I went from pulling a 5000 lbs travel trailer with a Honda Pilot "white knuckling" to pulling a 34' Solitude with a 2022 GMC 3500 HD Dually. I prefer the latter.
I purchased a 33 foot travel trailer that has a gvwr of close to 7500. dery wieght is 6100. I had a 1/2 ton and upgraded to a 3/4 ton. I agree with you about white knuckle towing. I have been watching your channel since I bought my camper in 2020.
The second TT Jayco you discuss is my exact trailer. I tow it with a 2017 F250 long bed with 3350lbs payload. No way would I tow that with a half-ton truck. My 250 dose a great job but I can tell when I’m loaded on the interstate it would throw a 1/2 ton around. I’m pushing almost 1100 just on the tongue weigh and it’s 36ft long. Some people may disagree with you J.D. but those of us that pull a lot under stand why those numbers are important. Engineering, laws, and safety.
JD, again, you are 100% correct with everything you said in this video and part one of this topic. Sadly, there are people who have the mentality. I looked it up on the internet, and it said I could tow it. It still blows my mind seeing 2500 trucks towing a triple axle 40 plus feet long 5th wheel. They feel that since I put air bags on it and it's level everything is good. Enjoyed both segments!
You are completely right on with all your recommendations! I have a 32' Jayco travel trailer and I started towing it with a 1/2 ton. If a bird broke wind flying by, I was white knuckling it! I now have a 1 ton SW diesel and I hardly know its back there, even in high winds. The reason I have this truck now is because I learned from BTBR what payload capacity was. My towing is much more enjoyable now. My half ton could pull it by the numbers but it just wasn't made to do that. Get more than what you need and you will enjoy it so much more!
I experienced a very similar situation as well and am glad I upgraded to a bigger truck. Night and day difference in my 3/4 ton compared to my half ton
You have to be careful about getting overweight legally with a dually and a large 5th wheel. Sometimes you can legally pull these extra large 5th wheels with 3/4 ton single wheels to stay under legal max weight thresholds
I have a 2021 Wildcat 336RLS that I towed 1 year with a 2015 F250 diesel and it was not a fun tow. I now have a 2022 F350 dually 7.3 gas and I can relax going down the road, night and day difference.
That last one, I’d like to try it with my truck. 2020 Ram 3500 longbed. 4156 payload. I have 4080 lb tires, so I can handle some more payload. My trailer is 37.5 long running about 14500 lbs loaded. So if I’m looking at the right Jayco you have 2950 lb pin weight. I could try this one if I kept the cargo down to 1200 lbs which I do now. But your right probably need a dually but I’d like to tow it once.
I have a ‘22 Ram 1500 with 3.92 gear ratio which gives me max towing of 11k+ lbs, but because I loaded it up pretty good with options, I only have 1,300 lbs of payload capacity. I’ve been looking at some smaller, single axle trailers that I can safely and comfortably haul.
Thank you for this video. This help’s potential newbies like myself. I was going to ask you to create a chart for quick reference to decide what camper takes a 1/2 T vs 3/4 T but you answered that with the 6000/6500 lb reference. That being said… when do you decide what trailer needs to be. 350/3500, or a 450/4500, 550/5500, etc? Diesel always pull better than gas, that is self explanatory. Great tips, thanks
I had a 2008 f250 pulling my 33ft 10k gvwr trailer, well adequate, it still felt squirrely. Recently upgraded the truck to a 2022 f250 and now can't really feel the trailer back there and feel in total control. Amazing how just a more modern truck with better tow capabilities can make a difference in my towing experience!
