Myths - Towing Capacity & Payload - the best Half-ton truck for your Travel Trailer or RV 

Finally, you have brought a common sense approach to towing with a 1/2 ton. Based on my limited research, most of the truck manufacturers derate capacity. Thanks for this post. I tow an 8,000 lb travel trailer with an F150 5.0L V8 with a 36 gallon fuel tank. The 5.0 engine never runs hot and tows just fine. Yes, it winds up the rpm’s when merging but that is where the power band is.

I really like your videos. I have been following and listening for a while in preparation for retirement. I retired this year and currently looking at a TT. I have watched TFL video with the Gen 2.5 toyota hauling the 8000+ trailer and it pretty much matches what you have been saying. I upgraded my 2015 Tundra V6 to a '21 V8 4x4 for the very same reasons you outlined here. I appreciate your insight and thoughtful research. Maybe one day, our Tundras will meet on the road. Merry Christmas!

As the son a NSA pioneer aerospace engineer, thank you for this video cuz you explained this like my father would have explained this. And while I understand what you said in the video I'm going to watch a couple of more times so that it sinks in! It's that good.

Nice video! That 38 gallon tank is a must for us Tundra owners. 👍

Clear, complete and straight to the point. Thanks!

Thanks for the explanation. I own a single-axle open utility trailer which is all I will ever tow. All of my previous trucks were half-ton until I bought a RAM 2500 4x4 Hemi as a daily driver. If I need to haul more than a 3000 pound payload, I will have the material delivered. The truck will hold 5 adults and their nominal luggage. Works for me.

Best breakdown I've seen yet! Thanks!!

Love how you developed your video!! Awesome jobs sir

Great video. I camped at a nice campsite a few years ago and my unscientific study showed me that nearly 30% of trucks in the campground were F-250's. That was a large majority of the trucks there.

Good video with good info. Basically, with a half-ton pickup, you run out of payload long before you run out of tow capacity. It's a numbers game. The payload on the sticker is technically the "curb" payload or empty payload (no passengers or cargo) with a full fuel tank (as you generally allude to). I figured this out using a CAT Scale. Numbers were right on the money. BUT! In reality, this isn't very realistic; no one drives a 100% empty truck since the driver is in the truck and his/her weight counts againstthe listed max payload number. There is an "effective" payload that is more realistic, or the available payload remaining after you load up with passengers + stuff you want to carry when you go camping + the hitch with spring bars in the bed. The only way to find this number is with a CAT Scale. The GVWR - Scaled Weight = Effective Payload. In many cases, it isn't very much. Also, the receiver hitch on the truck is typically rated (tow rating/max tongue weight) at 10,000#/1000#. Even comparing RAWR with the weighed Rear Axle Weight is pretty close to Effective Payload. To estimate your tongue weight, multiply the trailer GVWR by 13%. This gives you a ballpark number. I found this pretty close after 40 years towing trailers. Of course, you can control your tongue weight by balancing your load, too, and not having a full fresh water tank, which are typically in the front of the trailer. Good, informative video. 👍

Good video. I tow a fifth wheel 10k with a nissan titan xd diesel. I've done it all over the northern states in mountain areas and had no issues with it. The fuel tank has been upgraded to a 45 gal

Great video. I tow a 27ft 7k lbs travel trailer with my 2015 Toyota Tundra. The only complaint I have is the 2015 only had the 26 gal fuel tank so I do in fact pull over every 2 hours to gas up. I probably would have bought the same setup anyway since the Tundra is so reliable but it is very annoying. I don’t tow cross country or anything, but definitely glad you mentioned it so others can learn before buying

Outstanding overviews with insightful expertise, Thank you!

Great video thank you. I tow a 7,700 pound travel trailer with my 2007 Dodge Durango with the 4.7 V-8. She tows pretty good and doesn't over heat even when climbing a grade.

When I got my 2011 f150, I searched all over for the larger gas tank. I had a 2010 with the 36 gal tank. I couldn’t find one. The last 8 years I towed my 3k dry trailer around with the 3.5 turbo, no problems at all. I pick up my new trailer Saturday. 4.4k dry. I hope the f150 still tows nicely.

