pulling 4 placed enclosed with 1/2 ton
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winter_time
New member
in my honest opinion the 1/2 ton will pull it but it puts a lot of strain on the vehicle that will show up throughout time. I would say if you are going on trips say every other weekend go with a 3/4 ton. The 3/4 ton is usually not that much more expensive and the extra expense of it is well worth it when you have to start replacing parts on the 1/2 ton sooner rather than later. Thats my $.02
It depends on the 1/2 ton itself..for example, I have a 05 2wd Suburban with the towing package and 4.10 gears. The tow rating is 9100lbs. I have pulled my 66 GTO on a steel bobcat trailer with no issue. If you have a tow/haul mode, make sure to use it to avoid transmission damage and don't get crazy with the speed.
don't know about chevy or dodge but our shop just got 2 work version f150's and the tow rating is actually more then our 4 year old f250's , seem's alot of the new 1/2 ton's are rated as high as the 3/4 ton truck's were just a few year's ago... do think that if you do alot of high milage towing with that big of trailer i'd consider a diesel..if it's only a few trip's a year or shorter distance prob wouldn't make a big diff with today's new engine's....
pirate
pirate
I pull a Triton enclosed 4 place with my 08 Silverado quad cab. the trailer is all aluminum. It make a difference in weight, but overall, I wouldnt want to be pulling it all over gods white earth every weekend. I pulled it up from Rochester, MN to South Range, MI then from Rochester to Grand Rapids, MN.
I'm hoping to upgrade to a Duramax in a year or two so i can upgrade to a nicer 5th wheel. Then i'll never have to worry about weight again
Really, it all comes down to weight. Your standard Chevy will probably have 3.73 gears, with a 5.3 and 4x4. In the winter, I'd pull 6000lbs max...If i remember my weights correctly.
I'm hoping to upgrade to a Duramax in a year or two so i can upgrade to a nicer 5th wheel. Then i'll never have to worry about weight again
Really, it all comes down to weight. Your standard Chevy will probably have 3.73 gears, with a 5.3 and 4x4. In the winter, I'd pull 6000lbs max...If i remember my weights correctly.
oldguy
Member
This is a great question. I have owned ½ tons with V-8’s that really struggled pulling an enclosed trailer. I currently own a ½ ton Chevy with a 6.2 liter that pulls a full width enclosed trailer like it’s not even behind me.
The best thing to do is hook to a loaded enclosed trailer, similar to the one you are considering and take it for a drive. Go around a curve at highway speeds. Slam on the brakes and see what happens. Crank it up to 70 and see how long that takes. Take it on a few hills and see how many times it downshifts. If it seems good to you, it will probably be ok.
If you plan on pulling the trailer every weekend, get the ¾ ton or a ½ ton designed to pull that weight.
The best thing to do is hook to a loaded enclosed trailer, similar to the one you are considering and take it for a drive. Go around a curve at highway speeds. Slam on the brakes and see what happens. Crank it up to 70 and see how long that takes. Take it on a few hills and see how many times it downshifts. If it seems good to you, it will probably be ok.
If you plan on pulling the trailer every weekend, get the ¾ ton or a ½ ton designed to pull that weight.
We used to pull an older steel 4 place with a Chevy 1/2 ton (04'). If it has 3.73 gears it does OK for a few trips a year. My brother upgraded to a newer Chevy 1/2 ton (06') and his new one has 3.42 gears. With 3.42 gears you will not want to pull a 4 place enclosed.
Now if your talking a Tundra 1/2 ton....pull away. I think they have a 10,000+ rating.
Now if your talking a Tundra 1/2 ton....pull away. I think they have a 10,000+ rating.
michaeladams
New member
i pull a 32 foot travel trailer with either a half ton dodge or a 98 dodge half ton van.white knuckle ride but it does it.
Tow rating is almost always determined by the frame, not the motor or transmission. My V6 Touareg has a tow rating of 7,700 lbs. With 4,000 lbs of sleds or boat, it is really working. (I did take it out west with the 4,000 lbs trailer and it did it but it was working - now we take the Cummins)
You will find the same with trucks. They are making the frames beefier and adding a little power to the engine. I'd look to the transmission for feedback on your exact model to get an idea as to what your long term effects will be.
You will find the same with trucks. They are making the frames beefier and adding a little power to the engine. I'd look to the transmission for feedback on your exact model to get an idea as to what your long term effects will be.
dfattack
Well-known member
I just went through the same process trying to determine if my truck was going to handle my new enclosed trailer. I ordered a 29' Legend Trackmaster. The trailer is #2850 empty. I'm going to have (4) sleds weighing approximately 550-600 lbs. for a total of 5,250 lbs. plus minimal gear. My 1/2 truck has a capacity of 7,500 lbs. I tow a 22' MasterCraft boat without any problems and the weight is very similar to a fully loaded enclosed trailer with four sleds. Don't even know it's back there sometimes. I do have air suspension so the back end levels out after load is put on it, which I'm sure helps out.
I don't think you will have any problems based on everyone I have talked to researching the same concerns.
I don't think you will have any problems based on everyone I have talked to researching the same concerns.
