What about towing with more truck than you need?

[Atwebs]

We've almost always towed with too much vehicle for the 45 years we've towed. I can tell you what happens, you have more than enough power for hills, passing and fighting winds. You don't have issues with the trailer pushing or pulling the tow vehicle. You might pay a bit more for the gas consumption, sometimes the tow vehicle is harder to park.

The only drawback we have ever had is we were able to tow a double axle trailer for quite a distance with a blown tire and we didn't even FEEL it go (some gusty winds on the open highway that day). Luckily it was SOB trailer and although we tortured the remaining tire on that side a nice guy passing us alerted us to the issue we had and we were able to change it safely.

[John Ware]

Originally Posted by PrairiePete

This is an unusual situation for me, and most people it seems because I can't find any discussion going this direction.


I recently bought a Flying Cloud 20FB, gross weight 5000 lb. By the numbers and my use to this point, my current truck is capable enough, but closer on payload than I'd like, so I'm considering buying a larger truck.


My question: Are there significant downsides to buying more truck than I need; for example, an F150 with the max payload package (almost 3000 lbs. payload capacity) and max trailer package (almost 8000 lbs more GCWR than my trailer, truck, and gear combined).



I'd rather buy a bigger truck now than wish I had later, but I don't want to get a beefier truck if it will cause issues that I am unaware of.


Thanks.
Pete

I've been down that same road. Get a diesel F250. The F150 is fine on flat land but is weak on freeway grades.

[DewTheDew]

Originally Posted by PrairiePete

Since I have it set up the way I like, and it seems to be getting the job done, I'll keep using my current TV until it tells me it's not enough.


Pete

Glad you have something that works! If you are like we were, it is probably worthwhile to go to a CAT scale once a year as you start adding stuff to take :-) Maybe you are more minimalist than we are, though. Have fun!

And to answer your direct question, I don't think there is a downside to having "too much truck" when towing. It is the other considerations, as noted here (size, drivability on a daily basis, fuel mileage....) that will be bigger parts of the equation.

[Spaggs]

Go big. You may decide to go bigger in trailer size at a later time. If I were to buy new, I’d purchase an F-350 single axle. I’ve never heard anyone say “oh my gosh, what am I going to do with all this unused payload capacity.”
Go big.

[KCurtis]

I just upgrade from a Chevy 1/2 ton that had a bit over 1000 pounds of payload to a Ram dually that has a bit over 7000 pounds of payload. That is because I was tired of traveling at my max load rating, while having to leave things I wanted home in order to not be over our limit. I wish I had fully understood this when I bought my truck 1.5 years ago.

I agree… go with the largest truck you can afford within reason.

[kdfulsome54]

Originally Posted by LNBright

I have a 20FB, I’m using a 1500 Sierra crew cab as my TV, they pair well together.

I don’t think you’ll find a payload over 2k w/o going up to a 2500/3500 (or 250/350) instead of a 1500 (or 150).

I have a 2018 Silverado 1500 4x4 with the max tow package. My payload is 2040. I searched for 6 months to find this vehicle. There are some out there, but you have to be persistent a d keep calling dealers.

[tjdonahoe]

No such thing as too much horsepower,or too much money…:

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by SlowPokePete

......

I have read about larger trucks with very heavy duty rear suspensions (F-450, maybe even F-350) being too harsh on the trailer, though. This is something I will do more research on...the purchase is a long way off for sure.

.......

SPP

Hi

The F-450 is a very different truck than the F250/F350. The entire suspension is done from scratch for that model. The F250 / F350 share a lot of stuff. If you look at a "max load" F250 and a "base load" F350 there is only one thing that anybody has ever noticed: You get one more leaf in the rear spring. It engages only when the truck is very heavily loaded.

Indeed you can ramp up this and that as you play with the order sheet on the F350. The same is true of the F250 to a lesser extent. You can get into the > 4,000 pounds payload region on the F350 without doing anything to crazy.

Bob

[SYC2Vette]

For your 20FB I suggest going smaller, no really. Our GMC Canyon has been flawless towing our 20 footer for over 15,000 miles now, it is rock solid in heavy crosswinds that have big rigs leaning over and swaying. Admittedly we added a supercharger to better handle the high altitude passes in Colorado, but it is seriously a great combination. The ~1500 lb payload is adequate but we do have to load accordingly, surprisingly it seems a lot of "1/2 tons" have similar payload capacity. We have an older K2500/7.4L for any heavy hauling, but the Canyon handling, acceleration, parking ease, and MPG as a daily driver make it a great truck for me. It even meets the criteria of a GVWR greater than the trailer GVWR as some have suggested as a guideline. Any consideration of a larger AS (than 20') changes that idea though.

[doctorlewis]

Like many others have said - go with the bigger truck. I tow my 2004 25 foot Classic with a Silverado 2500. Most of the time I forget that the trailer is behind me. I have never regretted moving up to the larger size truck.

