A lot of "Will this vehicle pull this traler?" threads going on........

[Ollie]

Wow, this thread sure got highjacked.

No-one cares if your 3/4 ton is a diesel or a gas. There was one question asked and only one.

"Who else has some advice for the 1/2 tonners out there?"

If you don't have any constructive suggestions, take your girly b!tch session somewhere else.

 

[bigcat_ak]

Wow, this thread sure got highjacked.

No-one cares if your 3/4 ton is a diesel or a gas. There was one question asked and only one.

"Who else has some advice for the 1/2 tonners out there?"

If you don't have any constructive suggestions, take your girly b!tch session somewhere else.

AMEN BROTHER!!!!!

Air bags made a big difference. If buying new get all the heavy duty stuff ie: brakes,cooling,shocks etc. Studded tires are good. A class IV hitch is a must.

 

[FEZ]

BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!


Back in the late 80's I remember pulling a 2 place with 2 phazers on it with a Volkswagon Dasher 2 dr coupe and a bumper hitch! 76HP 4 cylinder with a 4 speed manual. It did just fine!

Towing 2 places out west with a Buick Riviera, AMC Eagle wagons and the like. Jesus the way most of you sound, you started towing 5 years ago! Are you all new to the sport and think you are experts? Going west used to be an adventure with some real risks, no cell phones, fewer fuel stops, less reliable equipment. Now it is 80MPH with a 28 footer and DVD screens for everyone!

The more I read on this site, the more I realize how un seasoned most are around here.

Remember when you were 20 and you looked back at how stupid you were at 15? Remember feeling the same way about 20 when you turned 25? and 30? Well it doesn't stop as you get older.

 

[Interceptor]

Fez your crazy - everybody knows that it should be against the law to even put a trailer ball on the back of a truck if its not a diesel extra cab long box dually with a chip. Anything less is a menace to society.

 

[Kong]

Ok I'm tired but I'll try.

I have been towing with 1/2 ton 04 Titan snowmobiling and summer recreation. I double tow in summer just over 9000' with two dirt bikes in back full up against payload.

Winter I towed a 4 place Wells Cargo. Got rid of the trailer. It was within limits BUT pushed the truck around on snow and ice. Handled it but didn't like it. We have to park on Forrest Roads. 27' trailer heavy tongue weight on dirt snowpacked roads sucked. Got rid of it.

Got Pace 2 place 17'. Still had to use anti sway on non-local trips and weight distributing hitch. Was well under limits but you sure knew it was back there.

I also had a Top Cat when I first bought the truck, piece of cake.

Just bought new truck opted to 3/4 ton. (There Ollie didn't mention what kind so holster that pistolla partner)

Loved the 1/2 ton and esp the Titan. What a hot rod. 100,000 miles in three years. 9500 tow capacity 1650 payload.

Open trailers, no problem at all. Summer pulling, no problem at all.

______

You need:
AT Tires w/ sipes. Great ones, costly ones. I went through 2 sets of Toyo Open Country but didn't change them out in summer. AWESOME tires change everything.

Weight distr hitch. (will keep you from bouncing along, throwing up, and wearing out your springs in a few months)

Antisway bar for longer trips or on high speed open highways.
PROBLEM: You are not supposed to use wd hitch off road. I always did.

Maybe great airbags that won't kill you non-loaded. If you tow close to payload alot springs will sag.

Best deal is if truck has factory towing. Mine was and worked great had all the coolers etc. This area has to be professionally figured out on modern power systems. too much trans coooling = big problem with operating temp. too little + bye bye big bucks.

Excellent trailer brake controller. (If open two place won't need Or Top Cap) Four place and enclosed will require this.

Studded trailer tires are a real help. Not only with additional stopping power, but helps keep the trailer from blowing or sliding sideways.

If you're 1/2 ton is not designed as a tow machine, and you try to make it one, you probably won't really have the capacity to tow heavy.

Forget the BS about towing overloaded blah blah, you get into a big bad accident and everyone will abandon you and that doesn't even count death and destruction. It's illegal to tow over limits or unsafely.

I know some show big trailers etc with dinky SUV's and there are snowmobile areas where I see them. However if you tow other than major highways and have to park on dirt roads covered in deep snow, then get serious about what you do because getting stuck or being unable to stop sucks.

Remember also You're truck is lighter than a 3/4 and if your tow rig is heavy then you have something to watch out for more than a 3/4 ton. The heavier you tow the more the trailer can push you around on snow and ice. Inclines matter. Wind, matters.

just match your trailer weight, tongue weight and have proper set up and you'll be fine. Ignore part of the equation or push one end of it and you are ripe for a wild ride at best.

Good luck.

PM me if I can help I've towed all over the west with weight in the winter (100,000) with 1/2 ton.

Tough decisions I know.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

drive smart is such a key, its so simple but when you roll into a stopsign all 4s and the trailer locked and get t-boned, shoulda stopped sooner. good tires is actually important for functioning in the snow and prevent a lot of bad situations, or make them less bad. i have 35" baja claws on my truck and a 383 with about 400 HP in the thing so coming home from work tonight roads were covered in snow, i could spin all 4s in 4th gear going 65. i cant say the same about my dads 7.3 with good studs, the thing is like a tank.

key - dont overdo it, if it seems unsafe it probably is, and there are lots of other people on the road to hurt.

