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re: Towing a Travel Trailer with a 1/2 Ton Truck
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:26 pm to Woadie
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:26 pm to Woadie
OP I have the same truck and pulled a 5500lb trailer without much trouble at all. Weight distribution hitch and good trailer brakes are a must.
We made multiple trips to the Ocoee, Murphy NC area from NW Alabama. You will be fine with the trailers you listed.
I will add, if you enjoy these trips you will want a bigger nicer camper and truck.
We made multiple trips to the Ocoee, Murphy NC area from NW Alabama. You will be fine with the trailers you listed.
I will add, if you enjoy these trips you will want a bigger nicer camper and truck.
0
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:26 pm to Woadie
Besides the obvious of gear ratios, engine and trans cooling, etc a frequent overlooked aspect is the frontal height of the trailer. If it has a vertical and high front end it can actually add thousands of pounds equivalent to the "weight" of the trailer.
Your trailer and truck will be loaded with thousands of pounds of people, food, fuel, luggage, etc, etc, etc.
The whole vehicle has to be able to pull the total load including wind load and altitude and grade. This includes cooling systems for engina and trans, drive shaft and U Joints, differential temps and maybe most important, brakes.
If you 1/2 ton truck can't pull the trailer weight x2 be careful with your family.
Your trailer and truck will be loaded with thousands of pounds of people, food, fuel, luggage, etc, etc, etc.
The whole vehicle has to be able to pull the total load including wind load and altitude and grade. This includes cooling systems for engina and trans, drive shaft and U Joints, differential temps and maybe most important, brakes.
If you 1/2 ton truck can't pull the trailer weight x2 be careful with your family.
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:54 pm to Woadie
You will be fine. Back in ‘98 I towed a 28’ travel trailer to Idaho thru Colorado across Vail pass and Eisenhower tunnel thru Utah with a half ton Chevy z-71. Just make sure you have trailer brakes. Use lower gears going down hill with common sense and you will be fine
Posted on 4/6/20 at 10:08 pm to pchwinner
OP look at a cargo trailer conversion.
Almost done with mine. Cabinet doors left on the v nose.
We took it to the beach today with my four wheelers.
The back door opens up. Easy to clean. Bare bones. Looks nice. Has AC with power package.
I've redone the inside. Just need to add a sink to wash hands inside at night with the kids and wife. The fish cleaning station I setup at campsite. Has faucet and sink built in.
Almost done with mine. Cabinet doors left on the v nose.
We took it to the beach today with my four wheelers.
The back door opens up. Easy to clean. Bare bones. Looks nice. Has AC with power package.
I've redone the inside. Just need to add a sink to wash hands inside at night with the kids and wife. The fish cleaning station I setup at campsite. Has faucet and sink built in.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 5:12 am to thejudge
Thanks for all the replies. Lots of good information.
Might do a test trip with a rental like one user suggested before making the purchase, but consensus seems to be that we will be fine in that smaller trailer.
Might do a test trip with a rental like one user suggested before making the purchase, but consensus seems to be that we will be fine in that smaller trailer.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 6:50 am to Woadie
Yes, you can tow that trailer with that truck, no problem for weekend trips or occasional leisure use on relatively flat terrain.
Will it be safe(braking and sway control), efficient(maintenance and fuel), and comfortable(suspension) for continual long distance trips over mountains and high wind zones? NO, not at all.
I spend a considerable amount of time camping out west, those down slopes,curves, and crosswinds will throw a 1/2 ton around like a rag doll. You couldn't pay me to tow a 25' travel trailer down Hwy 160 or 550 in Colorado with a 1/2 ton.
If you can afford to up truck at the moment you should. It will make your towing life much more simple and stress free.
P.S. You're going to have a damn good time. That lifestyle in that area is AWESOME.
Will it be safe(braking and sway control), efficient(maintenance and fuel), and comfortable(suspension) for continual long distance trips over mountains and high wind zones? NO, not at all.
I spend a considerable amount of time camping out west, those down slopes,curves, and crosswinds will throw a 1/2 ton around like a rag doll. You couldn't pay me to tow a 25' travel trailer down Hwy 160 or 550 in Colorado with a 1/2 ton.
If you can afford to up truck at the moment you should. It will make your towing life much more simple and stress free.
P.S. You're going to have a damn good time. That lifestyle in that area is AWESOME.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 8:05 am to Woadie
Posted on 4/7/20 at 8:12 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
13k on a half ton is stoopid
With a 1,300 lb tongue weight on a 13K trailer, it's a moot point.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 8:23 am to southside
quote:
You couldn't pay me to tow a 25' travel trailer down Hwy 160 or 550 in Colorado with a 1/2 ton.
