The feds are hammering shops that delete emissions equipment now. So don't bank on that either.

Your experience must be with Fords!

With diesel you have to also buy diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). That's another thing to consider.

If you're gonna buy a potentially $55k truck that mainly sits in the garage and is only used for pulling, I'd try to find something that's clean but a little older. Earlier this year I bought a real clean 2005 2wd Chevy 2500 duramax crew cab w/ 125k miles for $15k. Take the $40k you saved and put it towards other fun stuff.

That's actually not a bad idea, I'll look for something like that

I was mainly looking for lower mileage so I know it'll be reliable while hauling the family and trailer around

Rented this 6,500 - 27fter for the weekend to test it out with the SUV. Only drove about an hour toward flat ground.

It handled okay up to 55 mph but it's windy so anytime a gust it that SUCKED. Felt exactly like the poster described it like being on an offshore fishing rig.

No way I'd feel safe with a bigger TT or even taking this one more than 60 miles.

Definitely need a pickup and a 3/4T at that

And the 13-14 qt oil changes and fuel filters

3/4 ton gas., 4wd, long bed.

Don't screw up the long bed. Short bed heavy duty trucks are for groceries and status symbols. The usefulness of the truck diminishes quickly once a gooseneck is added if you have a short bed.

This is going to be exactly like buying a nice TV. You will never get home and say "man, I wish idve gotten a smaller one." Treat it like you would buying a gun safe.

An old friend and Aggie classmate on our hill country hunting lease has a 2018 gmc diesel 2500 hd. He had been out at the lease and was leaving New Year's Eve. His truck went into limp mode and long story short he didn't get home until Jan 4th. Said it will be his last diesel pickup.

I use my personal pickup on the farm daily (hauled a couple hundred round bales this afternoon. My use warrants a diesel pickup.

In your case you need to decide what you really want out of the pickup. I wouldn't hold it against you if you send 3/4 ton diesel especially if you intend to take the trailer over the mountains in Colorado and New Mexico.

Truth is, right now is the absolute worst time to be looking at a used(or new) pickup.

That is a difficult combo to find these days. You're better off going 1 ton to get the long bed. 3/4 ton long bed gasser is a needle in a haystack for any trim above a base work truck

DEF doesn't mean you shouldn't get a diesel. They're just a little more involved than a gas vehicle is. I've never owned a diesel truck, but for your use case that you describe, I might.

It's been posted many times above - but here goes:

If you are not towing everyday/ week do not buy a diesel.

The maintenance on a modern diesel will kill the fuel economy.

I have a Chevy 2013 HD 2500 with a gas 6.0 L V8 with 129K miles on it. It still has plenty of power to pull. oil changes cost $50-75 vs $120 - $400 for a diesel not including fuel price and DEF.

Sure I'm some of you will argue that the diesel maintenance costs are not that high, but for intermittent maintenance that is required on today's highly controlled diesels, I think it's important to budget for that because it happens.

Mas89 said:

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An old friend and Aggie classmate on our hill country hunting lease has a 2018 gmc diesel 2500 hd. He had been out at the lease and was leaving New Year's Eve. His truck went into limp mode and long story short he didn't get home until Jan 4th. Said it will be his last diesel pickup.

---

This happened to me early on. A code reader and Google are your best friend. You don't have to be a professional mechanic and have a Tech II to diagnose most problems. Just gotta be willing to learn a little bit about your truck. Just like most vehicles, diesel trucks are very reliable if you operate them correctly.

That said, gas engines may be a little easier to operate if you're more familiar with them.

Oh, and you can thank the feds for making diesel trucks more of a pain to deal with.

Probably 3/4 ton if you can afford it. All that being said, we have towed our 29ft TT all over North America, including to Alaska and back with a Toyota Sequoia. Some of the toughest mountain passes, up and down. No problems. Just have to have a good WD hitch dialed in perfectly, and watch all the weights and plan on 65mph.

I drive a half ton pickup in town and an F-350 long bed diesel to the farm and ranch.

If you can afford it, drive something that is designed to be overkill for your use so you don't have to worry about it.

I used to haul stuff with my Chevy 1500 and burned up a transmission, had trouble controlling loads, and always felt relieved when I got somewhere without breaking something.

Now, I hookup to the boat, travel trailer, gooseneck flatbed, or whatever, and set the cruise control.

