Well since you're looking for experiences here's mine but keep in mind this is the only truck I ever owned or driven.
I had a 1/2 ton Silverado with the 5.3 L gas. I towed my 4,700 lbs Jeep on a 1,800 lbs trailer, and with box cap and gear I was near the limit of the 8,000 lbs towing capacity. I had no problems keeping 100 km/h most of the way to Pennsylvania, maybe slowing to 80 or 90 on the steeper or longer hills, and although it was slow going over the Colorado mountains on the way to Moab that was less than 5% of the trip and it didn't overheat, even when it wasn't snowing
Of course truck guys tend to be power and speed hungry so they'd say it was underpowered, but I felt it was sufficient. You're not racing, you're towing and if it's only occasionally who cares if it's a bit slower?
The mileage was decent for a gas, I think 22 L/100kms towing and 15 unloaded, and it cost a lot less to buy and maintain.
That said towing at the limits of a truck tends to feel like pushing the safety envelope and I had to watch how much gear (tools and spare parts) I could carry. Plus there's no way I could have put on a slide in camper which would have been not just for sleeping but also to not require inspections. So if I buy another truck it will be a 3/4 ton and probably a diesel, just cause I never had one :glasses:
I had a 1/2 ton Silverado with the 5.3 L gas. I towed my 4,700 lbs Jeep on a 1,800 lbs trailer, and with box cap and gear I was near the limit of the 8,000 lbs towing capacity. I had no problems keeping 100 km/h most of the way to Pennsylvania, maybe slowing to 80 or 90 on the steeper or longer hills, and although it was slow going over the Colorado mountains on the way to Moab that was less than 5% of the trip and it didn't overheat, even when it wasn't snowing
Of course truck guys tend to be power and speed hungry so they'd say it was underpowered, but I felt it was sufficient. You're not racing, you're towing and if it's only occasionally who cares if it's a bit slower?
The mileage was decent for a gas, I think 22 L/100kms towing and 15 unloaded, and it cost a lot less to buy and maintain.
That said towing at the limits of a truck tends to feel like pushing the safety envelope and I had to watch how much gear (tools and spare parts) I could carry. Plus there's no way I could have put on a slide in camper which would have been not just for sleeping but also to not require inspections. So if I buy another truck it will be a 3/4 ton and probably a diesel, just cause I never had one :glasses:
