Capable Tow Rig

[Good]

So, just got back from my wife's first elk hunt and had a great time. She shot a big-bodied spike that she was super happy with on day 3 at 370 yards with a 7RM. Hornady 162g AMAX @ ~3050fps. 1 shot. Quarter-sized exit.

Anyway, I have a conundrum and the issue of tow rig showed up. I have a Jeep JK on 1-ton axles and 37s, but we were not able to take it. We have a 26' camp trailer. We tow it with a bone-stock '21 GMC Sierra 4x4 with the 3.0 Duramax. The truck pulls the trailer real well. But, without the Jeep, I'm left to the stock truck to get back in the hills with. I accidentally got us into a few sticky situations we almost didn't get out of. Where we hunt is ~6 hours away from where we live with twisty mountain roads and my wife is not comfortable towing the trailer.

My thinking is: what is the most off road capable tow rig out there that can pull the 26' RV? The two that come to mind, but I don't know, are:

Ford Raptor - probably powerful enough, but still a full size rig. It would still need big tires and gears, and airbags for towing.

Jeep JT (truck) - same mods as the Raptor, but smaller body for getting through the trails, and probably cheaper.

Anyone have any input?

 

[sp6x6]

I have all I need but its a lot less space than your use too

 

[Good]

I have all I need but its a lot less space than your use tooView attachment 715206

That's awesome!!!

 

[sp6x6]

I have more go power than the jeep too

 

[memtb]

Not what you're looking for, but has worked for us many years.

A Dodge Ram with diesel, towing a 40' 5th wheel (20K pounds when ready to hunt) .…capable of surviving-30 F and colder while have running water for a nice hot shower occasionally and other comforts of home. We used to spend up to 3 weeks out at a time! See my avatar, showing one of our hunts. A 12' trailer behind the 5th wheel, carried the Polaris Ranger, a 45 gallon propane tank, and an additional 55 gallon drum of H2O.

From that home base we use a Polaris Ranger, with tracks if needed, to commute as far as it will get us!

We're spoiled ……and like it that way! memtb

 

[lancetkenyon]

Ford Raptor comes stock with 37s. And awesome suspension. And F/R lockers. Maybe need some airbags.

Need more power? Get a Raptor R. Buy once, cry once, all it takes is $$$$.

 

[cohunt]

Tow doubles so you have the rv and jeep or buy a big enough toyhauler to fit the jeep

 

[Phil Rizzo]

Ford Raptor comes stock with 37s. And awesome suspension. And F/R lockers. Maybe need some airbags.

Need more power? Get a Raptor R. Buy once, cry once, all it takes is $$$$.

Might need a few drums of petro, in the bed.
I can't imagine the mileage if it was towing something

My uncle is on his second one, but he's a street creature only.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Ford Raptor comes stock with 37s. And awesome suspension. And F/R lockers. Maybe need some airbags.

Need more power? Get a Raptor R. Buy once, cry once, all it takes is $$$$.

The first Ford Raptor I saw just two years ago----I WANTED ONE!!!!
Just can't explain the COST to my reality world.
AWESOME Truck for sure!
I saw a Raffel for one Raptor and bought a few tickets---didn't win--but then again out of all the Raffles I ever bought I only won one time -- A Bottle of Jack Daniels-- and I don't drink low end Bourbon.

 

[sp6x6]

I tow this more because it does 90 % and has more range and I can pull fuel off my 7.3

 

[dfanonymous]

I'm just going to be to the point.

A Raptor and a JT rubicon are not even close to being the same thing.

The raptor because of the suspension isn't going to haul things like a duramax. A raptor is an over priced would be trophy truck that nobody actually takes out and does any desert running with. It's in the same category as a Tundra TRD PRO also with Fox 2.5 shocks w/ resi's.

It's not a rock crawler. Its ecoboost isn't great for longevity. It wide. Every trail I've ever been on seems to narrow and lead to pinstripes at some point.

A JT, especially in the new hemi options, and maybe if they still have that stupid 3.0 diesel is still a Jeep. It will do Jeep things. It's way longer than a wrangler, so you'll have to lift higher to get the right/better break over angle and I'd still probably want 37 and tons on there. That said, even as a diesel, you'll still be limited to suspension sag, and a smaller bed as it relates to hauling. These are off road vehicles first.

If you can stay off the main roads or if your state is cool with road legal sxs's, maybe look at one of those? Otherwise, I bring my Tacoma or Jeep rubi TJ on 35s.

 

[memtb]

I tow this more because it does 90 % and has more range and I can pull fuel off my 7.3

I just noticed the Bigfoot camper…..only the best camper you can get for cold weather use! memtb

 

[MtPockets]

Tow doubles so you have the rv and jeep or buy a big enough toyhauler to fit the jeep

^^^^ This!

Buy a 3/4 or 1 ton to pull the camper AND the Jeep.

Problem solved!

"Just because you can doesnt mean you should."
Modern half tons (or smaller) certainly have plenty of power to pull more than the older HD pickups, but the soft suspension can make towing dangerous.
Most upside down campers were being pulled by a smaller rig.
Very seldom see a fifthwheel camper upside down along the freeway.

 

[southpa]

A toy hauler wide enough for full widths and 37s...don't think that's gonna happen. Unless you swap tires in and and out of the hauler...but even then????

Only a couple viable options. All of which include having the wife drive the trail rig separate, or selling the whole system and starting over. With SxS, new truck and camper to haul the toy. Or at least selling the tow rig to pull doubles.

Or you could just put a little into the suspension and tires of the current tow rig. A lot of guys think they need these crazy rigs. It's pretty amazing what properly set up 1/2 ton thats chained up on all 4s can do.