Great Video with lots of useful information. I have done much research on towing and agree with most of what you said. For those that say, "I tow a trailer that is heavier than the towing specs of my truck and it handles it just fine, I have a friendly warning for you. If you are in an accident while towing, and someone is injured, and Law enforcement /lawyers get involved, you can be sued if you are towing more than your vehicle is rated to handle.

First Time Listening To You - Great Stuff 👍🏼. FYI - I Have a 2014 Tundra with a 8 foot bed With Air Bags and Big Nitto Tires and I Tow a 31’ 5th Wheel Cougar and it Pulls / Stops with No Problem. I also Have Brake Control installed and a Breeze and Joy !!! NO White Knuckles . 5 th Wheel is a Different Towing then a Bumper Pull Camper. Thank You & Enjoy Your Notes / Imfo. 👍🏼☮️

Once again great video keep up the good work be blessed

Yup, I just bought another Tundra for more towing of our 20 foot trailer with extra large slide out. We love our setup, the 1794 2020 4x4 crewmax is a nice truck. I'm doing the 3 inch lift, air bag's and transmission cooler 😎 just because we love off road desert heat... lol. So important and Thank's again for warning RV owners to stay below trucks towing capacity. The high winds and high mountain roads are best and joyful when your not over loaded! I hate seeing RVs scattered all over the roadway, it's truly a sickening site.

Nicely done! You took the long way around but ended up in essentially the same place as me regarding the max weight a 1/2 Ton Truck should tow. Depending on things, I'm in the 6500lbs to 7000lbs range. There are exceptions to everything and people do have "unicorn" trucks with bigger capabilities but in general, thats where I'm at. We decided that we wanted a bigger Travel Trailer. It weighs in at 10k, I tow with a RAM 2500 gas. That comes with a different set of challenges but i knew what i signed up for.

Spot on……i have learned more watching this gentleman’s video…than in any other video

Great vid I have a 2014 Silverado 1500 and I wanna put a lance 650 slide in camper in there but nervous to pull the trigger bc I’d be 400 over payload

Loved my 08 Titan thing never failed me once 200 K sold it to a family member things still going purchased a 21 tundra TRD pro have to agree didn’t go pro 4X one of the reasons also was fuel tank capacity love the 38 gallons on the tundra

Excellent video that considers much more than so many RU-vid videos that trash pulling with 1/2 tons for anything more than a pop up trailer (such as "Big Truck RV"). I personally own a 2010 Tundra and have been RVing since 1986 and this easily has been the most capable vehicle when all aspects, including reliability are factored in (this includes over a 1 ton I owned). Looking at axle weight rating is important, so is hitch weight, so is how the trailer is balanced which is often forgotten (our 7800 lb Cougar has a wider stance in the tandem axles). Our Tundra also has much heavier brakes (more comparable to 3/4 tons). My only complaint would be the 26 gallon gas tank since we haul our trailer long distances (where we get about 9.5 mpg). But we make up for this with a few 5 gallon gas containers with electric pumps that makes adding the gas easy, and since I have the bladder the size of a walnut, I need to stop every few hours anyway. I also agree with your points about the newer Tundra, the Titan, and most importantly the turbo charger long term reliability. I have been a pilot since 1989 and a multi engine pilot since 1993 and the running the turbos on high performance planes shortened the life and we were discouraged from doing so when not needed.

One thing to think about is altitude. The ecoboosts really make a difference towing at higher altitudes. I’ve had the 5.0 F150 and the 3.5 eco boost.

Great video! I have been towing my Imagine 17MKE Trailer with the new Tundra Limited 2022. Very Happy with gaz milage, doing around 12 miles a gallon (imperial gallon) pulling around 6500 pounds. I had a Titan HD 2019 and gaz per gallons was around 10 per mile at the time. The Titan Hd is a way bigger truck and it feel way more solid on the road .Great payload but milage it's not comparable with the new Tundra . Great advices! agree...always stay under towing and payload limits. Safer for everyone.

