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However, back in the day, a 1/2 ton was a good work truck and light hauling.
Pulling more than 3k lbs in a regular basis and I prefer to step up to 3/4 ton for sure.
The brakes are a big diffence, much heavier and stronger.
Also, the axles and drive train are much beefier.
Today that number is 7,000 lbs. 1/2 ton trucks are way more robust than they were back then, more similar to a 3/4 ton. If you tow more than 7k regularly you should step up to a 3/4 ton.
We don’t know if @Striker223 has gone over 70mph let alone 170mph.😆😆
Here’s how 170mph look👇 and my friend just passed me while I was WOT!!
Originally Posted by Toys4RJill
Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD enters the chat…lol
Less hp and torque than V8 Tundra. 3/4 ton stronger rear suspension. Doesn’t sag as much.
Originally Posted by Margate330
I don't know how theyr'e making trucks today.
However, back in the day, a 1/2 ton was a good work truck and light hauling.
Pulling more than 3k lbs in a regular basis and I prefer to step up to 3/4 ton for sure.
The brakes are a big diffence, much heavier and stronger.
Also, the axles and drive train are much beefier.
That’s overkill. You can pull that load comfortably with a mid size truck (Tacoma, Frontier) But yes brakes are more beefier on larger truck but then again more than likely you want to have a trailer brake controller. Tundra has 10.5 inch rear end coupled with 4.30 gears with brakes controller as well.
Originally Posted by Stroock639
aww man you're lucky then... you weren't paying attention during the BMW glory years of the 90s and early 00s so you don't know what a fall from grace the brand has taken haha
to be fair the Z8 is so rare even casual bimmer fans probably don't know about it, i've only seen one a handful of times and it's not like they sold many when it was new either... one of the very few BMWs ever you could make money on as the original owner!
I have some learning to do. Around what time frame (model years) did BMW earn the bad rep that many still think they are known for? B58 is the new 2JZ or at least the proper successor.
321i my mom had and gave to my sister I don’t recall it having any issues. Even had the cell phone in the bag.😆 Still have it actually.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
Today that number is 7,000 lbs. 1/2 ton trucks are way more robust than they were back then, more similar to a 3/4 ton. If you tow more than 7k regularly you should step up to a 3/4 ton.
If person is trying to stay within spec, the low payload is the Achilles heel of 1/2 ton trucks. Thats where 3/4 ton and larger trucks make the difference plus the option of a diesel engine.
Originally Posted by FrankReynoldsCPA
My truck handles 7k like it's nothing.
Mid size truck territory
Last edited by BayeauxLex; Jul 22, 2025 at 04:22 PM.
meanwhile on my travels, down the interstates in heavy traffic I have seen folks chance Ole Nissan Versa (the smaller then sentra sedan) CVTs with small open trailers carrying more then design limit both in total and tongue weight, in sweltering temps...
meanwhile on my travels, down the interstates in heavy traffic I have seen folks chance Ole Nissan Versa (the smaller then sentra sedan) CVTs with small open trailers carrying more then design limit both in total and tongue weight, in sweltering temps...
My sis towed the small U-Haul enclosed trailer from Virginia to Louisiana with a 2011 4 cylinder Camry. She got rid of the Camry for a Fiat because she thought it was cute until it left her stranded with a blown engine on side of the highway at night.
I’ve towed with a 1/2 ton truck, a Nissan Xterra and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Please don’t call
me a liar, I have never called you a liar in the face of all of your frankly ridiculous things you have said you do and have done lol.
And all the 1/2 ton trucks are all on new generation frames, the Sequoia is also on a new generation frame from the one you have. All of those frames are all much more rigid than the previous frames. 1/2 ton trucks have nothing in common with passenger cars which of course you know.
Don’t single me out and argue with me. Argue with everybody else posting that also disagrees.
To use your own line "people with experience aren't at the mercy of those with an opinion"
You have never used a full size SUV as you just admitted, those are all midsized and not comparable nor have you towed 7k plus with them. What was the half ton? I will single you out especially after you admit you have never used a full size SUV for mid level weight so you don't have any experience
New trucks frames are better sure, they still do not come by default with self leveling suspensions and the majority has leaf springs and ARE uncomfortable or will squat and the front end gets light in half tons. My complaint with half tons isn't frame flex it's the damn trailer bounce and front end getting light because of the simplistic setup with not all that much weight being pulled.
