Strategy for buying a pickup?

In My Humble Opinion
1

In other posts I’ve been asking about 5th wheel trailers and towing with a truck etc. I gather there are two ways to approach the situation.

  1. Look at the truck you have, see what specs it has, and pick a trailer that doesn’t exceed those. I’ve RVed before so I understand that I need to figure out what I’m towing loaded, not empty, that there are multiple figures to consult (e.g tongue weight), etc.

  2. Figure out the trailer you want to tow, look at the numbers for it, then choose the truck that will comfortably pull it.

Actually, I have neither trailer nor truck. What if I could get a great deal on the truck? Which trailers could I pull? Or what if I could get a sweet bargain on a trailer? Which trucks should I consider?

Mind you, we’re probably at least a year from doing this but I like to be really clear in my mind what will work and what won’t, and where we might save a buck and where corners could or shouldn’t be cut.

Over the years I have purchased some vehicles that were “new” when in fact, the next year models were coming out. So if the 2021s are hitting the lots, the leftover 2020s are on special (15% discount), yet they have a full warranty. Sweet!

From looking at the build and price on the mfr website for a truck it appears that what I need is almost like a tailor made suit. I’ll need a towing package, tow mirrors, and I might want cameras…add this package and wait, you need to add this or delete that. Some things probably can’t be retrofitted or dealer installed.

Is it just a matter of “You’ll have to order it and here’s the MSRP, so pay it or get lost”? I guess there’s always pitting a dealer against another dealer. What will be the smart way to proceed?

2

Are you going to use the truck for more than a toy hauler? Which fuel is easier to obtain in your area? What amenities do you desire in the truck?

You’ve RV’d before. Is your projected trailer use going to be something that would be better satisfied by renting? Or are you sure you’ll use it enough (and be able to store it, maintain it, etc…) that owning beats renting?

@Chefguy has done a ton of RVing, IIRC.

EDIT: Oh, and where are you going? Mtn camping (and towing) is a tad more challenging than flatland camping. Do you have toys beyond the RV/5th Wheel (Skidoo/PWC, Dirt bikes/Side by Side, other stuff) that you’re going to want to bring along too? Who’s coming along? (Amazing, the friends you didn’t know you had, when you’re looking for companions to Glamis or the like…)

3

It would mainly haul our temporary “home.” The other thread is here

To illustrate, suppose Mrs. L and I roll into a place outside San Diego on day 1. We check in at the campground. We level the rv, set up hoses, plug in, etc. Then we drive the truck to get groceries, come back. Maybe we have a glass of wine by the fire ring or maybe we relax and go to bed early, catch up on some emails, read a book, whatever. In the coming 2-3 weeks we go see San Diego’s famous zoo, get some fresh seafood, see Balboa Park, check out the naval shipyard, do whatever things appeal to us. Then we haul stakes. Next stop? We head north toward Los Angeles. LA is 120 miles, less than 2 hours away. So if I have to drive that much every two weeks…? Not bad! My commute to work right now is three times that.

So basically it’ll tow the trailer and get us around the area we’re visiting. I’d like to do this for six months to a year.

Sure we could use it to bring home bags of mulch from the Home Depot but I think it’ll be a solution looking for a problem to justify itself. Man, these things are expensive! I do the build and price and I don’t think I can get away for less than $60,000. We can avoid the fancy wheels and such but still…

So yes, a lease might be a good alternative. We would try to keep the route as compact as possible so hopefully the mileage charge wouldn’t kill us. I’ve never leased…do they offer certain models and setups (engine, transmission, trim, etc.) or can you strike a deal on anything you want to lease?

Along on the trip: the wife and the chocolate lab. We’d like to see various places in the US, and our favorite is the mountains so I’d expect to see places in the Rockies, Appalachians, etc. If we moved every two weeks, that would be 13 sites in six months or 26 in a year. We’d want to be in New England in the fall. We’d winter in the southern areas—I grew up in the Midwest and the cold doesn’t scare me, but towing in ice is best avoided.

Maybe I need to generate some proposed routes just so I can figure how many miles we might need in a lease. Wife and I had* a small campervan and we’d take it on weekend trips or extended runs but we always came back home, you know? We put on 32K miles in 5 years but I’m proposing something a little different here.

*In the process of selling it, already have an offer, probably a done deal but it’s still ours as I write this.

