Friday Fun Thread: Heavy Haulers

Hey, what can I say? I’ve gotta go with what I know, and right now, it’s all about campers and the vehicles that yank them into place… Today’s list is taken from the world around me, direct from the campground, it’s a list of vehicles well-suited for towing a recreational vehicle.

1. Ford F-250. It seems like pretty much every other tow vehicle is an F-250. I can’t tell if it’s Ford’s low pricing, the versatility of the ¾ truck, or if there was simply a sale in the southeastern MA area that led to the large number of mid-range Ford trucks.

2. Dodge Ram 1500. With the 345 horsepower Hemi powering the ½ ton Dodge, the tow capacity is over four tons. That’s a good-sized travel trailer today, especially with advances in trailer construction that allow trailers to weigh less (our camper weighs under 6,000 pounds fully loaded) and still hold up. Pulling a good-sized camper with a half-ton truck was an exercise in going slowly before; however the Hemi renders that a moot point now.

3. Chevy/GMC 3500. The biggest of the big boys, the full-ton trucks are more often than not Chevy/GMCs. The Dodge full ton with the Cummins turbo diesel is a surprisingly expensive option, and the F-350 isn’t sufficiently distinguished from the F-250; however the largest campers seem to be pulled by the full-tons from Government Motors. The dual rear wheels yield superior weight distribution for the slide-in campers as well.

4. Toyota Tundra. I’m seeing a lot more Tundras towing campers since Toyota redesigned them two years ago. It’s pretty impressive when you consider that, not all that long ago, all Toyota had to offer was the sickly T-100 with a 3.9L V6 engine. Now if they could only price them more in line with the rest of the large trucks currently out there…

5. Chevy Suburban. For the large family going camping, nothing even comes close to a Suburban for towing. Seating for 8 or 9, and with the ¾ ton option towing capacity gets up to respectable trailer sizes, the ‘Burban makes for a heavy-hitting hauler in the RV world.

6. Ford Explorer. Granted, even the V8 Explorer is limited to towing pop-up campers and the most ultra-light hybrids, but it’s still represented in the campground. Watching some of the overloaded Explorers bottom-out while towing far-too-heavy campers, though, reminds me why I would never buy a used SUV…

7. Dodge Ram 2500. Slightly more beefed up than the half-ton Ram, the ¾ ton Dodge is another familiar sight at the State Preservation. Dodge typically runs a good number of promos for the heavier duty trucks, and the larger Ram is no exception. Plus the 2500 series has the option of the Cummins diesel for some serious towing capacity.

8. Chevy/GMC ½ ton. It’s a less-common sight than the F-150 or the 1500 Ram, but the ½ ton Governmental Motors offering - usually a slightly older model - is a solid bet for a tow vehicle. The abysmal resale value means that these often get snapped up by savvy buyers of used vehicles as winter vehicles, with the capability to tow a trailer a handy bonus.

9. Ford Expedition. Properly equipped, the Expedition can tow nearly as much weight as the F-250 and still carry 8 passengers. With the XL version, there’s even room inside to stow some gear even when you’re carrying the full passenger complement…

10. Nissan Titan. While the Titan is still a pretty rare sight in the RV park, they’re gaining in popularity as folks realize that Nissan finally offers a truck capable of running with the big dogs. The Titan’s V8 plant gives it a respectable tow rating, and the legendary Nissan reliability means it will be pulling your camper for many years to come.

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So there’s my list of Top Ten Commonly Seen Trucks Towing Trailers I’ve observed during my vacation. What tow vehicles have you commonly seen, or are currently using?

That is all.