midnightsadie
ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/07/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
might think about renting a rv . chunk of money, but wear an tear on them.
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
Welcome OP!
You’re on the right track and a half ton with a big motor and crew cab will do everything you need with a reasonable size TT. 6-7klbs is not a stretch for any newer half ton that has good power.
You’ve already heard the “you need diesel” comments. And you’ll soon hear the litany of how you can’t haul that much weight, 3 kids and a camper with a half ton due to gvw limits.
Both are not horrible recommendations but both are not totally true either.
Think about your use of the new tow rig outside of that one trip. That needs to be considered as much or more than the trip.
Sure I have a tuned diesel and love the pull anything power. But if budget didn’t allow I’d have just a half ton gasser for most duties. I have one of those as well, have for the last 25 years and I tow more with it than the diesel. (Company vehicle and generally towing for work).
Again, any big half ton set up right is totally sufficient for your goal.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
|
toedtoes
California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2014
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
You don't mention the ages of the kids. If they are all under 10, then a crew cab should be fine. But if they are over 10 years, you will be facing a very long drive with three teens stuck side by side. In that case, I agree with JRscooby to consider a van. It would give more room for the kids and their stuff to keep them happy on the drive.
Depending on the ages, a tent or two could allow for a smaller trailer thn otherwise. A hybrid trailer could provide extra beds without having to increase the trailer size.
If looking at bunks, watch the gvwr of the trailer - some of the bunk layouts use up most all the gvwr on lighter trailers. And since you will be boondocking, you will want to be able to carry a full fresh water tank plus all your gear. Also remember that the west is in a drought - being able to fill your fresh tank just anywhere is not likely, so you'll want to intersperse a full hookup site here and there so you can easily refill and dump tanks, as well as charge up the batteries.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
|
NamMedevac 70
Reno
Senior Member
Joined: 11/09/2020
View Profile
|
forgot to mention that my 2014 Dodge Ram V8 Hemi is 6 speed xsm and 3.55 gear ratio that is better for towing than 3.21.
|
afidel
Cleveland
Senior Member
Joined: 12/23/2016
View Profile
Offline
|
I did exactly what you're looking to do about 6 years ago. I bought a 181BH that I was planning originally to tow with a minivan (he it was "rated" to pull 3,600 and the trailer was only 3,100), didn't take but driving home to realize I needed a better tow vehicle. Ultimately ended up picking up a very lightly used (18 month, 15k mile) work truck from my signature. The truck was $30k, the trailer $12.5k. Today I could sell that truck for what I bought it for and the same trailer model lists for $20-25k new. What I'm trying to say is that to stay in your budget you're going to have to shop very wisely for both truck and trailer. Oh, and you don't need a palace, we did 5k miles in 3 weeks with 5 of us in an 18' bunkhouse with my niece sleeping on the dinette.
If I had to do it over I'd buy a 3500 SRW, but finding just the truck in your price range would be very tough.
2019 Dutchman Kodiak 293RLSL
2015 GMC 1500 Sierra 4x4 5.3 3.42 full bed
Equalizer 10k WDH
|
|
|
Three50freak
Lillington nc
New Member
Joined: 10/25/2022
View Profile
|
Ty all for the advise. Yours was extremely helpful. Im going to buy a 2500hd and pull a 5 to 7 k trailer. Unless i find a small 5er.afidel wrote:I did exactly what you're looking to do about 6 years ago. I bought a 181BH that I was planning originally to tow with a minivan (he it was "rated" to pull 3,600 and the trailer was only 3,100), didn't take but driving home to realize I needed a better tow vehicle. Ultimately ended up picking up a very lightly used (18 month, 15k mile) work truck from my signature. The truck was $30k, the trailer $12.5k. Today I could sell that truck for what I bought it for and the same trailer model lists for $20-25k new. What I'm trying to say is that to stay in your budget you're going to have to shop very wisely for both truck and trailer. Oh, and you don't need a palace, we did 5k miles in 3 weeks with 5 of us in an 18' bunkhouse with my niece sleeping on the dinette.
If I had to do it over I'd buy a 3500 SRW, but finding just the truck in your price range would be very tough.
|
Three50freak
Lillington nc
New Member
Joined: 10/25/2022
View Profile
|
So after some research on best years for 3/4 ton trucks I've found a 19 chevy 2500hd duramax and a 2016 f250 6.7 ps. Both are roughly the same price and milage. They are both in the sweet spots of good years. Any suggestions. Ty
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Three50freak wrote:I'd go diesel but all the ones I'm finding in my 30k price range for the truck have 200k miles. Now I know a dmax is ok at that but not wanting to spend 30k to turn around and put a long block or transmission in too soon. That's 4500 a pop if I do the work.
You don't need diesel. But, seriously consider moving up to a 3/4 ton truck.
A 5-6k GVWR trailer is pretty small for 5 for a month. If you are talking 5-6k empty weight, you will be up around 7-8k once loaded.
Keep in mind a lot of 1/2 ton trucks have miserable payload. Some are under 1000lb. There are some unicorn trucks with 2500lb payload but they are rare. Depending on age, the family alone could eat up 700-800lb of that payload. Fill the bed with a bunch of stuff could be another 300-600lb of payload.
A 6k trailer (fully loaded weight) should be up around 800-900lb of hitch weight, which counts against payload.
Your average 3/4 ton starts around 2500lb payload and has bigger brakes and more mass to keep the trailer under control.
Generally, they won't cost any more than a suitable 1/2 ton truck anyway. Get one with the bigger gas engine and it should do fine.
$30k is quite doable. Currently, have a 2008 F250 with V10 pulling a 2022 trailer that scales around 7400lb. Paid $10k for the truck and $18k for the trailer. Truck does just fine in the mountains. Just put her to bed after 2400miles of towing (plus lots of running around) over the last 2 months. In the spring, we head for Alaska.
Side Note: As someone else pointed out, a full size 3/4 ton body on frame van is a good option for a large family.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
Three50freak wrote:So after some research on best years for 3/4 ton trucks I've found a 19 chevy 2500hd duramax and a 2016 f250 6.7 ps. Both are roughly the same price and milage. They are both in the sweet spots of good years. Any suggestions. Ty
Either of those trucks will tow twice as much, as easy as what you said you were planning, but don't let the RVet get to you. It's more about what you're doing with the truck overall, than 1 month trip, IMO.
A big ole diesel is attractive, but this still isn't the right time $ wise to buy a diesel, IMO, unless its really needed or money is of little concern.
|
mdcamping
CT
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
midnightsadie wrote:might think about renting a rv . chunk of money, but wear an tear on them.
I like that idea also, why spend the money and find out it's not for you.
If the OP some how manages to find a used supercrew ford F-150 with both the trailer tow & heavy duty payload pkg you will find room to spare towing a 7k trailer. The ford supercrew offers lots of leg/side room for 4 large adults, a family of 5 should be no problem.
Mike
* This post was
last
edited 10/28/22 06:19pm by mdcamping *
View edit history
2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost 4X4 Supercrew GCWR 19,500 157WB
Payload 2476 Maxtow 13,800 3.73 Equalizer 4 Pt Sway Hitch
2017 Jayco Jay Flight 24RBS
Old TV, 07 Toyota Tacoma, Double Cab, Factory Tow Pkg, retired towing at 229K. (Son now owns truck)
|
|
|
