What's a reliable 3/4 for towing.

While I “occasionally” tow my 8000# TT with my 2.5, I would not consider it an optimal tow pig for daily or frequent towing of that size trailer. We also predictably go to the same state parks within a few hundred miles from here. 3/4 ton will greatly improve her tow experience. I would go GM 6.6 gasser if it were me.

 

Towing a 7500lb trailer on a regular basis? I wouldn't tow that on a regular basis with any 1/2 ton pickup & daily driver that I wanted to be able to keep running for long. This coming from someone who has killed off more than one 1/2 ton truck/van based on published towing/load specs early in it's lifespan.

The 2500HD with the big gasser would be the truck I would put my eyes on first. I used to like diesels for towing but with all the new tech they are saddled with these days I wouldn't buy one unless I needed the MAX hauling capability and power, and someone else was paying for maintenance.

 

Very good points. She's like a younger sister to me and understands any criticism from me is all meant for her well being.

 

The “we will rock you” hand clapping commercials ruined the GMC option for me.

 

We have an antenna in the attic/HTPC’s. But they were fast with the hand clapping, lol

 

Yeah, that got me too.

 

Seems like in the towing range discussed, the 2500 would be nice, and I also thought hard about it, but I couldn’t get my head around it being necessary and adding real value. I see the 2500 would allow me to comfortably haul ass maybe up or down grade a bit more, but I don’t need that.

I’m no expert but I just think with the towing standards Toyota is meeting, pulling 7-8k, and with 1000 lbs. tongue weight with WDH, and meeting their specified payload is OK, all day. I mean it’s all been said before but I just think it’s reasonable. I did buy a Sherline, and so the main thing is knowing how to dial in the tongue weight. Plus the Tundra engine seems on par with the 6.6. Seems like the 3/4 is a good choice and the Tundra will also work fine in the 7 - 8 k range, so time will tell. I know there’s a lot of folks on here who have many miles towing with HDs and also the Tundra. I’m hoping my only downside is more frequent maintenance,

the rest is keeping my eye out for the hand clappers on the highway.

 

It's two different towing experiences between a half ton and a 3/4 ton and up. It's not all about "capability". I would prefer to tow my 8000# TT with a 3/4 ton truck. It's an easier, more effortless towing experience. The tool matches the job. But I tow only 6-8 times a year and the rest of the time my truck is a DD. So I make due with my 1/2 ton those 6-8 times so I can be more comfortable the rest of the time I'm not towing. If I needed a dedicated tow rig for frequent use, I would upgrade to a 3/4 ton. It's not all about the pull. It's about the handling and the stopping as well.

 

The shear weight difference of an HD against a multi thousand pound trailer makes it worth it. I’ve been spoiled towing with hd’s most of my life so towing with a half ton is hard. I despise it but can’t justify an HD cost for towing a side by side.

 

Having towed a similar weight ratio scenario with a Sequoia for 1000s of miles all over the western states over ten years, I’m comfortable that new Tundra is performing fine with this towing weight range, without being too heavy, and with a good power-to-weight ratio. The HD would be less math, and didn’t feel more capable other than payload.

 

I’m kind of in the same boat as you. I have a 22’ rv that fully loaded is around 6500 pounds, that I pull about 8-10 times a year. We usually go about 400 miles round trip. This trip includes a few steep grades. Those who are familiar with Arizona, we go from the phx area up to Payson and then on to the Heber-Overgaard area. The tundra does really good for a half ton. I am able to maintain 50-60 mph up the grades without laying into it too hard. I try to just let the truck do its thing. Now would a 3/4 do it better absolutely it would but like you I daily drive my truck. I’m not so sure I’d want to daily drive a 3/4 ton. I’ve been doing a lot of research lately as sometime in the next year or two I’d like to get a new truck. That being said I don’t know what I would buy if I had to buy a truck today. I have always been a Toyota fan and the new hybrid or even non hybrid seems like it would fit my needs but I also have looked into the 3.0 duramax seems like a great truck but if I’m being honest the emissions stuff scares me a bit. Or there is the thought of going 3/4 ton but I feel that would definitely push to me to also purchase a commuter car which is an added expense. I don’t know if there is any correct answer that checks all the boxes. But I’ll keep doing my research and will eventually get out and test drive a few different rigs as I get more serious about upgrading. Anyway sorry for the rant but that’s the things I’ve been wrestling with in my head.

 

How is she cooking transmissions in the Titan that fast?

 

Reading all the posts here, This is my suggestion both for easy in towing and safety.
Find clean lower mile Ram 2500 with the Cummins and the Jake Brake option. The Jake Brake really adds to stopping safety. Its fully automatic, when turned on, just release
foot pressure on the go pedal and the Jake comes on, press on the go pedal and the Jake goes off. Added with cruise control on, the Jake will keep you at the cruise control setting coming down a long grade. I have towed heavy for many years. always with Jake Brakes.
Like American Express says "Never leave home with out it" ha ha
Paul

 

That I don't know. She traded her previous one because she said the torque converter was going bad now she says this one is doing the same thing. My first thought was she's towing in drive without doing anything special like we use tow/haul and S4. She said she always put it in tow mode and usually doesn't go faster than 60. I looked at a Titan owners manual and really didn't find much except using tow mode and shorter maintenance intervals required which she does at the Nissan dealership.

Since I've never driven her truck I can't honestly say what's going on. BTW, she subscribes to the Just Rolled In YT channel so she's no dummy when it comes to twisting wrenches.

 

I have a similar towing situation as your friend and got rid of my trusty ole Tundra for a 2024 GMC 6.6L gasser 3500 with the 10sp back in June of last year. Payload was an issue with the Tundra after we got the camper loaded and hooked up with our family of four and gear in the bed. I drove both the 2500 and 3500 and couldn't tell a noticeable difference, so I just went with the 3500.

Towing is night and day different between the Tundra and an HD truck—just so much more "solid". I don't tow heavy enough or often enough to justify the cost and emissions system concerns with the diesel. I drove both the GM and Ford gas models and the GM just seemed to drive much better, probably due to the IFS instead of the solid front axle in the Ford. I'm sure the Ford with the 7.3 Godzilla is a great platform as well.

 

That's in the 1500s. Pretty sure the ones in the heavy duty trucks aren't related.