trucks and feeling like the trailer is controlling the truck instead of the other way around, particularly with winds and steep grades.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:20 am to Woadie
quote:
Also bathroom is a must. She is definitely not going in the woods.
That's going to severely limit your mountain biking options. ETA: I really like that trailer for what you described
This post was edited on 4/6/20 at 10:22 am
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:27 am to AlxTgr
Yea I was thinking something bigger.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:30 am to GREENHEAD22
that is too small for the amount of usage imo he's using it for. but small is good for portability. up to him for sure.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:38 am to ccard257
Numero uno is no problem in the woods, its the other one where the issue starts. If it wasn't for that I would be getting one of those offroad trailers and boondock it.
If it wasn't for that I would be getting one of those offroad trailers and boondock it. Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:40 am to Chad504boy
You are talking about the trailer being to small or truck?
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