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Joined: Dec 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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It has been a few years since I worked on a pickup but I remember that 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups came with much larger brakes than 1/2 ton pu's. The power to pull something is less important to me than being able to stop.

One other observation. We've all seen instances of the tail wagging the dog with rear mounted hitches. I've never seen the phenomenon with a 5th wheel.


He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

- Albert Einstein
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I currently have a 29 foot travel trailer which dry weighs in at around 5,000lbs. Add your propane, water, grey water, black water and your gear and supplies and your over 6,000lbs pretty quickly.

When I 1st bought the TT I had a Ram 1500 4x4, auto, 4.7. It was rated somewhere around 6,500lbs for towing. With this rig I had weight distribution bars and a sway bar. When I was doing serious trips with it, I'd dump grey and black and only have the potable water about 1/4 full. Within a few thousand miles over a couple trips, it took a serious toll on that 1500 truck via the transmission, and braking. I brought it into the shop and asked them to look at both - they said no problems, but I could see the difference when I drove it.

I traded the truck for a Chevy 2500HD 4x4, 6.0L gas with 4.10 rear end. In the mountains in the east, this rig is great. Braking is much better, power is amazing and their is no hesitation in the tranny. I don't use the weight distribution bars or the sway bar anymore. With the additional weight on the tongue, I find I don't sway much at all anymore, but my tong weight is about 15% of the TT weight.

Anyway, if I were to do the tow behind camper again, I'd buy a 5th wheel, although the wife and I have already decided that when we replace the TT, we're going to pick up a nice used large class C motorhome. Much easier with the dogs, bathroom breaks, lunch on the road and I don't mind towing a small town vehicle.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Mike.


It's good to lead - it's better to lead by example.
Joined: Jan 2001
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Yup.. Pulling is one thing - stopping is quite another.. One thing I love about this F-350 is the tow/haul trans feature. Going down a long grade with engine braking is the cat's azz...

Forgot to add: I have had an older Tekonsha controller that I'm replacing this spring with the new Prodigy P-3.. It should make brake synchonizing a whole lot better than the present unit..

Last edited by Redneck; 01/18/10.

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Bruin,

I've had both travel trailers and 5th wheels. The fiver is the more stable tow. Less sway and wind rattle. My fiver is a 36' double slide that weighs upwards of 11k. My F350 pulls it without a problem. The only problem I've ever experienced is from bucking and that has only happened on very rough, washboard type roads.

Hooking up is very easy and much quicker for me. As far as parking, there is no compasrison.


"I Birn Quhil I Se" MacLeod of Lewis
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Hold Fast MacLeod of Harris
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Pulling a 11000 # TT, 34 ft. with a 3500 Dodge with 5.9 Turbo Diesel, crewcab, 8ft. bed and with a cap. Love the truck pulls great, takes about 45 min. to hookup and break camp....but I can use my truck for storage of all my stuff and keep out of wifes hair. I would have the engine brake if I could have but the 2005's have a gadget on the auto tranny making it hard or extremely costly ($3,000ish). still like it. Cost wise the motor homes depreciate in one or two years for what I paid for my 3 yr. old TT.afish4570

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"I don't think the automatic transmission in the Toyota will last long towing"

Pfft... confused

Stay within the weight ratings for the Tundra and you will have no issues.

Expat

Last edited by ExpatFromOK; 01/18/10.

"There are no dangerous weapons. There are only dangerous men." - Robert Heinlein
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Campfire Outfitter
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One thing to remember is trailers gain weight. I think a lot of people look at the tag on the trailer and it's within their tow capacity and forget about it. All the crap you stuff into a trailer adds up. Clothes, food, TV's, etc....I bet most 22' or larger RV's have a 1,000 pounds of "stuff" in them easily.


Otto is my co-pilot.
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