travel trailer pull truck

What’s the Best Truck for Towing a Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel?

Everything you need to know about truck size, towing capacity, engine types, drivetrain, payload, and more.

By Johann Schnell

If you’re considering buying a travel trailer or fifth wheel, you’ll need a truck with towing capabilities. There are plenty of trucks to choose from, and each brand and model will be different. 

Choosing the proper tow vehicle can feel overwhelming. This guide will break down each step of the process when trying to find the right truck to tow your rig.

In this article:

• Truck Brands
• Truck Towing Capacity and Payload

The Best Trucks for Towing 2020

Where to compare trucks for towing.

• Tow Vehicle Features to Consider

Truck Brands 

It’s best to keep an open mind when it comes to choosing your tow vehicle. Try to put any automaker brand loyalty aside, since limiting your truck options can affect the type of trailer you are able to tow. 

Automaker quality changes over time and manufacturers constantly develop new features, like towing safety technologies. Manufacturers build vehicles with the same chassis, drivetrain, and design for approximately 4 to 7 years, a period typically known as a generation. When you hear that “the new-gen Tundra is coming out in 2021,” that means it will be on a whole new platform and the truck will be completely overhauled. From year to year and within the same generation, manufacturers will also make minor updates to bumpers, grilles, headlights, and other features to make the same truck slightly new and improved. 

If you love the current generation of the truck you are eyeing, look to see how far into the cycle it is. If there’s a new generation coming out next year, the current one will be discounted. Or, the truck you love could be a model from the prior generation and there may be major improvements coming out soon with the new generation. 

Truck manufacturers don’t all change generations at the same time. For example, Ford updated the generation of the “F” series trucks in 2016 and it’s the current generation manufactured today. RAM was next to come out with its new generation in 2018, and GM followed in 2019 with the current Silverado/Sierra. This allows for increased competition and to keep truck models fresh to consumers. So, if you’re a fan of Ford trucks, know that Ford will most likely overhaul its trucks in a few years, before RAM and GM. 

If you are open to any brand, then you can shop around for the right combination of cost and features to find the perfect truck within your budget.

The Importance of Truck Towing Capacity and Payload

Towing capacity is perhaps the most important consideration when choosing your towing vehicle. However, it can be confusing to compare truck models. Automakers compete in torque and toughness, all trying to offer greater towing capacity without crushing the fuel economy. 

Just because an automaker claims to be “Best in Class,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for you—or that the truck you’re looking at is able to live up to the hype. Within the same model of truck, there is a wide range of towing capabilities.

The most capable version of a truck is often the one with fewer luxury options. Generally, a heavier truck with additional upgrades will have a reduced ability to carry cargo. If you opt for these things, they will typically reduce your truck’s towing numbers. For example, off-road suspension—which can be found in Chevy’s Trailboss, RAM’s Rebel, and Ford’s Raptor—is softer and doesn’t handle heavy payloads as well. Luxury features such as leather, sun/panoramic roofs, and bigger cabs all add weight to the standard truck version, meaning less payload capacity. 

Engine options also impact towing capacity. A smaller engine means better fuel economy, but it will have less towing capacity than larger engines.

While tow capacity rankings change from year to year, it’s important to spend some time comparing the towing capacity of different truck models. Automakers including Ford, RAM, General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan adopted a uniform method for testing and rating the towing capacity of their pickup trucks, beginning with their 2015 models, which makes it easier to compare them.

Once you have a few trucks in mind, the best way to understand the specific truck’s towing capacity is to look at the driver’s side door jamb sticker. This contains tire information and payload capacity for the truck—arguably the most important number for towing. At the dealership, look at a different trim level of that same truck and you’ll see how the payload varies.

Whichever truck you pick, your towing vehicle must have a towing capacity higher than the trailer’s GVWR. Keep in mind that weight added to your towing vehicle, such as passengers and cargo, increases your GVW and factors into your vehicle’s GVWR. Head to a truck scale to get an accurate measurement of your GVW and then compare that to your GVWR.

It’s extremely important to understand payload capacity, which is the amount that the truck can hold in terms of cargo. This includes you and your family’s weight, any other passengers (including pets), gear in the cab and bed of the truck, and the weight of the hitch. It’s very common for people to go over payload without realizing it when it comes to RV towing because RVs typically have more tongue weight than boats and other types of trailers. 

When a truck is carrying too much payload, the rear suspension isn’t level. This is called sag and can be very dangerous. The nose of the truck will be higher and the steering will feel light. If the truck can’t handle the RV’s tongue weight properly, then the RV will also be unlevel with the nose down. Towing safety is incredibly important as overloading your trailer or vehicle can cause a crash.

Considerations When Towing a Fifth Wheel

Since fifth wheels are usually much heavier than comparable trailers, make sure your towing vehicle can support the hitch weight and the tow weight of a fifth wheel. If you’re towing a fifth wheel, you’ll likely need a truck with a more payload and a higher towing capacity than if you have a bumper pull or more traditional travel trailer. 

When shopping for a truck to pull a fifth wheel, it’s recommended to look for one that comes with fifth wheel prep from the factory as this means it will also come with other options that are optimized for towing a camper. If there’s a specific truck that meets your taste and has the capacities to tow your camper, there are aftermarket options for models that aren’t prepped for the fifth wheel to hook up to the bed of the truck.

The truck’s payload also plays an important role in a fifth wheel combination because it has high weights that are transferred to the truck. This is why some people find the need to go from a three-quarter-ton truck to a one-ton—for example, if you have a RAM 2500 HD truck, but the fifth wheel’s pin weight, plus passengers, exceed 3,000 pounds. The average RAM 2500 payload maxes out around 3,000 pounds, but the average RAM 3500 can handle 4,000 pounds.

Towing a trailer or fifth wheel takes raw power, a transmission that’s built to distribute that power, a cooling system to keep everything from melting, brakes to be able to stop it, and axles and suspension to support the weight.

It’s crucial to carefully check the specifications of a truck. Why? The engine, gearing, length, cab style, bed style, axles, and towing packages all affect the truck’s towing capacity. While a properly configured RAM 3500 can tow upwards of 30,000 pounds, that capacity drops to about 11,000 pounds without the right features and options.

Here are the 2020 trucks available in the U.S. ranked by towing capacity in their respective segments.

Note: Keep in mind that base payload numbers listed are from a standard truck. The realistic payload may be slightly lower depending on additional features and options that add weight and reduce payload capacity.

Mid-Size/Compact Trucks

Weekend warriors love compact trucks. They’re great for hauling small campers, boats, and motorcycles with maximum towing capacities ranging from 5,000 to 7,700 pounds.

Honda Ridgeline

• Base towing capacity: 3,500
• Max. towing capacity: 5,000
• Base payload: 1,452
• Max. payload: 1,499

Nissan Frontier

• Base towing capacity: 3,760
• Max. towing capacity: 6,710
• Base payload: 1,020
• Max. payload: 1,460

Toyota Tacoma

• Max. towing capacity: 6,800
• Base payload: 1,155
• Max. payload: 1,620

Ford Ranger

• Max. towing capacity: 7,500
• Base payload: 1,560
• Max. payload: 1,860

Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon

• Max. towing capacity: 7,700
• Base payload: 1,190
• Max. payload: 1,550

Jeep Gladiator

• Base towing capacity: 4,000
• Max. towing capacity: 7,650
• Base payload: 1,150
• Max. payload: 1,600

Full-Size Trucks

Full-size trucks, or half-ton trucks, are also popular. These rugged pickups are designed with plenty of torque for pulling power. Maximum towing capacities in this segment range from 9,740 to 13,200 pounds.

Nissan Titan

• Base towing capacity: 9,210
• Max. towing capacity: 9,370
• Base payload: 1,580
• Max. payload: 1,680

Toyota Tundra

• Base towing capacity: 9,200
• Max. towing capacity: 10,200
• Max. payload: 1,730

Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500

• Base towing capacity: 6,800
• Max. towing capacity: 13,400
• Base payload: 1,600
• Max. payload: 2,110
• Base towing capacity: 6,390
• Max. towing capacity: 12,750
• Base payload: 1,200
• Max. payload: 2,300
• Base towing capacity: 7,700
• Max. towing capacity: 13,200
• Base payload: 1,990
• Max. payload: 3,270

Heavy-Duty Trucks

Heavy-duty trucks are also referred to as three-quarter-ton trucks. If you own a large fifth wheel trailer or a long travel trailer, you should consider this category of trucks. They come with gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitch options that place your load directly over the axle for greater towing capacities in this segment. The added weight of the truck will also help reduce sway and provide a safer towing experience.

Nissan Titan XD

• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 10,880
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 11,040
• Max. payload: 2,240
• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 10,580
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 19,680
• Base payload: 1,620
• Max. payload: 4,010

Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500

• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 20,000
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 31,180
• Base payload: 2,047
• Max. payload: 6,610

Ford Super Duty F-250

• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 18,200
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 22,800
• Base payload: 3,040
• Max. payload: 4,160

Ultra-Duty Trucks

Ultra-duty trucks are the heroes of hauling. If you own an extra-large fifth wheel, you will probably need one of these. Their maximum towing capacity ranges from 20,000 to 32,000 pounds. While powerful, they probably won’t ride as well as lighter trucks.

Ultra-duty trucks come equipped with either single rear wheels (SRW) or dual rear wheels (DRW), also known as dually trucks. If you’re comparing the two, it’s helpful to know that single rear wheel trucks have less payload capacity, but dually trucks cost more to buy and require higher maintenance due to the extra tires. Dually trucks are wider and harder to live with as an everyday driver but handle the RV better, offering more stability on the road

Note: The highest payload and towing capacity numbers listed below are for the DRW versions of these trucks.

• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 18,000
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 35,100
• Base payload: 4,110
• Max. payload: 7,680

Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500

• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 35,500
• Base payload: 4,013
• Max. payload: 7,442

Ford Super Duty F-350

• Max. towing capacity, conventional: 21,200
• Max. towing capacity, fifth wheel: 35,750
• Base payload: 2,990
• Max. payload: 7,850

For more brand-specific towing information, check out these links:

• Ford RV Trailer and Towing Guide
• GMC Trailering and Towing Guide
• Chevy Trucks Trailering and Towing Guide
• RAM Trucks Towing and Payload Capacity Guide
• Nissan Titan Towing
• 2019 Honda Ridgeline Specs
• 2019 Toyota Tacoma Towing Specs

Features to Consider When Purchasing a Truck for Towing

Gas vs. diesel engines .

Diesel engines are great for towing because they give you low-end torque. That’s why they’re so popular with commercial towing businesses. Diesel engines provide a useful combination of everyday driving fuel economy with torque capability for pulling an RV. These engines have similar pulling characteristics to a larger V8 but get better fuel economy and range.

In prior years, diesel engines were limited to heavy-duty trucks, but now you can find lightweight trucks with high-performance diesel engines. There’s also been an increase in mid-size and full-size trucks offering small turbo diesel engines in models like the Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon, Jeep Gladiator, Ford F-150, GM 1500 Silverado and Sierra, and RAM 1500. 

While diesel engines have their benefits, they can add thousands of dollars to the purchase price. For example, you can get the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado (base price $21,300) with a Duramax 2.8L turbo-diesel engine that gives you a 7,700-pound towing capacity. However, the engine upgrade will cost you nearly $4,000.

In the full-size category, a small diesel engine is a premium option. For example, in the Chevrolet Silverado, the small diesel Duramax is $3,670 more than the biggest V8 offered and $6,600 more than the base engine. In the Ford F-150, the small Power Stroke Diesel is also the most expensive option with a $4,000 premium over the base engine.

Pros of a Diesel Truck:

• Higher towing capacity and better towing experience
• Safer descending when towing because the diesel engine has an engine brake feature to help the regular brake system not overheat
• Better fuel economy and range when towing
• Designed for a higher number of operating miles
• Higher resale value in the used market
• More torque makes the truck fun to drive

Cons of a Diesel Truck

• Limited to fuel stations or pumps with diesel gas
• Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) also needs to be filled
• Higher cost of diesel at the pump
• Service and repair costs are higher
• Diesel engine option costs more
• The diesel engine weighs more and reduces payload capacity

Consider how often you’re going to tow your RV. While diesel engines can tow more and may have better fuel economy, you might be better off with a gas engine if you aren’t towing very often.

Four-Wheel Drive

You’ll also want to consider if you need four-wheel drive, or if two-wheel drive will suffice. Nearly all pickups are based on rear-wheel drive platforms, which are designed to move heavy loads.

Traditional four-wheel drive (often called 4×4 or 4WD) is a part-time system that you turn on with a rotary switch, button, or lever when you need it. You can also select a low-range setting for challenging off-road conditions.

Full-time four-wheel drive is more versatile and is optional on some pickups. It kicks in as needed to enhance your traction, and your truck can run indefinitely in that mode without harming the drivetrain.

Here’s the trade-off: Four-wheel drive vehicles are typically a bit heavier because of the weight of the four-wheel drive components. They also usually have a slightly lower towing rating and less fuel efficiency than the same vehicle with two-wheel drive.

Here are some high-performance truck models that have four-wheel drive but less payload and towing capacity because the suspension is softer, designed for trails and sand capability: 

• Ford Raptor to the F-150
• Chevrolet Silverado Trailboss / GMC Sierra AT4
• RAM Rebel and TRX to the RAM 1500
• Toyota TRD Pro trims on the Tundra and Tacoma
• Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and Mojave to the regular Sport with Max Tow
• Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 trim level

If you’re planning to tackle tough terrain, go off-roading, or travel in the winter, you might need the extra grip of four-wheel drive. You don’t want to get stuck on soft ground or a hill with loose gravel wishing you’d gone with the more aggressive powertrain.

When looking for a pickup, you need to consider the three different types of cabs: regular cab (two-door), extended cab (three-door), or crew cab (four-door).

Regular two-door cabs offer some advantages: They’re typically less expensive and are shorter and lighter, giving you an increase in payload. But if you need room for more passengers, consider the extended and crew cabs.

Extended cabs give you additional interior storage. The rear seats may make adults feel cramped but are typically comfortable enough for kids.

Crew cabs with four regular doors give you ample room for seating or cargo, similar to full-sized SUVs. However, these large cabs usually come at the expense of a smaller cargo bed and the least amount of payload versus the other cabs.

Here’s another truck decision you’ll need to make: long- or short-bed pickup? If you choose a short-bed pickup, it will be easier to drive and park when you’re not towing. Parking your trailer at the campground should be easier, too. However, a shorter bed truck also means a shorter wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels). The longer the wheelbase of the truck, the better it will be at holding trailer sway steady when towing.

Long-bed trucks will give you more space—and more options. Long bed trucks are also more in demand, so they typically command a higher resale price.

The standard cargo bed length is 8 feet for a full-sized pickup, 6 feet for an extended cab, and 5 feet for a crew cab. Cargo beds for compact pickups usually range from 5 to 6 feet. Fold-out bed extenders are widely available as well. These extenders flip over from within the bed, fencing off the open tailgate to allow you to secure bulkier or longer cargo. 

If you are towing a fifth wheel, short beds are not recommended. Since the hitch is inside the bed, a longer bed will keep the fifth wheel further away from the cab. People do tow fifth wheels with short beds, but you’ll typically find that the trailer is making contact with the rear cab’s window with this setup. It can also be a close call when backing up as the corner of the fifth wheel swings.

Additional Features

Automakers continue to add advanced safety technologies to their lineups, including electronic braking, stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitoring (TPM), lane departure warnings, and crash avoidance. 

Most trucks now come standard with apps on their infotainment system, but there are some dedicated towing features built in to the infotainment system on most trucks in the full-size and up category. The infotainment system will be the starting point for some of the features we highlight below and there is a range in options and technologies depending on the manufacturer. 

GM is a leader in 2020, with an infotainment system that allows RV owners to connect their truck to a few RV command systems and monitor and control RV features from inside the truck. GM’s infotainment system also provides a checklist of common steps needed to tow a trailer safely.

Some of these features come standard and others are optional, so you’ll want to do some research to decide what’s necessary for your rig. 

Trailer Brake Controller 

Most trucks that come with a towing option will also come with a trailer brake controller included. This system applies the brakes to the camper when the driver uses the brakes on the truck. This allows both the camper and the truck to each use their own brakes to slow down or stop safely.

Blind Spot Monitoring

This feature alerts the driver when another vehicle is in its blind spot. Most vehicles come with this feature standard, as part of a package of safety features. Now some trucks also have the capability to alert the driver when there is a vehicle in the blind spot of the camper.

Most vehicles come with a rear backup camera and each manufacturer’s offerings vary. Most will provide an image (varying in resolution quality) from the back view of the truck, lines that guide the driver on a projected path, and zoom-in view. The best systems offer multiple angles on the truck: a front bumper view, wheels view, rear truck bed view, rear hitch view, and a bird’s eye view. The top-of-the-line systems allow for an RV’s rear camera to integrate into the truck’s infotainment system and provide that view, as well.

Be aware that in the mid-size truck category, this feature isn’t standard and may not even be available as an option in some. The aftermarket takes care of this by offering solid units that can be installed in your truck. Some trucks—like the Silverado, RAM models, or F-150—even have wiring ready for installation if they don’t already come with this feature. 

Remote Trailer Light Check

Some models allow you to check your trailer lights by cycling through the lights with a smart key fob.

Trailer Backup Assist

Backup assist technologies increase your confidence in backing up your trailer. While the feature varies slightly by automaker, the concept remains the same.

Trailer Sway Control

This feature gives you confidence that you’re in complete control of your trailer. Some trucks offer a stability system and software to automatically respond to sway.

Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring System

This feature monitors the pressure of your trailer tires. It also allows you to monitor the temperature of the tires to help prevent blowouts caused by overheating.

Final Considerations for Purchasing a Tow Vehicle 

Once you’ve narrowed down your options—from truck size to additional upgrades—look at consumer reports and Facebook groups for feedback on how the truck fares with current owners that tow. You’ll also want to take into account the time of year you’re looking to buy your truck and if you can take advantage of dealer incentives or holiday sales.   

Keep in mind that salespeople at dealerships might not be the best source of information for specific towing questions as they can be focused on what’s popular rather than practical. Even within certain brand models, there will be differences that can drastically change how much the truck can tow.

Now you can go start your tow vehicle shopping journey armed with the right knowledge, questions to ask, and proper terminology to buy the right vehicle for not only your rig but also your lifestyle. 

Meet the Author

Johann Schnell

South American immigrant to the U.S. Husband to my life partner in crime, dad to two adventure loving boys and fur-dad to two big dogs. When not serving small business clients for a regional bank, I enjoy taking the whole crew to the outdoors with friends.

