Info on Tow Vehicle

[Kenny Wigington]

To me, the main reason for the 3/4 ton minimum, is the stopping power and control, the 3/4 has over the 1/2, in the event of a panic type stopping situation. With a 24 ft, the 1/2 ton is 1/2 the truck.

[69Cobra]

I personally wouldn't tow with anything less than a one ton. We've a '99 F350 crew cab 2wd dually with the 7.3 Powerstroke and an '02 F350 crew cab 7.3 4wd single wheel that we've towed a 36' goose neck with and a 32' tow behind with without any problems. If you can find a nice 7.3 buy it. If you know someone around you that is knowledgeable about the 6.0 and you can get a good buy on one buy it. The 6.0's need about $3,500 worth of upgrades (EGR Delete, Head Studs, improved fuel filtering system, exhaust) to make them right. Once that's done they are a nice truck. When I was looking for my '02 they were basically giving the 6.0's away and at the time all I heard was bad things about them so I stayed away from them. But you can make them right it just takes a little bit of money to do it. Our 7.3's get about 18 mpg on the 4wd and the 2wd gets about 22 mpg on the open road 10-12 towing. I use the 4wd as my dd and my Dad uses the 2wd dually as his dd. They both have about 180,000 on them and are still like new.

[SSDiv6]

Many of the new generation 1/2 ton trucks have a higher towing capacity than their predecessors. Their tow package versions also adds other safety features that have allowed many racers tow enclosed trailers with no problems. One example was my 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Longhorn version which had a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs. I believe Ford has a heavy duty version of their 1/2 ton truck also.

[jmcarter]

Only reservation I have about 1/2 ton trucks is their payload ratings, more so than tow ratings since the motors, frame and transmission are plenty stout if you don't need to spin up major grades at 70 MPH. By the time you add hitch weight and topper so you can cram in spares and tools you can pretty easily exceed the payload ratings (as shown on driver door jam). Some manufacturers also ship with tires that may cut you close on sidewall load ratings. You can get by with a 1/2 ton if you select your options carefully, get a good weight distribution hitch (determining optimum axle(s) weight at your nearest CAT scale yields dividends in driveabiltiy ). Make sure you have a good brake controller and insure you have good trailer brakes (some severe braking tests followed by checking brake temps recommended). An aluminum trailer (i.e. ATC) pays dividends as well.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Only reservation I have about 1/2 ton trucks is their payload ratings, more so than tow ratings since the motors, frame and transmission are plenty stout if you don't need to spin up major grades at 70 MPH. By the time you add hitch weight and topper so you can cram in spares and tools you can pretty easily exceed the payload ratings (as shown on driver door jam). Some manufacturers also ship with tires that may cut you close on sidewall load ratings. You can get by with a 1/2 ton if you select your options carefully, get a good weight distribution hitch (determining optimum axle(s) weight at your nearest CAT scale yields dividends in driveabiltiy ). Make sure you have a good brake controller and insure you have good trailer brakes (some severe braking tests followed by checking brake temps recommended). An aluminum trailer (i.e. ATC) pays dividends as well.

Great points Jim.
one of the first things I did to my Ram 1500 was to switch to "E" rated tires, quite costly due to the 20" factory alloy wheels, tire selection was slim when compared to 17" and 18" wheels. The truck had the towing package which included a great brake controller, class IV hitch and all the necessary hook-up plugs.

[Feltham.Justin11]

Thanks for all the help people!!! I have a good idea now of what im going for. Either a dually gasser or older diesel depending, not in a huge rush the car isn't done yet, I just don't want to pick something up and it not be able to handle towing it, that would be a waste. Ive never heard much about the v10 fords. good? bad? will a half ton dodge really handle it all without a cough?

[Chris1529]

I think it depends upon where you tow as well. Towing in hills and mountains or on a lot of 2 lane roads is completely different than towing on a rolling or flat interstate.
If you tow in the south and the Midwest, it is one thing. But if you tow across I-68 from WV into MD or up I-77 from North Carolina in Virginia at Fancy Gap, or say west of Denver on I-70, you may quickly find out you don't have enough truck or will get the brakes hot very quickly when you load close to the max.

[Feltham.Justin11]

Originally Posted by Chris1529

I think it depends upon where you tow as well. Towing in hills and mountains or on a lot of 2 lane roads is completely different than towing on a rolling or flat interstate.
If you tow in the south and the Midwest, it is one thing. But if you tow across I-68 from WV into MD or up I-77 from North Carolina in Virginia at Fancy Gap, or say west of Denver on I-70, you may quickly find out you don't have enough truck or will get the brakes hot very quickly when you load close to the max.

I'm in Pennsylvania towing a super stock cutlass, just bringing a small tool box, air compressor, generator, no full spares or anything.

[Chris1529]

Originally Posted by Feltham.Justin11

I'm in Pennsylvania towing a super stock cutlass, just bringing a small tool box, air compressor, generator, no full spares or anything.

The longer or more often you race, the more stuff you will start to bring with you.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Chris1529

The longer or more often you race, the more stuff you will start to bring with you.

^^ so true.

Seems every weekend get-away racing trip I take now I add another item to the trailer for, you know, "just in case".

These enclosed trailers have spoiled us...lol