[dogbig]

I'm thinking about replacing my tow vehicle. It's an older (1993) Chevy 3/4 Ton diesel pick-up. I'm wondering if I can get by with a V-8 1/2 ton pick-up. I've got a 24' CC on a tandem trailer with surge brakes. Lots of nice deals on used 1/2 ton trucks now. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

db

 

[Hakuna Matata]

I tow the boat in my sig with a 1500 Silverado w/ a 5300 vortec. I'd guess I'm towing 4000lbs +/- with the tank full and gear.

-JB

 

[5th Tuition]

I have a ford f-150 with 5.4 v8 and tow a 22 ft walkaround with no problems. 5th (Marty)

 

[spynet000]

Silverado 1500 5.3L and I pull friends 22-24 ft CC with ease. The rear end and wheel base make a difference. I know B-Faithful tows his 27 Judge with his 1/2 ton silverado. I have driven with him while towing and it does fine. It all depends on the distance and amount of towing you will be doing.

 

[arlington]

i'm towing just shy of 5000lb (including aluminum trailer) with a 1500 silverado and 5300 vortec. four-wheel discs on the trailer. no problems, but i am aware the boat is back there. it's a 23' cc with large t-top. i also get about 10 mpg.

bil

 

[27 sailfish]

1/2 tons are for wussies . Do it right with this beast :thumbup:.

You should be fine with a 1/2 ton if it has the towing package.This will give you a bigger radiator, heavy wiring to the lights and a tranny cooler.Some 1/2 tons are rated to 9,000 lbs - IMHO a stretch but 6,000 is fine.

 

[iFishMD]

I tow my 27 Judge with a half ton chevy (1500 Silverado or 1500 Suburban both with a 5.3l) and do fine. Truck has a factory tow package.

 

[ovidg]

2007 CHEVY SILVERADO 4x4

I tow my 23 walkaround and it"s waying in around 6500 pounds fully loaded. I have also towed a 25 Trophy Walk I/O. Either way I cruise at 70-75 mph with no issues.

 

[Francis]

I got the 5.4l Ford in a 4wd F-250. I am not too happy with it although it does fine. It really has to downshift maintaining speed up hills, and getting going off a traffic light is painful. I'll admit I am a little heavy footed though.

My buddy has a Chevy with the 6.0l. It's a much stronger engine. I was very impressed.

I would think you should really check the brakes out. My buddies 1500 Chevy was suprisingly bad stopping compared to my F-250.

I hav no experience with the 5.3l motor although I can tell you I wish I had ordered the V-10 for my F-250.

 

[Jerry Grimes]

The brakes on a 1/2 ton are kind of wimpy compared to a 3/4 ton.

 

[iFishMD]

Brakes are weaker on the half ton compared to the 3/4 ton (my father owns a 2500HD). However braking is also a function of the tires. I cant stand on the petal of my half ton and the anti-locks start engaging. Even with bigger brakes, unless the tires can hold it it wont do you much good.

 

[shout]

I tow approx 3500 lbs with my 1/2 ton GMC, short bed, with the 305 V8, trailer does not have brakes yet, the only problem I have is gas mileage, only about 10 mpg when towing, but approx 18 when not towing..

Shout

 

[BUDC]

If you're considering GM, take a look at the weight capacities on the 1500 HD. The hd comes with extra weight handling stuff -- x-tra radiator cooling tran cooler etc -- plus 4 wheel Disc Brakes, Add the tow pack and you are ready for a lot of towing capacity. (without looking it up, I believe its 14,000 or 16,000 combined weight, truck + trailer) I have the 6.0 4x4 and mileage is an issue -- ALL THE TIME -- not just towing. A friend has the 5.3 2wd and does worse towing but about 20% better without a trailer. 6.0 does a better job, but I have to feed the beast 24/7. His 5.3 is adequate and more economical without the trailer. Also, he has the 4.11 rearend and I have the 3.73 rearend
budc

 

[tksmitty]

It really depends on how far and how often you tow. I think guys that live close to the water can get away with a lesser towing vehicle in most cases. The closest place I can launch is 65 miles away and I'm normally towing much further than that.

I towed a ~ 6000lb boat/trailer load with a 4wd F-150 for years. The truck would tow that load but, I wouldn't say it towed it with ease...... lots of down shifting and motor reving high. 8mpg.

I towed my boat with my buddies 2006 2500 Duramax and that sold me. Night and day difference, that is when I realized how much my truck was struggling to tow the load. So I traded my 1/2 ton in for the 3/4 diesel.

 

[CJacobs2]

I have a 2008 Chevy 1500 I love it!

 

[trophypro]

Take it for a test drive, go to your house and hook up the boat. Drive the boat around then see if it will do the job. Last 2 trucks Ive bought dealer handed me the keys and said take it out for a ride see you soon. 1 was a ford and 1 was a chevy. Personally I go over kill just for safety. 3/4 ton!

 

[AlbeCatchin']

I have a 1/2 ton GMC I pull a 24 CC with. It is 5,000 pounds with fuel Then add the trailer. Wish I had the 3/4 ton truck. However, in my case I had the truck before the boat. My next tow vehicle will be 3/4 ton. GO GMC.

 

[bring_em_on]

I've got an Expedition with a 5.4l Triton engine and it pulls my 23ft WA with no problem. If you go with a Ford, make sure you get a vehicle with the 5.4 or greater in it. I think one of the other options is the 4.6 or 4.8 (can't remember which) and it's not good for towing something like you have. Even if you don't tow very far, you'll still want the extra umph that the 5.4 gives you for coming out of a steeper ramp.

 

[Jerry Grimes]

My old truck treated me pretty good it was a 1990 Chevy 1500 4X4 305 373 rear tow pk.It did the job for the most part except for extreem conditions such as that bear of a hill comming out of BP getting to I think rt 260.She would let me know that the Grady was back there.Going to the CBBT by way of the ES she did just fine.When I retired I treated myself to a 2500 HD Duramax,now when towing I think I died and went to heaven.

 

[suddsfish]

I have a suburban (1500K) with a 5.3 vortex and towing package. I tow a 24 foot CC on a tamdam trailer with surage brakes for the last three years with out a problem. The MPG under tow is 11.