This may sound like a stupid question but how do I find out if my truck is considered a half ton or a 3/4 ton? Also can anyone tell me what it can tow? I am looking to purchase a camper and I don't have any owners manual to get any ideas. I have an after market hitch that I put on about 2 years ago that has a tongue weight of about 600lbs.
I have been told I can pull 6000lbs but I would like to get more input.
Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

You have a half-ton truck (see where it says 1500 on the side? that's how you know). I'm looking at my 04 manual and it says "A frame mounted hitch of up to Class IV rating, as rated by the hitch manufacturer, may be installed. With a Class IV hitch, you can tow a trailer with a Gross Trailer Weight of up to 12,000 lbs maximum depending on your vehicle equipment." And that equipment dependency shouldn't be taken lately. It takes more than the hitch to tow that much weight. My truck came with the factory tow package and I have the hemi and with everything considered, I can tow about 8400 to 8500 lbs. And that's with an aftermarket addon trailer brake controller. However, I have the 20" factory wheels, and I found out after buying the truck that you should subtract 1000 towing lbs. with those wheels. I tow an ultra-light 30 ft. RV with my truck and it probably weighs out around 7200 lbs when loaded. And my truck tows it very well.

After dealing with RV dealers myself, I would advise you not to believe what they tell you your truck can pull and find out for sure for yourself. Every one I asked told me my truck would tow more than it turned out that I should. They were trying to sell me a camper, so they told me what they wanted me to hear.

I don't know what difference the factory tow package makes, as far as tow weight vs. a truck that doesn't have it. Along with the wheels, I know that having 4 wheel drive also subtracts some tow weight from the max. You don't say if yours is 4x4 or not.

Bottom line, it varies with equipment and optional accessories. Shop for RV's well within your limits and don't let yourself be talked into otherwise. But I do recommend getting a equalizing/weight distributing hitch of some sort and let a dealer set it up for you. How well it's leveled between the truck and trailer and how well the weight is distributed makes a huge difference.

 

If you have a 1500 and it's not a mega cab, you have a half ton truck.

Tow ratings are all over the board; you should be able to do at least 8000 lbs.

 

I have about the same truck other then it's a 2007. (4x4 20" wheels, hemi 5.7).
Thanks for your help. I'm looking at staying under 6000lbs dry weight.

 

Figuring out your limits for towing heavy things is fairly complex and you need access to a scale to be sure in all areas. I have never done that. But there are other factors to consider such as tongue weight, which you mentioned, as well as gross weight rating which is the truck, trailer, cargo, and passengers all together, etc. The better hitchwork you have and the more you stay under your max weight on the trailer, the easier it is to make sure you aren't pushing or going over your limits.

But I agree, you should be able to tow more than 6000 lbs upwards to around 8000 depending on your wheels, 4wd and all that - and the hitch. If it's a frame mounted class IV 2" receiver style hitch, you are off to a good start. If not, swap it out - no need to take chances over a hitch.

 

Sounds like the right neighborhood. Keep in mind what dry weight means, though. Every lb you add is a lb including carrying on-board water for dry camping (8.8 lbs per gallon I think, right?). The dry weight of mine is in that neighborhood but it doesn't take a lot to add 1000 lbs. of stuff.