I 100% agree with you on not running down the the road at or near your max weights & towing capacity!! Buy a bigger truck!!! It’s like a 150lbs person carrying a 250lbs person on their back vs a 250lbs person carrying a 150lbs person on their back. Both can do it but the smaller person is going to get tired and fall down quicker 😂

Nice looking campsite you were at.

A simple rule of thumb to stay safe and not break stuff is to make 75% of your tow rating the max, be aware of your payload (but don't worry about maxing that because it's nearly impossible not to) and keep your trailer length (on a 1/2 ton) to 26 feet for a box shaped travel trailer (you can go longer with an Airstream or a flatbed).

Well done with this video😎🤘🏽

I really have to put in my 2 cent5here. I have a 2019 Lance 2375 and tow it all around d the country. The first three years I towed with a 2014 Tundra with the 5.7. It was a great truck but I didn't like running at a high rpm alot of the time, especially on hills. I was always shifing manually and on longleaf this can get retiring. Also iwas nkt happy with the brakes. I upgraded to drilled and slotted rotors and heavyduty pads. It was an improvement for sure but not completely satisfactory. It also got really bad mile4when not towing. A year ago I really wanted to get one of the 2022 Tundras but you couldn't get one any. I wa Ted a new truck for our Spring 2022 leaving mid March from New Hampshire to Nevada. I custom ordered a new F150 Ecoboost with MAX towing package around Thanksgiving and it arrived mid February. The difference in towing was and is dramatic. The e tra torque combined with the 10 speed transmission. The stock brakes are far superior to the Tundra. I never manual shift anymore. On the highway I use cruise control trol which I could never do in the Tundra. It came with 8 ply tires which surprised me. I should have noticed that when I placed the order. I recently upgraded to a 10 light truck tire and the difference is astounding. The turbo psi gauge never gets above 50 percent and most of the time barely moves. It has been a true pleasure. The payload capacity is 1898 lbs. I would not recommend exceeding the payload capacity due to possible frame, axle and wheel capacity. Happy travels.

I agree I had a 2012 f150 Ecoboost and around 30k Miles started having problems with the intercooler timing chain and transmission that thing ate spark plugs like candy then around 90k started having problems with turbo's that was the last straw for me decided to trade it in for a used 2017 tundra with 32k on it I now have 78k on it the previous owner ordered it with the 38 gallon tank so far no problem's I love it tundra tows way better than the Ecoboost

Thank you for the informative video. We tow with a ram 1500. With a 7700 lb travel trailer. Use a weigh safe hitch and air bags. She handles great and pulls fine. The cost of a 3/4 ton truck is exponentially more expensive. That can buy me an awful lot if fuel. My only complaint is our fuel tank is too small.

I have no experience towing with a gasoline truck, but this is a splendid video for learning. I tow a 45' 5th wheel with an F-450, and honestly, it pulls like a dream. The 6.7L diesel seems to handle the load w/o objection - even in the west at an elevation pushing past 11,000 feet. I meet people at parks towing with Ford's "Godzilla" gasoline or RAM's gasoline, and they tell me it sounds like the motor is going to explode, claiming mountain passes. For me, diesel is worth the cost.

Great video, thanks for sharing!

i plan on buying a f150 with the capable abilities of 13,200 toing cap....however my trailer has a empty weight of 5996 lbs....loaded up to 7000 lbs....and that i max i would tow with the ford. i currently run an Armada towing the same trailer, but we are limited on areas to tow due to axle rating and tow cap....its just smart towing and researching the trailer and truck capacity and staying as the man said here, keep it well below max rate

Great video like your logical explanation...Thanks 😊

I have a 2012 Ford F150 XLT 4x4 with Extended Cab and 5.0 Engine. I've used to tow an 18 foot Dutchmen Travel Trailer for about 11 years with it and got about 16MPG. Now, I tow a 33 foot Cherokee Travel Trailer and I still get 14-16 MPG. I also tow my boat and launch it a few times every week. My boat is 5900 lb. dry, but my 55 gallon gas tank is always full, so that increases the weight significantly. I get about 16 MPG with the boat. So, I've really had no issues with doing this.

