QuestionI'm getting ready to buy a truck to tow my 7,000 lb cabin cruiser which is on a 25 foot dual axle trailer. I'll use a normal bumper located 2 5/16" ball hitch. I'll mostly be driving secondary roads but occasional I'll take a trip on the interstate of a few hundred miles. The rest of the time the truck will be a daily driver. Do I need to buy 150 and add on heavier springs etc. Or should I go with a 250 truck that already has stronger axles, suspension etc.?
AnswerWell as this is not my total area of expertise, I see the end results often as crashes due to not enough vehicle for what is being towed.
First of all, the Bumper mounted trailer ball assembly will most likely not have enough safety ratings to do what you want to do. Be it on a 150 or 250..
You will need to move to a frame mounted "reese style" hitch assembly. They you should have the ratings to do the job.
Next concern is that when in tow, you will not need just the suspension, but you will need the power (not to forget the transmission and extra coolers for it) and the brakes.
You will need a truck that has the GVWR to cover the whole combination and be legal to do so... Yes the police in some areas enforce the total weight laws (like they do on semi trucks) even on pickups with campers and boats.
PERSONALLY, I would go with the 250 or better. Now the trucks are much more comfortable than they used to be. So daily driving will not be much different between them.
(my personal truck is a 2005 Ford F250 4x4 crew cab pickup with the 6.0 diesel which I have hauled trailers cross country with)..
