What Size Trailer

[LBrown59]

1/2 - 3/4 - 1 ton means nothing. You need to read the specs and go from there. Some 1 tons are rated less than a 3/4 because they weigh more. Different packages on a truck change the towing or hauling capacity.

So what truck do I want to get the specs and package on?
1/2 3/4 or 1 ton?

 

[Kfbeal]

I have a 2005 GMC Z71, 1/2 ton, crew-cab, 5.3L V8 with 3.42 rear end, that I pull a 30' Terry filberglass bumper pull travel trailer with at 60-70mph. I use the leveling kit and sway bars. I believe the travel trailer weighs 8000+ but could be wrong.

I also pull on a 18' low-boy trailer 7000#, a JD 5103 with FEL and 6' bush hog shredder with no problems.

One difference between 3/4 and 1 ton may be fuel economy, especially between 1/2 ton and 3/4 or 1 ton.

I much prefer to slow down with the load rather than pay extra for the 3/4 ton diesel, although we don't travel more than 60 miles with either the camper or tractor it doesn't pay for me to own the diesel or 3/4 ton.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a 2005 GMC Z71, 1/2 ton, crew-cab, 5.3L V8 with 3.42 rear end, that I pull a 30' Terry filberglass bumper pull travel trailer with at 60-70mph. I use the leveling kit and sway bars. I believe the travel trailer weighs 8000+ but could be wrong.

I also pull on a 18' low-boy trailer 7000#, a JD 5103 with FEL and 6' bush hog shredder with no problems.

One difference between 3/4 and 1 ton may be fuel economy, especially between 1/2 ton and 3/4 or 1 ton.

I much prefer to slow down with the load rather than pay extra for the 3/4 ton diesel, although we don't travel more than 60 miles with either the camper or tractor it doesn't pay for me to own the diesel or 3/4 ton.

8,000# with a 5.3 and 3.42's must be interesting? My buddies dad bought one like that and it was not much for towing. It was a 2006. He died 4 months after he bought it and they had a hard time getting rid of it because of the 3.42. Most people around here want nothing but 3.73 or 4.10 rear ends.

Chris

 

[LBrown59]

I have a 2005 GMC Z71, 1/2 ton, crew-cab, 5.3L V8 with 3.42 rear end, that I pull a 30' Terry filberglass bumper pull travel trailer with at 60-70mph. I use the leveling kit and sway bars. I believe the travel trailer weighs 8000+ but could be wrong.

I also pull on a 18' low-boy trailer 7000#, a JD 5103 with FEL and 6' bush hog shredder with no problems.

One difference between 3/4 and 1 ton may be fuel economy, especially between 1/2 ton and 3/4 or 1 ton.

*I much prefer to slow down with the load rather than pay extra for the 3/4 ton diesel, although we don't travel more than 60 miles with either the camper or tractor it doesn't pay for me to own the diesel or 3/4 ton.

*I'd prefer enough truck rather than do that.

 

[Kfbeal]

For as little as I pull things, my truck is more than enough. I've owned 4 - Z71's within the past 10 years and all but 1 had 3.42 rear ends. To me, there wasn't a great deal of difference.

I didn't want to sacrifice daily fuel mileage for a little more pulling power because less than 5% of my time I pull heavy items.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For as little as I pull things, my truck is more than enough. I've owned 4 - Z71's within the past 10 years and all but 1 had 3.42 rear ends. To me, there wasn't a great deal of difference.

I didn't want to sacrifice daily fuel mileage for a little more pulling power because less than 5% of my time I pull heavy items.

Sounds like you have the right truck for you. I pull 75% of the time so a 3.55 gear Ford offers actually cost me more to operate the truck then a 3.73. I had a F-150 with 4.10 gears back in 2001 and it probably did better overall for me because it spent 10,000 miles of the 12,000 miles per year I had it with a 8,000# load behind it. I picked up a Saturn cheap to take car of the millage issues. It gets 32 city and 38 highway. It paid for itself in 6 months back when the gas was $4.25 per gallon. Only cost me $280 per year to insure and just got the plates renewed for under $30.

Chris

 

[kevinj]

So what truck do I want to get the specs and package on?
1/2 3/4 or 1 ton?

You simply have to look at the GVW & GCWR and see what the maximum towing & hauling capacity is. As stated here by others the gearing and engines alone give huge range to the half tons and 3/4 tons. You can spec a 1/2 ton heavy and a 3/4 light. When I got my last truck (2008 Chevy K2500 Gasser) a one ton with similar equipment had a tow rating 300# less as it was heavier. I got mine to tow up 14K GVW. With the diesel and different rear gearing that can be up towards 20k. So you see it is all about the specs not the ton rating. Decide what you need to pull and buy a truck to meet the your towing needs. To haul your little tractors and mini trucks I would think any good half ton with a small V-8 would be plenty.

 

[jd2320]

Does anyone know where I can find the correct towing capacity for my Dakota...It's a Quad cab 4wd with the v8 it says 3.55 axle as standard but it also has the factory tow package so I don't know if that changes the axle ratio or not..oh it's a 2007..

 

[wushaw]

Does anyone know where I can find the correct towing capacity for my Dakota...It's a Quad cab 4wd with the v8 it says 3.55 axle as standard but it also has the factory tow package so I don't know if that changes the axle ratio or not..oh it's a 2007..

Try here http://www.trailerlife.com/images/towratings/07towratings.pdf

 

[jd2320]

Perfect says 5800 if I still have the 3.55 or 7000 if I have the 3.92 not sure if that changes automatically with the factory tow package or not..?