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Old 12-05-2016, 09:33 AM   #1
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What do you love/hate about your tow vehicle?

I was backing up the driveway last night in the dark and it dawned on me, I have a mixed bag of love/hates going on with my truck

2013 f150 supercrew 4x4 ecoboost 3:31

so, Loves
I love the engine, it pulls effortlessly even with the 3:31 gears, my 5,500 ish trailer is towed with the rpms rarely going above 2k, even on average hills.. Im getting about 13-14 MPG towing the trailer on mix of back roads and highway.

Room, There is a TON of room in this truck!

Selectable rear locking diff.. Just pull the knob and diff is locked, I like that.

Hates:
reverse lights are about as useful as my daughters Dora The Explorer Lantern with 1/2 dead batteries. Pathetic. I have complained about it since I have bought it new, and I havent upgraded, so thats bad on me. But I live in the middle of the woods with a nearly 400 foot driveway that I sometimes back out and its a pain in the dark.

headlights.. Not much better than reverse lights.

front brakes seem weak on stock rotors.. I will upgrade Rotors when they warp again..And they will.

Although I have not experienced it, others have noticed a rise in engine temps when pulling heavy up the long hills into the mountains. I think its the nature of the beast, the only way this thing makes serious power is with the turbos spooled up, and that means heat. I'll see if it is an issue next summer as I have a few trips up into the mountains planned.

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Old 12-05-2016, 10:00 AM   #2
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I have never noticed any issues with head lamps or reverse lamps with my F-150's (I have had a 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015). All of them had good lighting.


But I am on board with your complaints about the brakes I have only been towing for 3 years, so I had about a year and a half towing with each of the '13 Ecoboost and the '15 Ecoboost, and both trucks were awful on the brakes. Ford always replaces with no questions asked, but just about every time I go on a "long" trip (we take one long trip every summer) the results are that the front rotors vibrate from warping by the end of the trip. Maybe I should consider after market
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Old 12-05-2016, 10:07 AM   #3
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Nothing; my TV is a 2008 Ram Mega cab with the 6.7L Cummins engine and the 68RFE 6 speed auto. Pulls like a dream all day long and will back-up my trailer with no issues. The truck has over 100K on the OD all but 14 miles on the OD are mine. To me there is no other vehicle to have as a TV unless it is another RAM. I am pulling a 2016 34RL Cedar Creek with this truck and I am heavy.

I have had all three of the big three manufactures in trucks and my RAM is the best by far.
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Old 12-05-2016, 10:12 AM   #4
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2015 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 Max Tow 6.2L/8 speed 3.42 rear

Love:
6.2L is one of the best gas motors I have had the pleasure to meet, powerful, fast but still very good about fuel (Yes high test only). The truck is setup great for towing. 6500 miles trip this summer and we were comfortable, cool and relaxed. All the creature features one could ask for. 10k total loaded miles this year.

Hate:
8 speed tranny. Haven't I said enough? While towing it never skips a beat and I tow at the max. But unloaded...not sure words can say it. GM must have made kick back deals with doctors because your neck and back will need to be adjusted about every month. It can be like riding a bull, just hold on and hope to walk away. GM's response "Working as designed" Clearly they don't drive one everyday.

Oh and the head lights suck also but I have never cared about that much.

NEXT!
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Old 12-05-2016, 01:29 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Semperfi24 View Post
I have never noticed any issues with head lamps or reverse lamps with my F-150's (I have had a 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015). All of them had good lighting.


But I am on board with your complaints about the brakes I have only been towing for 3 years, so I had about a year and a half towing with each of the '13 Ecoboost and the '15 Ecoboost, and both trucks were awful on the brakes. Ford always replaces with no questions asked, but just about every time I go on a "long" trip (we take one long trip every summer) the results are that the front rotors vibrate from warping by the end of the trip. Maybe I should consider after market


Yeah I get the brake/rotor shimmy too on my 2012 FX4.

My complaint is the weak payload at 1,300 lbs. wish it was a couple hundred lbs more. Another complaint is the lack of a dead pedal for the left foot. I made one myself but one from the factory would be nice.

Love: Friends of mine call the back seat in my crew cab a limousine. They can't believe the amount of room back there. Kids like it too.


2012 Ford F-150 EB Crew FX4 3.73 gears
2012 Micro Lite 23lb

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Old 12-05-2016, 01:37 PM   #6
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Loves....Paid for!....At 17,500 gross, get 14.3.....Went with aftermarket headlights, taillights......Get a pair of Late 90's Dodge fog lights and wire into back-up lights.......have 180,000 miles, been all over country and still going strong....
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Old 12-05-2016, 01:53 PM   #7
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06 2500 Diesel

Love the torque, never a question of "are we going to make it up this hill?" Alison transmission, equally impressive. Exhaust brake, saves them brakes. Old school, no emissions.

Hate weak reverse lights, 1 candle power.
Hate that it's not hooked up ready to go camping. Oh, also hate that I haven't fixed the heated seats, they go crazy when it's wet outside! Not good in the summer!
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:01 PM   #8
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No comparison, but I will comment anyway...