[drmox]

My TV is a '03 Cummins Dodge 2500, and it pulls my 31 foot Sovereign without a hitch (figuratively speaking). However, it is not my daily driver, and I don't think I would ever do that. MPGs, choppy ride, some four point turns in and out of parking spots, and generally worse maneuverability, all factor into that decision.
If your TV is only your Airstream mover, and your trip to Home Depot-mobile, then I'd say go with a 3/4-ton.

[skucera]

I think we're getting to the core of the overkill question. I have a 27" Excella that's 5500 lbs. empty. That was right at the maximum my old Land Rover could tow, but any load in the trailer, like water or sewage or food, would send it over the max, and perhaps throw an error on my self-leveling suspension. So, I went overkill and bought an old F-350 Powerstroke. I don't even need to mount the load-distributing bars on the hitch that came with the trailer, there's so little difference in right height when hitched up.


Are there costs? Actually, the main costs are ride and turning circle. The Powerstroke gets the same fuel economy as the Rover did, but pulls so much more easily when towing. Maintenance is probably a little more expensive, but that's a debatable point, since the Rover wasn't exactly cheap to maintain either. I'm not seeing many other downsides to going big.


Scott

[LLninja]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

No such thing as too much horsepower,or too much money…:

I don’t agree. I don’t think anyone really needs the 1000hp in the first edition Hummer EVs and if you make too much and also have too much in your retirement accounts it appears Congress has set out to punish you with the latest rumored tax code changes. Ironically this might cause a bunch of people to cash out some of their Roths to avoid getting penalized too hard.

But I digress.. back to airstream tow vehicle discussions. I’ve always wanted a 3500 crew cab duallly (which my daughter called a crab Rangoony when she was 5), but never could afford it when I was younger raising a family and paying for kid’s college tuitions. The next few years should be interesting as first adopters will invariably tow airstreams with a Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Cybertruck, Rivian, or.Silverado EV. Range anxiety will be an issue, but hopefully the charging infrastructure will improve to the point that it becomes a non-issue. Now that I’m retired, I can see myself doing 200-300 mile days and taking my time to meander about the country rather than try to get to a destination with a long drive making towing with an EV entirely possible,

[nitzo]

Originally Posted by Spaggs

Go big. You may decide to go bigger in trailer size at a later time. If I were to buy new, I’d purchase an F-350 single axle. I’ve never heard anyone say “oh my gosh, what am I going to do with all this unused payload capacity.”
Go big.

Our current rig:









We did this for awhile the added payload of the dually was really nice:






We are down sizing a bit, we have a 2022 F-350 on order, but this time it's just a SRW.

My daily driver is a 2500 Duramax.

[McStreamy_]

Originally Posted by PrairiePete

My question: Are there significant downsides to buying more truck than I need; for example, an F150 with the max payload package (almost 3000 lbs. payload capacity) and max trailer package (almost 8000 lbs more GCWR than my trailer, truck, and gear combined).

We have a 2018 F-150 lariat with the heavy duty payload package as well as the max tow package. Love it. It's a phenomenal daily driver, fits in the garage, and has plenty of payload and tow capacity to spare if we ever want to move up from our 25'. Purchased it used in 2020 since they stopped offering the HDPP with the lariat trim in 2018. Send me a PM if you want some of the tricks I learned searching for it.

Originally Posted by LNBright

I don’t think you’ll find a payload over 2k w/o going up to a 2500/3500 (or 250/350) instead of a 1500 (or 150).

Our F-150 lariat's payload is 2341. It's possible, but not easy to find.

[SlowPokePete]

Originally Posted by McStreamy_

Our F-150 lariat's payload is 2341. It's possible, but not easy to find.

That is impressive for a 1/2 ton truck....that is what's on the yellow sticker?

SPP

[McStreamy_]

Originally Posted by SlowPokePete

That is impressive for a 1/2 ton truck....that is what's on the yellow sticker?

SPP

Yep! It's a supercrew with the 6.5' bed.

[SlowPokePete]

Originally Posted by McStreamy_

Yep! It's a supercrew with the 6.5' bed.

Very nice.

SPP

[jondrew55]

Originally Posted by McStreamy_

Yep! It's a supercrew with the 6.5' bed.

Same payload as my Ram 2500 Diesel. Actually, I think it’s 40 pounds more. I’ve got a 2000 pound tongue weight.

[Daquenzer]

I tow a 28' with an F150 max tow with 1700lbs of payload. The real issue is the rear axle weight capacity. I got 20" wheels which increased that capacity to 4200lbs. Works great. I use for my daily driver. I have to get in and out of driveways as an appraiser, so I don't want a big 2500 to try and turn. Turning radius stinks. But that's me. I'm just saying it can be done. And everyone has their own circumstances to deal with. What right for you may not be right for me.