 

[moldy]

Yeah, everything kong said, plus the best advise I can offer is SLOW DOWN. Going too fast can get anybody in trouble, even 3/4 and 1 tons. And good tires are the next best thing. Half tons can also have the rear end beefed up by doing an "add a leaf".

One misconception I've seen on here is that a diesel is the only way to go, it is the best solution, but 3/4 ton trucks also come with gas engines. And you don't always have to break the bank to get into one. My truck is an '01 Chev 3/4 ton HD crew with the 6 liter, picked it for $16,900. It doesn't have all the juice a diesel has but gets the job done, and has all the 3/4 ton niceties like weight, auxillary coolers, springs, and bigger brakes. It's my daily driver and doesn't do too bad on gas or maintenance.

 

[yamaguy]

Deisel is the only way to go. The only people who have huge repair bills ar the ones that have cranked up the power. We have two stock ford deisels, no repair bills just change the filters, 250,000 plus kms on both and never had a repair beyond a fanbelt. we ride with freind who has gas truck and fuel for ours is half the cost. Freind now has deisel!

 

[Harvey]

I tow a two place open Echo brand trailer with a 95 F150 Ext. cab short box. I have a 2 1/2 lift with 33x9.5 at's that are siped. I also have overloads.

Nothing makes up for experiance. No truck or add ons to any truck will make up for it.
If you are towing with a 1/2 ton, you need a tranny cooler, and dont tow in overdrive. It will make the tranny heat up to much and boil all of your fluid out the overflow. I have seen it and done it my self. Use a frame mounted hitch, not the bumper. Depending on your comfort level, use either a weight distributing hitch, just a sway control bar, both or nothing. You should also have either overloads or air bags. You can pick up some Firestone Riderites (air bags) for around $300 at most. Dont buy the sport system, use the dual bellow system. You need good mirrors to see around your trailer so you dont cut people off and cause an accident--look here www.powervisionmirrors.com
Saturday I drove from Pendleton Or. to Portland Or. down the Columbia Gorge. That wont mean much to most people on here, but probably one of the worst drives if you are towing something. Freeway speeds with TONS of wind all the time. The Gorge is 150 miles along the COlumbia River and is rated the worlds best windsurfing if that puts a perspective out for you. It can start out dry then turn to rain and HUGE puddels and hydroplaning to snow/ice. I have good tires and am experianced. I tow at 60-65 mph only because I get a little better milage then at 70 +. Just be smart and tow safe, dont over do it. Leave early and drive a little slower.


Austin

 

[MasterMadden]

5.9L Dodge 1/2 ton Hemi pulls 3 place and one in the bed no problem. Can't say I like it all that much, but what a great truck for towing! Wonder what the lasting effects are on my truck over the next few years of towing like that?

 

[0neoldfart]

I used to do fatality inspections for the RCMP when I pulled wrenches for a living, and have made a few observations over the years. First off, just because the engine has the power to pull something doesn't mean it should be done. 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are better suited for towing because of the following reasons: Larger brake rotors and calipers, brake drums and shoes, stiffer springs in the suspension to reduce body roll (airbags are not better then springs as they allow lateral movement and do not eliminate or reduce body roll (sway). Larger sway bars, beefier hubs, and axles are good reasons to move up to a 3/4 ton. You may feel it is not worth it, but perhaps maybe someone you care about might. 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks with 2 place sled decks are ridiculous - most are over the truck GVWR. Many trailers exceed the GCWR, simply because no one bothers to weigh thier pickup loaded and ready to pull. A/C, power steering, and optional equipment all go against the vehicle capacity - which is why maximum payload on a 3/4 gas pickup is higher then the same model with a diesel (motor weighs more). Ensure your trailer tounge is level with the tow vehicle or slightly lower - it will reduce the "tail wagging the dog" Ensure tire pressure is correct, trans cooler on an automatic, do not pull in overdrive unless there is a tow / haul mode. I pull a holiday trailer, sled trailer, etc, which is why I have a 1 ton pickup - better to be safe then sorry. My 2 cents

 

[WYO312]

I towed for years with ½ tons. I had three different ½ tons I pulled with, a 1987 Chevy Blazer with a 350, a 1992 Chevrolet pickup with a 350, and a 1999 Dodge with a 318. I had to add overload springs to all of them to keep the rear from sagging down to far. I also added an auxiliary auto tranny cooler to each one. The terrain where I live in Wyoming is mountains and rolling hills. I always got everywhere I needed to, but it was really annoying going up hills and not being able to hold my speed. That was with an open aluminum two place trailer and two sleds. Sometimes in the trucks we put a third sled in the back. After the Dodge I decided I wanted more pulling power and bought a 2003 Ford with the 7.3 Powerstroke. Obviously there is no comparison when it comes to towing. I know pull a 23 foot enclosed trailer easier then I pulled an open two place aluminum trailer. I was not set on a diesel until owning one, but I wanted a ¾ ton. If I still had a half ton I would have some sort of overload springs and a heavy duty tranny cooler for the autos. I never needed the oil cooler, but it’s not a bad idea. I still have a nice set of Hellwig 3000 lb overload springs if anyone wants them for their ½ ton.