For me it's about peace of mind and the value of that makes up for the increased costs of purchase and operation.

Longbed.

Righteousgemstone said:

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Probably 3/4 ton if you can afford it. All that being said, we have towed our 29ft TT all over North America, including to Alaska and back with a Toyota Sequoia. Some of the toughest mountain passes, up and down. No problems. Just have to have a good WD hitch dialed in perfectly, and watch all the weights and plan on 65mph.

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This is a good point regardless of your vehicle. I pull my FW at 65mph max.

Just because you can go faster doesn't mean you should.

TacosaurusRex said:

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I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

jtp01 said:

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Truth is, right now is the absolute worst time to be looking at a used(or new) pickup.

---

I know. It's absolutely brutal timing, prices are stupid. Is there any expectation of a drop? Some brand new '21s are not that much more than the fully loaded '17 with 45K miles on it and the new ones have a lot more standard equipment.

I'm trying to explore all options because of it. Even enterprise will rent out 3/4T gas pickups for $800 a week. That's not completley awful if I go that route until the market calms down even.

texags08 said:

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TacosaurusRex said:

---

I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

---

I did, professionally setup WD hitch with sway control and it was still miserable depending on the wind (a lot of driving near the coast in those high winds). Did it get the job done safely? Yes. Was it comfortable? Absolutely not. Last year I bought a new toy hauler, and even though loaded with a side by side I was still under weight, I wasn't about to do that.

My daily driver is a 3/4 ton in Austin haha. I pull trailers all over town all day, and the only downside is parking downtown. I tow my camper more than I park downtown though, so I would pick the 3/4 ton nine times out of ten.

3/4 Diesel minimum
It'll make pulling a TT more enjoyable and leave you open for the possibility of a shorty 5'er.

If you join the Texas RV Camping FB group there are TV and 5'er combo's coming up for sale weekly now that people are having to go back to their office jobs.

TacosaurusRex said:

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texags08 said:

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TacosaurusRex said:

---

I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

---

I did, professionally setup WD hitch with sway control and it was still miserable depending on the wind (a lot of driving near the coast in those high winds). Did it get the job done safely? Yes. Was it comfortable? Absolutely not. Last year I bought a new toy hauler, and even though loaded with a side by side I was still under weight, I wasn't about to do that.

My daily driver is a 3/4 ton in Austin haha. I pull trailers all over town all day, and the only downside is parking downtown. I tow my camper more than I park downtown though, so I would pick the 3/4 ton nine times out of ten.

---

You definitely have a need to go 3/4 if you are pulling trailers daily for work. I have a neighbor that tore up an F-150 in 2.5 years pulling utility trailers daily for work. 3/4 all day if that's your use case.

My suggestions were more for the OP. If you are only ever pulling the TT and if it's less than once a month I have a hard time justifying a 3/4 for any TT under 8k. The capabilities of modern 1/2T when occasionally towing and having an empty daily drive are much more economical than going for a 3/4 that you daily drive empty. Unless you just really want a 3/4 for the looks, or if you plan to upgrade to a 5th wheel down the road.

I also think it's absurd the amount of daily drive 3/4T that have never had more than a few sheets of plywood or bags of mulch in the bed. But that's just a personal thing that makes me laugh. More power to you if that's your preference though.

For the regen issues... Check into a code reader and an app that can force the regen like a dealer. Most will be higher end paid apps. I can't say for certain there is one for every make, but I know you can do it on the Ram 1/2 ton ecodiesel. Forced regen while sitting still just like the dealer would do.

Also, on the ecodiesel, the regen is based on RPM, not on speed, which is nice. You can regen at any speed by using the shift buttons to control your gear/rpm. Not sure what other vehicles that is the case for.

texags08 said:

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TacosaurusRex said:

---

texags08 said:

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TacosaurusRex said:

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I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

---

I did, professionally setup WD hitch with sway control and it was still miserable depending on the wind (a lot of driving near the coast in those high winds). Did it get the job done safely? Yes. Was it comfortable? Absolutely not. Last year I bought a new toy hauler, and even though loaded with a side by side I was still under weight, I wasn't about to do that.

My daily driver is a 3/4 ton in Austin haha. I pull trailers all over town all day, and the only downside is parking downtown. I tow my camper more than I park downtown though, so I would pick the 3/4 ton nine times out of ten.

