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Old 09-28-2020, 08:11 AM   #61
ronheater70
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A similar Rant! Being pushed to buy a 1 ton truck to pull a pop-up.
Really, there is no reason a 1/2 ton can not safely, comftorably pull a 7K-8k trailer. As long as the payload is there, then go at it. Get a good hitch setup and be happy.
SOme 1/2 tons are at 2K payload in extrem cases, and some 3/4 tons can have less payload than some 1/2 tons.. It all depends on which 1/2 ton you pick and how its outfitted with amenities,etc.. I mean a 1/2 ton truck pulling 8K or a 1 ton dually pulling 30K pounds.. Your both in the same boat.. all the numbers say you can do it, but whether you want to is up to you.
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Old 09-28-2020, 08:56 AM   #62
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
Maybe that's all they have on their lot.
It's possible that his message was that gas-fueled F-350s are so relatively unpopular that the selection available to him (even on everybody else's lots) wouldn't have conformed to many of the feature specs we desired (like no fancy packages). Even our F-250 was a transfer from some other dealer.
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Old 09-28-2020, 09:08 AM   #63
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So the only difference between an SRW 2500 and 3500 on the Chevy line is one more leaf spring. I just went compared all the part numbers.

I laugh every time when someone says the 3500 has more power than a 2500, this is true if you compare it to an earlier model.

If you are really concerned about having enough truck look at the MDT or HDT Class 6 on up to class 8. many times you can buy a really good used class 8 for far less than a 3500 or 4500 new and still have many miles of life left, plus they have a better turning radius.

Good thread, keep them coming.
Actually it depends and it may. The 2020 RAM Cummins HO is only available in the 3500. My 3500 does have more horsepower and torque than any 2500 from the factory. That being said, you can also buy a RAM 3500 with the same engine as a 2500.
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Old 09-28-2020, 09:15 AM   #64
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Ford manufactures F350 models with both 6.2L and 7.3L gas engines and they are generally listed as "flex fuels" meaning they can use E85. These engines are a bit harder to find on lots as diesels are better sellers I believe. If you go used, Ford made a 6.8L V10 that is a pretty good engine for towing and was used in MANY Class C and Class A motorhomes. Ford also put a 5.4L gas engine in Superduty F350s and these can be found a much reduced price vs other gas engines but perhaps is not an optimum engine for towing.
Years ago (early 2000’s) drove a F250 with a Triton V10, biggest cab they made, an 8 foot bed, and a tommy lift gate for the hot air balloon system. Truck was built like a tank. Strong engine, great suspension, and never missed a beat. It was referred to as “Big Momma” by some on the field. I think there was over 210,000 on the odometer when she was retired to another owner. I hadn’t thought about that engine until George mentioned it above.
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Old 09-28-2020, 09:35 AM   #65
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Years ago (early 2000’s) drove a F250 with a Triton V10, biggest cab they made, an 8 foot bed, and a tommy lift gate for the hot air balloon system. Truck was built like a tank. Strong engine, great suspension, and never missed a beat. It was referred to as “Big Momma” by some on the field. I think there was over 210,000 on the odometer when she was retired to another owner. I hadn’t thought about that engine until George mentioned it above.
I bet that V10 never missed a gas station either!
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:30 AM   #66
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I bet that V10 never missed a gas station either!
I had an ‘86 F250 with a 460 on steroids. Pulled my Jayco on the flats at 7.7 mpg.
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:38 AM   #67
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I had an ‘86 F250 with a 460 on steroids. Pulled my Jayco on the flats at 7.7 mpg.
And 7.8 without towing the Jayco!!
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:40 AM   #68
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Who makes that? My Ford dealer told us everything above an F-250 is diesel.
Were their lips moving!
Nuff' said!
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Old 09-28-2020, 11:44 AM   #69
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I too see the 150s, 1500s and 2500s struggling here in the mountain west pulling a rig that is way to much for that TV. But, I am not the weight or tow police, so, it is not my business.
Whether it's your business or not doesn't mean we are all exempt from the reality that we could fall victim to their negligence. I'm on the interstates for about 40 weeks out of 52. I see crashed RV's, pickup trucks upside down, overloaded SUV's trying to do what a dually should be doing. I watch that short wheelbase SUV squatting under the weight of a TT that should be hooked up to 3/4 ton. Or the one I just passed wobbling in my wake, wagging the TT like a dogs tail, hoping he doesn't lose control and hit my rig or run off the road into the wood line.

As a cop I've worked a crash where an entire family of four crashed and burned in their truck towing an overloaded TT on a rainy day. The "weight police" on this forum aren't saying anything that I don't know, and regardless of how arrogant they may sound to some of you folks asking what you probably already know, facts are facts. Do your homework. Don't keep trying to make the round peg fit in the square hole. If you're wrong, just accept it and deal with it. Get the smaller trailer if you can't afford the bigger truck.