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Journey With Confidence

Everything You Need To Know About Towing A Travel Trailer

Photo courtesy Ford

Hitch Up the Easy Way With Our Travel Trailer Towing Guide

Some 56 million Americans are expected to hit the highways, byways, and backroads this summer with a recreational vehicle, according to the latest RV Industry Association (RVIA) surveys. Another 10 million RVers will join them in 2022. About 1-in-5 of those hitting the road will be hitching up and towing a travel trailer—everything from teardrops to tent trailers and travel trailers to toy haulers as individuals, families, and friends head out to enjoy all the freedom and adventure our great country offers.

For more than 110 years, automobile owners have been towing recreational vehicles so they can explore America. Towing a travel trailer is part of adventure-seekers’ DNA, and we’ve been doing it as long as automobiles have been around.

The urge to explore at one’s own pace with a travel trailer in tow was hugely popular in the 1950s and ‘60s . Today, that popularity in RVing is once again thriving as Americans look for ways to travel the nation comfortably and safely.

The safest way to travel

“More and more Americans are ready to travel this summer, and 56 million of them are planning to go RVing in an RV they rent, own, or borrow,” said Craig Kirby, President and CEO of RVIA . “Even with other forms of travel returning, the desire to use an RV to get outdoors and experience an active outdoor lifestyle is stronger than ever. RVing has been cemented as a mainstream travel option that is here to stay.”

The appeal of exploring the country while towing a travel trailer appeals to all age groups and interests, too. The popularity of RVing has even attracted media attention from the Wall Street Journal , which ran “ The Safest Way To Travel This Summer ” in a May 2020 issue.

This surge in the popularity of RVing comes to light when you try to book reservations for an RV campground space at county, state, and national parks . You can also see it on the road; the number of cars, pickups, vans, SUVs , and crossovers towing travel trailers has never been greater.

Americans hitting the road to vacation with an RV trailer in tow is at an all-time high. Make sure your travel trailer is the proper Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and doesn’t exceed the maximum tow rating of the vehicle towing it.

 Safety concerns towing a travel trailer

From Gen Z to Boomers, RVing via a travel trailer of any type offers freedom and a sense of self-sufficiency. It’s both a practical and comfortable form of lodging. You can disconnect your tow vehicle and have a base camp to explore the area around you.

But towing a travel trailer can bring some unexpected drama and safety concerns for millions of first-time RVers. Trailers add weight to the back of the tow vehicle, and that added weight changes the handling dynamics and braking of the tow vehicle. That’s why you need to make sure your trailer and tow vehicle are properly matched.

This guide explains the basics of towing a travel trailer so your RVing experience is easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

The basics of towing a travel trailer

Towing a travel trailer consists of three components: the vehicle, the hitch, and the RV.

Within those components are variations based on the vehicle’s towing capacity, the weight of the RV , the hitch setup, and towing-related accessories to tie everything together safely.

In this towing guide, we are specifically talking about “tow-behind” or “bumper-pull” RV trailers that attach to the hitch ball on a hitch mounted under the bumper of a pickup, SUV, crossover SUV, or car, not a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch that mounts in the bed of a pickup truck.

You can easily avoid drama and stress by properly matching the tow vehicle, hitch, and travel trailer. But get one of those wrong, and you have a recipe for disaster.

The best vehicle for towing any trailer is the one that fits both your personal needs and requirements while the trailer falls within the limitations set by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

What is the best vehicle for towing a travel trailer?

So, let’s begin with the tow vehicle. One question I get a lot from first-time RVers is, “What’s the best vehicle for towing a travel trailer?” The answer is, “It all depends.”

It all depends on what type of trailer you want to tow, whether you intend to tow with a vehicle you currently own, or maybe you have neither a tow vehicle nor a travel trailer and want to get both.

The most important aspect of towing a travel trailer is making sure the vehicle is up to the task of towing the trailer you plan on attaching to the hitch ball.

Here’s the deal when it comes to tow vehicles: The vehicle manufacturer determines how big (heavy) a trailer the vehicle can safely tow—not you. From a legal standpoint, that’s it, but I’ll explain more later in this RV trailer towing guide.

RV trailer numbers you need to know

There are two important weight-related factors when it comes to RV trailers: GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and tongue weight (TW).

GVWR is the safe maximum weight of the trailer when it’s loaded for camping with water, fuel, supplies, and cargo. The TW is how much downforce the loaded trailer places on the hitch.

Both numbers are displayed on the metal Federal Certification / VIN ID tag located on the front left side of a travel trailer. You can also find the specifications listed on the trailer manufacturer’s website.

Every RV trailer has an ID/VIN decal or metal tag somewhere on the left front. It shows the trailer’s GVWR, which is the maximum it can weigh fully loaded. This is a critical number to know when matching a tow vehicle to a trailer. The trailer’s GVWR should never exceed the tow vehicle’s maximum tow rating.

Concentrate on those two weights, not the RV’s bells and whistles or nice furnishings. Those two numbers set the basis for choosing the vehicle best suited for towing a travel trailer.

Tongue weight of RV trailers, sometimes referred to as “hitch weight,” will be typically between 10- and 15-percent of the trailer’s GVWR.

For example, a 32-foot trailer like the Forest River Aurora 28BHS , weighing 7,600 pounds GVWR, has a TW of 730 pounds, while the 32-foot Grand Design Imagine 2800BH has a GVWR of 7,995 pounds and a hitch weight of only 604 pounds.

So, do your research. RV trailer weights can vary widely by brand, type, and size. That’s why it’s important to narrow down these numbers to the specific trailer you plan to tow and then make sure those weights match your vehicle’s towing limitations.

Payload calculator

A website called Keep Your Daydream Today does a great job of explaining all the weight-related towing nuances, and the site has a nice payload calculator that can be downloaded to figure out what you can safely tow per the vehicle manufacturer’s listed tow ratings.

How big of an RV trailer can my vehicle tow?

Now that you know the trailer’s GVWR and TW, it’s time to focus on the tow vehicle. Towing a travel trailer from your home to a campground begins with dropping the trailer tongue on a hitch ball. But the most critical aspect of safely getting from Point A to Point B is having the right vehicle for towing.

Your tow vehicle needs to have the power to pull the trailer up hills and maintain reasonable speeds over the open road. More importantly, the tow vehicle has to be properly equipped for towing, per the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines, and have the factory tow rating capacity to handle the load it’s towing.

Having the right tow vehicle for the trailer takes all the drama out of the RVing experience and maximizes the safety factor for others on the road.

The only one who can set the limit on how much weight any vehicle can tow is the vehicle manufacturer.

To find your tow vehicle’s maximum trailer towing capacity, and what it needs to be properly equipped per the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications, dive into the towing/trailering section of the owner’s manual. There you’ll find the bare-bones information.

RV tow rating information

But what you really want is the detailed tow rating information. For that, you’ll have to dig deeper. The information is usually on the vehicle manufacturer’s fleet/commercial website under a heading like “RV & Trailer Towing Guide.”

When matching a trailer to a tow vehicle, a good rule-of-thumb is to keep the trailer’s GVWR at less than 75 percent of the tow vehicle’s trailer towing capacity.

So, if the tow vehicle is rated for a maximum of 6,000 pounds, the chosen trailer should have a GVWR of 4,500 pounds or less. Likewise, if the tow vehicle is rated to tow 10,000 pounds, a good trailer weight is 7,500 pounds or less.

You can find detailed trailer towing information on the vehicle manufacturer’s fleet/commercial website under a heading like “RV and Trailer Towing Guide,” “Towing Guides,” or “Trailering Guide.”

Where to find pickup truck manufacturer trailer towing ratings

To make tracking down trailer tow ratings of the Big Three pickup manufacturers easy, here are those website links:

• Chevrolet: www.gmfleet.com/Guides
• Ford: www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides
• GMC: www.gmfleet.com/GMC Trailering Guide
• Ram Truck: www.fcausfleet.com/ramtrucks/towing-guide

It’s easy to find the trailer towing limits for cars, SUVs, and crossover SUVs. Pickups are a whole different story.

Pickup truck ratings for towing a travel trailer vary by year, make, model, cab configuration, transmission, and axle ratio. They can also vary related to the type of hitch setup, whether “conventional weight-carrying” (towing-on-the-ball) or using a weight-distributing hitch system. So read the numbers and annotated information carefully.

Vehicle’s trailer tow ratings can’t be changed

As you review trailer tow ratings, you’ll see that just because a vehicle has a hitch doesn’t mean it can tow whatever is attached to the hitch ball. Every vehicle that rolls off the assembly line has a towing limitation, just as it has a unique VIN.

Once a vehicle leaves the manufacturing assembly line, its tow ratings and cargo-carrying capacities are set in stone—just like the VIN. Those ratings could have higher/lower capacities, depending on the engine and transmission package, axle ratio, and other options available on that particular model vehicle. This is especially true of pickup trucks.

Even though installing aftermarket products like air bags and anti-sway bars can improve the ride and handling when towing a travel trailer, such modifications do not change that particular tow vehicle’s limitations as set by its manufacturer.

Installing overload springs, anti-sway bars, air helper springs, a heavier-duty hitch, or making other vehicle suspension, drivetrain, or engine modifications does NOT change the vehicle’s tow rating or load capacity. Those ratings are set by the vehicle manufacturer when the vehicle is built.

Why are vehicle manufacturer trailer towing ratings important?

Why is it important to know the trailer towing limits of your vehicle? Safety. Warranty. Liability.

Vehicle manufacturers set vehicle tow ratings and load capacities with safety, warranty, and liability at the forefront. They do so using special test procedures specified under SAE J2807 , which is a strict vehicle manufacturing safety standard focused on keeping the driver and occupants reasonably safe when towing trailers.

At the same time, SAE J2807 testing protocols allow the vehicle manufacturer to set a comfortable weight limit for the vehicle to function reliably through the warranty period when used for such towing and cargo-carrying tasks.

Among the battery of tests within SAE J2807 are emergency accident-avoidance and vehicle control tests with a loaded trailer in tow. If the vehicle being tested doesn’t pass these tests in a manner deemed safe by the vehicle engineering team, then the trailered weight is reduced and the vehicle re-tested until it meets the safety standards. When it meets the safe standard, that’s the maximum trailer towing capacity for that particular vehicle.

Towing a travel trailer that’s heavier than the vehicle is rated for towing, or not having the tow vehicle properly equipped, can put the burden of liability on you if you’re in an accident. Your insurance company could very well deny coverage because under the law, you, the driver, are considered negligent .

Trailer tow ratings can be confusing. But they are very important from a safety and vehicle handling standpoint.

Real-world lessons in trailer weight ratings

A neighbor recently joined the millions of Americans towing a travel trailer on his family’s first RV adventure. He hitched a beautiful Forest River 2021 rPod 190 travel trailer to the hitch of his 2017 Lexus RX 350 AWD. His first weekend on the road towing the trailer “scared him to death” because of trailer sway. He couldn’t understand why his Lexus handled so poorly when it was “rated” to tow 3,500 pounds—according to the trailer salesperson—and the trailer only weighed 2,900 pounds.

We looked at the numbers. He had two issues. First, the “dry weight” of the rPod was 2,900 pounds, but the GVWR was 3,800 pounds. Second, his Lexus was rated to tow 3,500 pounds only if equipped with “a sway control device with sufficient capacity” per the owner’s manual. Otherwise, the trailer towing capacity was limited to 2,000 pounds.

So, he installed a Blue Ox SwayPro 350 weight distribution hitch and made sure the trailer’s GVWR didn’t exceed 3,500 pounds.

He and his wife have spent anywhere from 3 to 5 days traveling around the Pacific Northwest at least twice a month, loving the RV life! For now, the Lexus and rPod are a happy match for their lifestyle.

Even though a salesperson says the vehicle you are buying is “perfectly capable” of towing such-and-such trailer, have the trailer’s GVWR number memorized, and then have the salesperson show you the maximum towing specs for the specific vehicle. In pickups, the difference in axle ratios alone can make a 2,000-pound or greater difference in a tow rating. In smaller vehicles, the same can be true for different engines.

Don’t rely on salespeople for accurate towing info

Another friend bought a 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie 4×4 Quad Cab and an equally nice 26-foot Backcountry Mountain TRX trailer so the family of four could enjoy the outdoor lifestyle during summer and fall. The salesperson at the Ram dealer said the Hemi-powered 4×4 could tow as much as 12,750 pounds, so no problem towing the 9,995-pound Outdoors RV camper.

But what he found out later when looking up the maximum trailer tow ratings in the Ram towing guide was that his particular pickup, with the standard 3.21 axle ratio, was limited to just 8,330 pounds. Fortunately, he persuaded the dealer to swap his new pickup for an identical one that was equipped with the “premium” 3.92 axle ratio, which was rated to tow 11,430 pounds—a much better match to the trailer and much safer for his family.

To that end, you must go back to the basics of weight when it comes to how much your vehicle can tow. You need to know the GVWR of the trailer and the maximum trailer capacity of your specific tow vehicle.

If the trailer’s GVWR is more than the trailer tow rating of your tow vehicle, find a lighter trailer  or a tow vehicle with a higher trailer towing capacity.

A good rule-of-thumb in choosing a trailer is its GVWR be no more than two-thirds the max trailer tow rating of the vehicle. This gives you a margin of error on the safe side. Your tow vehicle must also be properly equipped as specified by its manufacturer.

What is the best 4X4 for off-grid RVing?

So what’s the best 4×4 vehicle for towing trailers when camping off the grid and exploring roads less traveled? Most people think the obvious answer is one of the many Jeep models, such as the iconic Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon or Grand Cherokee. They’re partially correct.

Jeep Models

Setting fuel economy and price aside, the Jeep Rubicon 392 is king, setting the highest bar among the Jeep line when it comes to overall backcountry and off-road performance. Its V8 power, technology, and agility are amazing.

Jeeps are the icon for off-pavement/off-road travel. But the soft, pliant suspension takes away some of their towing ability, limiting most models to towing trailers less than 3,500 pounds. Off-road trailer manufacturers such as Vorsheer, which makes the 2,600-pound (GVWR) XOC, build their trailers to accommodate these tow ratings. Photo courtesy Vorsheer Mfg

But the Jeep Wrangler’s soft, pliant suspension, across all models, is also its downfall when it comes to tow ratings. They are among the lowest in this class of SUV, with a maximum towing capacity of just 3,500 pounds for the 6.4L V8-powered Rubicon 392 to as little as 2,000 pounds for the base model two-door Wrangler Sport with the 3.6L V6.

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee is an excellent tow vehicle for those who do a lot of highway RVing and backcountry travel with “light off-roading.” Some models can tow up to 7,650 pounds.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has higher tow ratings ranging from 4,000 to 7,200 pounds (Hemi V8-powered SRT). But the Jeep Gladiator pickup is the best choice with a trailer towing capacity of up to 7,650 pounds, depending, of course, on the model and axle ratio.

Ford Bronco

A new contender when it comes to the best 4×4 for RVing off-grid is the latest iteration of the iconic Ford Bronco . Ford’s new SUV leads the pack for four-wheeling in overall performance, with excellent fuel economy, suspension travel, and traction capabilities.

Broncos equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and 10-speed automatic combo are ideal for towing. The trade-off for the Ford Bronco’s off-road prowess is a limited trailering capacity of up to 3,500 pounds when equipped with the optional Class II Trailer Tow Package.

If money isn’t an option and you want the very best 4×4 for off-grid travel and towing RV trailers, the 702hp Ram 1500 TRX , with a tow rating of 8,100 pounds, wins. Hands-down. It’s won both Four Wheeler and MotorTrend magazine’s Truck of the Year and several other prestigious automotive pickup awards this year.

Hitch types and hitch capacities

The term “properly equipped” means the vehicle has the factory towing package, which can vary from vehicle to vehicle and from manufacturer to manufacturer. But it always includes a factory-installed receiver hitch and wiring to connect between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

Properly equipped also means using the proper hitch type for the weight of the trailer. There are two hitch types for towing a trailer using a receiver-type hitch: weight carrying and weight distributing.

Attaching the trailer to the hitch ball bolted on the shank that comes out of the hitch is called “weight carrying” because the full load of the trailer’s tongue weight is carried by the hitch assembly.

This is a typical “weight-carrying” hitch setup that comes from the factory. It accommodates a “shank” with a trailer ball mount. The load capacity of a hitch can be found on the hitch manual’s decal—the same with the shank. The hitch ball capacity is imprinted on the top of the ball.

The towing capacity of the hitch is determined by the hitch manufacturer, and the maximum load/towing capacities are listed on the hitch, the hitch shank, and on top of the hitch ball. Hitches come in five classifications depending on the size of the opening for the receiver (shank) and load capacity.

The typical factory hitch on cars, crossovers, smaller SUVs is Class I or II.

Midsize pickups, SUVs, and vans generally come with a Class III hitch.

Full-size pickups usually have a Class IV hitch, while some 1-ton diesels use a Class V hitch.

Hitch classes and Gross Trailer Weight

NOTE: Changing the size of the hitch to one with a higher capacity DOES NOT change your vehicle’s tow rating.

Understanding hitch balls and capacity

The most important connection point between the tow vehicle and the trailer is the shiny round thing sticking up from under the bumper—the hitch ball. You’ll have a big problem if the ball isn’t the correct size to fit the trailer coupler, or the ball isn’t installed on the shank (mount) with the correct amount of torque on the nut.

Standard RV trailer hitch balls come in three different diameters: 1-7/8″, 2”, and 2-5/16″, while shank sizes varying from ¾” to 3″ depending on the hitch capacity. The smaller 1-7/8″ hitch balls have a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds and are typically found on cars, smaller SUVs, minivans, and crossovers.

Hitches equipped with 2″ tow balls are rated for 8,000 pounds and are typical of that used on smaller travel trailers and overlanding/adventure-style off-road trailers. The larger 2-5/16″ hitch balls are rated from 12,500 pounds to 21,000 pounds and are common on RV trailers that weigh more than 8,000 pounds.

A typical weight-distribution (WD) hitch has two “spring bars” that extend from the hitch head to the trailer. The bars act like wheelbarrow handles, so some of the weight of the trailer on the hitch can be shifted fore and aft to better balance the tow vehicle/trailer combo. A WD hitch also greatly reduces trailer sway.

How do weight distribution hitches work?

A weight distributing hitch , or weight distribution hitch, uses a special head with provisions for attaching one or two long arms that attach to the trailer frame that can be adjusted to transfer some of that tongue weight fore and aft so the tow vehicle is better balanced.

The typical WD hitch also incorporates an anti-sway device or design for better trailer control.

“The weight distribution feature will transfer some of the weight to the front axle, as well as some being transferred back to the trailer’s axle(s)” explains Josh Jones, a customer service rep at Progress Manufacturing , makers of the Equl-i-zer Hitch and Fastway trailer towing components. “Basically, 1/3 of the tongue weight is transferred from your tow vehicle back to the trailer, and the remaining 2/3 is evenly distributed on the front and rear axles of your truck. This gives all four tires equal contact with the road, improving steering and braking, and the hitch’s built-in sway control eliminates sway before it starts so you have a smoother, more enjoyable towing experience.”