---

You definitely have a need to go 3/4 if you are pulling trailers daily for work. I have a neighbor that tore up an F-150 in 2.5 years pulling utility trailers daily for work. 3/4 all day if that's your use case.

My suggestions were more for the OP. If you are only ever pulling the TT and if it's less than once a month I have a hard time justifying a 3/4 for any TT under 8k. The capabilities of modern 1/2T when occasionally towing and having an empty daily drive are much more economical than going for a 3/4 that you daily drive empty. Unless you just really want a 3/4 for the looks, or if you plan to upgrade to a 5th wheel down the road.

I also think it's absurd the amount of daily drive 3/4T that have never had more than a few sheets of plywood or bags of mulch in the bed. But that's just a personal thing that makes me laugh. More power to you if that's your preference though.

---

I crunched all the numbers. I don't really agree because of the payload figures. And the trailer I mentioned in the OP is 9K but let's go with 8K in your max scenario.

2 adults and 2 kids - 450 lbs (a 3rd isn't out of the question)
2 car seats - 50 lbs (this will go away but the kid's weight will go up)
2 dogs - 100 lbs
Weight distribution hitch - 80 lbs
Trailer tongue weight - ~1,000 lbs (8,000 lbs [gross] * 12.5%), these are 10%-15% so 12.5% on average

That's 1,680 lb right there without anything but the absolute minimum.

The 2021 Silverado 1500 5.3 can tow 11,500 but only 2060 max payload. The 6.2 can do 13,300 but a max payload of 1690. These require the NHT Max Trailering Package which are not easy to find used.

So I'm at ~82% of my payload (if I can even find one with that package). Will I be able to fit everything in the storage while traveling? I doubt it so I'll want to leave room in the payload for luggage, ice chests, tables, chairs, maybe a generator? I could hit 90% of my payload.

A 3/4T would allow me to travel much safer with the family in tow and if we ever decide to upgrade the trailer down the road (or get a 5th wheel) I wouldn't need to upgrade my vehicle again.

I think it makes a ton of sense to just go up to the 3/4T and be done with it if I'm getting something for a TT.

You've gotten a lot of great replies so far...

I'll add one.

Cargo and towing capacities (along with fuel consumption) are calculated on the absolutely most stripped down trim levels within the model class. So that 1/2T with 3,000 lbs of cargo capacity? There is easily a 1,000lb difference in curb weight between a King Ranch/Platinum and an XL (in the Ford family). That carpet, leather seats, 8 way power adjustable with booty warmers and chillers, 12inch screens, dual zone climate, etc... That stuff isn't light weight and it's all stuff the truck has to haul around.

AgsMyDude said:

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texags08 said:

---

TacosaurusRex said:

---

texags08 said:

---

TacosaurusRex said:

---

I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

---

I did, professionally setup WD hitch with sway control and it was still miserable depending on the wind (a lot of driving near the coast in those high winds). Did it get the job done safely? Yes. Was it comfortable? Absolutely not. Last year I bought a new toy hauler, and even though loaded with a side by side I was still under weight, I wasn't about to do that.

My daily driver is a 3/4 ton in Austin haha. I pull trailers all over town all day, and the only downside is parking downtown. I tow my camper more than I park downtown though, so I would pick the 3/4 ton nine times out of ten.

---

You definitely have a need to go 3/4 if you are pulling trailers daily for work. I have a neighbor that tore up an F-150 in 2.5 years pulling utility trailers daily for work. 3/4 all day if that's your use case.

My suggestions were more for the OP. If you are only ever pulling the TT and if it's less than once a month I have a hard time justifying a 3/4 for any TT under 8k. The capabilities of modern 1/2T when occasionally towing and having an empty daily drive are much more economical than going for a 3/4 that you daily drive empty. Unless you just really want a 3/4 for the looks, or if you plan to upgrade to a 5th wheel down the road.

I also think it's absurd the amount of daily drive 3/4T that have never had more than a few sheets of plywood or bags of mulch in the bed. But that's just a personal thing that makes me laugh. More power to you if that's your preference though.

---

I crunched all the numbers. I don't really agree because of the payload figures. And the trailer I mentioned in the OP is 9K but let's go with 8K in your max scenario.

