Half ton truck for half ton trailer

[JRlikesRVliving]

What do people think about towing a 2019 half-ton keystone cougar 33 SAB with a 2019 Toyota Tundra 5.7 liter V8?

[Logan X]

JR,

I did a quick check on the specs of that trailer. It looks like the trailer is 37 feet long and has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds. If those numbers are right, I don’t know how anyone could consider that trailer half ton towable. You would need a 3/4 ton truck at the least to tow a trailer that big, in my opinion.

I’m sure others will chime in but one thing to remember when you are matching a truck and a trailer is to always use the loaded weights, not the dry or empty weights.

If you are able to post the actual numbers for the truck and trailer, payload capacity, gross combined weight rating (GCWR), and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for both the truck and trailer, you would receive more helpful and accurate responses to your question.

[flybouy]

Not enough carrying capacity for that camper to be towed by that truck. There are many, many posts on this forum and others about weight, how the "empty" weights and the truck "published" capacities really are useless in the "real world".

[Northofu1]

Originally Posted by JRlikesRVliving

What do people think about towing a 2019 half-ton keystone cougar 33 SAB with a 2019 Toyota Tundra 5.7 liter V8?

Someone's asking for trouble
I am going with a resounding NO!
There are a cornucopia of posts already on the site that are still fresh with the blood sweat and tears as to the process of figuring out what your TV can haul.
Try these videos to start.
Then come back if you want validation or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwFLOBrADBs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxxDG6F1_g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnQQujV4IiU

Good luck

[JRlikesRVliving]

Thanks everyone! How about a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD?

[notanlines]

Much better choice, JR. Although Toyota does offer a really nice blue color. (I wanted to say something nice about Toyota)

[wiredgeorge]

If you ain't got the truck or RV, the suggestion to drag it to a set of scales probably isn't realistic. Funtowngiddings.com has a tow guide which is actually slightly useful for those just looking to get an idea of truck and which trailer they can choose. I suspect tongue weight and the trucks load capacity are not figured in but a decent place to start estimating: https://www.funtownrvgiddings.com/towing-guides/

I would then look for a truck that exceeded the minimums. In other words, if you choose a 10K lb trailer (gross weight) get a truck that is comfy with quite a bit more than that which will give you a more peaceful ride and a larger safety margin.

[travelin texans]

Toyota, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO WAY!! The 2500, much better choice!
If wanting/needing to buy a truck go with the 3500, not much difference in price (possibly cheaper if looking at used), same fuel mileage, same interior/exterior, same ride, but better payload & you'll be ready for your next RV upgrade without doing the truck upgrade again.

[sourdough]

Not trying to "pile on" but more a confirmation of the previous posts. The aforementioned trailer has a gvw of 10,500 lbs. per Keystone and is 37' long. A Toyota Tundra has a max payload of 1620 (per Toyota website). If we figure 15% tongue weight of the gvw we have to deduct 1575 from the payload; that leaves a whopping 45 lbs. for people, hitch, cargo etc. etc. This is just the short and simple of it, it doesn't take into account that the Tundra has yet to become a true "towing" platform as the Japanese are still trying to figure out what a real "truck" is....but they are improving slowly year to year.

The Silverado 2500 is a much better choice. You don't list drivetrain or body configuration, but in any configuration it will be better than the Tundra. My only concern with an 8 year old HD truck would be the condition of the drivetrain, shocks, springs etc. Other than that it is far superior to the Tundra IMHO.

[FlyingAroundRV]

Another aspect is that the 150 size trucks (which the Tundra is) are designed to be "daily drivers". So they have gear ratios to maximize mileage, springs to give softest ride and are built light to also save gas and use cheaper tires.
To turn one of these into a towing machine requires extensive add ons and mods.
On the other hand, the HD trucks are designed from the ground up to be towing machines. This is reflected in the fact that most have factory installed trailer brake controllers, transmission coolers, heavier springs and lower final drive ratios in addition to higher payload numbers.
There are some trailers that are genuinely half ton towable, IMHO, a 37 footer is well out of that range.
I tow a 27' Outback with a F250 2WD and I think it is "adequate". It still struggles up some of the steeper hills and mountains, but that is not the majority of the driving we do.
The thing about buying a sufficient truck for the trailer is that they are a pleasure to travel from A to B with. Going too light will make the driving a nightmare.

[RWRiley]

Originally Posted by JRlikesRVliving

Thanks everyone! How about a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD?

What motor are you looking at ? I had a 2011 Crew Cab gasser w/4.10 rear end, and pulled a 10,000 lb, 36' TT with no problems. I used a reese Dual-cam, with 2 1/2" shank. I was good on all my weights with good margins.

The Truck pulled the trailer just fine. Plenty of power, no sway problems.

One more thing if it's gas...The 3.73 rear end is less capable than the 4.10.

I'll let others who have Oil burners comment, but everything I read says the Duramax is much stronger, but you may have a little less payload.

[JRlikesRVliving]

Thanks everyone this is so helpful. Do I need a CDL to get that truck? Also I will make sure the rear is 4.10. God my research worked for that one. Haha!

[Logan X]

Originally Posted by JRlikesRVliving

Thanks everyone this is so helpful. Do I need a CDL to get that truck? Also I will make sure the rear is 4.10. God my research worked for that one. Haha!

Commercial DL requirements vary by state but I am not aware of any state that requires a CDL for a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck.

