Tow vehicle thoughts

[campfirefun]

We have a rock wood 8316 (6600lbs dry weight) that we have been towing with our express Chevy 2010 3500 12 passenger van that had the 6.0 v8. It towed it like a beast. Even went up and over the Rocky Mountains pass into Rocky Mountain national park. Now on a whim I put it on Craigslist and it sold in a week for what I asked.

So Now I'm truck shopping so far I'm down to these

2013 F250 6.2 super duty crew cab. no question on tow power
Drove today a f150 v6 with eco boost and tow package -rated to tow 9400
Looking for 2013 or 2014 Silverado with the 5.3 or 6.2

My big question is do I just go 3/4 ton loose a few bells inside or will the 1/2 tons do the job nicer rides.

All seem to be in same price range for mileage I'm looking at

We tow mainly in Midwest may no west trips planned in the near future.

[Homebrew]

2500 series or better. You like your 3500 now , you will regret going to a 150/1500


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[dustman_stx]

If you know for certain you will not be going to a larger and heavier trailer, I recommend the half ton. None of them will have any trouble with that weight. If you thought that 6.0 towed like a beast get the Ecoboost and see what you think. I had a 2013 EB that I used to tow an 8200 dry trailer with and had no problems whatsoever. Tow rating on mine was 9400 as well. I have a growing family and we carry a lot is stuff, so I did finally upgrade to an F250 PSD- no way I would have been content with the towing performance or mileage of a V8 after towing with the Ecoboost.

[Homebrew]

See - everyone moves to the bigger truck!


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[CWSWine]

If I was looking for truck today I worry more about payload more than what it can or can't tow. Look at the payload stickers on all the above trucks and not website specs since they could hundred of pounds to high. Plug the payload number and your unique requirements like passengers weights and what you carry in the truck. You have to have good information to make a educated decision on whether or not you put your love ones in the the truck. Not someone saying it's ok or I do it doesn't make safe.

I try to allow enough room on the specs to allow for the next upgraded.

Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

[lbrjet]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

If you know for certain you will not be going to a larger and heavier trailer, I recommend the half ton. None of them will have any trouble with that weight. If you thought that 6.0 towed like a beast get the Ecoboost and see what you think. I had a 2013 EB that I used to tow an 8200 dry trailer with and had no problems whatsoever. Tow rating on mine was 9400 as well. I have a growing family and we carry a lot is stuff, so I did finally upgrade to an F250 PSD- no way I would have been content with the towing performance or mileage of a V8 after towing with the Ecoboost.

You failed to mention all of your 'tow mods' to shore up your F150. New mirrors, Rancho shocks, air bags etc. as well as spending the money on a Propride hitch to feel safe. Add all those up and and you should have just gone for the F250 in the first place.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[drittal]

Can I ask a few questions?

1) you had a 12 passenger van. Do you have a large family?

2) have you ever weighed your current set up? Don you know your loaded weights and have an idea of how much weight you add to your T.V.?

My feeling is the Ecoboost has a better usable power band than the 6.2 in the SD. The GM 6.2 is the most powerful gas truck motor and gets decent mileage with 8sp. But if you have a large family packing into a crew cab, a half ton is going to sag quickly and run out of payload and possibly exceed axle ratings. A lot of 1/2 owners add bandaid like airbags and LT tires but now that cost difference between 1/2 and 3/4 is erased

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

You failed to mention all of your 'tow mods' to shore up your F150. New mirrors, Rancho shocks, air bags etc. as well as spending the money on a Propride hitch to feel safe. Add all those up and and you should have just gone for the F250 in the first place.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

It was still ~6500 cheaper to go with the F150- and you are ignoring he fact that I was towing significantly heavier than the OP is. He'll do just fine in stock form- though I would go to an LT tire next time around. And my opinion is that the F150 is the better vehicle for everyday driving by far.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

See - everyone moves to the bigger truck!


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I went from a 2011 F250PSD to an Ecoboost to a 2015 F250 PSD, so not always going bigger on TV.

[drittal]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

It was still ~6500 cheaper to go with the F150- and you are ignoring he fact that I was towing significantly heavier than the OP is. He'll do just fine in stock form- though I would go to an LT tire next time around. And my opinion is that the F150 is the better vehicle for everyday driving by far.

$6500 cheaper to go Ecoboost vs PSD F250? How much is the PSD option as the OP wants to go with 6.2 gas.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by drittal

Can I ask a few questions?

1) you had a 12 passenger van. Do you have a large family?

2) have you ever weighed your current set up? Don you know your loaded weights and have an idea of how much weight you add to your T.V.?

My feeling is the Ecoboost has a better usable power band than the 6.2 in the SD. The GM 6.2 is the most powerful gas truck motor and gets decent mileage with 8sp. But if you have a large family packing into a crew cab, a half ton is going to sag quickly and run out of payload and possibly exceed axle ratings. A lot of 1/2 owners add bandaid like airbags and LT tires but now that cost difference between 1/2 and 3/4 is erased

X2 - Not just a generic answering saying you will be OK because I did it.