Both weight-distributing (top) and standard hitches have maximum trailer towing ratings. Using a reducer sleeve (bottom) to step down from 2.5” or 3” hitch receivers to 2” also reduces trailer towing capacity.

That’s why the “weigh-carrying” tow capacities of a vehicle, especially full-size pickups, vans, and SUVs, are usually considerably less than a “weight-distributing” setup because more weight is put on the rear axle when one is just towing on the ball.

These dual-capacity tow ratings really apply to pre-2018 and older heavy-duty pickups with some max trailer towing limits of 5,000 pounds towing-on-the ball unless a weight-distributing hitch is used. Also, using the 2″ adapter sleeve in newer pickups’ 2.5″ receiver hitches significantly reduces both the weight-carrying tow limit and maximum tongue weight.

The Best 2022 Pickups For Towing Trailers With GVWR Under 5,000 Pounds

Brake requirements for rv travel trailers.

Attaching a trailer to your tow vehicle places an additional load on its braking system. That means the heavier the trailer, the less responsive the brakes and the longer it takes to stop the vehicle. That’s why most state motor vehicle laws require trailers over a certain gross weight must have their own trailer braking system .

Some state trailer laws require a braking system on trailers with a GVW of 1,500, some 3,000 pounds, and some 6,000 pounds GVW. Other states require the tow vehicle/trailer combo must stop within a certain distance from a designated speed, or the tow vehicle be able to hold the trailer while stopped on a “hill of any grade under all conditions.”

Thankfully the RV trailer manufacturers make the braking aspect of towing a travel trailer easy by equipping their trailers, even the lighter off-road/overlanding camp trailers, with electric brakes on trailers that weigh more than 1,500 pounds. This way, the trailer can be sold in any state and meet the legal brake requirements.

As for trailer brakes, the typical RV trailer has electric-actuated brakes along with a “breakaway” system in the event the trailer decides to go for a little side trip on its own. (Breakaway systems are required on trailers with a GVW greater than 3,000 pounds.)

Aftermarket electric brake controllers send electronic signals to the trailer brakes when the driver hits the tow vehicle’s brake pedal. There are lots of types of controllers, and most allow the driver to manually apply the trailer brakes via a dash-mounted controller if needed. Photo courtesy eTrailer.com

 How do RV trailer brakes work?

Electric-actuated RV trailer brakes on bumper-pull can be either drum or disc, much like those that stop your tow vehicle. The braking is applied when an electrical signal is transmitted from the brake pedal to a separate device in the vehicle called a brake controller , which then signals and activates the trailer’s brakes.

In an electric drum brake system, the braking signal goes to an electromagnetic actuator inside the brake drum that pushes the brake linings into the drum. On an electric-over-hydraulic disc braking system, the signal from the controller activates a hydraulic pump that pushes fluid in the brake lines to the calipers that engage the brake rotor.

Some of the newest pickups and SUVs have built-in brake controllers, while older pickups and most cars, crossovers, and SUVs will need an aftermarket brake controller unit installed. Either way, it’ll be up to you to make the proper brake controller adjustments per that particular brake controller’s instructions.

Both braking systems require the proper trailer plug, the correct trailer wiring setup in the tow vehicle, and a charged battery in the trailer to operate safely. Part of most vehicle manufacturers’ “Towing Package” includes such wiring and plug for the trailer wiring harness.

Typical travel trailer weights

When you shop for RV travel trailers, you’ll see a wide range in gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR), even in the tiny trailers and off-road trailers. For instance, the typical teardrop trailer comes in between 1,500 and 2,500 pounds, with the more robust overlanding off-road trailers coming in with a GVWR between 2,500 to 4,500 pounds. Pop-up tent and hard-sided campers generally have GVWRs between 2,000–4,000 pounds.

RV trailers are available to fit just about any lifestyle. They also vary in weight, so it’s easy to find the perfect travel trailer to fit your tow vehicle. Some adventuresome RVers—of an estimated 10 million taking vacations with a trailer in tow—will be doing so on roads less traveled. Photo courtesy Boreas Campers

More traditional bumper-pull RV trailers have an average GVWR range related to their length, design (camper or toy hauler), and number of slideouts. Midsize RV trailers in the 23- to 28-foot range have a maximum loaded weight between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds.

Start shopping around for the 30-foot-plus bumper-pull trailers and the GVWRs can top 10,000 pounds, which is nearing the upper limit for most full-size pickups and SUVs towing with a weight-distributing hitch.

Popular trailers for towing and average weights

While there are hundreds of travel trailer brand and specification combinations we could list, we’ll focus on some well-known RVs to give you a sense of what to look for when shopping for a trailer to tow:

Where do electric pickups fit in with towing RV trailers?

Electric vehicles, aka EVs, are slowly making their way into the automotive market but still only make up less than 2 percent of the new car market in the U.S., according to Pew Research and other market watchers.

EVs, whether car, SUV, crossover, or pickup, are excellent modes of transportation for city and urban settings. Not so much so in rural America, where the availability of designated plug-in sites is few and far between. EV vehicles also cost a lot more than their gas and diesel counterparts. If the current federal tax incentives or EV tax credits are phased out, that price disparity will be even greater.

Then there’s the cost of EV ownership over the life of the vehicle to consider, along with trade-in value. After all, all batteries wear out, and the packs in EVs are no different.

What will it cost to replace an EV’s battery pack in 100,000 miles or 10 years? It’s not going to be cheap. A Greencars.com article claims that cost could be as high as $15,000, not including labor.

All-electric (EV) pickups are emerging from different vehicle manufacturers as battery technology advances. One of the great things about EV pickups and SUVs is the engine compartment becomes a big trunk! Photo courtesy Ford

RV trailer towing range for EV pickups

Trailer towing brings up another matter: driving range. EV pickup’s capability in distance between charges is cut by 1/3 to ½ when towing a travel trailer. So instead of being able to drive 250–300 miles unloaded, you’ll need to look for a place to plug in every 3 to 4 hours. That’s not convenient and not what most RVers want in a tow vehicle.

Ford’s 2022 F-150 Lightning , with a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, sports EPA range numbers of 230 miles for the “standard” battery pack and 300 miles with the optional “extended range” pack. The trailering range is probably going to be around 150–200 miles depending on the battery pack.

The F-150 EV battery packs require 10 to 13 hours to fully recharge with the Ford Charge Station Pro , which plugs into either 120V or 240V outlets. We’ll probably see EV charges common as their evolution continues.

Sure, the EV F-150 can be turned into a backup power station, but that power comes from the battery pack, good for off-grid camping but shortening the driving range even more. So, if you’re keen on going green by towing your travel trailer with an EV, keep the driving range in mind.

EV pickups are hitting the road, and RVers are taking note. The 2022 Ford Lightning EV has a trailer towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a range estimated at 150–200 miles between charges when towing, depending on the battery pack option. Photo courtesy Ford

 Tow ratings for EV pickups & SUVs

*Unloaded   **GM has not released final numbers

Now that you know how to match a tow vehicle to a travel trailer and set it up safely, you’re ready to tow like a pro. It’s time to head out on the road, have fun, and make wonderful memories. That’s what the RV life is all about!

Make your next RV trip even easier and more enjoyable with an RV-safe GPS . With it, you can get directions custom tailored to the height and weight of your tow vehicle and travel trailer. The turn-by-turn navigation, including voice- and lane-guidance, works even when you’re offline. No more worrying about steep mountain passes, low clearances, bridge weight limits, or propane-restricted tunnels.

Continue reading:

• 7 Things You Need To Know For Safe RV Towing
• What Is Your Gross Vehicle Weight (And Why Does It Matter)?
• 4 Trailer Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life

Travel Trailer Towing Guide: Choosing the Best Trucks for Towing

About 10 years ago, I made the decision to quit a well-paid, secure job as an architectural designer and start my own architecture firm and move into a travel trailer to start what I thought was going to be a firm designing, well… architecture. Little did I know that this 1970s Airstream would become the spark that ignited a passion and defined my entire future.  The long and winding road of that experience led me to start Living Vehicle, in the focused search to create the most luxurious, self-sustaining, off-grid living space possible.

Since then, I've lived in all sorts of types and styles of small spaces on land and sea, and almost all were mobile and could go from place to place.  Of all the mobile dwellings, a travel trailer pulled by a capable pickup truck (bumper pull), is by far my favorite. In other articles, I've gone into detail about the reason for this preference, but that's not what this blog is about.  This blog is about the right truck because every travel trailer, no matter how large or small, requires something to pull or power it to travel. After all, unlike a motorhome with an integrated engine and steering wheel, a towable travel trailer has no way to move without a tow vehicle. While there is no one specific truck to integrate with a Living Vehicle (LV), it is my hope with this article to shed some light on what makes the best trucks for towing travel trailers.

Here is what we will cover today.

The Everyday Driver

Towing requirements.

• Max Payload and Towing Capacity

Bed Configuration

• Cab Configuration

Aftermarket Equipment

Wheels & tires, lv charging from tow vehicle, the future of electric tow vehicles, final thoughts.

My favorite part about the concept of a towable travel trailer is that it doesn't have an engine.  Unless you travel full-time in your motorhome, it's probably going to be the most expensive vehicle you rarely drive.

My wife, Joanna, and I love our diesel truck, and it's our daily driver. While it's perfectly suited to tow an LV, it's an excellent vehicle to drive every day as we go about errands and our normal lives.  My favorite part about owning a pickup truck is that it's an extremely capable and adaptable vehicle on so many levels.  First, it's the most capable off-road vehicle I've ever owned. Second, it navigates in tight urban environments.  And third, it carries up to 5 people (some carry up to 6), literally tons of gear, pets and so much more. Oh yeah, and it tows a Living Vehicle.

The key here is that a great full-sized pickup suits many needs.  The practicality of having a capable truck empowers a great life for my family.  It's extremely easy to drive, capable, safe, and extremely powerful.  In fact, between Joanna and myself, we are a one-vehicle family.  Joanna typically drives the truck, and I prefer my electric bike daily for running around town or riding to work.  The truck acts like a bit of a chameleon, fitting in and supporting my life in many different ways. This is what I consider the most fundamental requirement of a great heavy-duty truck.  Tough to do that with a motorhome. You'll need to pack up your entire residence to move your mode of transportation.  

So, while there are all sorts of technical requirements, aftermarket parts, and countless considerations with make model trim levels, and the like, the most important feature of the tow vehicle is that it should work is your everyday driver. Everyone in the family should feel comfortable driving the truck whether hooked up and towing a Living Vehicle or not.

Each of the following points and considerations are viewed through this lens for what I consider the best truck for an LV.

The Living Vehicle lifestyle is designed with intent.  Our extreme focus on the purpose and reason behind LV allows us to easily optimize for and prioritize one design consideration over another.  Let's begin with defining two important considerations:

• Compromise occurs when trying to get two things at the same time, and not completely meeting your needs fully for either one; and
• Focus is realizing what matters most and make that your priority, then understanding what is second, and so on.

Living Vehicle puts quality first, every single time.  Our hallucination when starting Living Vehicle was to design the best travel trailer the world has ever seen.  We engineered Living Vehicle to last for generations.  The reality is, the RV industry has, and still does have, a terrible reputation for producing (can we be candid?) crap. This is the number one reason we decided to create LV, because I believed and still believe it's possible to produce a mobile living space that exudes quality.

This longevity results in LV holding its value, even appreciating over time.  So, why do Recreational Vehicles typically lose 50 percent of their value in the first five years? I can't think of a worse value proposition for an RV owner than realizing that what you just bought is going to be worth half as much in half a decade. Not exactly a sustainable investment! The same can be said for most automobiles, too.  This is something I simply will not accept.

In a worldwide culture of planned obsolescence, where so many are competing for price, quality is not the most important design focus in the RV industry.  I chuckle when I see RV dealers advertise lightweight as a positive feature.  Sure, being able to tow a lightweight trailer with an SUV may be easier, but what do you lose?

Lightweight = Cheap

Here's a dirty little RV industry secret:  the term lightweight is synonymous with cheap; manufacturers just get away with it.  It's a sales technique.  It becomes the new normal and people expect that they are travel trailer can be pulled with a mid-sized SUV.  Quality suffers, price is the most important factor, and keeping it lightweight by using cheap “carboard-like” materials, manufacturers can pump out thousands, and thousands of RVs.   Living Vehicle is not that trailer.

The tow vehicle industry has evolved beautifully in the past decade.  All major truck manufacturers are now producing extremely capable and comfortable HD tow vehicles that can pull well above 20,000 lbs.

When we set out to design the best quality trailer built for full-time living, we embraced weight as a positive feature and designed LV to go hand-in-hand with modern day heavy duty (HD) trucks.  We will not compromise quality because we understand who we are and who we are serving.  With this as our #1 priority we have complete focus.  

GVWR & Carrying Capacity

Living Vehicle models range between 11,000 and 15,000 lbs. base weight, with a massive 4500 lb. carrying capacity. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of a top-end LV is upwards of 18,000 lbs. If you're going to be living in it full-time, make sure you have enough carrying capacity that includes the weight of everything you want to take with you, such as LV gear, water, and toys – it all adds up!  

This makes things simple.  LV is not designed to be towed by SUVs, or even half-ton trucks, like America's best-selling Ford F150 or a jeep gladiator.  There are plenty of lightweight trailers out there that can be towed with those types of vehicles.  If you are unwilling to part with your family SUV or half-ton truck, then Living Vehicle is not for you.  Today's modern heavy-duty trucks are mechanical masterpieces.  HD simply refers to a category of the truck that is designed specifically for towing and carrying weight.  This is what's referred to as a full-size truck, including the Ford F250 +, Ram 2500 +, GMC Sierra, and Chevy Silverado series.  These are examples of HD pickup trucks.  Of course, tow vehicles can go up from there, but those simply are not required unless a big powerful truck so your thing.

Diesel Engines

There are two types of engines on motor-driven HD tow vehicles:  gas and diesel engines.  The advantages of the diesel-fueled engine are tremendous.  Diesel trucks are purpose-built for towing – plain and simple.  With significant low-end torque, amazing gear-axle ratios, and increased fuel efficiency over a gas engine.  Diesel, as the engine of choice for an LV, is a no-brainer.  A gas-powered truck engine is significantly limiting when it comes to max payload and maximum towing capacity.  Don't be distracted by the styling or the price of a gas truck.  Focus on the numbers.  You'll discover that trucks equipped with diesel engines are more capable in many important categories than their gas engine counterparts.

Full-Size Trucks Offer More

When considering the best trucks for towing, these full-size, four-wheel drive HD trucks were very utilitarian and focused more on agriculture, job sites, or commercial work than luxurious amenities, which is why there were not great daily drivers.  These are built for maximum towing capacities. In recent years, however, heavy duty trucks have made a giant leap forward in providing extremely capable, comfortable, and luxurious HD tow vehicles.

Our short-bed RAM 3500 is a perfect example of a daily driver.  It really does feel inside like a luxury sedan, with beautiful leather treatment throughout, high-end electronics, a beautiful sound system, and a Tesla-style vertical center dash screen – quite impressive!   Not to mention the many luxury features, which are awesome, such as automatic skylights, heated and cooling seats with built-in massage, and enough technology to make any techie's head spin.  My everyday driver/ personal tow vehicle feels more like a luxury car than an HD truck. I just love it.  

Although I currently own a RAM, I'm not particularly partial to any one truck brand.  While I have my favorites from year to year, I'm so impressed with the heavy duty truck industry as a whole as we enter the 20s of the new Century.  Whether it's a Ford, RAM, GMC, or Chevrolet, every manufacturer is creating extremely high-quality, luxurious, and very capable vehicles.  The beautiful conclusion is that you really can't go wrong.  While I'm not going to advocate for any one truck brand, some requirements must be followed to tow a Living Vehicle that will meet your needs.

Maximum Towing Capacity

Let's start with the concept of towing capacity.  Every heavy duty truck manufacturer rates a truck for maximum towing capacity, which is effectively how much weight you can pull behind that tow vehicle. Simply put, the PRO model LV fully loaded is 18,000 lbs., which means the tow vehicle pulling that LV must be capable of pulling at least 18,000 lbs.  Simple.

Today's trucks can tow well north of that number, and I always recommend a margin of safety, so this is why I highly recommend a tow vehicle that can pull 20,000 lbs. or more, regardless of the LV you select. Towing capacity is extremely important.

Max Payload Capacity

The next consideration to look out for is the concept of max payload.  This is another manufacturer-specified value that comes with every truck, and every configuration is different.  Just like towing capacity, there is no one payload capacity for a specific make, model or trim.  Literally every single truck and model are different.  When considering a tow vehicle, we need to ensure that the payload capacity requirements are specific to the exact vehicle you're considering.  Trucks are like snowflakes, and no two are alike.  Max payload refers to the amount of weight that a tow vehicle can carry. This refers to all of the gear, people, luggage in the cab, and cargo in the truck bed. This means everything and anything you put inside the truck.  This includes the weight of the LV's hitch coupler resting on the 2-5/16” ball at the back of the tow vehicle.

Hitch Weight

We refer to this as the hitch tongue weight, and for an LV or any bumper pull trailer, the tongue weight is typically 10 percent of the overall trailer's weight.  So, if you have an LV that when loaded is about 15,000 lbs., then you're going to have a 1500 lb. hitch weight.  Of course, the tongue weight can go up or down depending on what you pack and where it's located inside your LV, but this is a good starting point.

So, considering you have a 1500 lbs. hitch weight, a driver, and three occupants for another 600 lbs., and let's just say 500 lbs. of gear, you are already at 2600 lbs., so you can see how it all adds up.  Fortunately, today's tow vehicles are extremely capable and have the payload capacity to accommodate this weight.  This is why I recommend a max payload of at least 3000 lbs. to give you ample room for hauling the cargo you need and provide that margin of safety in case you really need to load things up. For example, our Ram has a max payload of about 3700 lbs., more than enough to carry even a fully loaded PRO model.

Maximum Towing Capacities

When it really comes down to it, that's all that's required for Living Vehicle. 20,000 lb. maximum towing capacity and 3000 lb. payload. That's where it gets fun. Once those two values are met, then there are so many different options models, trim levels, aftermarket accessories, and other considerations to create the right vehicle for you.

Next, I'll describe some of my favorite categories to choose from. After all, I love to talk trucks!

Not all trucks look or act the same, after all. Arguably, the most distinguishing feature from truck-to-truck, besides its color, is bed type.  The truck bed refers to the space behind the cab that is open to the sky.  This is where you put all your gear and carry all your toys.  The HD truck market offers a rather standard configuration for bed length, and it's quite simple.  You can choose long or short.  Long bed trucks, historically, were designed to carry supplies to and from job sites.  The most notable item contractors needed to carry was a 4‘x 8‘sheet of plywood.  A true long bed that is 8 feet long is designed to carry lots of gear and a very capable truck.

