[redline]

Simply put, yes you can do it. I did it with a 95 z71 xcab with 3.73 rear. Towed it well IMO. It don't do it as well as my duramax, but I didn't expect it to.

 

[ALMACK]

I've read alot of threads on here about the 1/2 ton vs. 3/4-1 ton towing debate.

I ended up getting a 3/4 ton for the safety factor plus the E rated tires.

Yes, a 1/2 ton can tow a 24 footer, but can it stop the load safely ?

 

[Smirnoff]

Why do some always take the cheap route.......

 

[montys 55]

I tow a 24' Haulmark 10K GVW and is close to 10k loaded with a '14 Silverado 5.3, double cab 1500 and it works for me.

Your setup might take a couple of trips to get the hitch adjusted where you like it and if you don't drive like a fool you'll be fine.

 

[grizz]

Yes, a 1/2 ton can tow a 24 footer, but can it stop the load safely ?

if your truck is stopping the trailer, you have problems no matter what truck you're towing with.

I would have no worries about towing with a half ton with the proper hitch setup, trailer brake system, and staying within reasonable weight...not exceeding (or getting anywhere near) the max rating, based on cab configuration, engine/trans combo, and gear ratio for that specific truck.

 

[Fast16Racer]

Like others have said, you can do it. I have a 2010 GMC with the 6.2 (403 hp), rated to tow 9600 or 9800 lbs IIRC, and towed a buddy's 28 foot Haulmark through the mountains here in CO. Trailer weighed 8800 lbs. It did it, but 4500-5500 RPM up the steep passes (that's where it makes the 400 HP, NOT at 2500 RPM) and not a lot of fun in wind, and less brake than you would like. You DEPEND on the trailer brakes. If that cheap-ass little plastic trailer plug falls out, your ass is TOAST. Send flowers, cause it ain't gonna be pretty when you hit someone/something.

Towed my skid loader at 11K once, even less fun. Towed a load of boulders once at 16K a short distance, MUCH less fun. My F350 barely notices the skid loader is there....

Honestly my 48 ft gooseneck weighs 17,000 lbs with 2 cars and tows MUCH better with my F350 crew cab dually than my 1500 does with 8800 lbs.

If that's all ya got, it's all ya got. If you are buying a truck, spend the few bucks on a 3/4 Ton min and preferably a 1 ton. It'll be the best money you could spend. I bought my 1500 because I couldn't get the 6.2 in a 2500 and figured "I won't tow with this truck" , wished I would have bought the 2500 and been happy with a 6.0.

 

[Fast16Racer]

if your truck is stopping the trailer, you have problems no matter what truck you're towing with.

In general, yes. But if the trailer brakes failed on a heavy trailer and you have a 1 ton truck, you are still going to be able to stop it 1 time. It will be a longer stopping distance for sure, and will smoke the brakes on the truck, but it'll still haul things down with max effort. Ask me how I know . My 1500 and 9000 lbs would smoke the brakes going from 65-45 mph...you would be coasting to the point of impact at 45 mph with all 4 wheels on fire and both feet pushed though the floorboard!!

 

[ALMACK]

In general, yes. But if the trailer brakes failed on a heavy trailer and you have a 1 ton truck, you are still going to be able to stop it 1 time. It will be a longer stopping distance for sure, and will smoke the brakes on the truck, but it'll still haul things down with max effort. Ask me how I know . My 1500 and 9000 lbs would smoke the brakes going from 65-45 mph...you would be coasting to the point of impact at 45 mph with all 4 wheels on fire and both feet pushed though the floorboard!!

^^ Yep
That was my point in my post.
It amazes me how much braking force a little wire from the truck back to the axles can help, but what if the electric trailer brakes fail ?

That's where the bigger 3/4 tons have an advantage over the 1/2 tons.

 

[tmodlin]

A quality weight distribution hitch WITH sway control is a must with a half ton and a large enclosed trailer(sail), no matter what weight. Must also be set up right.

http://www.equalizerhitch.com Is the only way to go. Pulled my 24ft travel trailer with my half ton and any time I was on the interstate I used the weight distribution hitch. If I was just going a few miles out of town I would just hitch up with the regular ball.

 

[tmodlin]

What if your truck brakes fail, that'll be a lot heavier truck that you have to stop with your trailer brakes

Use your head and you'll be fine with a half ton, know your limits. Sure everyone would love to have a 3/4 or 1 ton but for most is is way over kill and just a waste of money. I'd hate daily driving a HD truck just because I want to tow with it a dozen times or less a year.

 

[another z28]

I bought a 20' hallmark and towed it 100 miles home in a 2004 Chevy half with a 5.3. It did not like hills and honestly scared the shit out of me a couple times. Sold it and bought a 13 duramax for that reason. I wouldn't waste the money on a half

 

[09SecDak]

I have a 24' Pace and I tow it with my '11 Ram 1500 Hemi. I have the max tow package with 3.92s, makes it rated for 10,250. It isn't necessarily fun towing in wind, so if we go long distances, it is behind my Dad's 2500. I have the air lift bags inside the coils because it sags a bit more than I liked, and I also use a weight distributing hitch.

The truck has plenty of power and brakes to tow it, biggest issue to me is that the truck just isn't heavy enough to put that much weight in a box, if the wind picks up, you're doing some driving just to keep it straight. Probably wouldn't have a problem if it was something real heavy and low to the ground, just that wind.