Great video. I feel much more confident now. I have a 1/2 ton 08 silverado 5.3l 2wd, gonna be towing a 30ft 7,700lb camper in august. I put a bigger trans cooler in it. I dont think I'll have any problems towning from maryland to pennsylvania.

I love the Titans they are a pretty solid truck. Nissan really made a decent Pick up after no refresh for a decade lol.

I tow a 4600lb dry tt, 24 foot with 2014 ford f 150 5.0 7700lb towing cap. Wind is the only issue towing 8000km to AZ and back each year. Heavy tongue 900 lbs, no sway with reese steady flex. But in wind, 14mpg cnd to 8 or 9😱

Unless I missed it a factor that was not mentioned but has an impact is available options on gear ratios. This can make a significant difference

Good video! You share a lot of information and experience to help inexperienced people like me decide on future purchases. Do you have any experience with the second gen sequoia when it comes to towing or gas tank sizes? And your right about gas tank size. I pulled a single axel enclosed Uhaul trailer with my Kia Sedona from TX to NC and my gas mileage was cut in half it sucked how many times I had to fill up! 😭

Great video

Did you know that the RST without a low diff, you have a payload of 1,978 lbs? Axle is still the same at 3800…. I live in snow country in the mountains and figured I would be screwed without a low diff, but honestly with the locking rear diff I’ve not get it stuck or needed it yet for 4x4 stuff. I guess I have SXS’s and dirt bikes for off road,… Just a thought.

I have an older silverado with a 34 gallon tank and it does really well towing. It was a fleet truck single cab and depending on the load behind me I really don't know it is back there. I am looking to retire soon and we are thinking about different RV's and maybe up grading the truck but then I am not really sure witch way to go but this has been very helpful.

My 2017 Titan Sv (nonxd) rear axle is 4000lbs!

2014 F-150 with the 5.0l v8, the truck is 2 wheel drive, has a 3.55 rear end, and has the front end lifted 2.5” to level the truck. I run Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs 275/65R18 load range c on the truck, and I swapped my trailer to load range d’s. Trailer is about 7800lbs when we load for a trip. It’s a Heartland Pioneer BH270. Truck tows surprisingly well and I average around 15mpg. My only complaint is I purchased the truck before the trailer and did not opt for one with the larger fuel tank, so I can agree there. The larger tank does make sense, however I wasn’t considering a trailer I did not have when purchasing the vehicle so I can hardly be angry. Other than that, I cannot speak for the newer F-150’s, but as for the year and model I have I find it tows very good. For anyone who may be wondering.

I used to own an old Suburban that was ordered from the factory with a max tow package build. They were known as a heavy half ton. They were basically a 3/4 ton rated half ton truck. I could tow 14,000 lbs with it if I wanted to. It had a 454 engine , a thicker radiator core for increased cooling capacity. It had external transmission and engine oil coolers. It had overload leaf springs on the rear that did not touch until loaded down heavy. It had oversized brakes and oversized anti sway bars as well as heavier duty shocks. It also came with higher load range tires and wider heavier steel wheels. Vehicles used to be able to be ordered with factory upfitting and now they have moved away from special ordering. They don't profit as much.

Hello, thank you for the very informative video. We have a 34' Grand Design with a dry weight of 7,895 lbs a GVWR of 9,995 lbs and a hitch weight of 795 lbs. We are planning on taking shorter week-long trips with it, maybe going a couple states over, but nothing super long or cross-country. Do you think we could we get away with a V8 Tundra or Nissan XD? Or should we definitely go with an HD truck? Thank you!

Thanks for this video. on line looking for ppls that drive a Tundra pulling a trailer. Not too many of them. My Tundra is a 2017 SR5 pulling a Grand Design 2250 6995 Lb. bought the trailer then found the truck to pull it. might be a bit of an over kill but i feel safe driving with the wife in tow.