Short beds aren't that much shorter and tend to range from 5 feet to about 6-1/2 feet. While it may not feel like much of a difference the drivability is significant.  I have owned both long and short-bed trucks, and here again, it all comes down to what you're optimizing for, aka your priority.  If you plan to use your truck as a daily driver, which I recommend, a short bed will be much more maneuverable in tight spaces because a shorter wheelbase is easier to navigate into and out of tight parking lots.  Now, compare this to a long bed with 2 more feet of length, and you can see how this makes a big difference.  Sure, you can certainly carry around more gear with you, but unless you have very specific gear requirements, I highly recommend a short bed configuration. Best of all, there really is no difference in towing or payload capacity with a long or short-bed truck, either.

Let's now turn our focus to the space where the occupants sit, in the cab.  The cab is the space where the driver and all occupants are carried when the truck is moving.  This category is a simple configuration, too.

The truck industry offers what I would typically call regular and crew cab configurations. Regular cabs really offer only two seats without backseats.  They're still a great truck for a worksite, but not incredibly functional for a daily driver or family.  A crew cab adds two full-sized back doors, just like an SUV, and a bench seat, that is sometimes split, with lots and lots of legroom for the family and precious cargo, like pets.  I own a crew cab truck, and the space in the back is outstanding and is in no way restrictive. I'm 6' 5” tall, and I fit comfortably in the backseat of most full-size cab pickup trucks.

There are cab configurations that are bigger, called super or mega, but whatever the term this is the largest cab configuration you can get, even larger than a crew cab.  The benefits are added comfort and spaciously luxurious back seats. If you have a large family or plan on spending a lot of time traveling in the truck, then you really should consider the largest cab configuration you can get.  Amenities such as extended legroom, reclining seats, and more make this a very comfortable choice. The mega cab RAM pickup trucks have more legroom in the rear cab than nearly any SUV I've ever seen.  Remarkable stuff.

While not required, aftermarket enhancements and accessories are some of the most exciting aspects of truck ownership.  There are some very clear winners on how to enhance the performance and quality of a full-size truck.  I'll go into some of these major categories now, and share my decisions, as an example to help guide your tow vehicle search.

Suspension – OK, I'll come right out and say it, the biggest drawback to full-size HD trucks is the notoriously stiff suspension, and it makes total sense.  A truck that's designed to carry and tow very heavy cargo, including a trailer, wouldn't have the softest, smoothest, cushiest ride.  That being said, there are major options to consider.  For example, the difference between an F250 and an F350 is significant.  Typically, I've found with rear coil springs, the Ram 2500 series has a much smoother stock configuration. But when customizing your truck and optimizing for payload and maximum towing capacity a Ram 2500 just might not be capable enough.

Enter the mighty F350, a 1-ton, or full-sized, tow vehicle.  Designed specifically for towing robust trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and heavy loads, these trucks represent a tremendous leap forward in performance capability.  The main difference between an F250 and F350 truck is primarily the suspension.  Typically, you will find the same engine configurations in both models.  The F350 is designed to carry more, and as such, the payload is typically much higher.  In a single rear wheel configuration, it's very common to have payloads for F350 trucks in the 3,000 to 4,000 lb. level.  This is perfectly adequate to tow an LV and all your family's gear. Mind you, I absolutely love RAM trucks, too. The luxurious interior is second to none.

A truck with dual rear wheels will significantly increase this payload but frankly is unnecessary.  This type of truck is mainly for a gooseneck or fifth-wheel configuration. If you're into carrying very heavy loads in your truck bed while towing an LV, dual rear wheels might be for you.  I have customers who carry full-size motorcycles in their 8' bed length while towing their LV. In this example, dual rear wheels are great. Or perhaps you also have a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch that requires a very heavy payload. Whatever wheel configuration you choose, the rear suspension tends to be a bit stiff for my liking, and I tend to gravitate towards single rear wheels.  As such, there are tremendous aftermarket upgrades for the suspension that will increase ride quality for on- and off-road performance, while maintaining the factory specifications for towing.

There's something special about a purpose-built wheel and tire combinations for increasing traction and performance pickup trucks.  I've always been particularly fond of tires.  What started out as an aesthetic appeal turned into a deeper understanding of how much tires can increase performance and ride quality.  The wheel rims and tires are part of the overall suspension and performance solution that needs to be carefully considered, too.  Most importantly, you need to pick a wheel and tire set that maintains the factory payload.  A truck aftermarket kit is only as strong as its weakest link, and if your tires can't hold up to the weight the truck was designed to carry, your payload is accordingly reduced.

A full-size heavy duty truck can easily accommodate a 35” or 37” tire.  Not only do they look great, but it increases the available rubber depth between the ground and the wheel.  By combining a large tire with an 18” wheel, small bump compliance is significantly enhanced.

Ever ridden on the freeway and felt those concrete expansion joints to be a bit bone jarring, especially when going over bridges?  That's what I'm talking about. Not to mention off-road performance and traction, and safety in the rain and snow, picking the right tire ensures you can safely tow in all conditions.

A tremendous advantage of a pickup truck with a diesel engine is the absolute powerhouse that lies beneath the hood.  These engines provide amazing low-end torque, well-tuned gear ratios, and plenty of power with room to spare.  One advantage of having this type of configuration is to leverage the additional power from the diesel engine and create a redundant source of electricity to charge the LV's onboard batteries.

One of the core concepts of LV is redundancy.  In battlefield situations, winners and losers are determined by the one who has a backup solution ready.  This can be the difference of success or failure, or life and death. While off-grid  living might not be a life-or-death scenario, it can certainly make or break the quality of your trip.  LV is powered by natural resources, primarily by the sun.  For days when the sun is not available, or in locations that have obstructions from trees or cloud cover, having alternative power sources is an absolute must.  Built-in generators are another way to create electric energy.  Generators turn alternators that create 120 volts of electricity and can power electronics and charge batteries.  Take one look at that diesel engine under the hood of that beautiful tow vehicle, and it's no stretch to think that it can provide a similar method of power.  Another great package available for every LV is the energy integration option.  

While a towing vehicle can provide a minuscule amount of power from the 7-pin connector that powers the running lights and brakes in traditional trailers, the power system requirements of an LV are far too massive to gain any kind of power from this source.  So, naturally, we designed something specific, special, and super powerful.

Enter energy integration. We have designed a specific alternator that may be installed in the engine compartment of the tow vehicle. This alternator is fine-tuned to match the LV's energy system and provides rapid charging whenever the truck is on, and the LV is connected.   When searching for a tow vehicle, one requirement is that the engine configuration has just one alternator because we'll need space to install a second LV-specific alternator for this package. Simple.

Tips for Finding the Best Truck for Towing a Travel Trailer

Welcome to the future! At this point, it's quite clear to see the future of transportation is electric. Tesla has been bringing industry-disrupting innovation to the motor Vehicle market within the last decade, introducing high-performance, low-cost electric cars. As we enter the new decade in the 2020s, electric tow vehicles are on the new horizon.  Now, with nearly a dozen truck companies, established industry veterans, and start-ups competing to bring their electric tow vehicles to market, it's only a matter of time before the best trucks become electric, and the new industry norm.

It's no secret that Living Vehicle has a mission to create a completely electric self-sustaining mobile dwelling.  Part of this vision is a beautiful integration with an electric tow vehicle that will one day integrate with LV.  Take a look at the roof of an LV, and you'll see a massive solar array.  Our vision is to create enough power from the sun to power not only the Living Vehicle but the electric tow vehicle, as well. Imagine a truck-trailer combination that requires no fuel, no gas station, and no supercharger.  This is our vision of the future, and it's real.  It's just a matter of time.

As we work toward the future of electric pickup truck integration, I'll take a moment to speculate on where the industry is heading.  Almost every electric truck I see on the market starts with what I would call the half-ton category.  These are your F150s and 1500s of the world.  America's best-selling truck, the F150 is the gas version of the electric truck I see emerging.  This is a natural progression.  The electric vehicle market began with cars, evolved into SUVs, and next it will emerge into light-duty pickup trucks.  When these truck specifications are finalized, and we understand the true towing capability and the max payload the electric tow vehicle will be a reality.

The Tesla Cybertruck appears to have great towing capabilities and is a natural fit for the LV.  Others have higher and lower capabilities, but until the final Tesla truck model is introduced and specifications finalized, we can only imagine what it will be.  That being said, the electric tow vehicle market is extremely exciting, and I can't wait to get my hands on an electric truck, hook it up to an LV, and continue creating the future.   

Since I graduated college, pickup trucks have been a big part of my life.  Starting with my background in construction, and living in the mountains, playing on dirt roads as a pastime, continuing with a trailer renovation/ architectural company where we pulled all sorts of vintage metal trailers across the country; tow vehicle trucks are in my blood.  I am humbled in awestruck to see the continued development, capability and performance of modern heavy-duty tow vehicles end I'm excited to witness the future as we move towards electricity as the primary power source.  Whether you have a gas engine or diesel engine, modern-day trucks and tow vehicles are an engineering masterpiece.  It is my hope that through this article in I collective experience I can shed some light on what is one of my favorite pastimes, and I hope it becomes one of yours – trucks! I wish you all the best in your search for the best towing trucks for travel trailers.

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Five Best Trucks For Towing Your RV

If your truck is getting tired and towing your RV starts looking more like a question mark than a statement, it may be time to trade the old one in on a new ride. There are some fantastic new trucks out there, some you know about and some you may not know about. Any way you look at it, now is a great time to buy a new truck.

Nissan Titan XD

Let’s kick this off with a truck you may not have considered before; the new Nissan Titan XD . If you’re thinking you don’t want a Nissan, you’re making a big mistake. These are some seriously nice trucks. The XD fits into that space between a half-ton and a three-quarter ton. Opt for the 5.0-liter Cummins 8-cylinder diesel engine mated to a 6-speed transmission. This gives the Titan 310 horsepower and 555 foot-pounds of torque, as well as 12,310 pounds of towing capacity. You can also get a camera system that gives you a 360-degree view around the truck, and a trailer attach mode that lets you back up to your trailer without a person having to watch. Add in a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty and the American-made and designed Titan should be on your radar!

Toyota Tundra

Toyota has been making Tundra full-size trucks for a while now and if you check the used truck prices, you’ll notice that Tundras don’t lose value much. In fact, if you go to buy a used one and find a good deal – jump on it. Why they hold value well is because they hold up to use extremely well. The 2018 Toyota Tundra has an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine that pumps out 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. With the SR5 package, that is good for 9,800 pounds of towing capacity. The Tundra is made in Texas, a fact Toyota is pretty proud of. The Tundra runs on a 6-speed transmission and the optional towing package adds trailer braking as well as an oil and transmission cooler.

Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra

Chevy (and its sister company GMC) produce some of the most popular trucks on the road. The 2018 Chevy Silverado is a great choice and with the amount of different options available, there is sure to be one that fits your needs. For engines, there are several options, but for serious use, you’ll want the 6.2-liter V8 Ecotec with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes with Chevy’s fuel management system that shuts it down to four cylinders when on flat ground and when you’re cruising. The transmission is available as an 8-speed and there are many axle combinations to pick from that boosts towing from 9,100 pounds up to a whopping 17,700 pounds.

Ford F-250 XLT Superduty

There’s a reason more RVs are built on a Superduty platform than anything else. These are trucks built to handle the big stuff. If you’re towing a big RV, you want a big truck. The Ford F-250 XLT is a major truck and there are a lot of them on the road. For engines, you could go gas, but if you’re talking Superduty, you really want the 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel. It has 440 horsepower and a stunning 925 foot-pounds of torque. That fifth-wheel you’ve been eying is no match for the Ford’s pulling power. Towing? 15,000 pounds of capacity with the diesel engine. That’s kind of like a mic drop in truck speak.

The Ram 2500 truck is a beast. Again, if you’re going to tow the big stuff, you’ve got to get the big stuff truck. Ram has made a big splash lately with these trucks and with good cause – they are great trucks. For engines, you can get the Hemi, which is a great engine with 410 horsepower and a great sound, or you can go diesel. The 6.7-liter Cummins turbo inline 6-cylinder engine makes 370 horsepower, 800 foot-pounds of torque and lets the Ram tow a whopping 17,980 pounds! You can get it with an automatic, or a 6-speed manual transmission. If you’re into serious hauling, this is a great option.

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What Size Truck Do I Need To Pull A Travel Trailer? A Guide To Safe Towing

If you’re thinking about purchasing a travel trailer, it’s imperative to find out whether or not your vehicle is equipped to handle the job.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with a tow rating comparison chart to give you some idea of what to expect from your truck or SUV—or whether you need to invest in a sturdier vehicle for the adventures that await.

Table of Contents

How Big Does The Towing Vehicle Need To Be?

Because every vehicle—and every travel trailer, for that matter—is different, there’s no definitive answer to this question. However, we can provide you with some basic guidelines that should point you in the right direction. For a more comprehensive look at some of the most popular campers on the market, see our Comparison Chart below.

In general, a car or smaller SUV can safely tow 1500 pounds , while a mid-size SUV or light-duty pickup truck might be able to handle up to 3000 pounds. Meanwhile, full-sized SUVs and half-ton pickup trucks can tow travel trailers that weigh in at 8000 pounds or more . If the vehicle is fully equipped with a specialized tow package, it’s capable of hauling even heavier loads.

Because the tow rating and max payload are closely tied to the axle configuration and engine size, it’s best to take a closer look at the vehicle’s specifications before making a decision. Most importantly, as far as the tow rating is concerned, don’t take the salesman’s word for it when you’re selecting the travel trailer itself. They’re trying to sell you the largest rig you can afford—it won’t make any difference to them if your vehicle can’t handle the weight.

Why It’s Important Not To Overload Your Vehicle

Asking your truck or SUV to tow more than it can handle will lead to numerous issues, both immediately and further down the road. In the short term, you’ll be relinquishing a great deal of control. When you tow too much weight, you won’t be able to steer as effectively. Even more worrisome? If you need to brake suddenly, the vehicle might be too heavy to come to a complete stop in time.

As far as long-term effects are concerned, the braking system will begin to show early signs of wear and tear. The engine is also likelier to overheat, which means a shorter life for your transmission. In short, it’s in your best interests to start with a vehicle that’s up to the job.

If you enjoy this article, check out our article on : Best SUVs For Towing A Travel Trailer

Important Definitions

Before shopping for a travel trailer (or a truck for towing a travel trailer), you should understand the distinction between the following terms.

• Tongue Weight —How much weight the tongue will put on the hitch
• Curb Weight —Weight of the vehicle without any gear or passengers
• Dry Weight —Weight of the trailer without any gear, passengers, gas, or water
• Payload —Weight of the gear, passengers, and tongue weight of the trailer itself
• Gross Vehicle Weight —Combined weight of the vehicle, fuel, gear, passengers, and tongue weight (the sum of the payload and the curb weight)
• Combined Gross Vehicle Weight —Manufacturer’s specification of how much total weight the vehicle can handle, including the weight of the vehicle itself
• Max Trailer Weight —Maximum amount of weight that a vehicle can safely tow (excluding the weight of the vehicle)
• Max Tongue Weight —Total amount of weight that the hitch can handle (included in max payload)
• Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight —Total weight of the fully loaded trailer, including passengers

Common Travel Trailer Weights

To give you some idea of what kind of camper your vehicle will be able to tow, here are the specifications for some of the most popular travel trailers on the current market.

Other Considerations

Bear in mind that if the rig is outfitted with slideouts, the weight increases dramatically. One mechanized slideout can add as much as 800 pounds to the trailer’s dry weight, so pay close attention to the configuration.

Also, take a look at the outside of the trailer. If the exterior walls are perfectly smooth, then it’s constructed of fiberglass. If the walls are bumpy along the edges, you have a “stick-built” trailer with aluminum siding. You can expect a stick-built trailer to weigh nearly 1000 pounds more than a similar-sized model with a fiberglass construction.

Another consideration would be if your looking at purchasing a fifth wheel. A fifth wheel will require additional components in the bed of a heavy duty pickup truck adding weight.

Estimated Weights of Assorted Gear

Here’s a list to help you determine how much you can expect your gear to weigh. Remember that it’s always a good idea to round up when estimating weight—it’s better to assume you have too much weight than to underestimate the amount.

• Full fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks: 1000 pounds
• Propane Tanks: 100 pounds
• Clothing and Linens: About 20 pounds per person
• Battery: 75 pounds
• Food: 80 pounds
• Electronics: 50 pounds
• Tools and Leveling Blocks: 60 pounds
• Cooking Supplies: 200 pounds
• Camping Gear: 50 pounds

If you use this list as a guideline, the necessary gear for a family of four would weigh in at about 1700 pounds. Don’t forget to include the weight of all the passengers in the payload when making your calculations, along with the tongue weight.

Towing Capacity Comparison Chart

This chart is designed to show you which vehicles are best for towing certain types of travel trailers . If you aren’t sure what category your vehicle falls under, check the owner’s manual.

If you’re looking for a camper, this chart should help you choose one that can be safely towed behind your existing vehicle. If, on the other hand, you’re shopping for a vehicle that’s best for towing the camper you already have, then you’ll need to flip the weight calculations to determine which size truck or SUV to buy.

Is There A Way To Find Out If The Vehicle Is Equipped For Towing?

First, take a look at the rear bumper to find out if there’s a hitch installed. If not, the vehicle will only be able to tow the minimum weight specified by the manufacturer.

If there is, that’s a good sign—but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the vehicle is equipped with a full tow package. For that, you’ll have to check either the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s plate located on the frame of the driver’s door.

Also, equipment will need to have been added to accommodate a fifth wheel trailer. A goose neck trailer will have its connections in the bed of the truck unlike the setup of a bumper pull trailer.

What Size Travel Trailer Can A F150 Pull?

A regular Ford F150 has a towing capacity of 5,100 pounds. However, the company also offers a tow package that increases the capacity to 13,200 pounds, which will open up your options considerably.

For our full break-down of the capabilities of the Ford F-150, check out our article: What Size Travel Trailer Can A F150 Pull?

How Big Of A Travel Trailer Can A Half-Ton Truck Pull?

A half-ton pickup with max payload should be able to tow around 10,000 pounds—enough for an average-sized travel trailer. Most half-ton trucks can accommodate a fifth wheel, but this depends on the bed size.

How Big Of A Travel Trailer Can I Tow With A Chevy 1500?

Trucks in Chevy’s 1500 series can be equipped with a tow package that gives them a maximum load capacity of 11,000 pounds, making them suitable for heavy travel trailers. If the vehicle is outfitted with a larger engine (like the 6.2L V8), the tow rating can be as high as 13,400.