2 adults and 2 kids - 450 lbs (a 3rd isn't out of the question)
2 car seats - 50 lbs (this will go away but the kid's weight will go up)
2 dogs - 100 lbs
Weight distribution hitch - 80 lbs
Trailer tongue weight - ~1,000 lbs (8,000 lbs [gross] * 12.5%), these are 10%-15% so 12.5% on average

That's 1,680 lb right there without anything but the absolute minimum.

The 2021 Silverado 1500 5.3 can tow 11,500 but only 2060 max payload. The 6.2 can do 13,300 but a max payload of 1690. These require the NHT Max Trailering Package which are not easy to find used.

So I'm at ~82% of my payload (if I can even find one with that package). Will I be able to fit everything in the storage while traveling? I doubt it so I'll want to leave room in the payload for luggage, ice chests, tables, chairs, maybe a generator? I could hit 90% of my payload.

A 3/4T would allow me to travel much safer with the family in tow and if we ever decide to upgrade the trailer down the road (or get a 5th wheel) I wouldn't need to upgrade my vehicle again.

I think it makes a ton of sense to just go up to the 3/4T and be done with it if I'm getting something for a TT.

---

From experience, we easily fit all of the cargo you're talking about and more in the camper itself. Ours has a pull out rack on the back that we haven't even had to use. So we have the following in the camper:
Tools
Pop up canopy
8 chairs
2 folding plastic tables
A griddle/grill black stone
Wagon
Water cooler
All luggage
Pack and play
Bring 2-3 coolers full

Even in that 8k lbs scenario I would do it with a 1/2T if you aren't doing it all the time. But like I said, it's personal preference. I value not having to drive a tank to and from the office because a 1/2T can easily do everything I need it to. If I were thinking of going to a 5W it would be a different story.

Our trailer is 7k lbs GVWR and I'm using an Expedition loaded with 5 people and all the gear in the trailer.

I have been going through the same exercise you have because im looking at getting a truck for myself again. Currently drive a small SUV for commute. I would easily be comfortable with an extra 1k - 2k lbs trailer wise with a well equipped 1/2T. But I have been pulling heavy loads since I was 19. We have also been talking about how long our current TT will last. Twins are 7 and baby is 2. Having three teenage boys in our current TT is not going to happen. So eventually we would need something bigger. But I'm easily 5 years out from absolutely needing more space for them. We don't spend any daylight hours inside of our TT so space is really down to sleeping.

Sounds like you are leaning 3/4 so I would say go with that. Nothing wrong with it for the reasons you mentioned. And if you don't commute then that negates the cons I have with the 3/4T. You aren't crazy for leaning that way. Go for it. I was just giving you real world insight from my experience. We have friends that come with us camping that lean both ways.

If you want to feel like the trailer isn't really there and don't want to worry about distractions from the wife and kids there's nothing wrong with 3/4T with a 9k lbs trailer. My wife's cousin is a frequent camper with us. They have a 34' that is 9k lbs. he has an F-250. I am surprised at the amount of squat the truck has. He has an adequate WD hitch and it is adjusted correctly. I have moved their whole setup when the husband wasn't available, and it feels like it's not there. It's more comfortable on the long trip, but he commutes daily 5 miles. On the other hand I'm doing 60-70 miles through downtown Austin.

AgsMyDude said:

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Rented this 6,500 - 27fter for the weekend to test it out with the SUV. Only drove about an hour toward flat ground.

It handled okay up to 55 mph but it's windy so anytime a gust it that SUCKED. Felt exactly like the poster described it like being on an offshore fishing rig.

No way I'd feel safe with a bigger TT or even taking this one more than 60 miles.

Definitely need a pickup and a 3/4T at that

---

Did it have a good WDH setup? What SUV do you have?

texags08 said:

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AgsMyDude said:

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texags08 said:

---

TacosaurusRex said:

---

texags08 said:

---

TacosaurusRex said:

---

I have a 30' bumper pull that is right around 6,000lbs and hopefully I will never tow it with a half ton again. The best way to describe it was it felt like you were off-shore fishing. The way you are pushed around feels like when you just drive off a wave, and that feeling gets a little tiresome over a couple of hours. Then you feel like you're constantly looking for a gas station, you will have less than 3 hours drive time in ideal conditions.

Spend the money to get a 3/4 or 1 ton. It will make trips much more enjoyable. Even a gas 3/4 ton is worth it.

---

Did you have a good WD hitch with sway control, and was it setup correctly?