I've done it. We have a 25' AS that weighs about 7,000 lbs fully loaded. We towed it up and over Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. We were just about at max weight. We have a 2013 F-150 ecoboost that has the "max tow" package. Pulled uphill like a dream. Going downhill I stopped a couple of times to cool the brakes, just to be safe (as I said, we were FULLY loaded). We've towed all through the Mtns in Utah and Wyoming with a few trips to Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico. It's doable under the right conditions if you use you head.
ETA: We have a weight distributing anti-sway hitch. It was about $1K but it makes a big difference.
FWIW, we've put about 25,000 miles on our TT in the 6 or so years we've owned it.
This post was edited on 4/7/20 at 8:27 am
Posted on 4/7/20 at 8:44 am to southside
quote:
Will it be safe(braking and sway control)
quote:I don't believe you.
NO, not at all.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 9:08 am to Woadie
If you keep your current truck, you definitely want to upgrade your transmission cooler. It's a cheap insurance to ensure your transmission doesn't overheat, which is the leading cause of failure. Chevy/GM is notorious for undersizing their transmission coolers from the factory.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 11:10 am to Woadie
I know everyone's comfort level towing is different. Personally I don't like towing 5k+ over the Rockies or Sierra Nevadas without a good 3/4 ton diesel with a good engine brake. With that setup it's absolutely stress free which is my preference. Nothing worse than doing the lean forward going up those steep grade or sorrying about being able to stop when going down those steep grades. When I've towed out west into elevation it's always been trailering jeeps which are heavy enough with a small enough cross section that wind hasn't been a factor. Not sure how a light weight 20+ft trailer would do in the wind out there. Until you get west of Amarillo I wouldn't worry about having a 1/2 ton at all. I hate towing those steep mountain grades out west without overkill in the tow rig. Stress free towing is the best type of towing.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 11:28 am to Lonnie Utah
quote:
I've done it.
quote:
We have a 2013 F-150 ecoboost that has the "max tow" package
I do agree that the ecoboost set up with an upgraded towing package can handle much more than the normal 1/2 ton.
But that Ecoboost setup and an experienced driver is light years away from the scenario the OP presented.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 11:36 am to southside
quote:
But that Ecoboost setup and an experienced driver is light years away from the scenario the OP presented.
I won't disagree with you. FWIW, I was a rank novice when we bought our travel trailer.
I white knuckled the drive over Wolf Creek because I had read the horror stories. As a result, we were extra conservative with it. My wife said she doesn't ever want to go that route ever again.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 3:47 pm to X123F45
quote:
Other than poor fuel mileage, it's fine.
Your brake system would disagree
You can pull wayyy over the rated towing capacity for your truck. stopping it is a different story....
Posted on 4/7/20 at 4:12 pm to Woadie
Have you seen those Tundra commercials?
Posted on 4/7/20 at 4:52 pm to Lonnie Utah
Absolutely not.
I have a 3/4 ton with 4.30 gears and a badass brake controller and pulling over 12k is a chore no matter how well you balance it. I cant see 13k on any half ton truck not being a total spook ride. That's heavy as frick. That's over maxed out on a 7k dual axle gooseneck. A half ton truck doesnt have enough arse on it for doing that safety.
I have a 3/4 ton with 4.30 gears and a badass brake controller and pulling over 12k is a chore no matter how well you balance it. I cant see 13k on any half ton truck not being a total spook ride. That's heavy as frick. That's over maxed out on a 7k dual axle gooseneck. A half ton truck doesnt have enough arse on it for doing that safety.
Posted on 4/7/20 at 5:01 pm to Woadie
Just Send IT!
Posted on 4/8/20 at 8:09 pm to Woadie
Here's a link to a towing capacity worksheet on Excel. Just plug in the weights and ratings from the specs on your truck and the trailer you want to see if it can handle it.
Excel Towing Capacity Worksheet.
I've been looking for trailers in the exact same size. So far the top one on my list is the Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS. It can be easily towed with a mid-size truck like a Chevy Colorado that's equipped for towing and with the integrated brake controller.
Excel Towing Capacity Worksheet.
I've been looking for trailers in the exact same size. So far the top one on my list is the Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS. It can be easily towed with a mid-size truck like a Chevy Colorado that's equipped for towing and with the integrated brake controller.
This post was edited on 4/8/20 at 8:10 pm
Posted on 4/8/20 at 8:29 pm to Woadie
I've pulled a 4400lbs travel trailer behind a 5.3L Chevy Tahoe for years, and many, many miles. Took it up the east coast to Maine from the North shore. Look for an all aluminum ultra lite. Dual axle is a must. Flagstaff makes a solid unit with the Micro-lite. Youtube Haylett RV, dude gives great reviews.
This post was edited on 4/8/20 at 8:33 pm
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