Re: What kind of power will I need to pull 3500 lbs of loaded boat trailer?
You need a 1/2 ton truck or SUV with a V8, minimum, no ifs ands or buts... period. You can use a V6 McTruck for quick trips to the lake, but on long trips out of town, especially out of state, you absolutly need a full size truck with a V8 for safety sake. A V6 will pull that load fine, but on long trips you will run into panic stops, long or steep grades, congestion, merging traffic, passing situations, etc, all things that will put great strain on the vehicle. Plus if it's hot you will want to use your air conditioner. All 1/2 ton trucks were desinged to pull loads in this weight class and most are ordered with towing packages. A V8 verses a V6 (except the old Ford 4.9 L I6) will give you power to climb hills and merge into freeway traffic whithout sweating bullets, plus run the AC and your accessories. A V8 will probally give you better gas miles as well because it will not have to work as hard as the V6.
Look at it this way, get a 1/2 ton truck with a V8 and drive confident, or a lesser vehicle and have that nagging question in the back of your mind the whole trip. What is peace of mind worth? - Overload
You need a 1/2 ton truck or SUV with a V8, minimum, no ifs ands or buts... period. You can use a V6 McTruck for quick trips to the lake, but on long trips out of town, especially out of state, you absolutly need a full size truck with a V8 for safety sake. A V6 will pull that load fine, but on long trips you will run into panic stops, long or steep grades, congestion, merging traffic, passing situations, etc, all things that will put great strain on the vehicle. Plus if it's hot you will want to use your air conditioner. All 1/2 ton trucks were desinged to pull loads in this weight class and most are ordered with towing packages. A V8 verses a V6 (except the old Ford 4.9 L I6) will give you power to climb hills and merge into freeway traffic whithout sweating bullets, plus run the AC and your accessories. A V8 will probally give you better gas miles as well because it will not have to work as hard as the V6.
Look at it this way, get a 1/2 ton truck with a V8 and drive confident, or a lesser vehicle and have that nagging question in the back of your mind the whole trip. What is peace of mind worth? - Overload