Keep yourselves and the rest of us safe, please!
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Old 09-28-2020, 12:48 PM   #70
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I have a friend who just posted their new TT on FB. A 33foot rig with a 7500lb dry weight. His TV?.... a 2019 Chevy Colorado!! How can any dealer allow someone to drive that thing off the lot? He is brand new to camping and obviously didn’t do any research, which is on him. But surely there has to be some kind of conscience on the dealers. Right?
While in community college my son bought a Dodge Dakota. When he got it home I noticed it had holes in the bed and power plug for a fifth wheel hitch. I didn't know anything about fifth wheels at the time and have no idea what size 5er the previous owner had. Anyway fast forward to a year later and he's traveling to a more distant school and wants to get rid of it for a small car. Gas mileage was killing him. I sold it for him and 6 months later found out the new owner had to replace the rear differential. Dodged that bullet and learned something.
I'm guessing most folks on this forum like myself started out not knowing much about towing and weights and made some bad trailer and TV choices. We started out with a popup and towed with a mid sized wagon that squatted pretty good. We only traveled about 30 miles to a state campground and had engine troubles most times (spelled blown head gasket).
Grew to half ton pick ups and TT's and then 3/4 ton when I felt it was tugging me around too much.
Looking back it would have been nice to have this forum to learn from. I am currently well within specs, but I have to admit if I was now buying my current truck I would probably get the F450 dually just cause I love the way it looks.
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Old 09-28-2020, 01:57 PM   #71
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While in community college my son bought a Dodge Dakota. When he got it home I noticed it had holes in the bed and power plug for a fifth wheel hitch. I didn't know anything about fifth wheels at the time and have no idea what size 5er the previous owner had. Anyway fast forward to a year later and he's traveling to a more distant school and wants to get rid of it for a small car. Gas mileage was killing him. I sold it for him and 6 months later found out the new owner had to replace the rear differential. Dodged that bullet and learned something.
I'm guessing most folks on this forum like myself started out not knowing much about towing and weights and made some bad trailer and TV choices. We started out with a popup and towed with a mid sized wagon that squatted pretty good. We only traveled about 30 miles to a state campground and had engine troubles most times (spelled blown head gasket).
Grew to half ton pick ups and TT's and then 3/4 ton when I felt it was tugging me around too much.
Looking back it would have been nice to have this forum to learn from. I am currently well within specs, but I have to admit if I was now buying my current truck I would probably get the F450 dually just cause I love the way it looks.
The overwhelming majority of folks on this forum have had similar experiences. Many of us try to prevent others from making the mistakes that we made. Some folks just plain cannot take constructive criticism. Some I believe are embarrassed, and others are just so narcissistic that they think they know it all. The most irritating to me, are the people that ask for advice, then want to argue and tell you that you don't know what you're talking about. Those are the people that I just wish a good day to and hope and pray they stay safe.
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:01 PM   #72
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I bet that V10 never missed a gas station either!
Nope! But gas was cheap back then, 90+ gallons of propane is what broke the bank. Can’t imagine doing that today.

Regarding the 460.... I had a ‘72 Ford Mercury Marquis Broughm- 2 door. had the same 460 V8. Man that land yacht could float down the highway. Boy those were the day, weren’t they.
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:17 PM   #73
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We had a 2000 Dodge Durango R/T. 5.9L, full time awd, and wide tires (can't remember size but I think they were 18" rims). That thing took premium fuel and lots of it. It would get 10 mpg if you drove it like you stole it or about 11 1/2 mpg if you drove it like grandma. Guess how I drove it.
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:23 PM   #74
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Nope! But gas was cheap back then, 90+ gallons of propane is what broke the bank. Can’t imagine doing that today.

Regarding the 460.... I had a ‘72 Ford Mercury Marquis Broughm- 2 door. had the same 460 V8. Man that land yacht could float down the highway. Boy those were the day, weren’t they.


I know this is an RV forum but the comment above brought back a lot of memories . "Float" down the highway was right back then. Had a 67 Plymouth Fury III 2 door 383 that literally (really) seemed to just float along. That and the dark red velour interior (think bordello - but man it looked cool in the dark) made me switch to a 69 Buick Electra 225 - yep, still the same but at least it had those semi enclosed rear fender skirts that looked cool.... Float was the word alright.
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:25 PM   #75
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Man, I just hate it when BadBart hits the nail on the head. You'd think he knew something about loads and what it took to get 'em up and down the highway....
Good post, by the way. It was right on!
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:26 PM   #76
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I bet that V10 never missed a gas station either!

The V10 Triton gets better gas mileage than my ol' 460! THIRSTY!
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:43 PM   #77
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I remember the Ford 360 motor being the workhorse of the line.
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Old 09-28-2020, 03:14 PM   #78
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I remember the Ford 360 motor being the workhorse of the line.
Yeah, back in the 70's and 80's the gas engines were pretty much all you could get in a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck. Ford had the 390 and then the 360 before the 460 came out. My dad had a 360 in his 73 F250 and then he ordered a 76 F150 Supercab with the 460. I drove it once, following someone across town and the light turned yellow as the went through. I didn't want to lose them as I didn't know where we were going so I floored it. The transmission dropped into first gear and even with the limited slip rear axle it spun the tires and got sideways! I think it only got 6 or 8 mpg but it would fly! They used gas engines even in the medium duty trucks back then. A feed company that delivered our hog feed with a GMC Brigadier used a Chevy 427 with a Holley four barrel.
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Old 09-28-2020, 03:43 PM   #79
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We had a 2000 Dodge Durango R/T. 5.9L, full time awd, and wide tires (can't remember size but I think they were 18" rims). That thing took premium fuel and lots of it. It would get 10 mpg if you drove it like you stole it or about 11 1/2 mpg if you drove it like grandma. Guess how I drove it.
Times have changed. I can drive DW's new 2020 Ford Edge ST with the twin turbo 2.7L V6 with 335 HP and 380 lb ft of torque like I stole it and it still get 19-21 MPG. 0-60 is noted at 5.7 secs. 14.1 and 98 in the 1.4 mile. Funny thing is it is faster than my old 1967 Camaro SS350 that was 1200 lbs lighter. And on a windy road the ST would run away and hide from the Camaro with it's Ford Performance Departments tuned suspension. Specs on your old 2000 RT 0-60 mph in 9.1 sec. Times surely have changed.
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Old 09-28-2020, 05:32 PM   #80
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I think I will start a new thread. "I have a truck that's too damn big for my trailer. Should I trade it in for a 1/2 ton.?"
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