~Everyone~
If you're new to RVing and you've ever wondered, or are wondering now, how big a truck you need to pull your bumper pull or 5th wheel, this blog entry is for you.
Undoubtedly, this is likely the most contested debate I've come across on Facebook, regardless of what RV group or page you belong to. But, believe me when I tell you, I often seem to hold the minority opinion about this one. I've been called things like over-cautious, ignorant, uninformed, and stupid (yes, stupid. And you know how I've said you can't own an RV and be stupid). I've even had them use the"Tell me you've never pulled an RV without telling me you've never pulled an RV."
Well, I HAVE pulled an RV and numerous other trailers of varying lengths and weights. Like I said, this is often a minority opinion, but this is an RV hill I will die on. I can wiggle on other topics like what kind of fuel additive to use or what RV app you prefer, but I refuse to budge an inch on what rig I'll use to tow a camper. You may be mad at me now, but you'll thank me later. Or, you'll ignore me now and your mechanic will thank me later. Your call.
Before I get too deep, I get it. There CAN be some exceptions, but they're rare. I've talked to more than one asshat, er um, expert that explained to me they've pulled their 40' 5th wheel all over the country with their 1/2 Ton Ford and they've never had an issue. They've even used hyperbole like, "Can't even tell it's back there." I'm yet to hear someone make that statement with a bumper pull, but I'm sure they're out there. And look, who am I to say? I've never pulled a camper with a Ford, but still, I'm calling BS to all of it. Ok, so finally, here's why and I love to start with this little tag line. Repeat this any time you're questioning an RV decision:
"Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should."
Remember when I bought my shiny new 28' Patriot? It weighed in dry at about 5,500 pounds. Loaded, that probably equated to 6,500 or 7,000 pounds, water, gear and all. Maybe less, but the truth is, it doesn't matter.
My loaded, 1/2-ton, Chevy Silverado Z71 was equipped with a towing package and rated at roughly 9200 pounds of towing capacity. My RV dealer and I had a long discussion about this.
"I don't think I have enough truck to pull this."
"Oh, that's plenty of truck and you even have a couple thousand pounds to spare!"
Made perfect sense to me, so I had them custom install the hitch and adjust the height. I hooked up my shiny new camper and pulled out of the parking lot. It took me two blocks and a trip up the entrance ramp to a freeway, along with a long blast from a trucker's air horn to determine, I did NOT, indeed, "have enough truck."
Would it pull it? Sure, but it grumbled and groaned each and every mile and my mileage dropped into the single digits. It wasn't just a little "not enough truck." It was a lot "not enough truck." But, damage done, I eased on down the road to state park after state park, then pulled to South Texas and back, them made two trips to Oklahoma and another two to Kansas. The transmission began to slip on the last trip back from Oklahoma, but I was expecting it to go out long before. That was a $6,000 lesson learned the hard way.
Again, I can hear the arguments about cost, and brand of vehicle, and on and on and on. And if you're pulling your camper to the lake and back twice in the summer, you can pull it with your lawn tractor for all I care. You'll likely be fine. But if you're going full-time, nearly full-time, or simply going further more often, you need a bigger truck. Period.
Right here is where people start talking about tongue weights, horsepower, load limits, towing capacity, horsepower, blah, blah, blahbiddy, blah. You can give all that crap consideration if you want to check the boxes, but you'll check ALL the boxes, if you just get a bigger truck. And by bigger, I mean at LEAST a 3/4 Ton and while you're at it, go ahead and get the F350 or Chevy 3500 dually and make it a diesel. Yep, that's gonna set you back $85,000 to $150,000 these days depending on options. But it'll save you twice that in heartache and repairs.
Yes, it's excessive. If you're pulling a tent camper, pop-up or something in the 17-20 foot range, go for it. Use your jeep or 1/2 ton or something lighter. You'll be fine. If it's bigger, your truck needs to be, too. You can do math until you're blue in the face, or you can simply use a rig big enough, or better yet, bigger than enough and your math solves itself. And as far has the hitch you use, have a professional install it and set it up.
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Stay safe, be smart. See ya on the road
Matt
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