[campfirefun]

As the creator of the thread yes I know people do it which doesn't make it safe. Also I know this gets to be a touchy subject so not looking to get that going. We are a family of six 4 kids (girls of small size who are 10 to 15) Wife small me the biggest. We pack around 1500 1700 pounds of payload people (estimated a few times) one of our kids is off to college and most of the time we will have 3 kids my wife me and the dog. Having the 1 ton van made towing easy that's my main question I know my 6600 lb trailer ends up being 8100 to 8300 total weight. So as I think about it more I'm leaning to the 3/4 ton truck vs the 1/2 ton

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

I went from a 2011 F250PSD to an Ecoboost to a 2015 F250 PSD, so not always going bigger on TV.

Looks like the Ecoboost didn't do the job! 😵
That's 3 trucks in 4 years.
Did you install air bags, springs or any other items to help with the weight on the Ecoboost?


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[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by campfirefun

As the creator of the thread yes I know people do it which doesn't make it safe. Also I know this gets to be a touchy subject so not looking to get that going. We are a family of six 4 kids (girls of small size who are 10 to 15) Wife small me the biggest. We pack around 1500 1700 pounds of payload people (estimated a few times) one of our kids is off to college and most of the time we will have 3 kids my wife me and the dog. Having the 1 ton van made towing easy that's my main question I know my 6600 lb trailer ends up being 8100 to 8300 total weight. So as I think about it more I'm leaning to the 3/4 ton truck vs the 1/2 ton

Sounds like your on the right track!

Originally Posted by Homebrew

Looks like the Ecoboost didn't do the job! 😵
That's 3 trucks in 4 years.
Did you install air bags, springs or any other items to help with the weight on the Ecoboost?


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Look at post #6

[asquared]

With that much packed in I would go with the 3/4 or 1 ton option. You could go gas or diesel with that option and be ok. Pay attention to the payload sticker inside the door of any truck you look at. Another option is the 2500 suburban If you need more space.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by asquared

With that much packed in I would go with the 3/4 or 1 ton option. You could go gas or diesel with that option and be ok. Pay attention to the payload sticker inside the door of any truck you look at. Another option is the 2500 suburban If you need more space.

X2 - Sometimes you can find a better deal on 1 ton so don't rule it our either. Yep, 250/2500 would probably be the best and don't have to a weight watcher.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by drittal

$6500 cheaper to go Ecoboost vs PSD F250? How much is the PSD option as the OP wants to go with 6.2 gas.

I paid right at $32K plus TT&L for the EB. My similarly equipped 2015PSD was $43800. So, $11,800 difference. $800 for LT tires, $400 for air bags, $200 for shocks, $1500 for used ProPride. $8900 price diff. Assuming a 2013 PSD might have been a little less expensive, I estimated a minimum savings of $6500. Didn't compare to the 6.2 gas because I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with the towing ability of the engine or the fuel mileage.

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

You seem to be ignoring many facts in a vain attempt to discredit the capability of the Ecoboost. You aren't a politician, are you???

You must not realize that to everyone else, you completely contradict your self by talking the eb up so much and then having switched BACK to a superduty!
Its pretty comical!

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

You must not realize that to everyone else, you completely contradict your self by talking the eb up so much and then having switched BACK to a superduty!
Its pretty comical!

Another child with more stuff to carry. A larger camper with more weight. And a business opportunity that required a larger truck. Yessir, comical indeed. What's funny is when people make an assumption about someones decisions without knowing all of the facts. I left an F250PSD and went to the EB and it served me very well for the 2 years I had it (only had the first PSD 8 months-how's that for "comical"). The original post asked about towing a 6600 pound travel trailer with an EB. That's easily accomplished without the need for a Superduty. HOWEVER, the OP has since added more information indicating he hauls a LOT of people with a LOT of stuff and apparently loads well over 1K into his trailer- with this additional info, I too would probably lean heavily toward the SD.

Edit: Upon further consideration- per your logic, if you ever begin hauling heavy enough to need an F450, you will have been a complete hypocrite for ever using a 350!!!!!! And you would have been contradictory for ever recommending its use in towing. Is that what you are trying to imply???????

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

Another child with more stuff to carry. A larger camper with more weight. And a business opportunity that required a larger truck. Yessir, comical indeed. What's funny is when people make an assumption about someones decisions without knowing all of the facts. I left an F250PSD and went to the EB and it served me very well for the 2 years I had it (only had the first PSD 8 months-how's that for "comical"). The original post asked about towing a 6600 pound travel trailer with an EB. That's easily accomplished without the need for a Superduty. HOWEVER, the OP has since added more information indicating he hauls a LOT of people with a LOT of stuff and apparently loads well over 1K into his trailer- with this additional info, I too would probably lean heavily toward the SD.

Edit: Upon further consideration- per your logic, if you ever begin hauling heavy enough to need an F450, you will have been a complete hypocrite for ever using a 350!!!!!! And you would have been contradictory for ever recommending its use in towing. Is that what you are trying to imply???????

You don't have to convince me.
I have a 1ton, 2 ton and i had a class 8, i sold it when i was done heavy trucking otr, but will get another as soon as i need it.
The thing is I'll never try to convince someone to get the smaller truck that is in their proposed lineup.

Im out !