Towing with a full size

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by ZachO

Did you just make that image? Nice.

Yeah, suddenly it seemed like a good idea!

I do and don't miss a clutch. I could cover all three pedals simultaneously on most of the European and Japanese cars, and with a hand-brake it could be a lot of fun.

On the other hand, American vehicles with a manual transmission and foot-operated emergency brakes; that was a travesty. Although, popping the clutch on a granny gear could compensate for that foolish arrangement. Hand throttles were nice, when you had one.

I'm basically good with "lazy" anymore, but I'd love to have something less-automated for Sunday fun-time. Our JGC has Quadra-Drive II with a freakin' dial and buttons to select the terrain setting. I feel like I ought to wash my hands before I even touch it.

Hey, I have to push a button now; does that make it a manual transmission?!?

[CarlD]

According to my neighbor, who is a retired truck driver, there are trucks and big trucks. If you really need to tow something you might want THOR.
3974 hp.

[bigb]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

I was expecting you to say trucks got wimpy when they eliminated the solid front axle...

Ford and Dodge still offer solid front axles

[ZachO]

Originally Posted by bigb

Ford and Dodge still offer solid front axles

And I hear they’re a much smoother ride than my old Toyota (which, now that I think about it, also had a metal dashboard).

[ZachO]

I hear you Mike. The clutch is really nice. I like to have control. But a lot of it is just that it’s fun. A few years with an auto and I’d likely forget what I was missing, and also realize what I had been missing. There are nice things about autos. Coming back from watching the eclipse a few years ago, I got stuck in stop and go traffic on the interstate. With the camper, and a clutch. Not fun.

I was also smart enough to drive my 1978 Toyota motorhome with a clutch through downtown San Francisco. Imagine the light turning green on one of those hills, with traffic lined up behind you! A lot of pressure. That was...a clutch situation with a clutch...Getting silly now..

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by bigb

Ford and Dodge still offer solid front axles

I meant on 2WD... LOL!

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by Anachron

Going back to the original post, I agree that more truck is generally better for towing. The real question is how much truck is enough. It’s easy when you already have a work truck that you also use for pleasure.
But if you need to trade up from a car in order to get into the RV lifestyle, how much do you buy? Especially if it’s part time RVing and the truck will also be your daily driver.

To me, you either get a tow vehicle that is adequate to safely tow your camper (which can mean buying a replacement vehicle), or you downsize the camper to fit the tow vehicle you already have.

I went with this process years ago with a fifth wheel trailer. Started with a half ton pickup truck (that the RV dealer "assured me" was more than enough tow vehicle), ended up with a one ton dually.

This time I wanted to just stick with my half ton pickup. More comfortable to drive, dramatically better fuel economy, bought and paid for. So I downsized the camper choices so that my F150 is more than adequate for the task. I know I can't go back to the larger traditional 5th wheel of the past without getting a different (and larger) TV.

In the world of molded FG trailers, many are having success using a mid sized SUV. Of course, it depends on the trailer..

[Jon in AZ]

One school of thought is get the trailer first, then the tow vehicle needed to tow it. That can be a fail if the tow vehicle ends up being more than you want to live with on a daily basis.

The alternative is to buy or keep a vehicle you love and limit your trailer search to whatever it can tow. That can also be a fail if the trailer is less than you need to travel comfortably.

The reality is more like a complicated dance between the two with give and take on both sides of the equation. Sounds like you’ve found your sweet spot, Bill, with your F-150 and Escape 19.

[ZachO]

We've solved the mystery of "real trucks"! It's a real truck if a cowgirl is driving it. Whether or not it's "full size" is still unknown...

[steve dunham]

It seems that the best tow vehicles often make lousy commuter vehicles and the best commuter vehicles often make lousy tow vehicles
We have a full size truck for towing our Escape 21 and a small SUV for running errands .
If one has to try and make it work with a dual purpose vehicle , then compromises have to be made
When we purchased our truck , we planned on towing and equipped the vehicle accordingly . Trying to modify a vehicle to make it do something it was not designed to do escapes me

[Civilguy]

Trying to modify a vehicle to make it do something it was not designed to do escapes me

Well, all I know is that I like that Montana gal's grocery-getter!

[Peder_y2k]

Not that it matters, I guess antique trucks don't require a rear license plate in Montana. Wish my state was doing same.

[ZachO]

The licence plate is there, I blurred it.

Though in this town, unless the cops were looking for a reason to pull you over, you could get away with about anything.

[ZachO]

I kind of think that woman would laugh at her truck being called an antique, too. There are old timers here who drive trucks significantly older than the pictured one; not restored, not as a "recreational" vehicle, but just as the truck they've owned all their life. They have that nice patina that's left when the gloss is long gone, and the entire thing is covered with a light surface rust.

[Civilguy]

Vintage, heck, it's hardly broke in yet. You know you've got a working truck when a gallon or two of DTM Alkyd Enamel applied with a brush and roller is just the thing to freshen it up.

I say that's freedom. I'm looking forward to the day I can do it to mine!

[ZachO]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Trying to modify a vehicle to make it do something it was not designed to do escapes me

I resemble that comment.

[redbarron55]

When I was young and living in Birmingham, AL. with all of the pollution from the steel plants I had a friend who's dad worked the the plant and drove a Studebaker Champion with the bull's eye front. He painted his car with a brush and green universal Plant paint every year. In those days a car would rust from the outside in from the C&&^p in the air.

[redbarron55]

Also as to towing with a "full sized" so far I haven't seen anyone towing with a scaled down anything, unlike the Smokey Yunick built 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle – it was banned by NASCAR before it had a chance to compete. Rumor was it was a 7/8 scale. Not quite true, but close.

[redbarron55]

Here is a picture of the truck that Lee Hurley built to set the worlds speed record in at Talladega in 1976. The truck is now in the Museum at the racetrack.
Lee's motto (among others) was "Speed costs money, How fast do you want to go?"

[ZachO]

So that's the 76 body style? There are a few of those driving around town here.