


This is one of the best aftermarket improvements you can make for your motorhome, and can keep your RV stable, even at highway speeds.įor fifth wheel RVs, the box of the back of the truck is very important. If you are towing a bumper-pull travel trailer as compared to a fifth wheel travel trailer, you’ll need a sway bar. With a trailer brake controller, you can add or detract power from your travel trailer’s brake system, and monitor it without even stepping out of your car. It’s also a smart idea to invest in an electronic brake control. While these are great for anyone towing an RV, they’re especially important for half-ton trucks. RV tow mirrors extend or stick on to your truck’s side mirrors to extend your range of view and banish blind spots. The caveat to towing a travel trailer with a half-ton truck is that you’ll need to tack some add-ons to ensure safe towing.įirst, you’ll need a set of tow mirrors. If your trailer is less than that, you should be ok, provided you don’t overload it. The tow ratings on most half-ton trucks range from 6,500 to 10,000 lbs. The suspensions and engines of modern trucks are brawnier than trucks from years past. If your truck is less than four years old, it’s essentially a three-quarter-ton truck from 15 years ago. Most half-ton trucks can keep up with the weight of a travel trailer. Numbers are often skewed lower to keep consumers safe, when, in reality, most trucks can tow more than they claim. The issue lies in the fact that there is no industry-wide standard for towing weight. They’re the same weight with similar engines, so what gives? In a nutshell, towing capacity is hard to measure. Should you be concerned? Can you tow a new travel trailer with a half-ton vehicle? TRUCKS TODAY Your half-ton truck, while reliable, doesn’t look like it’s up to the challenge of carting it down the highway dozens of times. Most travel trailers are in the neighborhood of 6,000 to 8,000 lbs., and that’s before you put food, drinks, clothes and the bunches of other stuff necessary for a weekend (or longer) excursion. But there’s one glaring problem: it’s heavy. Big slideouts, an outdoor kitchen and a huge awning make it the perfect camper you need for years of adventure in the wild. The trailer you’ve got your eye on has just about everything you need.
