Grand Design Imagine XLS or Alliance Delta - is half ton truck good enough?

[JasonC]

Hello everyone!

I have been thinking about getting a truck and travel trailer for years. I have never owned either, so a complete newbie. After some research online and talking to RV dealers, I'm think about the following options for the trailer:

Grand Design
Imagine XLS
23LDE
Dry Hitch Weight 621
Gross Dry Weight 5,831
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) 6,995
Exterior Length (w / hitch) 28'5"

Alliance
Delta
252RL
Dry Hitch Weight 687
Gross Dry Weight 6545
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) 8450
Exterior Length (w / hitch) 29'11"

Both Grand Design and Alliance literature say that these models (28-30ft long) are specifically designed to be towable by half ton trucks. With a truck like Ford F-150 V8 with "Max Tow" package (axle ratio 3.73), the numbers seem to suggest that they could well be. But some online reviewers say that even the properly equipped half ton truck shouldn't be towing trailers more than 6000lbs GVWR. So I am quite confused about this. If/when I get the trailer, I plan to go to mountainous areas like Colorado and Utah. Would this set up struggle to get uphill? would it be safe (to control) going downhill? Would a 3/4 ton truck like F-250 be an overkill?

What are the real world experiences of people towing trailers in that weight range with a half ton truck?
If I get either of those trailer, and get a half ton truck, would I always be wanting an upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck?

I would really appreciate your input and advice.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[redbaron]

I have a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH towed with an older Toyota Tundra 5.7. It is within the specs with a 15% safety margin for the actual weight. It tows very well. A few things we did to make this safer was use the weight distribution hitch, ensure the trailer weight on the hitch was proper and not over the limits. This involved several loading and reloading attempts to get the distribution to a satisfactory point.

We also upgraded the factory brakes on the trailer and truck, and finally slowed the overall speed to 60 for an average while driving.

We have pulled this all over the Rockies, from Texas to Western Montana and oregon, with no problems. Slow climbing and drinks the fuel, but as far as safety, no issues.

Just pay attention to actual weights and keep yourself at least 10% under. I was aiming for 20% under, but couldn't get there and arrived at 15%.

 

[turbopilot]

I would really appreciate your input and advice.

You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. There are no bright lines except the manufacturer towing specifications.

As a general rule folks towing mid sized trailers have the best experience if the towable does not exceed the weight of the tow vehicle by significant amount.

I tow a 7,300 lb GW Airstream with a 7,300 lb GW F-150 PowerBoost HEV. This combination is very well matched with a B&W Continuum weight distribution hitch.

I have no experience with the trailers you listed but the second trailer with an 8,450 lbs GW and 30' in length is really getting into F-250 territory, in my opinion.

Both of the trailers you listed are high profile, slab sided trailers with poor aerodynamics that put extra demand on any tow vehicle.

 

[JasonC]

I have a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH towed with an older Toyota Tundra 5.7. It is within the specs with a 15% safety margin for the actual weight. It tows very well. A few things we did to make this safer was use the weight distribution hitch, ensure the trailer weight on the hitch was proper and not over the limits. This involved several loading and reloading attempts to get the distribution to a satisfactory point.

We also upgraded the factory brakes on the trailer and truck, and finally slowed the overall speed to 60 for an average while driving.

We have pulled this all over the Rockies, from Texas to Western Montana and oregon, with no problems. Slow climbing and drinks the fuel, but as far as safety, no issues.

Just pay attention to actual weights and keep yourself at least 10% under. I was aiming for 20% under, but couldn't get there and arrived at 15%.

thank you very much for sharing your experience! numbers on paper/screen are one thing, I've learned that real world applications are often quite another. 2800BH has a GVWR of 10,195, that's almost 3000lbs more than the model I'm looking at. that's a very good reference.

 

[JasonC]

You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. There are no bright lines except the manufacturer towing specifications.

As a general rule folks towing mid sized trailers have the best experience if the towable does not exceed the weight of the tow vehicle by significant amount.

I tow a 7,300 lb GW Airstream with a 7,300 lb GW F-150 PowerBoost HEV. This combination is very well matched with a B&W Continuum weight distribution hitch.

I have no experience with the trailers you listed but the second trailer with an 8,450 lbs GW and 30' in length is really getting into F-250 territory, in my opinion.

Both of the trailers you listed are high profile, slab sided trailers with poor aerodynamics that put extra demand on any tow vehicle.

it's really good to know that "the towable does not exceed the weight of the tow vehicle by significant amount" as a general rule. Your "7,300 lb GW Airstream with a 7,300 lb GW F-150 PowerBoost HEV" is also a very good reference for me.

I'll keep in mind that "8,450 lbs GW and 30' in length is really getting into F-250 territory" - that may sway me toward the lighter GD model in my choice, as these two are very similar otherwise.

thank you!