We have a 31' that is more than 6klbs and I use an Expedition to tow it. The only time I ever feel like it's getting squirreley is when going past an 18 wheeler. I can say that the gas situation is accurate though.


My $0.02, if you have a daily drive that includes traffic, you plan on sticking with the 30' bumper pull, and you pull it less than once a month on avg, I would just stick with a 1/2T and get it setup correctly. Driving a 3/4T in Austin traffic every day is the worst.

---

I did, professionally setup WD hitch with sway control and it was still miserable depending on the wind (a lot of driving near the coast in those high winds). Did it get the job done safely? Yes. Was it comfortable? Absolutely not. Last year I bought a new toy hauler, and even though loaded with a side by side I was still under weight, I wasn't about to do that.

My daily driver is a 3/4 ton in Austin haha. I pull trailers all over town all day, and the only downside is parking downtown. I tow my camper more than I park downtown though, so I would pick the 3/4 ton nine times out of ten.

---

You definitely have a need to go 3/4 if you are pulling trailers daily for work. I have a neighbor that tore up an F-150 in 2.5 years pulling utility trailers daily for work. 3/4 all day if that's your use case.

My suggestions were more for the OP. If you are only ever pulling the TT and if it's less than once a month I have a hard time justifying a 3/4 for any TT under 8k. The capabilities of modern 1/2T when occasionally towing and having an empty daily drive are much more economical than going for a 3/4 that you daily drive empty. Unless you just really want a 3/4 for the looks, or if you plan to upgrade to a 5th wheel down the road.

I also think it's absurd the amount of daily drive 3/4T that have never had more than a few sheets of plywood or bags of mulch in the bed. But that's just a personal thing that makes me laugh. More power to you if that's your preference though.

---

I crunched all the numbers. I don't really agree because of the payload figures. And the trailer I mentioned in the OP is 9K but let's go with 8K in your max scenario.

2 adults and 2 kids - 450 lbs (a 3rd isn't out of the question)
2 car seats - 50 lbs (this will go away but the kid's weight will go up)
2 dogs - 100 lbs
Weight distribution hitch - 80 lbs
Trailer tongue weight - ~1,000 lbs (8,000 lbs [gross] * 12.5%), these are 10%-15% so 12.5% on average

That's 1,680 lb right there without anything but the absolute minimum.

The 2021 Silverado 1500 5.3 can tow 11,500 but only 2060 max payload. The 6.2 can do 13,300 but a max payload of 1690. These require the NHT Max Trailering Package which are not easy to find used.

So I'm at ~82% of my payload (if I can even find one with that package). Will I be able to fit everything in the storage while traveling? I doubt it so I'll want to leave room in the payload for luggage, ice chests, tables, chairs, maybe a generator? I could hit 90% of my payload.

A 3/4T would allow me to travel much safer with the family in tow and if we ever decide to upgrade the trailer down the road (or get a 5th wheel) I wouldn't need to upgrade my vehicle again.

I think it makes a ton of sense to just go up to the 3/4T and be done with it if I'm getting something for a TT.

---

From experience, we easily fit all of the cargo you're talking about and more in the camper itself. Ours has a pull out rack on the back that we haven't even had to use. So we have the following in the camper:
Tools
Pop up canopy
8 chairs
2 folding plastic tables
A griddle/grill black stone
Wagon
Water cooler
All luggage
Pack and play
Bring 2-3 coolers full

Even in that 8k lbs scenario I would do it with a 1/2T if you aren't doing it all the time. But like I said, it's personal preference. I value not having to drive a tank to and from the office because a 1/2T can easily do everything I need it to. If I were thinking of going to a 5W it would be a different story.

Our trailer is 7k lbs GVWR and I'm using an Expedition loaded with 5 people and all the gear in the trailer.

I have been going through the same exercise you have because im looking at getting a truck for myself again. Currently drive a small SUV for commute. I would easily be comfortable with an extra 1k - 2k lbs trailer wise with a well equipped 1/2T. But I have been pulling heavy loads since I was 19. We have also been talking about how long our current TT will last. Twins are 7 and baby is 2. Having three teenage boys in our current TT is not going to happen. So eventually we would need something bigger. But I'm easily 5 years out from absolutely needing more space for them. We don't spend any daylight hours inside of our TT so space is really down to sleeping.