You need the air option or a heavier truck to feel good towing anything above 8k, I've done more than that a few times with a few half tons and they all suck. Heaviest I regularly tow are suburban XL weight vehicles on a 3200lb car trailer and it's SO much nicer with a 2500 class vehicle, I borrowed one to try and see if I could feel a difference and it's night and day.
It's intolerable in a half ton without air because the front end is light, steering gets jittery, and any bump in the road causes the rear of the truck to bounce in a very annoying manner. They will do it sure but it sucks and something with air and active roll control totally eliminates those two issues unlike a basic leaf sprung truck
Last edited by Striker223; Jul 22, 2025 at 04:38 PM.
That's because trucks are cheap, here at the private marina if we again exclude the 2500s and only look at the half tons it's closer to a 50/50 split between the max trim 1500s and Range Rovers/escalades/expeditions and other large fancy SUVs
Really. Trucks are cheap? That's news to me. All the Denalis and Limited F150s at the ramps are cheap vehicles?
1500s can tow, people saying they can't or aren't good at it is like me saying your cars suck above 100MPH and aren't stable.
Should we be all towing with W12 Audi sedans? There's nothing they can't do apparently.
Today that number is 7,000 lbs. 1/2 ton trucks are way more robust than they were back then, more similar to a 3/4 ton. If you tow more than 7k regularly you should step up to a 3/4 ton.
Agreed with that, half's are good to about 8/9k but some of the more ambitious ratings like 10/11k really strike me as suspect considering the brakes are the same size, they use the same axles, same trans, and strongly highlight it's UP TO that amount only if you do not exceed tongue weight. There is a large amount of cases where you aren't getting anywhere close to 10k legally because of the tongue weight limit on any half ton even with a distributing hitch
The payload is just too low on half ton if you have a extended cab and a bunch of luxury fixings to the point you are dealing with sometimes as low as 700lb tongue weight and if you don't have air to absorb the trailer moving up and down it gets annoying in a hurry. Toyotas have always been somewhat immune to this by making the tundra more like a heavy 1/2 ton vs the domestics because they simply do not offer real trucks. That's why they do better in many cases but it's all moot once the 250/2500s come into play with 10k plus loads
Last edited by Striker223; Jul 22, 2025 at 04:45 PM.
To use your own line "people with experience aren't at the mercy of those with an opinion"
You have never used a full size SUV as you just admitted, those are all midsized and not comparable nor have you towed 7k plus with them. What was the half ton? I will single you out especially after you admit you have never used a full size SUV for mid level weight so you don't have any experience
New trucks frames are better sure, they still do not come by default with self leveling suspensions and the majority has leaf springs and ARE uncomfortable or will squat and the front end gets light in half tons. My complaint with half tons isn't frame flex it's the damn trailer bounce and front end getting light because of the simplistic setup with not all that much weight being pulled.
You need the air option or a heavier truck to feel good towing anything above 8k, I've done more than that a few times with a few half tons and they all suck. Heaviest I regularly tow are suburban XL weight vehicles on a 3200lb car trailer and it's SO much nicer with a 2500 class vehicle, I borrowed one to try and see if I could feel a difference and it's night and day.
It's intolerable in a half ton without air because the front end is light, steering gets jittery, and any bump in the road causes the rear of the truck to bounce in a very annoying manner. They will do it sure but it sucks and something with air and active roll control totally eliminates those two issues unlike a basic leaf sprung truck
Nice goalpost move lol. “You’ve never towed!” Oh wait he has towed! “You’ve never towed with a BOF SUV!” Let’s ignore that it’s the same frame as a BOF pickup lol
Also in the double goalpost move nobody is saying it’s not better to tow with a 3/4 ton truck. Tow your suburban XL weight vehicle on a 3,200 lb trailer with a unibody SUV and tell us that’s better than a half ton truck. That is after all what we’re talking about. We’re comparing towing significant trailers with unibody SUVs vs BOF trucks, not 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton.
Nice goalpost move lol. “You’ve never towed!” Oh wait he has towed! “You’ve never towed with a BOF SUV!” Let’s ignore that it’s the same frame as a BOF pickup lol
Also in the double goalpost move nobody is saying it’s not better to tow with a 3/4 ton truck. Tow your suburban XL weight vehicle on a 3,200 lb trailer with a unibody SUV and tell us that’s better than a half ton truck. That is after all what we’re talking about. .