Great video - what mpg are you getting with the lance and the tundra ? My average is between 7-9

Thanks for the video. I am new to towing and just bought a Lance 1985 that has a GVWR of 7000 lbs. I am going to tow it with my 2020 Ram Rebel that has 11k towing and 1406 payload according to the Ram website after entering the truck VIN. Any tips or advice? I am a little nervous as I plan to tow from Colorado to Washington later in the year. Happy travels.

Thank you!

Great video! I was hung up on payload for the longest time! My brother who is a highly intelligent engineer told me to think about parameters, not absolute math, because too many equations are not defined. This you clearly demonstrated in your video, Thanks. My brother tows a 27' trailer approx 7000lbs with his 2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8. He has encouraged me to move to a larger trailer. I have a 2014 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7L V8. I tow a 19' trailer approx 3500lbs. I would like to upgrade to a trailer that runs around 5500lbs. Your video has given me some great things to think about. I am not sure where I heard it, but I remember someone saying a good rule of thumb is always to be around a 1/3 of the manufactures tow rating. Do you feel his is a good rule of thumb? Seems to me that most people feel ok running closer to 2/3.

The V6 is underrated. It is only 20 ft lbs torque less of the 4.8. I tow a 14,000 5th wheel in Fla but dont go over 50mph and no hills. Dont drive more than 10 miles a day. Runs fine. If I go long distance I would upgrade to a 2500 truck. I saw a post from a highway inspector and he said ratings dont mean a thing. Its all about the tire ratings. IF you are within tire load ratings you are good. 15-- and 2500 are the same axle and truck. Just shocks and springs

Have you done a video / analysis on what a weight distribution hitch can do adding pressure to a frame say on a small toy hauler with a leopard frame and causing failure. And possibly sway bars adding to that also. There are reports and videos on how they have caused failure on some frames typically the smaller toy haulers like a wolf pup or a gray wolf

My rule of thumb, pre 2010, was to choose a TT with a GVW of no more than the TV's Tare weight + 500#. Recently, I have increased the TV side to Tare + 1000#. Considering the 2023 Tundra, the Tundra can easily and safely tow a TT of 6500#, say a 20ft to 24ft TT. If I had the discontinued Nissan XD diesel, the TT could go to 9000#.

I love when I’m camping and I can hear an f150 ecoboost coming from far away because their fan is running to cool that v6 down because the rpm’s do get high enough to make boost to tow up hills on dirt roads.

Subscribed! So I am new to towing and truck ownership. Just bought a 2023 Ram 1500 two days ago to tow a small A-Frame. We quickly realized that our 2010 Wrangler was really groaning to pull just 2500 pounds. But now I am going INSANE trying to figure out the true towing capacity of our new truck, so we can get a little bit bigger trailer and safely tow. I know that's opposite of what your video says (buy a trailer first, and then buy a truck that can tow it). Can you tell me where you think I need to be weight-wise as I am shopping for an RV? I've got an 8 Cylinder 5.7L Hemi VVT with eTorque, RWD, crew cab, 3.21 axle ratio. The Stellantis Tow Chart seems to indicate that I have a Max Trailer Weight rating of 8260lbs. You say in one of your replies below that I should stay under 75% of that, which would be about 6200lbs. The Ram's sticker says the truck's GVWR is 6900lbs, Payload cap is 1649. That Lance 1995 you mention appears to have a Gross Dry Weight of 4950 Lbs. Do you think I could pull that with my truck? Thank you for any advice at all! 🤠

I have a 33ft 10,000 pound camper my tundra tows it 240 miles round trip regularly. Some airbags a back sway bar and some bigger breaks and I can tow like a diesel. Best purchase iv made

Curious what camp ground you're at, it's looks beautiful.

I had a Tundra/Lance combo. I miss it……

I tow a 234 Forest River travel Trailer that weighs in around 6500 loaded with my 2014 Tundra Limited 4x4 w /dual TRD exhaust. I went to Tennessee in the smokies from Virginia and got around 9.2 MPG. I thought it would do a bit better than that. I usually get around 15-16 average and 19-20 on the highway without a load. What kind mileage are you getting out of your Tundra?

Well, i can't afford a new truck, but this info applies to any year truck, in relation to what you are towing. My question is : where is that campground in the Intro ?