Is There Any Additional Safety Equipment I Can Invest In To Ensure A Smooth Ride?

Sway bars can help you maintain proper control of the trailer, particularly in high winds. We recommend Reese’s Pro Series 83660 kit, a sturdily constructed bar that can be used on either the left or right sides of the trailer.

Eaz-Lift Stabilizing Scissor Jacks can help keep the rig stable once it’s parked–bear in mind that you’ll need at least four of them for maximum effect.

It’s also a good idea to have a trailer brake controller to give you additional support in case you need to come to a sudden stop. The Tekonsha 90160 has an oversized LED display that’s easy to read, even from a distance.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re shopping for a travel trailer that suits your vehicle or the other way around, you can save yourself a lot of stress by doing the calculations beforehand. Even better, you’ll be protecting your investment by treating your vehicle with the proper care–and protecting yourself and your travel companions at the same time.

Best of luck, and happy camping!

Checkout our article on: Do I Need a Weight Distribution Hitch For My Camper?

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10 Best Travel Trailers for Half Ton Trucks in 2024

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Updated April 5, 2024

Every time we post an article or a video about the best travel trailers for half ton trucks, a huge debate ensues. The debate isn’t about the trailers we choose but whether or not half-ton trucks can tow these trailers safely.

We selected all the travel trailers on our list based on modern pickup trucks’ tow capacities with model years from 2020. We can all agree that older pickup trucks can’t handle the same weight that newer pickups can. So, if you own a pickup truck older than 2020, this list is not for you.

5. Amenities

4. how do you know your vehicle’s payload capacity, what does half-ton towable mean.

Modern “half-ton” trucks have completely outgrown the term’s original meaning. Back in the 1940s, a “half-ton” truck could carry 1,000 lbs. The term stuck, and it’s still with us today, regardless of the truck’s actual payload capacity. Fortunately, the term is usually enough that even non-truck enthusiasts have a general idea of what kind of truck you mean. 

In the RV world, when a towable trailer had a “half-ton” categorization, it originally meant that the travel trailer was a half-ton truck towable. Today that’s not necessarily true. In many cases, it’s another way of saying it’s a lighter-weight RV compared to others. The weight category sits between the “lightweight” label and a full-weight travel trailer.

For example, Keystone’s Cougar Series includes the regular Cougars and the Cougar Half-Ton travel trailers. All but the smallest Cougar Half-Tons can’t be safely towed by pickup trucks in the 150/1500 Series, but each of those Cougar models is lighter than its full-weight counterpart.

10 Best Travel Trailers for Half Ton Trucks

Half-tons are outstanding trucks, and they carry some serious weight behind them. Travel trailer manufacturers understand the popularity of half ton trucks, so there is more than a half-ton of them (weak pun intended). 

1. Venture Stratus SR231VRB

✅ Spacious open floor plan

❌ Open floor plan means no division between sleeping and living areas

• Length: 26’6
• UVW: 5,580 lbs
• GVWR: 7,285 lbs
• CCC: 1,705 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 720 lbs  

The Venture Stratus SR231VRB is an affordable, ultra-lite travel trailer for half-ton trucks. It’s super lightweight for easy towing and boasts an eye-catching exterior and stunning interior decor. 

Inside the trailer, you’ll find an open floor plan with plenty of space. At the front of the trailer is the main sleeping area, with a queen bed, plus wardrobes and cabinets. In the rear, you’ll find a full bath, as well as a walk-in pantry. In the middle of the trailer is the kitchen, with a fridge, 3 burner stove, oven, and microwave. The trailer also features a spacious U dinette, plus a kitchen bar. The great features of this trailer are rounded out by an 18’ awning on the exterior. 

2. Heartland North Trail 26FKDS

✅ Oversized windows for great views and plenty of storage

❌ No TV included standard

• Length:  29’8
• UVW: 6,777 lbs
• GVWR: 9,601 lbs
• CCC: 2,792 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 801 lbs  

A spacious open-concept floor plan, oversized windows, tons of storage, and sleek design make the Heartland North Trail 26FKDS an amazing travel trailer for half-ton trucks.

The trailer features Super King Kong-sized storage, giving you space for everything your family needs. An EZ Sweep carpet-free slide room means easier cleaning. And these are just some of this trailer’s great features.

The trailer has two entry points, one in the master bedroom and the other in the main living area. The master bedroom features a king bed, plus a wardrobe and large windows for plenty of light.

Outside the bedroom is the full bath, accessible from both the bedroom and living area. Past this is the living area, with a sleeper sofa, a stowaway sofa, and an entertainment center with TV prep. 

Beyond the living area at the front of the trailer is the kitchen. It features a three-burner stove, oven, and fridge, plus a walk-in pantry and a dinette. Outside the trailer, you’ll also find an exterior kitchen, as well as a power awning. 

3. Airstream International 28RB

✅ A super high-quality travel trailer

❌ Like all Airstreams, fairly pricey (but holds its value very well)

• Length: 28’2”
• UVW: 5,900 lbs
• GVWR: 7,600 lbs
• CCC: 1,700 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 860 lbs

With modern design, plenty of features, and exacting quality, the Airstream International 28RB is one of the best travel trailers for half-ton trucks. 

Like all Airstream trailers, the International is constructed with the highest quality materials and labor to ensure a trailer that lasts and lasts. The exterior boasts a classic Airstream design, with sleek lines and brushed aluminum to catch eyes anywhere you go.

Inside, you’ll find a chic design and a well-appointed floor plan. At the front of the trailer is the lounge area, with an L-shaped sofa and a perfect view of the TV. Next to this is the kitchen, featuring a 3 burner stove, large sink, and fridge. Across from the kitchen, you’ll find a convertible dream dinette. 

Beyond the kitchen, you’ll find a bathroom and shower, which are separate so one person can bathe while another uses the facilities. Behind this is the bedroom, with a cozy queen bed. 

4. Bigfoot B25FB

✅ Well-made, multi-season trailer

❌ Many common features are add-ons rather than standard. 

• Length:  25’6”
• UVW: 5,563 lbs
• GVWR: 7,500 lbs
• CCC: 1,937 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 612 lbs

The Bigfoot B25FB is a multi-season travel trailer for half-ton trucks that’s packed with great features.

Inside, you’ll find features like porcelain toilets, spring-filled mattresses, and deluxe fabrics. Plus, conveniences like a satellite-ready CD player and a roof rack and ladder.

Inside the RV, you’ll find a cozy sleeping area up front, with wardrobes and overhead storage. At midship is a kitchen, equipped with an oven, cooktop, microwave, and fridge, as well as a dinette. In the rear of the trailer, you’ll find a full bath. 

A variety of add-ons are also available for the B25FB, including roof AC, exterior speakers, an LCD TV, and more. 

5. Palomino Pause 20.2

✅ Tons of great features perfect for spending time outdoors

❌ Only sleeps 2

• Length:  25’2”
• UVW: 7,868 lbs
• GVWR: 9,468 lbs
• CCC: 1,600 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 895 lbs  

With a deluxe outside kitchen, fishing rod storage, and many more great features, the Palomino Pause 20.2 is the perfect travel trailer for half-ton trucks for outdoor enthusiasts. 

The deluxe outside kitchen features a 4.5 cu ft fridge, microwave, sink, grill/griddle combo, and pantry, for cooking up everything your heart desires. There is also storage above the outdoor kitchen.

Inside is another kitchen, with a 2-burner gas cooktop, microwave, and fridge. Also inside the trailer, you’ll find a queen-sized sleeper sofa with a table, plus shirt closets. Across from the seating and sleeping area is the entertainment center with a 39” smart TV. Behind the entertainment center is a lockable storage area. At the rear of the trailer is the full bath, plus a linen closet. 

Other great features include a rear storage room, a 14’ awning, and a 12v cooler with a slide tray. 

6. Forest River r-pod 203

✅ A compact and aerodynamic trailer with plenty of sleeping space

❌ Small Kitchen

• Length: 25’
• UVW: 5,169 lbs
• GVWR: 7,725 lbs
• CCC: 2,556 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 725 lbs

If you’re looking for a compact and lightweight travel trailer for a half-ton truck, check out the Forest River r-pod 203 .

The compact size and aerodynamic shape of the r-pod 203 make it easy to tow and fuel efficient. Inside, you’ll find a spacious floor plan with a Murphy bed and sofa at the front of the trailer. At midship is the kitchen, with the largest-in-class fridge, 2 burner cooktop, and microwave.

Across from the kitchen is a dinette which converts for extra sleeping space. At the rear of the trailer, you’ll find double bunks, plus the full bath. On the exterior of the trailer is a 16’ awning, plus an exterior griddle. 

7. Black Series HQ19

✅ Super rugged trailer perfect for boondocking

❌ Will need to pay for add-on packages to get the full off-road experience

• Length: 23’
• UVW: 6,525 lbs
• CCC: 1,075 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 652 lbs  

Need a rugged travel trailer for your half-ton truck that can take on any challenge? You’ll find it hard to beat the Black Series HQ19 . 

This trailer is sturdy, durable, and crash resistant, designed from the ground up to go off-road thanks to the armored chassis, independent suspension system, and MT tires.

Inside, you’ll find a well-appointed kitchen with a fridge, oven, microwave, and stove. It features a full bath, premium leather sofas, and a cozy ergonomic bed. Thanks to its four 150W solar panels and large water tanks, it’s ideal for boondocking for long periods. 

8. CrossRoads Sunset Trail SS285CK

✅ Super spacious trailer with plenty of seating and sleeping space

❌ At over 32 feet, it will be a bit harder to tow than other options on our list

• Length: 32’5”
• UVW: 6,588 lbs
• GVWR: 9,530 lbs
• CCC: 2,942 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 738 lbs

Looking for a travel trailer for your half-ton truck that has space for the whole family? Check out the CrossRoads Sunset Trail SS285CK .

This trailer features a spacious living area, with a tri-fold sofa and XL dinette booth across from an entertainment center with a TV and fireplace. The kitchen is also in this area, featuring a gas oven, 11 cu ft fridge, microwave, and cooktop. 

At midship is a full bath, beyond which is the master bedroom. The bedroom features a king bed, wardrobes, and a pet station. Outside the trailer, you’ll also find a camp kitchen. 

9. Coachmen Adrenaline 21LT

✅ The only toy hauler on our list

❌ Like most toy haulers, the living area isn’t the coziest

• Length: 27’5”
• UVW: 5,750 lbs
• GVWR: 9,735 lbs
• CCC: 3,985 lbs
• Tongue Weight: 935 lbs  

If you’re looking for a toy hauler for your half-ton truck, look no further than the Coachmen Adrenaline 21LT .

At the front of this trailer, you’ll find the bedroom, with a queen bed, dresser, and wardrobe, as well as the full bath with a 30” x 36” shower. In the 13’8” garage, you’ll find a kitchen with a 3-burner stove, microwave, fridge, and oven. You’ll also find two swivel chairs, roll-over sofas, and a dinette table. For more sleeping space, you can add a queen bed on an electric lift. 

To round things out, the exterior of the trailer features a ramp door and 19’ awning, plus an optional fuel station. 

10. Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 24SABWE

✅ Super spacious trailer with plenty of great features

❌ No option for TV in the bedroom

• Length: 28’4”
• UVW: 6,165 lbs
• GVWR: 7,800 lbs
• CCC: 1,635 lbs
• Tongue Weight:  640 lbs

The Keystone Cougar Half-Ton 24SABWE is a luxurious travel trailer perfect for half-ton trucks. As you enter the trailer, you’ll find a sizeable kitchen with a stovetop, oven, microwave, corner sink, and fridge. There’s also a booth dinette for enjoying your meals.

The spacious living area features a tri-fold sleeper sofa, while a swivel TV provides entertainment. At midship is the bathroom, accessible from both the living area and bedroom. This is a full bath, featuring a radius shower. 

At the front of the trailer is the master bedroom, with its own entryway. It features a king bed, plus wardrobes and storage. Outside the trailer, you’ll find a 20’ awning. 

5 Things to Look for in a Half-Ton Towable RV

Your half-ton truck can probably carry a good deal. You first need to know how much it can safely tow. Then you need to understand the various elements of a travel trailer and how that applies to your half-ton’s capabilities. 

1. GVWR vs. UVW

If the total weight of your gear exceeds the GVWR of the travel trailer, you’re shaking your fist at a dangerous fate. It’s not enough to know what your truck can haul when you only compare it to the UVW. You need to compare it with the GVWR. 

UVW is the dry weight of the travel trailer, exactly what it weighs when it clears the last hurdle on the assembly line. 

GVWR is a weight limit you can’t safely exceed once all your gear is stored, accessories packed, and tanks are filled. It’s the more important weight when matched against your half-ton’s capabilities. In fact, you want to keep your total weight at 80% below the GVWR.

The longest travel trailer for 1/2-ton trucks on this list is nearly 35 feet. We wouldn’t have put it on the list if it were dangerous to tow with a half-ton truck. Just remember, when you’re getting into lengths that high, the small window between dry weight and your half-ton towing capacity becomes smaller and smaller. 

You don’t want to purchase a travel trailer with a dry weight so close to your truck’s capability that simply tossing your backpack on the trailer exceeds the limits of your truck. 

3. Tongue Weight

The tongue weight is the measurement of the downward force from the tongue of the travel trailer on the hitch of your half-ton truck. Too little, and your travel trailer is prone to fishtailing. Too much, and it presses down on the truck’s back tires, raising the front tires. 

Just because your travel trailer for 1/2 ton trucks has a tongue weight of 900 lbs. doesn’t mean it will stay that way. That’s what it is in a bubble, with no outside factors. Front loading your travel trailer increases that 900 lbs. Rear loading your travel trailer lowers the 900 lbs. 

4. Sleeping Capacity

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry too much about this issue too much. There are plenty of travel trailers for half-ton trucks that can sleep as many as you can cram in the cab. 

It’s always a good idea to do your homework on the amenities. Have a list ready of what amenities you need, and want but can live without, and must avoid helping narrow down your search. 

These lists will save a lot of time and keep you on track when searching for the best travel trailer for 1/2 ton trucks you desire.

4 FAQs About Half-Ton Towable Travel Trailers

1. does a half-ton towable fifth-wheel exist.

Half-ton towable fifth-wheels sure do exist, though there aren’t many models available. There’s the Palomino Puma 255RKS , the Jayco Eagle HT 24RE , the KZ Durango Half-Ton D230RKD , and more. You just have to be very careful about your towing capacity. Many claim their half-ton towable, but you may need to special order a new truck with a heavy-duty tow package.

2. How Much Do Half Ton Towable RVs Cost?

Half-ton travel trailer prices range anywhere between $25k and $75k, depending on what you want and what comes with it. 

3. Can You Double Tow With a Half-Ton Truck?

It’s possible, but you must be careful about the tongue weight and the towing capacity of the half-ton truck. Also, several states have strict regulations on double towing , regardless of the pulling vehicle. 

To get the payload capacity, you need to know the GVWR and the curb weight. GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating while the curb weight is the truck’s weight when empty but with all of its fluids (including fuel). Subtract curb weight from GVWR, and you have your payload capacity. 

What’s The Biggest Camper I Can Pull With a ½ Ton Truck?

Half-ton trucks can tow 14,000 lbs. using a heavy-duty tow package. Standard half-ton pickups are safe between 8,000 and 9,000 lbs. You also want to consider the mass of the travel trailer you want to hitch up.

Your truck may be able to tow the weight, but a long trailer that starts swaying too much can throw a truck off the road. 

Final Thoughts on Travel Trailers for Half Ton Pickup Trucks

Half-tons are a misnomer, and they certainly aren’t the trucks of the 1940s. F-150s and 1500s have a much higher payload capacity and can tow more than their namesakes imply. Now that you know what they’re capable of, there’s no reason to wait any longer for that dream travel trailer for half ton trucks. 

Related Reading:

– 10 Best Travel Trailers With Bunk Beds Under 7,000 lbs. – 9 Best Off-Road RVs in Every Category – How To Stop Travel Trailer Sway – 10 Best Half Ton 5th Wheels

Thomas Godwin – Author and Part-Time RVer

Thomas Godwin is a full-time freelance writer with a BFA in Creative Writing, a U.S. Marine, and an avid outdoorsman.

Thomas’s love for RVing began at an early age spending time camping in the family vintage Airstream.

His background and education in writing, combined with his passion for the outdoors, can be seen in publications such as Camper Smarts and Vanlifers, as well as multiple animal and outdoor recreational publications.

When he’s not writing, he’s raising chickens and Appleyard ducks. Thomas also constructs teardrop campers (attempting to anyway) and kayaks the Blackwater River with his wife, two daughters, and his Dobermans.

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10 Perfect Travel Trailers to Tow With Your Half-Ton Truck

We've curated 10 camper trailers perfect for half-ton pickups that cover a broad range of styles, construction, and design characteristics. Among this selection of travel trailers are towable habitats to satisfy an array of interests ranging from relaxed family camping to energetic backcountry exploration.

If you're looking for something that sleeps an entire troop of family members, we've got that. If it's a deep off-road reach you're hankerin' for, that's here, too. If you like something a little cushy while having outdoor adventure close at hand, you're in luck. Take a look, compare features and specifications, and then check out more options and information on each travel trailer manufacturer's website.

Note: All prices listed are MSRP.

10 Perfect Half-Ton Pickup Compatible Camper Trailers

Airstream bambi 22fb : $69,200+.

• Base weight: 3,900 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 500 lbs.
• GVWR: 5,000 lbs.
• Overall length: 21 ft., 11 in.
• Exterior width: 8 ft.
• Exterior height: 9 ft., 3 in.
• Interior height: 6 ft., 4 in.
• Sleeping capacity: Up to 4
• LPG capacity: Two 20-lb. tanks
• Freshwater tank: 23 gals.
• Gray water tank: 30 gals. 
• Black water tank: 17 gals.

The Airstream Bambi trailer line is available in four different models ranging from 16 to 22 feet in length. The Bambi is a perfect example of Airstream's classically stylish aluminum design and sturdy construction. We chose to highlight the Bambi 22FB floorplan because it's the largest member of the Bambi family, is easily maneuverable, and is a great fit for a half-ton pickup truck like the Ford F-150 .

Airstream has been a pioneer in the RV industry since its inception in 1931. The Bambi travel trailer line is a masterpiece of maximizing available space while still delivering top-of-the-class features and amenities. The Bambi 22FB is big enough to comfortably sleep four people.

It offers a primary front bed with a view and a fully equipped bathroom. It also offers a large storage closet, spacious and well-equipped kitchen, and convertible U-shaped dinette.