Sounds like you are leaning 3/4 so I would say go with that. Nothing wrong with it for the reasons you mentioned. And if you don't commute then that negates the cons I have with the 3/4T. You aren't crazy for leaning that way. Go for it. I was just giving you real world insight from my experience. We have friends that come with us camping that lean both ways.

If you want to feel like the trailer isn't really there and don't want to worry about distractions from the wife and kids there's nothing wrong with 3/4T with a 9k lbs trailer. My wife's cousin is a frequent camper with us. They have a 34' that is 9k lbs. he has an F-250. I am surprised at the amount of squat the truck has. He has an adequate WD hitch and it is adjusted correctly. I have moved their whole setup when the husband wasn't available, and it feels like it's not there. It's more comfortable on the long trip, but he commutes daily 5 miles. On the other hand I'm doing 60-70 miles through downtown Austin.

---

Thanks a ton, I appreciate the insight and real-world experience, super useful! Sounds like we're pretty similar in terms of trailer usage, we definitely will only be using the thing to sleep for the most part and that's what we did with our rental this past weekend. I can only imagine how crammed it would get with 3 teenage boys haha so glad you're looking ahead.

Mind linking the model trailer you've got? I don't think I've seen one with a pull-out rack, sounds useful. And that's pretty impressive you're able to fit everything in the cargo bay, I'll definitely need to get one with plenty of space like yours.

I 100% agree with you that if I'd need the truck to commute (especially as far as you are) then I can't imagine swinging for the 3/4T, that'd be pretty rough. But since the main usage of this will be for hauling the TT and no commute since I WFH I think I'm going to go with the 3/4T to go one up, especially with my relatively green towing experience. I've towed various trailers helping out on a friend's family farm but not much so until I get that experience safety is a priority with the family in tow for me.

4-year-old Escalade, 6.2, with all the towing stuff (transmission cooler, trailer brake controller).

Yeah, it had a WDH the trailer owners let me borrow. He did say it was set up for trucks that ride higher so would probably need adjusting if we were going any further than the 45 miles or so we went

This is the closest I could find to what we have. Some small differences, but this is basically it.

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2011-heartland-north-trail-travel-trailer-floorplan-nt-31qbs-tr4703

The pull out rack is the rear bumper that slides into the frame rails.

Have a '21 f150 Lariat with the max tow package. Pulled an 8.5k Lb 34' bumper pull to Colorado and back this summer. Sometimes could barely tell it was back there. Got about 8.5mpg too.

Fwiw the max tow with the 3.5booost is rated at13.9k LBs. 2,300 payload I believe

Trailer backup cameras and pro trailer assist, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rolling in style. We did 600 miles the first day - no sweat. Up and over La Vita pass going 60mph and the transmission never went over normal temp.

You may ask why I was going 60 over a pass? That sum***** was in cruise and didn't even flinch. The 10speed and tow mode for downshifting going down the pass were also excellent. Didn't have to break hardly at all.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Have a '21 f150 with the max tow package. Pulled an 8.5k Lb 34' bumper pull to Colorado and back this summer. Sometimes could barely tell it was back there. Got about 8.5mpg too.

Fwiw the max tow with the 3.5booost is rated at13.9k LBs. 2,300 payload I believe

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Yep, it went way up in 2018 I believe. There are some smaller 5W that would fit comfortably in that range. I just can't justify the cash on something that new. Looking at 2015-2017 F150, with the 2017 being top of the list for the 2nd gen 3.5 Eco.

texags08 said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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Have a '21 f150 with the max tow package. Pulled an 8.5k Lb 34' bumper pull to Colorado and back this summer. Sometimes could barely tell it was back there. Got about 8.5mpg too.

Fwiw the max tow with the 3.5booost is rated at13.9k LBs. 2,300 payload I believe

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Yep, it went way up in 2018 I believe. There are some smaller 5W that would fit comfortably in that range. I just can't justify the cash on something that new. Looking at 2015-2017 F150, with the 2017 being top of the list for the 2nd gen 3.5 Eco.

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My dad pulls his 32' rig with a '14 Denali XL with the 6.2L. It's gone to SD, Montana, Washington state, Oregon, yellowstone, utah and back.

Unless you're 100% moving to a 5w or plan on putting a 4wheeler or motorcycle in the bed, a properly equipped and tuned 1/2T with a good WDhitch and sway bars will be just right.

I think people just want a 3/4 ton to hopefully roll coal some day.