4

In simple terms, I’d suggest choose at least the basics of your trailer (slides, TT or Fiver, etc.) then come up with a worst case weight scenario involving trailer and whatever you’re likely to bring along.

Using that weight, select the class of pickup you’ll need (half, three-quarter, or full ton). Also know if you’re in the rare group that benefits from dual rear wheels.

Test drive models from all available manufacturers (I don’t think Toyota makes anything above a 1/2 ton, so you may be limited to the big three if your trailer is large). Also test drive different configurations (long bed, short bed) if you haven’t already narrowed it down.

Then begin shopping in earnest for the most powerful, most capable version you can find. Hint: I believe the big three all have a VIN-driven capacity lookup, so you can tell the exact weight numbers for any individual truck on their lot.

Just my opinion, but I would select the tow vehicle assuming all my driving is worst case. Monarch Pass, 18 degree grades, winds and snow, or Arizona in 120 degree heat.

Then go to a truck forum for the brand you’ve chosen and ask diesel .vs. gas. You won’t learn anything, but it’s hilarious to watch. (j/k) :wink:

5

@Chefguy was saying he didn’t think the F150 was likely truck enough. I don’t get it. They rate it to pull over 10K lbs and I realize, they’re not saying “pick an F150, any F150” but I think it could be enough and then some. If you get the hybrid, you’d have the extra torque from the electric motor as well to get the load moving. I don’t think the hybrid will be available in anything but the F150.

This company makes units that run 4-7K lbs (max, loaded, GVWR), well within the Ford rating.
https://idletimerv.com/inventory/travel+trailers/2021-idle-time-180fb-allen-ok-5e5d3a392349ca449a23e713/

I want something that will safely tow the load but I don’t want something so enormous that it’s super difficult to drive.

6

For a 19 foot trailer? I imagine any half-ton will do, as long as there’s a tow package. I don’t see the weight on that one, but the tongue weight is likely well within the GVWR of those trucks.

It’s my understanding that tow packages also provide better cooling capacity as well as better axle ratios, so I include it as a necessity. I haven’t looked closely at trucks in a while, but ISTR heavy duty versions had “tow packages” standard, while it must be included/ordered on half tons.

If you’re considering trailers under 20 feet your tow-vehicle requirements are much easier to meet.

7

I should add that I don’t know whether a specific tow package would be necessary in the case of a hybrid (with the additional torque capacity from the electric motor). My opinions may be outdated in this case.

8

This says 4400 GVWR for the one I posted.

http://uploads.documents.cimpress.io/v1/uploads/73664039-9d7a-4df9-9930-5da81ac09ce5~110/original?tenant=vbu-digital

We’d like to keep it small, but big enough that excess proximity won’t result in a homicide, you know? My vision: we’re in the trailer to sleep, shower, eat…but mostly we’re out exploring. Even if it’s raining outside we can go to a mall or something.

Part II of this: I’m not sure which scenario will apply…

We had our campervan and did lots of exploring. Then we got a trailer and did lots of exploring.

A) That’s it. Sell the trailer, and since that’s gone we’ll sell the truck as well, buy a sticks and bricks, we’re finished with our exploration phase.

B) We’ll get a sticks and bricks but keep the trailer for still more adventures (and/or house guests could stay in it or it could be a man cave/she shed). We’ll run electric, water, and sewer to it. So we’ll need the truck to tow it even after this whirlwind tour.

9

Other than the length, that’s a pretty light trailer. It’s within the capacity of my old mid-size Dodge Dakota, believe it or not. (6010 GVWR, 3250 lb towing capacity, etc…) I wouldn’t recommend using such a smallish truck to do it, but it would imply that a 1/2 ton would do the job just fine. Of course, YMMV (literally and figuratively), and I’d probably consult the trailer manufacturer to see what they say.

10

They seem to be pretty well made. I stumbled across an article with recommendations for light trailers and I’d never heard of the brand, but they’ve been around 62 years. Mrs. L still thinks we ought to go for a fifth wheel for better control.

Video tour of one

Here’s a 2018 model for a little over $26,000. The GVWR is still only 7600 lbs, 2650 of it cargo.

https://rvbg.trailerlife.com/product/2018-allen-camper-manufacturing-co-inc-idle-time-219-rks/

They don’t appear to be RVIA certified, though.

11

Oh. A truck.
https://www.audiomasterclass.com/i/guitar-pickup.jpg