Minimum truck for 9,000 gross towing

[Gem99ultra]

How often do you plan to haul this trailer? Is this an 1 or 2 times per year side mission of the vehicle, or is this something planned for once per month? Does she want/need a pick-up, or does she want an SUV that can also tow this? Also, when we say tow it, do we mean 300 miles and interstates, mountains, or we talking 20 miles on county roads?

Something like a 2012 Expediton is rated for 8200-9100# towing, depending on config. It's probably going to feel like a boat on choppy water though

It's a bit high on a Durango, at 7200#, but if it was once per year, I'd do it, but I wouldn't purchase it for that purpose.

I would certainly use a Ram/F150/Silverado 1/2T if this is a infrequent job, possibly with helper springs or air bags.

If we are talking about weekly towing, interstates (or down town city, that might be worse), mountains, ect; and this is not a commuter vehicke too, consider something like an Uhaul E350 box van. I've towed some pretty heavy Ghel skid steers with a retired E350 rental van, and they are Not fast (this was a 5.4L), but they handle it well. They are also generally very cheap. If this is an all purpose vehicle, commuting, towing frequently, a 3/4T is the answer; or a 1/2T with air bags, and set up specifically for the task.

Good post, thanks! Regarding the Uhaul E350 box van, that's exactly how I brought the rig up from Texas to Georgia upon retirement.
I'm taking the several comments regarding a big NO on the Tacoma/Colorado/Ranger etc. idea to heart. Now that I go back a re-read my idea, it really sounds stupid.

 

[George2615]

I'd need to tow maybe a couple of times per year, but yes, we do have mid-size mountains to pass over.
The trailer does have electric brakes. I have towed it with my little 1/2 ton Chevy p/u, without having an electric brake controller. It pulls fine, but you can forget stopping. It'll just pust that little Chevry around like a rag doll. The Chevy is a short bed with a 5.7 V8; plenty of power but not stopping power. It's just simply not an option.

For just a couple times per year I'd install a trailer brake controller in your Chevy. Otherwise you're looking at buying a truck (new or used) that is rated to tow 10K or more. Preferably a 3/4T which has better suspension and brakes than a 1/2T.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Get a proper truck with a height adjustable driver's seat. It's not possible to not "see over the hood" of a Tundra. Sorry, not buying the hyperbole.

I've seen 5' tall ladies driving dually crew cab trucks, other than being slightly comical to watch them climb in and out of it, they handle the truck just fine. Female in my MOB unit back in the service was 5' 5" at best, and she drove an 18 wheeler like a pro.

It's a mindset only.

A 20' trailer rated to haul 7000 lbs is going to weigh more than 2000 lbs. It's probably closer to 3k. Get your rig to a CAT scale and weigh it to get the actual weights, without guessing on it.

Getting an acutal scale weight is probably the best/only way to know for sure. My "9K" number is just going by the factory literature. That's perhaps conservative.
We checked out a Tundra yesterday. Great bargin with all the bells & whistles, including adjustable seats. With the driver's seat jacked all the way up she couldn't see over the hood. Me @ 5'11" couldn't see the corners. Perhaps it was just the hood design on that particular model/year, but for now I've ruled out the Tundra.

 

[paulsharvey]

For just a couple times per year I'd install a trailer brake controller in your Chevy. Otherwise you're looking at buying a truck (new or used) that is rated to tow 10K or more. Preferably a 3/4T which has better suspension and brakes than a 1/2T.

Trailer brake controller should be less than $400 with a professional install. Air bags and/or helper springs firm up the rear end a lot. There are also towing brake set ups that are pretty affordable, and easy to install. Some are two piston calipers, better rotors, better pads, ect. I dont think they quite are equal to a 3/4T, but I don't know. Just getting a firmer rear end will help a lot on towing; keeping the back level, and keeping more pressure on the front wheels too, allowing the brakes to work the way they are meant. Might be $1200 total in upgrades, but that's a lot cheaper than a new vehicle.

Edit: also how and where you put the weight of the tractor on the trailer is a huge factor. With a 20ft trailer, I would think that will give you options to shift the weight, even if you have to place an impliment upfront, and then pull the tractor on seperately.

 

[dodge man]

I own a F150 and I’m a little over 6 feet tall. I can’t really see over the hood, I think they all slope down and make it that way no matter what. In your wife’s case it might be worse though to the point she’s not comfortable driving it. Don’t get her something she’s not comfortable driving and don’t get her something that’s not enough truck.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I own a F150 and I’m a little over 6 feet tall. I can’t really see over the hood, I think they all slope down and make it that way no matter what. In your wife’s case it might be worse though to the point she’s not comfortable driving it. Don’t get her something she’s not comfortable driving and don’t get her something that’s not enough truck.

Good point on buying something she can't drive since she's the 'primary' driver. It's not that I don't drive... I've been driving for 70+ years with 1 no-fault accidents and no tickets. It's that she's a lot younger than me and will most likely inherit the truck, tractor, etc. soonest. I'm not going to admit that she's probably a better driver than me, but she's definitely a much better m/c rider than I am.
I was initially comparing the modern small trucks to my '97 Chevy 1/2 ton short bed. They're about the same actual size. That, of course was a wrong assumption. However, it seems all newer full-size pickups are much larger than they were back in '97. Figuring out exactly what truck can fit both the towing requirements and her physical size may be impossible.

 

[ericm979]

My wife's not used to full size trucks. We bought a Tundra that has parking sensors and rear camera. She's still not super comfortable driving it on our very narrow mountain road but backing into a narrow door at the feed store isn't a problem for her with the sensors and camera.

Unfortunately a lot of full size trucks don't have the parking sensor or make them part of a super luxe package. I lucked into an unusually configured truck that had sat on a dealers lot for a while.

I've been looking for a 4wd replacement for the Tundra and boy have truck prices gone up.

 

[paulsharvey]

Good point on buying something she can't drive since she's the 'primary' driver. It's not that I don't drive... I've been driving for 70+ years with 1 no-fault accidents and no tickets. It's that she's a lot younger than me and will most likely inherit the truck, tractor, etc. soonest. I'm not going to admit that she's probably a better driver than me, but she's definitely a much better m/c rider than I am.
I was initially comparing the modern small trucks to my '97 Chevy 1/2 ton short bed. They're about the same actual size. That, of course was a wrong assumption. However, it seems all newer full-size pickups are much larger than they were back in '97. Figuring out exactly what truck can fit both the towing requirements and her physical size may be impossible.

Hmm, well, in that case, this is almost more of an estate planning/aging in place question, than a specifically truck and towing topic. Is she still going to be hauling the tractor routinely afterwards? Does that tractor suite her future needs? Would she be better served with a 7000# towing capacity and a 5000# tractor, down the road? Would you consider down sizing the tractor now?

 

[ruffdog]

I was initially comparing the modern small trucks to my '97 Chevy 1/2 ton short bed. They're about the same actual size. That, of course was a wrong assumption. However, it seems all newer full-size pickups are much larger than they were back in '97. Figuring out exactly what truck can fit both the towing requirements and her physical size may be impossible.

You can't compare your '97 1/2 ton Chevy to a more modern 1/2 ton either. Back in '97, smaller wheels like 15" or 16" would fit. Now, you need at least a 17" wheel because the brakes are that much bigger. No comparison. I think you are facing a big choice, either up-size the truck or down-size the load.

 

[dfkrug]

You can't compare your '97 1/2 ton Chevy to a more modern 1/2 ton either.

Using the above KBB towing capacity link, I see the traditional big-3 half ton PUs can tow 12-14K pounds, properly configured. That's crazy. And what does "1/2 ton" even mean?