As with most Airstream trailers, the Bambi's exterior is a semi-monocoque aluminum superstructure instead of the more typical wood-framed camping trailer construction. Running gear includes a torsion axle suspension and ST 225/75R15 tires on 15-inch aluminum wheels.

The Airstream Bambi 22FB delivers as standard equipment a 26-inch-wide entry door, rear-view monitoring system, LED lighting seemingly everywhere, and an enclosed, aluminum insulated and heated underbelly. Equipment often on the options list of other trailers, like an LED HD television with DVD and omnidirectional antenna, are also standard on this camping trailer.

Coleman Lantern 285BH : $43,320

• Base weight: 6,611 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 869 lbs.
• GVWR: 9,680 lbs.
• Overall length: 32 ft., 9 in.
• Exterior height: 11 ft., 2 in.
• Sleeping capacity: Up to 8
• LPG capacity: Dual 20-lb. tanks
• Freshwater tank: 60 gals.
• Gray water tank: 42 gals.
• Black water tank: 42 gals.

Coleman's iconic pop-up tent trailer that so many began their family camping experiences in a generation ago is no longer being built. However, the Coleman trailer brand and its legendary utility have been transformed under the Dutchmen RV umbrella. A fully featured line of Coleman travel trailers is now available that can serve as a perfect support system for outdoor adventures.

The Coleman Lantern 285BH is on the larger end of our scope of interest here but remains easily towable (with a weight-distributing hitch) using a half-ton pickup truck such as the Chevy Silverado 1500. We think the Coleman Lantern 285BH camping trailer would be a good choice for a larger family or an extended family group that enjoys the outdoors.

It features bunk beds, a large slide-out with a convertible couch and dinette, and a primary bedroom with a queen-size mattress. This combo makes it capable of sleeping up to eight people.

An insulated structure with a metal exterior panel, wood framing with thermal insulation, and a Lauan (a hardwood plywood) interior panel is a typical trailer construction method used for the Coleman Lantern. Its roof features a Lauan interior panel, wood framing, fiberglass insulation, 3/8-inch decking, and an EPDM (synthetic rubber membrane) top layer.

Standard amenities in the Coleman Lantern include 28-inch entrance doors, a 13,500-BTU air conditioner, a power awning, interior 120V and 12V power outlets, an enclosed underbelly, and an exterior shower. The Coleman Lantern 285BH camping trailer also features a full kitchen with a three-burner cooktop, microwave, 10-cubic-foot fridge, and a large sink kitchen with a high-rise faucet.

Forest River No Boundaries 20.3 (Unplugged Package) : $50,000

• Base weight: 5,306 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 734 lbs.
• GVWR: 7,734 lbs. 
• Overall length: 26 ft., 2 in.
• Exterior height: 11 ft., 3 in.
• Freshwater tank: 40 gals.
• Gray water tank: 40 gals. 
• Black water tank: 30 gals.

Forest River offers more than a dozen different RV brands and configurations ranging from motorhomes, toy haulers, fifth-wheel trailers, travel trailers, and pop-up tent trailers in all shapes and sizes. One of our favorites is the Forest River No Boundaries line of travel trailers that are perfect for half-ton pickups.

The Forest River No Boundaries travel trailers are rugged towables, ranging in length from 12 to 25 feet, designed with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. They offer adaptable storage solutions for bikes , kayaks, SUPs , surfboards, skis, and fishing equipment.

Helping transport you deeper into the wild with higher than typical ground clearance, larger-diameter tires, and a nimble suspension system, the Forest River No Boundaries allows you to set up camp in locations others would find inaccessible.

Our choice would be the Forest River No Boundaries 20.3 Unplugged Package travel trailer. Like all the No Boundaries trailers, 20.3 offers familiar standard equipment and a host of useful options to choose from. The UnPlugged Package model adds four lithium-ion batteries, a digital control screen, remote A/C control, and a heavy-duty solar panel.

Interior living amenities include a sofa and 60×80-inch Murphy bed up front, slide-out with a convertible dinette and well-equipped kitchen mid-ship, 52×74-inch bunk beds, and a bathroom with shower stall in the rear of the trailer. Available options start with a 13.5K-BTU AC unit, 5,500-BTU heat strip, power tongue jack, and a batwing awning .

inTech RV O-V-R Adventure : $61,880

• Base weight: 5,700 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 1,100 lbs.
• GVWR: 8,500 lbs.
• Overall length: 29 ft., 3 in.
• Exterior width: 8 ft., 3 in.
• Exterior height: 10 ft., 6 in.
• Interior height: 6 ft., 11 in.
• Sleeping capacity: Up to 6
• Freshwater tank: 44 gals.
• Gray water tank: 39 gals. 
• Black water tank: 26 gals.

The inTech O-V-R Adventure travel trailer is what the RV industry refers to as a tow hauler. It does a great job of carrying motorcycles or UTVs and at the same time providing its inhabitants with comfortable and modern creature comforts and amenities.

A lightweight but sturdy all-aluminum frame and body supported by a torsion axle suspension team up to help better manage irregular road surfaces on the way to your outdoor adventure destination.

The versatile interior design utilizes every inch of the space inside the inTech O-V-R Adventure trailer. The voluminous trailer box has a cargo hold length of 13 feet, 3 inches, but can easily be converted from toy hauling duty to living, dining, and sleeping space in a matter of minutes. The well-equipped modern kitchen, wet bath (enclosed shower stall with a porcelain toilet), and large (60×80-inch memory foam queen) front bedroom are static.

Standard equipment for the O-V-R Adventure trailer includes a power tongue jack, 25K-BTU furnace heater, 15K-BTU ducted air conditioning system, and a heated underbelly with line heaters and tank heat pads. The ramp door is 7 feet, 1 inch wide and 6 feet, 7 inches high.

Available options are few because it's already loaded. However, a pair of 75-inch foldup couch/beds for the interior dinette, an 18-foot power awning with wind protection that auto retracts, and an Off-Grid Package that includes a 400W solar power system with a 2,000W inverter perfectly round out the inTech O-V-R Adventure toy hauler trailer.

Jayco Jay Feather 26RL : $52,275

• Base weight: 6,115 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 690 lbs.
• GVWR: 7,500 lbs.
• Overall length: 31 ft., 11 in.
• Exterior height: 10 ft., 8 in.
• Interior height: 6 ft., 6 in.
• Freshwater tank: 55 gals.
• Gray water tank: 31 gals. 
• Black water tank: 31 gals.

The Jayco Jay Feather 26RL travel trailer is a perfect fit for a Toyota Tundra or any of the half-ton pickup trucks available today. The Jay Feather 26RL was designed to offer a large open space in the rear of the trailer with a wide pull-out holding a convertible dinette, a big fridge, and a pantry closet.

Opposite the 26RL trailer's pull-out is a full kitchen with an L-shaped counter and overhead cabinets, a dual sink, a three-burner stove, and a microwave. An entertainment center and LED TV are integrated into the kitchen area and can be seen from the dinette or from the theater seats (optional) along the back wall.

A 60×75-inch queen bed and plenty of storage space make up the roomy front primary bedroom that can be accessed from inside the Jay Feather 26RL trailer or from the outside through a second door. The bathroom in between the front bedroom and main living area is generously sized with an enclosed shower, a separate flush toilet, and a large sink.

Standard equipment includes desirables like a 35K-BTU furnace heater, a 15K-BTU A/C, an 8-cubic-foot fridge, ball-bearing drawer guides, residential-style kitchen countertops, and a 20-foot awning.

Jayco's Jay Feather 26RL travel trailer is built on an I-beam main frame with an integrated A-frame structure for strength and durability. The trailer body is made up of a welded-aluminum-framed, vacuum-bonded laminated side. Its rear walls have a fiberglass exterior siding that is lightweight yet sturdy and well-insulated.

The floor is a 2-inch vacuum-bonded panel with foam insulation, and the waterproof and insulated roof is based on trussed wood (2×2-inch studs) and plywood construction that offers high weight-bearing performance.

Lance Camper 2445 : $89,024

• Base weight: 6,605 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 605 lbs.
• GVWR: 8,700 lbs.
• Overall length: 29 ft., 10 in.
• Exterior width: 8 ft., 3/8 in.
• Exterior height: 10 ft., 5 in.
• Interior height: 6 ft., 8 in.
• LPG capacity: 20-lb. tank
• Freshwater tank: 45 gals.
• Black water tank: 40 gals.

The Lance 2445 travel trailer is another great match for a half-ton pickup such as the GMC Sierra 1500 . If the name Lance Camper sounds familiar, it should. Lance has been building one of the RV industry's best slide-in truck campers and continues to do so. A few years ago, Lance also began building a full line of high-end travel trailers with the same attention to detail and quality that made its truck camper a bestseller.

Part of a 12-model line of Lance travel trailers running from just under 15 feet to nearly 30 feet in length, the Lance 2445 travel trailer offers a primary bedroom up front with Lance's SkyView dual-pane radius windows, a slide-out carrying a convertible dinette, and bunk beds in the tail end.

Built upon an aluminum frame, the Lance 2445 travel trailer's construction features high-density foam block insulation, dual-layer Adzel composite (no wood) panel, and a crowned roof topped with a synthetic membrane.

Standard interior features of the Lance 2445 travel trailer include an enclosed glass shower stall and porcelain toilet. The kitchen offers a 21-inch oven, three-burner range, microwave, 6-cubic-foot fridge, and undermounted residential-style sink.

Electrical equipment includes ducted A/C, a heater, exterior solar quick connect (SAE port), systems monitor panel, and USB, 120V, and 12V power ports. Among your choice of options for the Lance 2445 travel trailer are a 1,500W inverter, a 190W solar panel, and Lance's own easy-loading roof rack. The optional shock absorber package can make dirt roads easier to manage on the way to find some adventure.

Opus Camper OP15 : $65,000

• Base weight: 5,159 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 410 lbs.
• GVWR: 6,393 lbs.
• Overall (closed) length: 23 ft.
• Exterior width: 7 ft.
• Exterior height (roof closed): 8 ft., 10 in.
• Interior height: 6 ft., 5 in. (open) / 5 ft., 5 in. (closed)
• Freshwater tank: 63 gals.
• Gray water tank: 17 gals. 
• Black water tank: 10 gals.

Called an off-road hybrid caravan by its builder, the Opus Camper OP15 is a serious overlanding machine designed for those outdoor enthusiasts who like getting far away from it all while having all the comforts and amenities of home. Newly reengineered for severe off-road environments, the independent trailing arm suspension system underneath the bomb-shelter-sturdy Opus OP15 trailer's cabin features dual shock absorbers and larger springs repositioned for improved performance.

The interior of the Opus Camper OP15 trailer increases in size dramatically once it’s parked and the pop-top roof and rear slide-out are extended. Inside the OP15 you'll find a king-size bed, bunk beds, a dining lounge with plush seating and an adjustable table, plenty of storage space, and a full bathroom with shower, sink, and flush toilet.

The OP15 trailer's outdoor slide-out kitchen delivers a stainless-steel sink, a four-burner stainless steel stove, and a food-prep deck. A second outdoor slide-out carries a 12V fridge/freezer combo.

The Opus Camper OP15 scores more off-road points with its 360-degree articulating trailer hitch and large all-terrain tires (including two spares). A fully galvanized welded chassis and drawbar, stone guard, heavy-duty safety chains, and electric brakes are standard equipment.

Fully loaded for off-grid adventure the OP 15 also offers three 100A AGM batteries, a 300W solar panel setup, and utility storage for two 6-gallon fuel cans as standard. You can boost that capability with options such as a DC charger, or lithium batteries and an upgraded charger.

Outdoors RV Back Country Series 24KRS : $80,060

• Base weight: 7,430 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 965 lbs.
• GVWR: 9,995 lbs.
• Overall length: 28 ft., 8 in.
• Exterior height: 11 ft., 6 in.
• LPG capacity: 80 lbs.
• Freshwater tank: 100 gals.
• Gray water tank: 80 gals. 

One of the heavier examples in this buyer's guide of travel trailers well suited for half-ton pickup trucks is the Outdoors RV Back Country 24KRS. The Back Country 24HRS was designed for the outdoor enthusiast who is more likely to camp off-grid and off-road.

Stocked with standard features such as a 36K on-board LPG-powered generator, a 170W solar panel with controller, and 100 gallons of freshwater capacity, the Outdoors RV Back Country 24KRS is capable of sustaining itself and its inhabitants for much more than just a 3-day weekend getaway.

Noted by its builder as designed for "mountain states and western Canada," the Backcountry 24KRS is delivered with equipment that are options on many other travel trailers. Thermal pane windows, triple-layered roof insulation, insulated slide-out floor, insulated exterior luggage doors, and a fully enclosed, insulated, and heated underbelly make it a good choice for winter or shoulder-season camping. Off-road chops include an integrated A-frame chassis with a heavy-duty off-road suspension and beefy six-lug 5,000-pound-capacity axles.

The Outdoors RV Back Country 24KRS travel trailer's ability to handle tough roads and long trips is countered with a host of upscale appointments and creature comforts to make the adventure easy to enjoy. A large bathroom is filled with a sink, flush toilet, and roomy shower stall. The kitchen offers a three-burner stove/oven, a large stainless-steel sink with a high-arch faucet, a microwave oven, a huge fridge, and lots of prep space.

Between the 60×80-inch primary bed, a convertible dinette, and a sleeper sofa, there's room to sleep up to six. And the interior is built out in sturdy and attractive cabinetry that offers enough storage space for all your gear.

TAXA Outdoors Mantis 5.2 Overland : $57,874

• Base weight: 3,486 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 510 lbs.
• Overall length: 19 ft.
• Exterior width: 7 ft., 6in.
• Exterior height: 7 ft. (closed) / 10 ft., 1 in. (open)
• Interior height: 4 ft., 7 in. (closed) / Up to 7 ft., 10 in. (open) 
• Freshwater tank: 20 gals.
• Gray water tank: 22 gals.

The TAXA Outdoors Mantis 5.2 Overland trailer is an admittedly nontraditional travel trailer. Its unique nature is part of what makes it a good choice for half-ton pickup trucks like the Nissan Titan . It may look a bit like a giant insect, but the Mantis 5.2 Overland camping trailer has everything you need to enjoy a comfortable middle-of-nowhere experience.

Based on the TAXA Mantis 5.2 (the company's largest floorplan), the Overland edition retains all of the original’s creature comforts and conveniences while inheriting a higher level of off-grid and long-term camping capability.

The Mantis 5.2 Overland travel trailer is loaded with a fully equipped kitchen, a combo furnace heater/hot water system, storage compartments everywhere, and comfortable sleeping accommodations for four people. An optional pop-up rooftop tent can sleep two more.

TAXA Outdoors added some serious rough-road handling features like a 360-degree rotation/three-axis hitch for optimum trailer control on or off-road. The Mantis 5.2 Overland trailer rides on a powder-coated steel chassis with a 5,200-pound-rated Timbren axle-less suspension system and a 4-inch body lift. This setup gives the trailer 14 inches of ground clearance, perfect for off-road camping adventures.

A mix of aluminum composite panels, Baltic Birch plywood, and an aluminum and steel structural skeleton make up the atypical shape of the TAXA Mantis 5.2 Overland travel trailer. On the long list of available features are handy items like acrylic windows with screens and shades, batwing-style awnings, and exterior hot and cold showers. An integrated 12V electrical system, wet bath with cassette toilet, and 8K-BTU A/C make long trips even more comfortable.

Venture RV Sonic X SN220VRBX : $51,354

• Base weight: 5,610 lbs.
• Hitch weight: 570 lbs.
• GVWR: 7,285 lbs.
• Overall length: 27 ft., 6 in.
• Exterior width: 7 ft., 6 in.
• Exterior height: 10 ft., 4 in.
• Freshwater tank: 78 gals.
• Gray water tank: 30 gals.

Venture RV currently builds six different travel trailer lines, each offering its own design and engineering flavor. Dozens of Venture RV trailers ranging from 3,000 to 9,000 pounds (base weight) are ideal for a half-ton pickup like the Ford F-150.

Our favorite Venture RV line is the Sonic X, of which there are two floorplans. We will focus on the Sonix X SN220VRBX travel trailer with its large rear-bathroom floorplan.

The Venture RV Sonic X SN220VRBX travel trailer and its SN211VDBX (rear bunk bed plan) cousin are the same length and nearly the same weight. Both feature a high-clearance off-road-capable NXG chassis and two 3,500-pound capacity torsion axles, making it easier to get the Sonic X trailer into campsites others can't reach.

Go-anywhere standard equipment for the Sonix X trailers includes a tubular brush guard, welded tube bumper, roof-mounted LED lightbars, and off-road tires. Designed to be self-sustainable for long periods of time, the Sonix X trailers offer extended off-grid adventure with standard equipment like two 190W roof-mounted solar panels, two 250A lithium-ion batteries, and a 2,000W inverter/charger.

The floorplan of the Venture Sonix X SN220VRBX travel trailer is laid out with a 60×75-inch primary bed (or with a Murphy bed with sofa) up front. The center section of the trailer carries a slide-out holding an 88×47-inch convertible dinette directly across from a well-stocked kitchen that offers a large sink, three-burner stove, oven, and a 7-cubic-foot refrigerator .

The rear section of the SN220VRBX trailer houses a bathroom with a flush toilet, a large sink, and a 34-inch glass radius enclosed shower. A large exterior-accessed storage garage compartment for outdoor gear is standard on both Sonix X trailers.

How Much Can a Half-Ton Truck Tow?

How much trailer can a half-ton truck - F-150, Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, RAM 1500, Tundra, and Titan - tow ?

As an example, tow ratings for the bestselling Ford F-150 can range from 5,000 to 14,000 pounds. This depends upon cab configuration, truck bed size, 2WD or 4WD, engine size, and the final drive ratios (ring-and-pinion gear set ratios).

In addition, some high ratings require additional payload or towing packages. All these aspects combine to establish a pickup truck's maximum tow rating - also referred to as the maximum trailer weight rating.   

The bestselling Ford F-150 cab configuration (according to 2022 model sales) is the SuperCrew. We'll use that as a starting point. The 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCrew short bed 2WD with a 3.3L V-6 engine and 3.55-ratio axle gears is rated at 5,100 pounds.

On the other end of the scale is the 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCrew short bed 2WD with a 3.5L turbocharged V-6 engine, 3.55 axle gears, and optional payload package scores a 14,000-pound tow rating.

Detailed tow ratings are listed in your truck's owner's manual. Tow ratings for some older trucks can be found on RV.com . The Ford Motor Company website also offers a Towing Guide to help find your truck's maximum trailer weight rating. 

Travel Trailer Terminology You Should Know

There are a few terms that trailer manufacturers use in their specification charts that you should know and understand.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum permissible weight for a trailer, including all cargo, fluids, LPG, and optional equipment.