With an all aluminum trailer your gonna be OK with a new 1/2 ton 4x4 as long as your not pulling it a thousand miles every weekend. You need to have the option of 4 wheel drive available with a load like that on slippery roads. Make sure you have electric brakes and that they work correctly. Half the battle is stopping that rig.
I pull my 4 place with a 2500 duramax and its no problem, but Ive had my friends pull my trailer with their 1/2 ton Chevy's and Ford's before and they were good up to about 70mph.
Got real crappy mileage but they did the job..
Stay far far away from steel trailers with small trucks!!!
I pull my 4 place with a 2500 duramax and its no problem, but Ive had my friends pull my trailer with their 1/2 ton Chevy's and Ford's before and they were good up to about 70mph.
Got real crappy mileage but they did the job..
Stay far far away from steel trailers with small trucks!!!
I've been pulling a steel trailer with a 1/2 ton for years and never had a problem. The mileage does go down if you get on hilly roads, but on most roads its a ease. When i'm not hauling sleds in the winter its my car that weighs 3400 Lbs. No electric brakes either.
In fact with my 05 ram for some reason I never even had to change the brakes whole time I owned it. I traded that one in at 70,000 miles. Not only are my 1/2 tons used to pull but I plow with them as well.
Like others have said if your not hauling across the country or on a daily basis you should have no problem.
In fact with my 05 ram for some reason I never even had to change the brakes whole time I owned it. I traded that one in at 70,000 miles. Not only are my 1/2 tons used to pull but I plow with them as well.
Like others have said if your not hauling across the country or on a daily basis you should have no problem.
Took that pic the night I bought the trailer My 05 got about 8mpg with a loaded trailer. The new 2010 gets around 10-11mpg.
I do allot of daily driving with out a load ( 60-80 miles a day) I opted out of a 1 ton diesel because of the price of diesel and that it got worse mileage just driving than my gas 1/2 ton with out a load. If I did a tone of towing it would be better but I don't.
My 05 got about 8mpg with a loaded trailer. The new 2010 gets around 10-11mpg. I do allot of daily driving with out a load ( 60-80 miles a day) I opted out of a 1 ton diesel because of the price of diesel and that it got worse mileage just driving than my gas 1/2 ton with out a load. If I did a tone of towing it would be better but I don't.
techsledder
Member
Here's a bad *** fifth wheel trailer I'd get if I were you! Sorry off topic...
1/2 tons will do the job. We've done it through out the years once with my old expedition and a few times with my bros old F150. But IMHO, the 3/4 is really a better puller for a large & long trailer like most four place trailers.
I guess it really comes down to how far and how often your gonna tow.
Diesel fuel and maintenance is more expensive, but durability and longevity is much better.
I get about 22mpg unloaded and 15 to 19mpg depending on the trailer.
I pulled that same steel 28' beaver tail Haulmark car hauler with a 99 Ram 1ton with no trailer brakes one time. February 5, 2000. Left the Detroit area around 7pm headed for Grand Marais, MI. The trip ended up jackknifed rolled over 3 times on an icy I-75 overpass near Flint. Brand new truck, trailer and 4 new sleds, total loss!! I was on the interstate running interstate speeds, BUT Don't take the chance. If i could've tapped the trailer breaks the accident would have never happened.
Diesel fuel and maintenance is more expensive, but durability and longevity is much better.
I get about 22mpg unloaded and 15 to 19mpg depending on the trailer.
I pulled that same steel 28' beaver tail Haulmark car hauler with a 99 Ram 1ton with no trailer brakes one time. February 5, 2000. Left the Detroit area around 7pm headed for Grand Marais, MI. The trip ended up jackknifed rolled over 3 times on an icy I-75 overpass near Flint. Brand new truck, trailer and 4 new sleds, total loss!! I was on the interstate running interstate speeds, BUT Don't take the chance. If i could've tapped the trailer breaks the accident would have never happened.
I always get a good laugh reading the responses to a question such as this one. There is absolutely NO reason why you cannot pull a 4 place enclosed with 4 sleds with a 1/2 ton truck. If you are feeling really dangerous, go ahead and even throw a 5th in the back of the truck. (caution may slow the truck down!)
I really don't understand the mentality that you should be able to accelerate like you are unloaded when you have a trailer. Uh-oh truck is slowing down, must need a diesel. Will that weight slow a half town down, yes. Will it downshift more, yes. Will you make it there just fine and be able to go snowmobiling, YES!
If you do other heavy towing, 5th wheels, construction equip etc etc and you need a diesel for that, I understand. For those who feel the need to buy a diesel to tow a 4 place snowmobile trailer irregardless of the distance, WOW. Do you realize most people uste to pull their steel trailers and sleds around with cars??
I really don't understand the mentality that you should be able to accelerate like you are unloaded when you have a trailer. Uh-oh truck is slowing down, must need a diesel. Will that weight slow a half town down, yes. Will it downshift more, yes. Will you make it there just fine and be able to go snowmobiling, YES!
If you do other heavy towing, 5th wheels, construction equip etc etc and you need a diesel for that, I understand. For those who feel the need to buy a diesel to tow a 4 place snowmobile trailer irregardless of the distance, WOW. Do you realize most people uste to pull their steel trailers and sleds around with cars??