I had exactly the same set up (24' enclosed 2011 Hemi Ram) air bags, equalizing hitch,sway bar, 3.92 gear. towing locally to a 1 day event it was fine, but it was not the right truck for going any distance just drank gas.
I found an old 98.5 Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins, Automatic on ebay with 77,000 miles not perfect but very clean and its a pulling machine, I have to engage the cruise to keep it under 75 mph pulling the same 24' trailer loaded with more crap than I need.

 

[smallblockduster]

I had exactly the same set up (24' enclosed 2011 Hemi Ram) air bags, equalizing hitch,sway bar, 3.92 gear. towing locally to a 1 day event it was fine, but it was not the right truck for going any distance just drank gas.
I found an old 98.5 Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins, Automatic on ebay with 77,000 miles not perfect but very clean and its a pulling machine, I have to engage the cruise to keep it under 75 mph pulling the same 24' trailer loaded with more crap than I need.

Yeah, if I go 65 and have a light load (ATVs), I get just over 10 mpg in flat Florida. Put a car in it and its typically around 9. When towing, I am reminded to be thankful for a 32 gallon tank and not a 26.

As for the brakes issue, new half ton trucks have better brakes than 3/4 tons did barely 10 years ago, but nobody would question someone towing a 24' with a 2000 model year 3/4 ton. My truck has 13.2" front rotors and 13.4" rear rotors, there's no problem stopping it.

 

[Halemach1]

If checy/dodge/ford/nissan/toyota/honda says it's ok to haul 10,000lbs across country every week in your 1/2 ton truck and you believed them, you are an idiot.

 

[smallblockduster]

If checy/dodge/ford/nissan/toyota/honda says it's ok to haul 10,000lbs across country every week in your 1/2 ton truck and you believed them, you are an idiot.

I agree. One of those just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you should do it situations. If it's a local one time deal, fine, but if you need to tow that weight routinely, you need a truck made to tow that all the time.

 

[HemiChallenger]

I towed a 24' enclosed with my s10 in it and some tools. 3000lbs. total, maybe + trailer. Hooked it to my parents '97 f-150 2wd tow package, 3.73's bone stock. Wont ever tow that trailer loaded or empty with a 1/2 ton again. The weight was of no issue, it was the wind resistance. 55-60mph OD off. If not it would keep kicking down out of OD.

In a pinch with the crazy snow we had last year I had to tow 9,000lbs. of salt in a triple axle dumpster trailer with my 1/2 ton dodge. The salt was centered in the trailer. It was the ONLY 4x4 at our disposal to use at the time. We prepared for a slow go. Boy was it ever a slow ride. all 4 tires spinning on the snow and ice. Never again.

 

[TORQUED455]

2003 Sierra Denali 6.0L AWD Quadrasteer w/ a big Dana 60 and 4.10s. I tow a 28' Featherlite enclosed that weighs about 8000-8500 fully loaded and use a WD hitch and sway bars. The General claimed towing capacity of 10,000 lbs for the 1/2 ton Denali that year, and I think with the 3/4 ton brakes on the rear, stopping isn't as much of an issue as power - the 6.0L has its tongue hanging out on hills. Sure a 3/4 diesel would be better, but for a 1/2 pickup that been paid for for years, it's quite capable.

 

[Fast16Racer]

What if your truck brakes fail, that'll be a lot heavier truck that you have to stop with your trailer brakes

Factory truck brakes are a tad more reliable than electric trailer brakes, especially with the budget/production fashion in which trailers are made. Several times I've repaired trailer brake wires underneath a trailer. The point where they enter the backing plate are particularly prone to failure. Just last week I had to bend the tabs back and "wiggle" the plug on one of my work trailers to get the brakes to work. My truck displays a "service trailer brakes" message when the trailer brake connection sucks, but if it didn't do that I wouldn't have known I didn't have trailer brakes until maybe I needed them most.

Use your head and you'll be fine with a half ton, know your limits.

This is true no matter what size truck you have...

If checy/dodge/ford/nissan/toyota/honda says it's ok to haul 10,000lbs across country every week in your 1/2 ton truck and you believed them, you are an idiot.

True, my 1/2 ton at max tow capacity is not a pleasant ride, those are marketing numbers.

 

[4eyefrankenstang]

over 30000 miles with this setup. 2009 Sierra 5.3, 3.42 gears. Air bags in the rear and a WD hitch with sway control. Trailer is 30 feet from bumper to ball. Approx 6500 fully loaded. Camper dry weight was 5500 or so. I've been to Ft. Lauderdale and back thru the hills and mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky. Sandusky, Ohio from Northern Ill a few times too. We camp at least 6-8 times a season and I use that camper at Byron and Cordova. Truck has decent power with long tube headers and a tune. I've been using the manual shift button to toggle between 5th and 4th for highway overpasses. If I can draft a semi, I can get 11-12 MPG at 60-62 MPH. Brakes have never been an issue. Drive smart, defensively and leave PLENTY of space to the guy in front of you.

About to pull the trigger on a longer trailer that will weigh 8000 pound loaded. truck is rated for 9500. Also planning on putting on a TVS 1900 blower this spring. The Sierra HD tow package for the 1500 has a 6.0 and 3.73's and was rated for 10400. After the blower upgrade, it should have plenty of power. Just need to probably upgrade the brakes somehow. Duramax and 3/4 ton is not in the budget at this time.

 

[dragrcr71]

For the average racer towing to your local track, a 1/2 ton is fine. I've done it for years. Hundreds of guys at the track do it every week.
I have no desire to drive some big ass 3/4 or 1 ton truck every day. The 1/2 ton ride is bad enough.

If you are towing across the country all season, different story. But you're probably in a motor home in that case anyways.