Unladen, Dry, Tare, or Base Weight: These all mean the same thing - the total weight of the unloaded trailer in standard equipment trim, with no cargo, fluids (freshwater), or LPG.

Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC): Sometimes referred to as Rated Cargo Load, this is the maximum amount of cargo weight the trailer can safely hold. This includes everything you load into the trailer, full water tanks, filled propane tanks, and batteries.

Tongue or Hitch Weight: The weight the trailer will place upon the hitch of your truck. More than 500 pounds of tongue weight on a half-ton pickup will likely place undue stress on the rear suspension and unload the front end, adversely affecting the truck's steering and overall handling. In this case, the use of a weight-distributing hitch can redeploy some of the weight from the hitch back to the trailer's axle(s).

Overall or Exterior Length: Commonly refers to the length of the trailer from the hitch ball-coupler to the back of the rear bumper.

Towing Safety 101: What to Know Before You Tow

Planning on towing a trailer of any type? Here's what you need to know before you tow. Read more…

The Best Electric Vehicles for Towing

An EV may be your next tow vehicle, and the options just keep getting better. These are the best electric vehicles for towing in 2023. Read more…

The 16 Best SUVs for Towing in 2023

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The post 10 Perfect Travel Trailers to Tow With Your Half-Ton Truck appeared first on GearJunkie .

Best Trucks for Towing

The highest towing-capacity pickup trucks for 2024.

Choosing the best pickup truck for towing can require some research. Obviously, the truck needs to have a high enough trailering limit for the task at hand, but you also need to factor in how much truck you can afford. There's also the size of the truck and deciding on whether you want features like towing cameras, trailer tire pressure monitoring, and even advanced driver assistance systems to make the experience much smoother. Luckily, there are many great choices for a small, midsize, large or heavy-duty truck.

Edmunds rates trucks in the four categories mentioned above: small, midsize, large and heavy-duty. Small pickups are the least capable, but properly equipped, you can still hitch up a small trailer. Midsize trucks have higher towing ratings while being maneuverable enough to fit in just about any parking space. Large light-duty pickups have more cargo, passenger, and trailering capability, and they're very popular with buyers as a result. And the heavy-duty segment puts hard work above all else, trading some comfort and around-town maneuverability for huge towing numbers. The rankings below reflect the best blend of comfort and capability in each class, making the decision process that much simpler.

Best Small Trucks for Towing

With a higher base and optional towing capacity, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the best small truck for towing, followed closely by the Ford Maverick. Both trucks are based on unibody chassis (shared with the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Bronco Sport, respectively). So while their towing ratings aren't as high in comparison to other trucks, they make up for it with nimble around-town performance and efficiency.

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2024 Ford Maverick

Compare small trucks for towing.

Best Midsize Trucks for Towing

The best midsize truck for towing is the Chevrolet Colorado. This Edmunds Top Rated 2024 award winner can tow up to 7,700 pounds. Not far behind is the redesigned 2024 Ford Ranger, which can tow 7,500 pounds and has much-improved ride comfort and interior quality.

2024 Chevrolet Colorado

2024 Ford Ranger

Compare midsize trucks for towing.

Best Large Trucks for Towing

Believe it or not, the best-selling vehicle on the market is also the best large truck for towing: the Ford F-150. Available in a staggering array of bed sizes, cab configurations, trim levels and powertrains, the popular Ford F-150 can tow up to 13,500 pounds. The new-for-2025 Ram 1500 does its best to unseat the F-150 with bold styling, a high-quality interior, and up to 11,580 pounds of towing ability thanks to a new turbocharged inline-six.

2024 Ford F-150

2024 Ram 1500

Compare large trucks for towing.

Best Heavy-Duty Trucks for Towing

If the towing roster regularly includes a fifth-wheel horse trailer or a three-axle Airstream, then a heavy-duty truck is likely the best choice, offering more power and stability for bigger loads. And the best heavy-duty truck for towing is the Ram 2500, with a healthy 19,990-pound towing capacity. The Ram's classy interior and optional Cummins turbodiesel inline-six add to its appeal, but nipping at its heels is the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. With a tech-focused interior, extensive array of optional trailering cameras, and 22,500-pound towing cap, the heavy Chevy may be more appealing to those with big stuff to lug.

2024 Ram 2500

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Compare heavy-duty trucks for towing.

Best Diesel Trucks for Towing

Diesel engines have the unique distinction of being torquey and fuel-efficient, making them a great choice if you have a big trailer to haul long distances. The diesel engines fitted to heavy-duty trucks can make upward of 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Diesel engines cost a bit more up front, and while they're generally pretty reliable, routine maintenance can be costly. But if the fuel savings and capability are worth it, here are some of the best diesels for towing.

2024 Ford F-450 Super Duty

2024 Ram 3500

2024 GMC Sierra 1500

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Top 12 Campers You Can Pull With a Dodge RAM 1500

If you’re considering getting into RVing and towing a camper with a Dodge RAM 1500, you’re probably wondering if it can actually pull a camper.

The good news though is that, yes, the Dodge RAM 1500 can pull a camper.

In fact, thanks to its robust towing capacity, the half-ton truck can actually tow a wide variety of campers.

Including everything from travel trailers and stand-up campers to pop-up campers and toy haulers.

The bad news, however, is that there are hundreds of different makes, models, and trim levels of campers.

Which can make it both confusing and time-consuming to find the best camper for the RAM 1500.

Because of this, we put together this short list of some of the best and most popular campers that the Dodge RAM 1500 can pull.

Dodge RAM 1500 Towing Capability & Capacity

Before highlighting the 10 best campers you can pull with the Dodge RAM 1500 though, it’s important to touch on the towing capability of the RAM 1500.

Because while the RAM 1500 does have a very robust max tow capacity, much like other half-ton trucks, such as the Ford F-150, the Chevy Silverado 1500, and the Toyota Tundra .

The Dodge RAM 1500 does have its limits when it comes to towing capability and capacity.

As the current Dodge RAM 1500 has a max tow capacity that ranges from 6,180 to 8,330 pounds, depending on its trim level and options .

And that’s just for the current year.

As the max tow capacity of the RAM 1500 can vary even more based on its production year, as can be seen below.

Dodge RAM 1500 Towing Capacities Through the Years

So before towing any camper with the Dodge RAM 1500, it’s important to first know the specific towing capacity of that particular RAM 1500.

While also keeping in mind the 80 Rule for towing , which states that you should ideally never tow more than 80% of your vehicle’s max tow capacity long term.

Best Campers for the Dodge RAM 1500 (Least to Most Expensive)

Thanks to the high tow capacity of the Dodge RAM 1500, as stated above, it can pull a wide variety of campers, including travel trailers , stand-up campers , pop-up campers , and even toy haulers .

Below, however, we’ve highlighted the best and most popular options, sorted from least to most expensive.

1. Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS

Quick specs.

• Price : $20,000
• RV Type : Travel Trailer
• Dry Weight : 3,097 Pounds
• Length : 21 Feet 5 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 5
• Slide-Outs : None

The Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS is a great option for those looking for an affordable travel trailer that they can tow with a Dodge RAM 1500.

As the Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS has an average price of $20,000.

Making this camper one of the cheapest full-size travel trailers on the market today.

Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS Floorplan

In addition, to being one of the cheapest, it’s also one of the lightest and shortest full-size campers as well.

As the camper has a dry weight of only 3,097 pounds and a length of just over 20 feet.

Allowing just about any RAM 1500 to comfortably pull this lightweight camper, regardless of its trim level, options, or production year.

What really sets this camper apart from other similar-sized travel trailers though is its large sleeping capacity.

As the Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS can sleep up to five campers at a time.

Thanks to the travel trailer’s rear bunk beds, convertible dinette booth, and front east-to-west queen bed.

For more information on the Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS and to see a 3D tour of the interior, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here .

To see other Cherokee Wolf Pup floorplans and pricing information, check out our blog post “ How Much Does a Forest River Wolf Pup Cost? Answered “.

2. Jayco Jay Flight 264BH

• Price : $25,000
• Dry Weight : 4,580 Pounds
• Length : 29 Feet 5 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 9

Another budget-friendly camper that you can pull with half-ton trucks, including the Dodge RAM 1500 is the Jayco Jay Flight 264BH.

As this affordable camper has a very manageable 4,580-pound dry weight.

Allowing the vast majority of RAM 1500s to comfortably tow this travel trailer.

Designed to be family-friendly, this bunkhouse travel trailer boasts one of the highest sleeping capacities on this list, with a max sleeping capacity of nine.

Jayco Jay Flight 264BH Floorplan

The extra large sleeping capacity isn’t the only thing that makes this camper great for families though, as it also offers numerous other family-friendly features as well.

Including such features as a dry bath with a separate bathroom sink that allows more than one person to get ready at a time, ample seating in the main living area, and a well-equipped kitchen.

Another nice feature about this camper from Jayco is that it also offers a private front owner’s suite that provides plenty of privacy as well as storage.

Thanks to the front bedroom’s diving wall with curtain and dual opposing wardrobes and overhead cabinets.

For more information on the Jayco Jay Flight 264BH and to see a 3D tour of the camper, check out Jayco’s website by clicking here .

3. Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G19FBS

• Price : $28,000
• Dry Weight : 3,375 Pounds
• Length : 20 Feet 2 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 4
• Slide-Outs : 1

One of the most popular couples trailers today is the Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G19FBS.

As the Geo Pro G19FBS was designed from the ground up to maximize the comfort for two, while still keeping the trailer on the lighter side.

Allowing this camper to be pulled by a wide variety of vehicles, including not only half-ton trucks but even SUVs .

Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G19FBS Floorplan

But just what makes this camper so ideal for couples?

Well, it turns out quite a few things.

For starters, the travel trailer has a large spacious three-piece dry bath, with plenty of room for two people to comfortably get ready in the morning.

In addition, the camper also has a slide-out, which really opens up the inside of the camper as well as a full-size residential queen bed.

And finally, the camper offers one of the best full-featured kitchens available on a camper of this size with a large double-door 12V fridge, a microwave, and gas range/oven.

Allowing you to easily cook just about any meal you could want while camping and traveling.

If you happen to have a family of four though, don’t think that means you can’t enjoy this popular floorplan from Forest River though.

Because while the Rockwood Geo Pro G19FBS does excel as a couples camper, it does offer a four-person sleeping capacity, thanks to its convertible sofa.

Which means that a family of four could also enjoy and sleep comfortably inside the camper.

To see other small campers that can sleep four, check out our blog post “ 12 Best Small Travel Trailers for a Family of 4 “.

For more info on the Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro G19FBS and to see a 3D tour of the inside, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here .

4. Aliner Expedition

• RV Type : Pop-Up
• Dry Weight : 2,250 Pounds
• Length : 18 Feet

This pop-up camper is very different from your traditional tent-style pop-up with opposing fold-out bunks.

As the Aliner Expedition is what is referred to as a hard-sided pop-up or an A-frame pop-up, which means that it has solid walls as opposed to tent-style canvas walls.

Which provides several unique benefits over a standard tent-style pop-up camper, including better insulating qualities as well as sound deadening.

Even though it has solid walls though, because of its unique folding design, it still folds down to the same size as a standard pop-up camper, when in travel mode.

Making this camper very easy to tow and allowing it to fit in just about any standard garage.

Aliner Expedition Sofa Bed Floorplan

Once you pop up the camper though, you’re greeted with a very spacious and comfortable interior.

Especially when you equip the camper with the optional front and rear dormers, as seen in the above YouTube video.

As the Expedition offers either a full queen-size bed or sofa bed, as well as a convertible dinette booth that can sleep two kids or two adults in a pinch.

The kitchen in the Aliner Expedition is also well-equipped for its size, with a two-burner gas range, a stainless steel single-bowl sink, a microwave, and a small mini-fridge.

Allowing you to easily cook most meals while camping and traveling with the Expedition.

The one downside to this camper though, for those looking for a completely self-contained camper, is that the Aliner Expedition does not offer a full bathroom, and instead only offers a cassette toilet.

If you’re someone that doesn’t mind using the campground bathhouse though, the lack of a full bathroom might be worth the trade-off, for a smaller more compact camper that you store in your garage.

For more information on the Aliner Expedition, check out Aliner’s website by clicking here .

5. KZ RV Escape E18 Hatch

• Price : $28,500
• RV Type : Toy Hauler
• Dry Weight : 3,460 Pounds
• Length : 22 Feet

One of the more unique campers on this list that can be pulled by a Dodge RAM 1500 is the KZ RV Escape E18 Hatch.

As the camper offers a one-of-a-kind design that’s a cross between a travel trailer and a toy hauler.

As the KZ Escape E18 Hatch is mostly set up like a standard travel trailer, except for two key features.

Including a large rear flip-up hatch and a power rear bed, which allows you to easily load and unload gear into the back of the camper.

KZ RV Escape E18 Hatch Floorplan

As mentioned above though, it’s not all about the toy hauler capability on this one-of-a-kind camper.

As the KZ Escape E18 Hatch also provides all the amenities you would expect from a traditional travel trailer.

Including a four-person sleeping capacity, a full galley with a propane cooktop, microwave, and kitchen sink, and a dry bath with a separate shower and standard RV toilet.

For more information on the KZ RV Escape E18 Hatch and to see a 360-degree tour of the interior, check out KZ RV’s website by clicking here .

6. Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE

• Price : $33,500
• Dry Weight : 4,698 Pounds
• Length : 24 Feet 11 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 7

The Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE is the first travel trailer on this list that can be considered a premium camper.

As the camper offers a much higher level of fit and finish compared to more budget-friendly campers, both on the exterior as well as the interior.

Grand DesignImagine XLS 21BHE Floorplan

Starting with its more premium exterior, which includes a gel-coated fiberglass exterior, a tandem axle, a one-piece roof membrane with an 18-year warranty, two 20-pound propane tanks, and oversized tank capacities

As well as laminated aluminum framed walls with an R-7 insulation value, a laminated aluminum framed floor with an R-30 insulation value, and a wood framed roof with an R-40 insulation value.

And on the inside, you’ll find even more upgrades, including upgraded cabinetry, a large panoramic window, residential countertops, and premium materials throughout.

And for those that camp with larger families or groups of friends, the Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE has you covered.

As this premium camper also offers a unique bunkhouse/murphy bed layout.

Which features double bunk beds in the rear and a queen murphy bed in front.

Allowing the camper to maximize sleeping capacity without sacrificing living space.

Because despite its seven-person sleeping capacity, the Imagine XLS 21BHE still offers all the must-have amenities.

Including a dinette booth and a couch, a full-featured kitchen, and a three-piece dry bath with a separate shower, toilet, and bathroom vanity with lots of countertop space.

For more information on the Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE, check out Grand Design’s website by clicking here .

7. Forest River No Boundaries NB19.1

• Price : $34,000
• Dry Weight : 4,489 Pounds
• Sleeping Capacity : 3

The Forest River No Boundaries NB19.1 makes a great lightweight tow hauler for the RAM 1500.

As the camper has an unloaded vehicle weight of under 5,000 pounds, leaving plenty of extra towing capacity for all your toys.

Plus, unlike the hybrid Escape E18 Hatch from above, the No Boundaries NB19.1 is a true toy hauler.

As it has a full-size fold-down rear ramp that can double as an outside patio as well as a much higher cargo carrying capacity.

Forest River No Boundaries NB19.1 Floorplan

Allowing you to load much larger and heavier toys into the back of the camper, such as ATVs, UTVs, or dirtbikes.

Just remember though, when you’re accounting for the weight of this toy hauler, it’s important to also account for the weight of whatever you’re loading into the back.

So that you don’t exceed the max tow capacity of your Dodge RAM 1500.

Beyond its toy hauler capability though, the Forest River No Boundaries NB19.1 also has plenty of creature comforts as well.

As the NB19.1 has a front east-to-west full-size queen bed, a full three-piece dry bath, a well-equipped galley, and large 30-gallon holding tanks for when you’re camping off-grid.

And if you really want to take this toy hauler off-grid, you can also add several optional packages to the camper as well.

Including the Overlander package and the Backcountry package, which add additional off-road and boondocking capability.

For more information on the Forest River No Boundaries NB19.1 and to see a 3D tour of the inside, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here .

8. Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS

• Price : $35,000
• Dry Weight : 5,132 Pounds
• Length : 23 Feet 10 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 2

One of the best couple trailers you can pull with the Dodge RAM 1500 is the Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS and its sister RV the Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S .

As this 24-foot camper provides the maximum amount of comfort and luxury for two campers.

Thanks to its semi-private front bedroom with a north-to-south walk-around queen bed, upgraded theatre seating, ample cabinetry, and countertop space, and spacious rear corner dry bath.

Not to mention, the trailer’s slide-out, which provides even more comfort, by providing extra floor space and interior space inside the camper.

Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS Floorplan

Moving beyond its main interior amenities though, the Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS boasts many exterior upgrades.

Including such premium features as a molded fiberglass front cap, tinted frameless windows, solid entry fold-out steps, a power tongue jack, and a keyed alike lock system.

And if you’re someone that likes to get off the beaten path, the Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS makes the perfect boondocking camper as well, thanks to numerous standard off-grid features.

Such as a 200-watt roof-mounted solar panel with a 1,000-watt inverter, side solar prep, two 30-pound propane tanks, a double battery tray, and an oversized 54-gallon freshwater tank.

For a full list of features and specifications for the Flagstaff Micro Lite 22FBS, check out Forest River’s website by clicking here .

9. Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS

• Price : $40,000
• Dry Weight : 5,822 Pounds
• Length : 29 Feet 7 Inches
• Sleeping Capacity : 4 or 6 (Depending on Options)

The Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS is one of the largest and heaviest campers that you can comfortably pull with the Dodge RAM 1500.

As the camper has a dry weight of just under 6,000 pounds and a length of just under 30 feet.

Because of this extra weight and length though, the Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS is able to offer features smaller and lighter campers never could.

Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS Floorplan

Including such features as a full exterior camp kitchen, a massive 20-foot power awning, an entertainment center with a fireplace , ample seating, and one of the largest bathrooms you’ll find on this list.

The features don’t stop there though, as the Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS also features many exterior upgrades as well.

Including aluminum cage construction, a 3/4 gel coated fiberglass front cap with windshield, Azdel construction, a front diamond plate, and a heated enclosed underbelly, to name just a few.

In addition, the Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS also offers either a four-person or six-person sleeping capacity, depending on whether you outfit the camper with the standard hide-a-bed sofa or optional theater seating.

For more info on the Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 252RBS and to see a 3D tour of the interior, check out Coachmen’s website by clicking here .

10. Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G

• Price : $50,000
• Dry Weight : 5,535 Pounds

For those looking to camp in the shoulder seasons of early spring and late fall or even in the dead of winter, the Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G, should definitely be on your shortlist.

As the Arctic Fox North Fork 22G, is capable of camping in all four seasons, thanks to numerous cold-weather features.

Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G Floorplan

Such as heated holding tanks, high-density block foam insulation, all-conditions four seasons insulation, reflective foil insulation in the roof, frameless thermal pane windows, and a cathedral arched ceiling.

It’s not just the cold weather capability that makes this trailer so special though, as the camper is also one of the most off-road capable travel trailers as well.

Due to many standard off-road features, including a Northwood-built certified off-road chassis, a welded robust aluminum frame, shocks on all four wheels, E-Z lube axles with self-adjusting brakes, and 15-inch aluminum wheels.

With an average price of $50,000 though, all these cold weather and off-road features don’t come cheap.

As the Arctic Fox North Fork 22G cost twice as much as some of the more economical options on this list.

If you have the means though and are looking for a cold weather off-road capable travel trailer, its hard to beat the Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G.

For additional information on the Northwood Arctic Fox North Fork 22G,  check out Northwood’s website by clicking here .

11. Airstream Basecamp 20X

• Price : $58,000
• RV Type : Stand-Up Camper
• Dry Weight : 3,400 Pounds

If you’re looking for a camper that will let you get to those hard-to-reach places, while still offering all the amenities of home, the Airstream Basecamp 20X is definitely worth checking out.

As the Basecamp 20X is not only one of the most off-road capable campers on this list, but it’s also one of the most feature-packed for boondocking as well.

Airstream Basecamp 20X Floorplan

As the Basecamp 20 and its little brother the Basecamp 16 were designed from the ground up to be the ultimate adventure-ready off-grid camper.

Making it the perfect choice for those who want to explore the outdoors and the backcountry without giving up the comforts of home.

Just because the Airstream Basecamp 20X offers a more rugged adventure-ready design though, that doesn’t mean that it’s not still loaded with premium features synonymous with Airstream.

Because while the Airstream Basecamp lacks the iconic rounded shape found on other Airstream travel trailers, it’s still loaded with high-end features.

Including such features as an aluminum exterior, handcrafted aluminum entry doors, and windows, an enclosed aluminum insulated heated underbelly, and a semi-monocoque aluminum superstructure.

As well as aluminum interior walls and ceiling, handcrafted Italian Lite-Ply® laminated interior cabinetry, panoramic front windows, and stain resistant indoor/outdoor cushions.

For more information on the Airstream Basecamp 20X, be sure to check out Airstream’s website by clicking here .

To find out what affects the price of the Basecamp 20 and to see pricing for the smaller Basecamp 16, check out our blog post “ How Much is an Airstream Basecamp? Cost Breakdown “.

12. Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

• Price : $95,000
• Dry Weight : 5,000 Pounds
• Length : 23 Feet 9 Inches

At $95,000, the Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB is one of the most expensive campers you can tow with the Dodge RAM 1500.

However, for those with the means, it’s also one of the most well-built and stylish campers as well.

Starting with its iconic “Silver Bullet” exterior, which makes this camper instantly recognizable as an Airstream.

Thanks to the camper’s rounded all-aluminum pop riveted exterior, handcrafted aluminum entrance, and windows, stainless steel front stone guards, and stylized aluminum wheels.

Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB Floorplan

On the inside, the Flying Cloud 23FB is just as impressive though, with handcrafted Italian Lite-Ply laminated cabinetry, panoramic front windows, Ultraleather® cushions, and high-end stainless steel appliances.

It’s not all about high-end style and design with this premium camper though, as the Flying Cloud 23FB is also a very practical and functional travel trailer as well.

As the camper offers a very well-laid out family-friendly floorplan with a four-person sleeping capacity, a spacious rear bath, a full-featured galley, and a huge u-shaped dinette booth.

As well as other practical features, such as ample storage, a good amount of counter space, Quietstream™ climate control, and tons of class-leading tech throughout the camper.

For more information on the Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB, make sure to check out Airstream’s website by clicking here .

Jason is an avid lover of RVs and the RV lifestyle. He is both a writer and editor for RV Owner HQ and has been RVing and camping for over 20 years.

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Introduced in 2022 as a smaller and more affordable alternative to the Ford Ranger and F-150, the Maverick quickly outsold its competitors and achieved high sales rankings within Ford's lineup. Ford couldn't even fulfill orders in the first year, a situation that persists today due to ever-increasing demand primarily driven by its affordability. In fact, it is the least expensive new Ford vehicle available today. The Lariat trim, standing at the top of the range, adds wireless charging, blind-spot warning, and lane-keep assistance for 2024. Is the 2024 Ford Maverick Lariat worth $35,000? Let's explore further, shall we?

2024 Ford Maverick

EcoBoost Or Hybrid?

As with the standard XL Maverick, the 2024 Ford Maverick Lariat receives a 250-horsepower, 277 lb-ft 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that drives all wheels—a shift from the front-wheel drive setup in other trims. Alternatively, you can choose a 191-horsepower, 155 lb-ft 2.5-liter hybrid engine that powers the front wheels via a CVT transmission. For an additional $800, Ford offers an FX4 off-road package that includes a range of options, such as all-terrain tires on smaller 17-inch aluminum wheels, skid plates, and a trailer hitch receiver. What makes the package particularly appealing is the off-road screen in the instrument cluster, upgraded engine fan, hill descent control, and select driving modes. If you need a work truck, Ford also offers a 4,000-pound tow package with a higher capacity radiator, transmission oil cooler, trailer brake controller, and an upgraded final drive ratio for the AWD system. All things considered, the Maverick really delivers on practical, consumer-focused upgrades.

Refreshingly Unpretentious

Despite its small size, the Maverick retains a strong pickup truck identity. Its compact size actually makes it preferable for maneuvering through city streets and accessing tight job sites. Its design cues are borrowed from the F-150 but scaled down, without the overt ruggedness or aggressive lines. Standard features include 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 225/60R18 all-season tires , though all-terrain tires are available for an additional $800 with a switch to 17-inch wheels. Does its smaller footprint affect the Maverick Lariat's practicality? Its bed measures 54.4 inches long, about 4.5 feet, which is only around 1.3 feet shorter than regular short beds. The bed can hold up to 1,500 pounds, a class-leading weight rating that even compares favorably to larger pickup trucks.

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Inside, the Maverick Lariat offers seating for five, though the rear seat can be a bit tight for adults. Instead of leather, Ford used Active X for the seating material; it's comfortable, smooth, easier to clean, resistant to staining, and more durable than leather while still maintaining a premium look. At this price point, the need for leather is minimal, and I really liked the Active X seats. Besides the bed, storage is cleverly integrated into the doors to function as cup holders or storage for various items. There's additional storage underneath the rear bench seat, which can be used for larger equipment like construction helmets and toolboxes. Upfront, an 8.0-inch Sync3-equipped infotainment display comes standard, along with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The premium 8-speaker B&O sound system is also quite impressive.

An All-Around Appeal

The Maverick’s diverse personality caters to a variety of buyer needs and is often considered the perfect sweet spot between a crossover and a pickup truck. Its versatility makes it more attractive to pickup truck buyers, while its size suits those seeking more than just practicality from a crossover. The engine options are compelling not for their power figures but for their fuel economies: the 2.0-liter EcoBoost averages 33 mpg, while the hybrid returns about 42 mpg.

Setting an unbeatable standard in the small pickup truck niche, the 2024 Ford Maverick Lariat is definitely worth considering over competitors like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Honda Ridgeline . Its diverse capabilities cater to a wide range of needs, from work use to leisure, making it a compelling choice for buyers seeking a well-rounded pickup truck. However, it’s worth noting that both the Santa Cruz and Ridgeline are larger and more spacious.

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Monterey woman arrested in Redwood City after driving a stolen tow truck, officers say

REDWOOD CITY Calif. (KION-TV)- Redwood City Police arrested a 35-year-old Monterey woman after leading police on a car chase while driving a stolen tow truck.

Investigators said they received reports of a stolen tow truck at Enterprise Rent-A-Car on the 300 block of El Camino Real on Friday night.

Officers said that the woman who was identified as 35-year-old Laura Kettel had the stolen truck.

Police were able to find the tow truck at the Jack in the Box restaurant in San Carlos. Officers attempted a high-risk traffic stop as Kettell re-entered the truck.

Officers said that Kettel rammed into two police vehicles and caused major damage.

An officer with the Redwood City Police Department was injured and was treated at a local hospital. The officer was later released from the hospital from their injuries.

In a press release, officers said that one police vehicle got pushed a significant distance through the parking lot and the officer barley escaped injury.

The tow truck fled towards Highway 101 and officers initiated a pursuit when the tow truck did not yield and was traveling 80 to 90 miles per hour.

The California Highway Patrol got requested and took over the pursuit. Menlo Park Police was able to catch up the vehicle on Highways 85 and 101.

The tow truck went across the roadway and hit another motorist in which the chase was called off. Police said the motorist was found to be unharmed.

The California Highway Patrol spotted the tow truck on Highway 85 but the CHP resumed the chase.

Kettel hit the brakes and the patrol vehicle crashed into the tow truck. The patrol vehicle was disabled according to investigators.

Redwood City Police said there was a GPS tracer on the tow truck and they were able to monitor the truck's movements.

Kettel proceeded to drive back to Redwood City and parked the tow truck near the 1000 block of Silver Hill Road. Kettel allegedly burglarized a home with a nanny and children at the time.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office were requested and they tried to spike strip the car but they were unsuccessful.

Redwood City Police was able to locate the tow truck at a Planet Fitness parking lot on the 200 block of Walnut Street.

Investigators said that Kettle entered the Planet Fitness and assaulted her boyfriend who works at the gym.

Officers were able to swarm the tow truck and a Redwood City K9 was deployed to detain the suspect.

The K9 bit Kettle on the hip where she stopped resisting and was taken into custody.

Kettel was treated for her injuries and was later booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility. She was out on bail for a prior domestic violence incident and a residential burglary four days prior.

Redwood City Police said Kettel was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, failure to yield, vehicle theft, residential burglary, domestic violence among other charges.

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Kamaz FTL hauler registers NatCar brand

MOSCOW. Sept 4 (Interfax) - National Carrier JSC, the full truckload freight trucking company headed by former Globaltruck CEO Ilya Sattarov that Russian truck maker Kamaz founded this summer, applied to register the brand NatCar at the end of August, the registry of federal intellectual property service Rospatent showed.

The NatCar brand is also mentioned in the recruitment ads of National Carrier, which is actively looking for E-class drivers. It is offering working with this year's model Kamaz diesel trucks from the flagship K5 line and new dry goods (curtainsider) and refrigerated trailers.

National Carrier was founded on July 7 in Moscow with charter capital of 1 billion rubles, the Unified State Register of Legal Entities showed. The company registered two branches in early August, in Yekaterinburg and Elektrostal, Moscow Region. The company specializes in truck logistics and associated activities, including digitization processes.

A spokesman for National Carrier told Interfax earlier that the company plans to provide FTL trucking services using its own fleet, "as well as the resources of hired truckers." The company's fleet will initially consist of 400 semi-trailer trucks with a 50/50 ratio of curtainside to refrigerated trailers, and it plans to primarily operate on domestic routes, he said.

The company has preliminary agreements with major customers among marketplaces and retailers in the FMCG and DIY segments, the spokesman said. Strong demand for trucking services is expected toward the end of the year, so there is interest from customers, he said.

Kamaz marketing director Ashot Arutyunyan announced at the International Moscow Automotive Forum at the end of August that the truck maker was the principal investor in National Carrier. He did not comment on the new company's shareholder structure, but said it is a Kamaz startup.

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En route to carbon-free road freight transport: DHL Freight introduces fully electric tractor-trailers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks

Effective immediately, the eActros 300 vehicles are being deployed for delivery and distribution transport at the Koblenz and Hagen sites.

• DHL Freight is helping its customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions in delivery and distribution transport by deploying fully electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 trucks
• DHL Freight's first fully electric heavy tractor-trailers in Germany

Bonn - At the beginning of April, DHL Freight put its first fully electric tractor-trailers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks into service. Effective immediately, the eActros 300 vehicles are being deployed for delivery and distribution transport at the Koblenz and Hagen sites. The truck stationed in Hagen makes transport more sustainable on round trips between the DHL branch and the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kassel, a Daimler Truck location. The second eActros 300 truck makes carbon-free deliveries to customers in the Koblenz area. With a maximum weight of 19 metric tons, these are DHL Freight's first heavy battery electric tractor-trailers in Germany. In line with the Group's sustainability strategy, the plan is to increase the share of electric vehicles in the delivery fleet to 60% and that of sustainable fuels within the DHL Group to more than 30%.

• Press release pdf 72.8 KB
• Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 trucks handing over jpeg 5.5 MB
• Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 truck jpeg 758.5 KB

"While we always emphasize that decarbonizing transport requires the efforts of all players involved, it is something special when customers themselves supply the technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are delighted about the partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, which sees both partners taking another step toward attaining their sustainability targets," says Dr. Thomas Vogel, CEO DACH, UK & IE DHL Freight.

The vehicles are eActros 300 tractor-trailers that are each powered by two electric engines with a peak output of up to 400 kW. The trucks have a range of approximately 220 kilometers and, depending on the charging infrastructure, the battery can be recharged from 20% to 80% in about one hour and 15 minutes at a charging capacity of up to 160 kW. 

"Our fully electric eActros 300 tractor-trailers are specially designed for regional distribution transport and are already capable of performing a wide range of conventional truck operations. We are pleased that the eActros 300 is now also helping to make local road freight transport carbon-free in our own site delivery operations," explains Oliver Berger, network strategy and sustainability manager in Inbound Logistics at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

DHL is testing and implementing various technological solutions as part of its drive towards more sustainable road freight transport, as no drive type so far has conclusively asserted itself, particularly for long distances. In addition to the fully electric tractor-trailers, for example, DHL Freight recently began operating a hydrogen truck from the commercial vehicle maker Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH. The aim is to not just identify the right engine mix, but also influentially drive the transition to more sustainability in industry.

Press contact

David Stöppler

DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Freight, DHL eCommerce

DHL Group Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 20 53113 Bonn Germany

X (twitter): @dpdhl_stoeppler

2 injured in crash involving truck pulling trailer, bus carrying Russell HS baseball team

BARTON COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) - Update: The Barton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a Tuesday morning crash involving a bus and a truck hauling a trailer carrying hay left two people with minor injuries. It’s a situation that Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said could’ve been worse. The bus carried members of the Russell High School baseball team.

The crash happened about 10 a.m. northwest of Great Bend. Bellendir strong winds kicked up dust and dirt from neighboring fields left zero visibility for drivers. The sheriff described the crash as a low-speed incident.

“I’ve worked fatalities and serious injury accidents because of blowing dirt,” Bellendir said. “People drive into it, they don’t slow down and they’ll rear-end another vehicle or hit someone head-on.”

The truck’s driver wasn’t injured, the sheriff said.

The 600 block of Northwest 30th Avenue remained closed into Tuesday afternoon due to the wind and lack of visibility.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office has responded to a crash involving multiple vehicles - including a school bus and semi.

It happened on NW 30 Ave between NW 30 Road & NW 70 Road.

Sheriff Brian Bellendir said visibility was at zero due to high winds and dust blowing across the road, which caused the crash. He said traffic had slowed down because of the wind, and it was a low-speed crash.

Ambulance and first responders are on the scene. At this time, Bellendir said he didn’t believe anyone was seriously hurt.

He did not know what school district the school bus belonged too.

Copyright 2024 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]

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Crime and Public Safety | Woman calls, then steals tow truck, leading…

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Crime and public safety | delaine eastin, first woman to serve as california’s superintendent of public instruction, dead at 76, crime and public safety, crime and public safety | redwood city: woman calls, then steals tow truck, leading cops on lengthy pursuit, authorities say, the monterey resident also stopped to assault her boyfriend, burglarize a house, according to prosecutors.

REDWOOD CITY — A 35-year-old woman was arrested after she stole a tow truck before leading authorities on a wild chase where she stopped once to burglarize a home and stopped again to assault her boyfriend before being apprehended, police said.

The Monterey resident was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, burglary and other offenses, according to the Redwood City Police Department. Four days earlier, she was arrested in a separate burglary, and a week prior she bailed out of jail in a domestic violence-related case, police said.

She was set to be arraigned Wednesday after refusing to attend a hearing Tuesday, according to the office of San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe.

The latest incident started around 6 p.m. Friday, when the woman stole the tow truck after calling to have her car towed to a car-rental business, according to prosecutors. A Redwood City police officer later spotted the truck empty in a fast-food restaurant parking lot in San Carlos.

Police said they attempted a high-risk traffic stop on the woman, but she repeatedly rammed into two patrol cars, pushing one vehicle through the parking lot before she escaped. One officer was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered when the woman struck his car; that officer was later released.

She then took off onto Highway 101, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph while California Highway Patrol and Menlo Park police officers joined the chase.

Authorities said she next hit a civilian vehicle on the freeway before braking as a CHP vehicle caught up to her, damaging and disabling the patrol vehicle.

While she was away from the truck, authorities asked the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to deploy spike strips and a drone, but she fled before they could try to stop her.

Her last stop was at a gym near downtown Redwood City, where she assaulted her boyfriend, who works there, according to police. She was finally arrested after officers deployed a police canine.

The woman was treated for dog-bite related injuries to her hip and leg before being booked into Maguire Correctional Facility.

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Penn State's Abdul Carter Charged with Misdemeanor Assault

The charge stems from an alleged incident with a tow truck driver in March.

• Author: Mark Wogenrich

In this story:

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter faces one count of misdemeanor assault following an alleged incident with a tow truck driver in March. Carter, 20, was charged with simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, and a summary count of harassment, according to court records filed online Wednesday in Centre County. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22.

According to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by Statecollege.com, Carter allegedly pulled the tow truck driver from the vehicle during the incident. According to Statecollege.com , the driver was on location to tow Carter's car, which had been parked outside an apartment complex without a permit. Carter and the driver got into a confrontation, State College police wrote in the affidavit. Carter asked whether the driver was authorized to tow the car and tried to block his access to the vehicle.

When the driver attempted to get in his truck, Carter attempted to block him. The driver allegedly "grabbed a metal bar from the truck and yelled at Carter to back away," according to the affidavit Statecollege.com obtained. Carter did so, but the confrontation continued.

"We are aware of the charges against Abdul Carter. These alleged actions do not reflect the values and standards of our program and will be addressed. We will not comment any further as this is an ongoing legal matter," a Penn State spokesperson said in a statement.

The police report stated that Carter was seen on video “controlling the victim with one arm over the top of the victim’s shoulder while his other hand is holding his sweatshirt," according to Statecollege.com. The driver was diagnosed the next day with a non-displaced rib fracture, according to the affidavit obtained by Statecollege.com.

The incident occurred March 16, according to court records. Carter played in the Blue-White Game on April 13 at Beaver Stadium. Carter is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was named to the conference's first-team defense in 2023.

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