Awesome, this is good to see, I'm going to have to look for part #1 because I miss it, but the wife and I are on a cross country trip now, from WA to NJ down to NC over on I-40 West and over to NV and back up to WA, and JD I can tell you I have seen a lot of 3/4 ton towing the size of that North Point. Every time we pass one like that I tell my wife he is over loaded and I wouldn't be towing that big Montana or that triple axles toyhauler with a 3/4 ton, it's crazy, I tell my wife that he didn't get that memo on what to tow with the size truck. I think that they think that just because it can pull that kind of weight it much be okay, now we are in NV and will be going back to WA soon and I can tell you I know that I will run into some more like that, lol. Even though I have a 23 Duramax 3500 LB I told my wife that my next truck will be a dually, lol, and she said that good so we can get a bigger 5th wheel, lol. We have a 23 North Point 310rlts and it's a good combo I love it, thanks for the video but I have to find part #1.
What would you use to tow a 27' Airstream trailer? Dry wt: 5950, GVWR 7600, hitch wt 850. I am thinking 3/4 ton but wonder if a 1/2 ton would be adequate due to the better aerodynamics.
I think you are spot on. I have 34.5’ Keystone much like you started with. It’s about 700lbs lighter than the one you reviewed and is marketed as a half ton towable but it has to be the right half ton, not a crew cab with a 6ft bed. The one you showed, I agree it’s definitely a 3/4 ton pull. My tongue weight measured at 1,200lbs with no water even though they marketed it at 890. Towed mine with my Ford 1/2 ton and it was a bit too white knuckle for me and I’ve been towing for years. I knew by doing the math I was not over but at my limit on my cargo capacity. I had the power but any wind, ruts or shakie spots, I felt it struggled to keep it straight. I went to a 3/4 ton quickly and figured I’d have to. No issues now.
The numbers in the brochures are the Base model with the Heaviest tow package. Not the platinum or limited with the 500 lbs of more stuff. Tongue weight is recommended at 10% I am a retired commercial truck driver. I am also a retired Firefighter. I have agreed with your opinions on these trailers. And The dog thing too you should meet snow my 90lbs male german shepherd puppy.
Think about the braking capacity of the truck when looking at trucks. The first time someone cuts in front of you and slams on the brakes you're going to want as much braking as you can get. Most trucks will get you going but handling an emergency and stopping you're going to want all the help that truck can give you. And sooner or later it WILL happen to you. Take my word for it.
Towing something like the North Point you're going to want a dually. Think about getting a flat on the rear axel on the truck on a mountain road. The redundancy is nice to have.
Referencing the first camper in the video - I'd never consider a 1/2 ton. We have the keystone outback 342cg and it is close to 38' bumper pull. We weren't comfortable in our F250 until we installed the propride 3p
My question is the new trucks are getting so much taller but our 2020 LQ horse trailer when level is 5' at the gooseneck and I really want 5/6" between the bed and the trailer. I want to buy a new 1 ton truck to pull it without raking or blocking up the axles, Any recommendations on this other than a flatbed?
Thank you for making this video. I have a GMC 2500 and want to get an RV that I can tow safely. I thought that might be a 5th wheel, but due to the relatively low 2500lbs cargo carrying capacity, I should probably consider a travel trailer. Thanks again for your help.
Nice video. I pretty much agree with you in these recommendations. Here’s my thoughts on the subject though: 1) if you’re towing a bumper pull Camper or enclosed trailer, then anything exceeding 30’ (overall length for the enclosed trialers, so 26’ box) is 3/4 ton truck territory. 2) below 30’ (overall length so including the tongue) in enclosed or camper trailers are probably ok with modern 1/2 ton trucks. But even at that I’d you’re going Interstate speeds you probably should consider a 3/4 ton. 3) fifth wheels need a dually in my opinion. Unless you’re exclusively towing short trips and/or slower speeds (less than 60 mph) you need a dually. I think 1/2 ton trucks are great and they are plenty good enough trucks for almost any kind of open trailer and most common boats. But enclosed type trailers are really pushing it for them, regardless of the weight. The weight doesn’t matter nearly as much in these type of trailers as the overall size does.