It is usually required for a combination of over 26000 pounds, or in CA, if you tow a travel trailer over 10,000 pounds or a fifth wheel over 15000 pounds.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by JRlikesRVliving

Thanks everyone this is so helpful. Do I need a CDL to get that truck? Also I will make sure the rear is 4.10. God my research worked for that one. Haha!

For a trailer that size a 4.10 is not mandatory. It will be beneficial for mountains etc. It will not be for daily driving; it keeps the engine spinning at a little higher rpm and uses a bit more fuel.

I pull a trailer at just about the weight you are looking at with a Ram 6.4 gas engine and 3.73. We do great; flats, hills and mountains. Diesel would give us more oomph and a 4.10 makes it a little easier but I've owned both. 4.10 is generally hard to find whereas the 3.73 is kind of a "go to" ratio. I wouldn't worry for a minute if all you can find is the 3.73...btdt.

[RWRiley]

Originally Posted by sourdough

For a trailer that size a 4.10 is not mandatory. It will be beneficial for mountains etc. It will not be for daily driving; it keeps the engine spinning at a little higher rpm and uses a bit more fuel.

I pull a trailer at just about the weight you are looking at with a Ram 6.4 gas engine and 3.73. We do great; flats, hills and mountains. Diesel would give us more oomph and a 4.10 makes it a little easier but I've owned both. 4.10 is generally hard to find whereas the 3.73 is kind of a "go to" ratio. I wouldn't worry for a minute if all you can find is the 3.73...btdt.

I WOULD worry. There is a big difference between the 3.73 and 4.10 specs from GM. I can't find the exact 2011 numbers, but they were pretty close to the 2019 numbers. These are the 6.0 gasser numbers. The numbers vary a little based on 4WD or 2WD, Cab, etc.

3.73 Max Trailer = 9,600, and GCWR is 16,600

4.10 Max Trailer =13,000 and GCWR = 21,100

Wouldn't be too hard to exceed the limits of the truck with the 3.73 with a big trailer.

You gotta pay attention to what GM says.

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...ring-guide.pdf

[Brantlyj]

Originally Posted by RWRiley

I WOULD worry. There is a big difference between the 3.73 and 4.10 specs from GM. I can't find the exact 2011 numbers, but they were pretty close to the 2019 numbers. The numbers vary a little based on 4WD or 2WD, Cab, etc.

3.73 Max Trailer = 9,600, and GCWR is 16,600

4.10 Max Trailer =13,000 and GCWR = 21,100

Wouldn't be too hard to exceed the limits of the truck with the 3.73 with a big trailer. If you go with an Oil burner and 3.73 the numbers get better pretty quick.

You gotta pay attention to what GM says.

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...ring-guide.pdf

Ford is the same way. The weights are determined by how much the drivetrain is stressed. (U-joints, driveshaft, bearings, etc). The taller gears means less strain which allows the weights to go up.

[travelin texans]

Refer back to post #8 & get the 3500 then it won't make much difference whether 3.73 or 4.10 gears.
I've had several GM trucks to tow with (1/2, 3/4, 1 ton), all had 3.73s, all did a great job with decent fuel mileage empty & towing.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by RWRiley

I WOULD worry. There is a big difference between the 3.73 and 4.10 specs from GM. I can't find the exact 2011 numbers, but they were pretty close to the 2019 numbers. These are the 6.0 gasser numbers. The numbers vary a little based on 4WD or 2WD, Cab, etc.

3.73 Max Trailer = 9,600, and GCWR is 16,600

4.10 Max Trailer =13,000 and GCWR = 21,100

Wouldn't be too hard to exceed the limits of the truck with the 3.73 with a big trailer.

You gotta pay attention to what GM says.

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...ring-guide.pdf

Sorry. I didn't study the overly complicated chart for a GM enough (I don't know one c###### number from another).. I looked at the wrong numbers...and you are right; the 6.0 isn't a very capable truck in the HD format for 2011. My apologies to the OP - guess 4.10 is the only way to go with a GM truck of that vintage for that size trailer.

I guess I'm used to the more recent vintages of trucks, but I will say that I've had 1/2 tons (Ram 2012) with 3.55 and 3.92 5.7s that pull 10k OK....just a little overweight..... My mistake. The tow ratings for that HD truck are about what they were for my 5.7 1/2 ton if I recall; I thought the GM would top that but should have double checked. Off the top of my head; not to start a debate.

[Justvisiting2day]

Originally Posted by JRlikesRVliving

Thanks everyone! How about a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD?

Say JR, I have and have had it for 15 years, a 2002 same silverado so far have put just over 100,000 smiles on it and it is great. . do not vary of the big US pickup units .. it rides like a caddy and is a great tow unit.

Have fun.
Chuck in Oregon

[K_N_L]

I had a Chevy 2500HD with the 3.73 gear, and wasnt thrilled with it, towing about a 9K 30 foot toyhauler. It got us there, but downshifted at the sight of any incline, and sucked gas at 8 mpg and was always revving to the moon. Traded in for a 3/4 ton diesel after about 6 months of towing. Around town the gasser was okay, averaged about 14 mpg, but the diesel got about 19-20. The 4.10 rear in the gasser was better (neighbor had one) but he wasnt happy either as he camps in the mountains a lot and switched to a 2010 GM diesel, he has 33 foot bunkhouse TT at about 8K. Wish Toyota would diesel up, Nissan is between 11K and 13K for their XD truck now.