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Old 06-02-2018, 02:39 PM   #1
Pruettca
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Needing advice

i recently bought a hideout 175lhs. Was wondering what others are using as a tow vehicle. Thinking of upgrading my Tacoma to a 1/2 ton with a v8. Anyone towing one of these with the Chevrolet with the 5.3? Thanks
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Old 06-02-2018, 02:55 PM   #2
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Old 06-02-2018, 03:10 PM   #3
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Thank you very much
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Old 06-02-2018, 04:04 PM   #4
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I pull a 177LHS, which is pretty much the same trailer with my 2011 Silverado 5.3 3.42 Rear End ( i think) with only a sway bar and have no problem towing it or having enough power..
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Old 06-02-2018, 04:07 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Pruettca View Post
i recently bought a hideout 175lhs. Was wondering what others are using as a tow vehicle. Thinking of upgrading my Tacoma to a 1/2 ton with a v8. Anyone towing one of these with the Chevrolet with the 5.3? Thanks
A GM full size pickup should be a good match for you. With a properly set up WDH and sway control, will be a nice towing experience for you. Congrats on your future TV upgrade.
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Old 06-02-2018, 04:26 PM   #6
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I go with a 3/4 ton that way if you up grade trailer you have the truck
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Old 06-02-2018, 04:57 PM   #7
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I go with a 3/4 ton that way if you up grade trailer you have the truck
Welcome to the forum. I agree with the above if it is a possibility. If not a half ton should match up with that trailer nicely. Happy camping.
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Old 06-02-2018, 05:50 PM   #8
Pruettca
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Thank you for the replies. I don’t really want to get rid of the Tacoma but even with wd hutch and sway bars i don’t like the feeling when towing it. Want to be comfortable but will only tow 6 or 7 times a year in Oklahoma. I’m hoping a 5.3 or 5.7 with the added weight, length, and width of a 1/2 ton would be more comfortable.
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Old 06-02-2018, 06:10 PM   #9
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I pull my 175lhs with a 1997 GMC 1/2 ton with a 350. I use weight distribution hitch with sway control and it does just fine.
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Old 06-02-2018, 06:29 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by Pruettca View Post
Thank you for the replies. I don’t really want to get rid of the Tacoma but even with wd hutch and sway bars i don’t like the feeling when towing it. Want to be comfortable but will only tow 6 or 7 times a year in Oklahoma. I’m hoping a 5.3 or 5.7 with the added weight, length, and width of a 1/2 ton would be more comfortable.
A properly equipped half ton truck will be a "perfect match" for your current trailer. As crazycain stated, he's pulling the same trailer with a Chevy 5.3l half ton with excellent results. As long as you get the options required, trailer tow package, etc, you'll find that a half ton from any manufacturer will handle that trailer.

I'm not sure what your current plans might be, but many people "upgrade" to a larger trailer 3 or 4 years after buying their first travel trailer. You may even be considering "your next trailer" as you read this forum. The suggestions above that you consider a 3/4 or 1 ton truck might save you some significant "pocket change" if you do find yourself looking at larger trailers in a couple of years. Upgrading to a new truck now and then upgrading again when you buy a new trailer is expensive. So, if there's a probability of a larger trailer, buy the tow vehicle now, if there's a possibility of a larger trailer, at least consider what you'll need to tow it before you make your final decisions on what to buy this summer.
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Old 06-02-2018, 06:58 PM   #11
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Please listen to the advice of the previous posters. Pulling a travel trailer of any size with a Tacoma is just a problem for the owner. They are too small and underpowered to do much IMO ( I have owned one). They present so many towing problems to an RV owner.