I read somewhere that Ford, Chevy and Dodge over estimate what their trucks can/should tow, while Toyota under estimates what the Tundra can/should tow.

I have a platinum tundra as well. I am curious on what type of fuel do you pump in that?

What are ypur thoughts on the 2010 5.7 sequioa for towing a medium travel trailer? I have a 2012 tundra and love it, but i have 5 kids, so i need more space

Your Tundra’s Payload of 1185 lbs is figured by the manufacture by your options as your specific truck sits ready to drive that means “wet weight “ all fluids including fuel whether it’s a 20 gallon tank or 50gallon that’s all figured in. So when your truck has a full tank of fuel ready to drive you cannot add more than 1185lbs of people, gear, or whatever you put in or “on” your pickup including aftermarket bumpers, winches, oversized wheels tires etc… these all play into your Payload capacity. that is why a f250 top trim level 4door might only have a Payload of 1900lbs whereas a f250 2door base model will have a Payload of 4000lbs. Same frame same suspension same engine same brakes etc…

So would you recommend staying at least 80% lower than the tow rating for any given vehicle or would you even go down as low as 70%. EXAMPLE: vehicle says it can tow 6500 #s And my trailer is 5700 #s loaded, that would be 87% of the tow rating.

Tfl truck it was the 1500 RST CHEVY. 6.2 V8. They can’t tow at high elevation at the max tow rating. Less air means less power. More stress on engine and hot day.

Great video. I’m new in the towing world and have a QUESTION: I have a 2017 Silverado 5.3 V8 4x4 double cab. I’m going to buy a Pioneer Heartland BH280 which is 7k lb. Would my truck pull that thing with 5 people in the truck and all their camping gear? I have a Decked drawer system already installed which adds another 500 lb with all the gear in it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I purchased a new Ford F-150 with the 5.0 engine. I thought it would be better, more reliable, long term for towing. I have the extended rang tank. It’s great on long trips. FYI, do yourself a favor and research the Diesel engine in the Ram 1500. It has lists of issues. I owned one nice truck great mileage. But, at 70k miles the high pressure fuel pump failed and destroyed my fuel system. It cost $10K dollars to repair.

I busted out laughing when I heard you say 12-13 mpg towing a 4000lb trailer at 70mph. I personally know several people that have Tundra's and get that mpg empty.

Had a 2017 F150.v8 5 l it kept overheating, pulling our half ton jayco travel trailer now we use a RAM 3500

I had a 2020 Silverado and now a 2023 Silverado with 6.2L and Max Tow package. Conv Tow capacity is 13,200. I tow a 35ft Fountain boat at about 12,000lbs. I made two trips of about 200 miles with the 2020. Towed the boat no problem. On the hwy at 72MPH it was only cranking 1750 RPMs. I tow the boat to a from the boat ramp about 8 miles away 12 times a year at about 55 MPH. The truck handles the tow on hilly roads etc just fine. However, if i was towing long distances on a regular basis I would definitely get a 3/4 ton with a Dura Max Diesel.

Nice video. Its worth mentioning that the 2014-2019 Ram Eco diesel had a high bearing failure rate. Ours was in the final 6 months warranty and we sold it back to the dealer. If it fails out of warranty, $18,000. We replaced it with a '23 3.0 LZ0 Duramax diesel. Regarding the range, you can purchase a 43 gallon Titan fuel tank for $1370. Its a direct replacement for the factory unit. We tow a Lance 1475s. We may move to a 1975 or AS 23 someday.

I pull a 38ft 8300 lbs travel trailer with a 2022 Ram with a 5.7 liter 3.92 rear end wirh no sweat. Now winds north of 12-15 mph I have to slow her down to about 55-60 mph

What about the transmission fluid temperature in a 2023 4x4 5.7 L 10 speed Silverado?

Newbie here. Just started my full time nomad RV life. I've got a 4715# toy hauler that is probaly around 5300# loaded (tanks empty, carrying a 350# motorcycle). I'm pulling it with a 2019 Tacoma 4x4 off road V6. I suck down the fuel but it seems to able to handle towing ok. I'm heading west though and worried about climbs and descents. I have weight distribution and sway control, brake controller too. I love my truck, but i think I may need something more powerful. Thoughts?