Do you or any of your viewers have any experience in towing a mid weight 5th wheel a 5th Gen Ram 2500 Power Wagon with air bags? I know despite being a 2500 it’s basically a 1500 in specs, and that being the case, am I screwed if stoped by DOT/Police? I’m reviewing what I can haul on my ‘21 PW Anniversary Ram, and some peeps on YT say air bags are key? I can see that even when I load the back with a 4wheeler looks like it could use air bags, but will it really help in doing a fifth wheel?
I wouldn't tow a 10k+lb trailer behind anything less than the heaviest duty 3/4 ton, LWB truck. I've seen a 1 ton dually unable to maintain its lan towing a ~38' trailer. IMO, the cargo in the TT was not properly distributed and not properly mated to the hitch. The TT looked nose-heavy, robbing the rear axle of traction. Driving across uneven pavement, forced abrupt lane changes thru a construction zone at the posted (55) speed limit a.l.m.o.s.t. caused a major pile-up. A capable, well-planted tow vehicle, along with a wee bit of common sense, can go a LONG WAY in preventing catastrophes.
I would personally opt for a dually. It will handle the larger, taller, wider profile better and give you much more payload capacity to support loaded weight.
@BTBRV well , upgrading to a dually really isn't possible for me . 1 financialy as I'd be significantly upside down in my loan , also I just can't justify the dually for the 5x a year ill use the trailer. The only thing I can really think of is going to a 351ms instead but my CanAm won't fit in the 351. Lol and here I was thinking going from a 2500 to a 3500 would solve my problems
I watched your two part videos on recommended trucks for campers, but you didn’t mention any fifth wheels that were in the 35 foot range or only 40+. I’m getting ready to buy the Alliance a Paradigm 310 and I am considering buying a 2023 Ford F350. I also have been wondering gas versus diesel which one will be more cost-effective in the long run, as I plan to travel for possibly two years
JD, thanks for making these videos! My wife and I have been traveling for 4 years, sold our home, vehicle and all before we left. We are planning on coming back to the states next year and exploring the USA more in depth for 4 to 5 years, then buying another house and waiting to die :). My questions for you and your readers are truck or trailer first? and 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton? We have done a fair amount of research and have had a class A for a few years and a 24" travel trailer for a year as a home, post divorce, 15 years ago, so not totally without experience. Since we are used to small studio or 1 bedroom airbnbs for the last 4 years we are pretty sure less than 28' will suit us, again 4 or 5 years and done. We also think that a murphy bed model will suit us well, but keeping under 6000 lbs gvwr would be a 'test' we might not pass, a couple of contenders are the Jay feather 19 MRK and the Surveyor 203RKLE. We will be back in the states late this year for a visit and will go stand in a few murphy bed models just to make sure this should work. I think truck first so we can easily travel and shop for the right RV, but your thoughts and advice are appreciated.
Hey JD do recommend a B&W over a Gen Y hitch I think I like the B&W personally but not sure have a 14k bumper pull dump trailer and a 10k RV tow vehicle is a ‘23 f350 dually also pull a 37’ axopar (boat) comes in around 17.5 depending on fuel, provisions and water of course
This may or may not be a stupid question however the Northpoint fifth wheel is 18k GVW. IT HAS TWO 8k axles. Doesn’t that exceed the axle rating fully loaded by 2k?
You are correct, that it weighs more loaded than what the axles are rated for. But you also need to take in consideration on the pin weight in the back of the truck, so in actuality, the trailer, then would be less weight than what the axles are rated for. But it still would not be a bad idea, in my opinion, to have heavier axles just in case.
I have e a 2021 F150 powerboost xlt with 4wd, sport, off road, load capacity 1609, class 5 hitch wt 1160, twin turbo, 373 rear, 430 HP , 570 LB FT torque, 11000 towing capacity. Built in sway control. Trailer tow package and i added 5000 pound air bags just for keeping thing level. My trailer is a coachman apex 293rlds ultra light, max wt 7800. Very long, 33 plus feet. Any opinion on this truck towing this trailer? Seems that this half ton can do it.