The 1/2 ton with the 5.3 is going to be a perfect match, but, as has been noted, if you think you are going to upgrade in trailer size, now is the time to just go to a bigger truck. 1/2 tons are great for little trailers, not much else (been there and done that). Think through your future needs, if the 1/2 ton fits, get it. Let the Tacoma find an new home.
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Old 10-19-2018, 09:59 AM   #12
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We pull our LHS 202 with 1/2 ton Chevy with the 5.3 L with no problem. Still looking at a new shiny diesel though, just in case we upgrade the trailer in the future. We have the tow package, trans cooler, WD hitch and sway bars. Pulls great at 65 mph even getting passed by big rigs. Good luck and good travels!
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Old 10-19-2018, 01:07 PM   #13
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I go with a 3/4 ton that way if you up grade trailer you have the truck
I pull a slightly bigger TT with a Silverado 5.3 V8 and 3.42 gears. Almost forget it's there and the truck actually rides better with the weight.

My TV is my daily driver. It rides quite nice and I get 17 ~ 18 mixed driving and 22 ~ 23 highway. That's without the trailer.
With the trailer I get 11 ~ 12 MPG and it's a calm experience.

Going to a 2500 HD will get you the 4.10 ratio and ~16 MPG without the TT and the ride will be harsh.

My wife and I go to many RV shows and we look at lots of TT and compare why the one we have is better. Not just because it's paid for but that does give us extra money to travel more often. TV is paid for TT is too.

Buying a over sized and much more expensive truck because you MIGHT upgrade someday is not what I would call good advice.
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Old 10-19-2018, 01:32 PM   #14
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Buy once, cry once!

Easier for me to say, I started with an '06 2500HD Duramax because I towed an enclosed car hauler with a Jeep stuffed into it before we started the travel trailer life style.
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Old 10-19-2018, 02:25 PM   #15
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WELCOME from Southeastern Connecticut!

Although a 1/2 ton, properly equipped, will handle your current needs, I would probably, as already mentioned, opt for a 3/4 ton.

Camping is a lot like boating... after a few years you always go B I G G E R! Why buy a new payment book in a year or two? A 3/4 is not really that much more than a 1/2 ton, and many dealers are more motivated to move them ($$$) out because of factory incentives.

Good Luck,
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Old 10-20-2018, 04:52 AM   #16
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Call me weird but I like the stiffer suspension and harsher ride. It's a truck it's supposed to ride like a truck. But that's just me. I had a 1500 and I liked it. But I really like the 3500 so much better.
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Old 10-20-2018, 07:59 AM   #17
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Call me weird but I like the stiffer suspension and harsher ride. It's a truck it's supposed to ride like a truck. But that's just me. I had a 1500 and I liked it. But I really like the 3500 so much better.
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Old 11-03-2018, 08:02 AM   #18
lewy64
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I started with a Tacoma. Bought that 2 years before deciding to fulltime. Originally decided to stay with Tacoma and bought a trailer I thought would work good. I was towing at max for the Tacoma. It towed ok, but left some white knuckles. I had my trailer 3-4 months and towed it a few times with the Tacoma and had to change tow vehicle. Towing at max is not fun. I have a f150 now and towing is so easy and effortless. Heed the warnings on this site, they will help prevent headaches.


I really hated to get rid of my Tacoma, but I am much happier now.
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Old 11-03-2018, 01:10 PM   #19
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Before we started our RVing, I came on this site and asked the question. We were looking at an Outback 272UFL which is 32' overall and #7600 max loaded. I was thinking of an F150 or a Tundra. The advice I was given here and also at the Ford forums was to go to a 250 size truck. That required us to commit more money to the budget for this venture.
It meant we would have to spend about another $10,000 on our set up, but we did it. I have to say, that the results speak for themselves. Towing is a dream and when we're on the interstate with semis whizzing past, our rig sits rock solid on the road. It is so stable that I can drink my morning cuppa while driving.
Do yourself a favor. RVing is supposed to be fun, not hard scary work. Buy a truck that suits the trailer or a trailer that suits the truck, do short(ish) driving days and have a ball.
We're here for a good time, not a long time.
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Old 11-03-2018, 03:29 PM   #20
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Have cougar 2019 travel trailer! Loving it ! But need to know about battery shut off will it over charge if plugged in at home or do I need to turn shut off switch? One tech told me to not over charge other have said new RV don’t have to!
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