I never once moved the goalposts, even though you are attempting to use that fallacy against me.
We were all talking about full size SUVs and half ton trucks and car trailers/cars being towed and yeah I assumed you have never towed because of where you live, what you do, and how you present as a person and sure enough you have never done the same as what we were talking about. Your grand Cherokee is not the same class at all nor an an Xterra, a Grand Wagoner is or an Armada not the midsized options, same way a RR sport isn't in the conversation
I have done exactly that, I DID tow that weight of vehicle in my usual trailer with a FULL SIZE UNIBODY SUV that has active suspension and air vs A FEW HALF TON TRUCKS and it was more comfortable of an experience. They all however sucked vs 2500 class diesels but for the half tons and comparable SUVs the SUVs do better with the moderate loads exactly as I said before and I'm now reiterating for clarity before you attempt to use a fallacy argument falsely against me again.
I've never used some GLE/grand Cherokee midsize suv thing to tow nor would I even try it, that was never what we were talking about aside from you bringing up and my making fun of the person on MBworld who doesn't even have a GLS that would be more comparable to a full size SUV for that. That is a full class below and not relevant nor what the rest of us were talking about
Really. Trucks are cheap? That's news to me. All the Denalis and Limited F150s at the ramps are cheap vehicles?
1500s can tow, people saying they can't or aren't good at it is like me saying your cars suck above 100MPH and aren't stable.
Should we be all towing with W12 Audi sedans? There's nothing they can't do apparently.
Relative to a same size SUV yes they are, what's the price of a GMC truck vs the SUV? Can you get a stripper SUV? What's the base price on an Escalade or RR or similar full size SUV?
I never said 1500s can't tow, I just said I perfer ones that come with the optional air suspension since it makes the experience far better and lessens higher tongue weight issues just like the AHC does in your LX. Same thing, and you get stuff like that more easily or by default in high end SUVs like an LX
Cars can't tow as much (again because of suspension max weight issues) but I bet you if for some insane reason I wanted to that my D4s have a higher tow rating than you would think. It's higher than nearly any other full-size car and most mid size SUVs at 5250lb
Last edited by Striker223; Jul 22, 2025 at 05:16 PM.
To use your own line "people with experience aren't at the mercy of those with an opinion"
You have never used a full size SUV as you just admitted, those are all midsized and not comparable nor have you towed 7k plus with them. What was the half ton? I will single you out especially after you admit you have never used a full size SUV for mid level weight so you don't have any experience
New trucks frames are better sure, they still do not come by default with self leveling suspensions and the majority has leaf springs and ARE uncomfortable or will squat and the front end gets light in half tons. My complaint with half tons isn't frame flex it's the damn trailer bounce and front end getting light because of the simplistic setup with not all that much weight being pulled.
You need the air option or a heavier truck to feel good towing anything above 8k, I've done more than that a few times with a few half tons and they all suck. Heaviest I regularly tow are suburban XL weight vehicles on a 3200lb car trailer and it's SO much nicer with a 2500 class vehicle, I borrowed one to try and see if I could feel a difference and it's night and day.
It's intolerable in a half ton without air because the front end is light, steering gets jittery, and any bump in the road causes the rear of the truck to bounce in a very annoying manner. They will do it sure but it sucks and something with air and active roll control totally eliminates those two issues unlike a basic leaf sprung truck
Originally Posted by Striker223
Agreed with that, half's are good to about 8/9k but some of the more ambitious ratings like 10/11k really strike me as suspect considering the brakes are the same size, they use the same axles, same trans, and strongly highlight it's UP TO that amount only if you do not exceed tongue weight. There is a large amount of cases where you aren't getting anywhere close to 10k legally because of the tongue weight limit on any half ton even with a distributing hitch
The payload is just too low on half ton if you have a extended cab and a bunch of luxury fixings to the point you are dealing with sometimes as low as 700lb tongue weight and if you don't have air to absorb the trailer moving up and down it gets annoying in a hurry. Toyotas have always been somewhat immune to this by making the tundra more like a heavy 1/2 ton vs the domestics because they simply do not offer real trucks. That's why they do better in many cases but it's all moot once the 250/2500s come into play with 10k plus loads