I have a 2020 F150 XLT 5.0 crew cab long bed 4x4 with a 36 gallon tank so that is an option. GVWR is 7050 and payload rating is 1713

I tow at 5000lb 24 foot tt with 2014 f150 5.0 3.55 , 36 gal fuel tank 4th and 5th gear,canada to AZ each year, just hates wind. 12mpg imperial all day long

would it be leagal to tow a 2 wheel drive explorer on a 2 wheel dolly by the rear wheels

22 F150 PowerBoost towing a 7500 gvwr trailer at 6000 loaded per CAT. 10k miles towing w Anderson WDH. Comfort for me is the 6k weight and 60mph. Turbos NOT on all the time. Also, plug the 30A trailer into the truck for boondocking; idles ~4x hour 4min to keep AC on.

what is the empty weight, length and height of your trailer?

I drive a 2004 Chevy Aveo, I have never towed before and looking to buy a runaway camper coolcamp 4x8. My car says the towing capacity is 1000lbs, am I good to go?

I have a 2014 F150 FX4 3.5 EB. Can I pull a 2016 Palomini 177 ORVBH with toys on the deck? What about tounge weight?

I just got given a TT with a hitch weight of just north og 1000 lbs. Im on the fence if I can actually tow this or not with my 2019 tundra limited 4x4. My specific payload is 1220 lbs and hitch capacity is 960? If i remember right. Im probably going to throw a WD hitch on it and see how it goes short distance before deciding whether it will tow it safely or not

It's not just about how much you can tow. It's also, maybe more importantly, how much you can tow AND STOP.

My 2019 RAM Rebel has a GAWR rear at 4100.

With a trailer, you’re not pulling it, you’re rolling it. However you have to be able to safely stop. I own a 19’ Tundra 1794 and i occasionally tow but nowhere near its rated capacity. Been a great truck, I’m keeping it till the wheels fall off! Subscribed 👍

I always play it safe. 14 F150 5.0 7700lb towing capacity. I tow a 5000lb loaded 24 foot tt Tows great with a HD WDH with sway control. Never feel unsafe. Fuel economy around 11 mpg towing. But .. it hates a head wind.

Take away for half tons is to buy a low option 2WD model to maximize payload capacity for towing.

Maybe you did not mention it, but I'd think the most important SAE standard would be how well a vehicle STOPS under full-rated tow capacity. Also, recently had a 3.0 CDJR ecodiesel. It was awesome including towing until it passed 100k miles and then major repair after major repair. Never again.

What do you think about a ram 1500 that's what i have. 2017

I knew that the Titan would come in at some point. I will say that, although Nissan cars are chintzy, their pickups are well constructed beasts. With regular routine maintenance it isn't unusual to get 300k. The running gear and trans OF OLDER UNITS, say 2016 or before, if not abjectly abused, will solidly deliver 200k. Their weakness is the electrics, and possibly servicing things like ac, or seats. Takes uninstalling practically the entire interior.

11:50-13:00 finally someone who gets it. It’s so obvious but people just don’t understand when you’re forcing an engine to work as hard as it possibly can constantly it’s not going to last. There’s a reason Toyota’s are known to be so reliable. Toyota de-tunes them so they won’t win any races but they’ll last freakin forever.

Some Diesels will have a lower payload capacity than gas simply because the diesel engine is heavier, thereby reducing it's payload

Great info - expect one factor . I have worked in the automotive industry for over a decade and would NEVER recommend that Nissan XD to anyone , we’ve replaced countless turbos and engines on the Nissans . I’ve even seen a long back order on the parts due to nationwide similar issues . Other wise phenomenal information. 3/4 tons are best bang for the buck .

I have tow a Grand Design 245RL that weighs dry, 6500 lbs with a hitch rating off 670 with a 2021 Tundra and it pulls effortlessly. If you talk on forums, I would need a 250 or 2500 4,000 miles in it now.