fairhaven
Everson, WA
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Joined: 01/31/2008
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There has been lots of topics and discussion on towing with a 1/2t truck. It did not work for me & here is my "real world" experience. I bought a new Trail Cruiser 30QBSS is 2007. I also bought a new 2007 GMC Sierra with the 6.0 motor...the highly touted Vortex Max with the max towing package. This gave me a tow rating of 10,500lbs. My trailer, fully loaded, scaled in at 6329lbs. So, I had more than enough truck to pull the trailer. HOWEVER, the truck only had a max payload of about 1850 pounds. When I loaded myself, wife, daughter, dog, canopy on truck, and all the stuff in the bed (foldup pontoon boat, seat for said boat, oars, battery, trolling motor, barbeque, life jackets, fishing rods, tackle box, fire wood for several days, and assorted other stuff), along with 3 bikes on a carrier on the front of the truck, I was only left with about 300lbs for hitch weight before I exceeded the max payload of 1850lbs. Now, my actual tongue weight on the trailer was 717 pounds which made me over the max payload by 417 pounds. Many will say no problem since the trucks all have a fudge factor built in. Well, I did not feel like taking chances with my daughter (or others on the road) so we always would compromise on what we took so as not to exceed the max payload. 8 months later I bought a new 2008 F250 Super Duty. No more compromises. We take what we want with no worries. The 1/2 tons will work fine as long as you don't take too much stuff when you head out. For my family and all the "crap" we want to take the 1/2t just did not work. Finally, my trailer is considered a "lightweight" and made to be towed by a 1/2t truck. Just be sure you watch the payload very carefully.
2010 Keystone Cougar 30BHS
2008 Ford F250 4x4 Super Duty Crew, 6.4 Power Stroke, 3.73
Myself (Bob) Retired (25 Years USAF)
Tami (Wife)
Ashley-8 (Daughter)
Nick-5 (Our rotty/shepard mix)
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philhoey
Central MD
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Joined: 03/21/2004
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Good move Bob - if you had been in an accident and they weighed everything you would have been in trouble.
Have a great time this summer.
Phil
Phillip, Janet, and the Mutt
2003 Silverado 1500HD 4.10 rear
32' Coachman 5th wheel
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Kampfirekid
usa
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Joined: 08/16/2007
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I just lived this scenario this spring after having to upgrade our trailer. Funny things are that I specifically ordered a 2008 Ford F-150 Supercrew with a 1,680# payload a few months before changing trailers, and because the new trailer was supposed to have a tongue weight a few hundred pounds less, I figured we were good. I knew I'd be close to the limits, but I had resolved myself to the fact that the bed of my nice new shiny F-150 was for carrying a big supply of camping air.
Well, after much disgust, I realized the truck was delivered with about 400 pounds less payload capacity, and the trailer tongue weight actually scaled over 500 pounds over what the specs said. I was at the limit before, so this really put us over, and all with an empty truck bed. Stoooooopid! I now have a 2008 F-350 6.4L smoker. Not an F-350 because I needed it, but because it was the cost effective choice when trying to take advantage of what was available with a $10,000 rebate. Also, I looked for a V-10 (even though I am a diesel fanatic), but none were available. I love the 6.4L diesel - it pulls like a freight train and gets fair economy, but if I ordered a truck tomorrow, it would be a V-10 if in the 3/4+ ton market. All that said, I'm considering downsizing trailers, which the truck would follow. Maybe a 1/2 ton with a 5,000# shorty.
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shenandoahvalley
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
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Joined: 02/09/2007
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I was looking at a Tundra that is touted to pull 10,000+ but found the same issue...with all the "stuff" that I take along I was going to be well under the tow capacity but right at or over the payload. Decided to keep the old F250 for a while longer.
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Learjet
Louisiana
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Joined: 02/21/2006
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my rig is within limits, I don't have all the junk. Happy with a 1/2 ton here.
2006 Nissan Titan CC with tow package added Timbrens
2006 KZ Frontier 2303P-F
Dual 6 volt GC batts
Equal-i-zer
Prodigy brake controller
Yamaha EF2600c Tri-Fuel Gen.
in the past...2001 Hurricane 30Q Chevy workhorse
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lrak
MA
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Joined: 11/03/2006
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fairhaven wrote:When I loaded myself, wife, daughter, dog, canopy on truck, and all the stuff in the bed (foldup pontoon boat, seat for said boat, oars, battery, trolling motor, barbeque, life jackets, fishing rods, tackle box, fire wood for several days, and assorted other stuff), along with 3 bikes on a carrier on the front of the truck, I was only left with about 300lbs for hitch weight before I exceeded the max payload
I agree, the 1/2 ton is wrong for your needs. However the size requirements aren't driven by what you are towing. Its because of all the stuff you bring.
If another guy asks about the same truck and trailer combination, I hope you will ask what they are bringing. Too many around here automatically tell someone else it isn't enough truck although the other person plans on bringing only wife, daughter, clothes, chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmellows in the truck.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Joined: 08/15/2006
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To the OP: It's the payload that didn't work FOR YOU. Doesn't mean 1/2 tons don't work.
We also tow with a 1/2 ton SUV without any issues and are under our alloted cargo capacity even with an 850# tongue weight.
But....we don't bring tons of stuff like the OP does (that list is just dizzying to me!) It's just us (2 adults, 2 kids) and small ice chest and generator go into the truck.
2007 GMC Yukon Denali - 6.2L 380hp/417ft-lbs,0-60 in 6.2 seconds
2007 Jayco Jayflight 27BH
Equalizer Hitch, Prodigy Brake Control
Our Truck and Trailer
Easy Trailer Mods-NEW pics added 4/10/08
Visited a lot of states, haven't camped in many...yet. 
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another_newfie
Ontario
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Joined: 10/06/2008
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I would agree that when I read your post, I said, WOW that's a lot of extra stuff. I use a so called 1/2 tonne and I am well within my limits, in fact I have quite a bit of extra capacity. Even on a week long trip all that is in the bed of my truck are a few bikes and my trusty Weber Baby Q. Everything else is in the trailer. If you "need" all that stuff then most definitely you will be in 3/4 tonne territory, however there are others, myself included that do just fine with the 1/2. It's all about knowing your weights and limits.
2009 Springdale Summerland 2600 TBL
2008 Ford F-150 Supercrew XLT 4X4
Prodigy + Equal-i-zer + Champion
4 Seasons Camping Tips & Tricks!
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1jeep
acushnet ma.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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thats why i am trading in my 1/2 ton and getting an F650, then i will trade the trailer in for a popup!
2008 Ford F350 6.4 oil burner
2007 Keystone Outback Sydney 32BHDS
2009 HD Ultra CVO
1997 Yamaha YZF1000r
1995 Honda CR500r
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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I was able to tow the ATV trailer, with 2 ATVs, behind the Dodge Dakota when the truck was empty. But with 2 motorcycles in the truck it sagged to much. I probably could have put a WD hitch on, but I bought a bigger truck instead.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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