2015 Chevy 3500HD 4WD DRW - I've owned 4 of these due to a wreck, upgrade, moved out of the country and now back home, so yeah... 1,2, 3.... 4th one. The first and seconds were a 2009s. I thought those were great, but the last two were/are 2015s. The improvements in mirrors, lighting and accessory plugging have just made it better. My trailer is nearly 13,000 empty and 46' long. I know it is there on accelerations and hills, but tend to forget it is back there unless I check the mirrors. Towing with a DRW is super stable and you don't get the sway or wobble like a heavy loaded SRW truck. They are expensive, but if you can ever afford the first one, you will likely keep buying them like I have. (remember to sell and trade up before it loses it's value and stay under warranty)
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:09 PM   #9
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I have the Platinum level 2016. Love the massaging seats - loosens thing up on long drives. Hate the wide turning radius, but that goes with the longer WB.

As a thought on the backup lights - I know there is an easy mod that will allow the spotlights on the mirrors to stay on. Could you fold in the mirrors and use the spots for additional light?
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:14 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Semperfi24 View Post
I have never noticed any issues with head lamps or reverse lamps with my F-150's (I have had a 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015). All of them had good lighting.


But I am on board with your complaints about the brakes I have only been towing for 3 years, so I had about a year and a half towing with each of the '13 Ecoboost and the '15 Ecoboost, and both trucks were awful on the brakes. Ford always replaces with no questions asked, but just about every time I go on a "long" trip (we take one long trip every summer) the results are that the front rotors vibrate from warping by the end of the trip. Maybe I should consider after market
Fords have been great for me.
1994 E150 Conversion van, 1998 F250, 2oo1 E350 Chateau, 2002 E250 V10, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014F150 (all super crew cabs). My 2014 ecoboost maxtow 3.73 diff was the best tow combination for the F150's. I don't quite get the great mileage like the 3.31's but it tows great. My only complaint on the F150 crews is that Ford puts mush tires on the super crews. I upgraded all of them to E rated 10 ply tires.
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:17 PM   #11
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2001 Chevy 2500HD
8.1 liter gasoline
Allison, 4.10
Tow: Columbus 320RS

Love: This truck is made to pull, pull, pull; and stop, stop, stop. It is not a daily driver, but you could plow a field with it if you could afford the fuel. Smooth engine braking downhill and in city traffic. Outstanding brakes overall. I had to do the the first brake job at 145,000 mi.(original brakes).

Hate: Low fuel mileage coupled with small fuel tank requires careful trip planning. Also GM has discontinued this motor and it is no longer offered in pickups or ClassA motorhomes.
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:31 PM   #12
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2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
For my usage, nearly perfect. It's my daily driver but I am mostly retired so not many miles daily. Work 3 days a week to retain what little sanity I have left.
Coil springs give it the best ride in the half ton class. They also decrease the payload but for what I pull, it's ok.
395 hp will pull way more than the payload will allow.
As far as hates, can't really think of anything. 9...11 mpg towing.23 mpg highway not. It's all I need.
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Old 12-05-2016, 02:32 PM   #13
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2005 Ram 2500 4X4 4DR 5.9l Cummins 6 spd manual

loves... it's paid for, 6 spd manual(easiest one I ever drove), good fuel mileage

don't likes:... I don't have one except wish it had more cargo(in case)
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Old 12-05-2016, 03:52 PM   #14
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2013 Silverado LTZ crew cab long bed. Duramax/Allison. Love almost everything about it. Its my daily work truck, pulling a trailer when the TT isn't back there. HATE regen mode. EGT's run hotter, idle is high. Not to happy about the football length turning radius but I can live with that. It's Victory Red, that makes the wife happy.
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Old 12-05-2016, 03:56 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronheater70 View Post
I was backing up the driveway last night in the dark and it dawned on me, I have a mixed bag of love/hates going on with my truck

2013 f150 supercrew 4x4 ecoboost 3:31

so, Loves
I love the engine, it pulls effortlessly even with the 3:31 gears, my 5,500 ish trailer is towed with the rpms rarely going above 2k, even on average hills.. Im getting about 13-14 MPG towing the trailer on mix of back roads and highway.

Room, There is a TON of room in this truck!

Selectable rear locking diff.. Just pull the knob and diff is locked, I like that.

Hates:
reverse lights are about as useful as my daughters Dora The Explorer Lantern with 1/2 dead batteries. Pathetic. I have complained about it since I have bought it new, and I havent upgraded, so thats bad on me. But I live in the middle of the woods with a nearly 400 foot driveway that I sometimes back out and its a pain in the dark.

headlights.. Not much better than reverse lights.

front brakes seem weak on stock rotors.. I will upgrade Rotors when they warp again..And they will.

Although I have not experienced it, others have noticed a rise in engine temps when pulling heavy up the long hills into the mountains. I think its the nature of the beast, the only way this thing makes serious power is with the turbos spooled up, and that means heat. I'll see if it is an issue next summer as I have a few trips up into the mountains planned.

NEXT!
really a 150 you really need a 3/4 ton just for safety reasons:braking suspension tires and overall safety. Dealers will sell anything I've had a cdl since they were grandfathered in the 70s. Really check out the specs I have 2500 ram cc with the 6.4 hemi never a problem. The Chevy has a 6.0 and ford 6.2 no where near the hp and torque just come it out
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Old 12-05-2016, 04:13 PM   #16
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TV Vehicle Preferences

Well, I must be the weird one in the group. I bought an 2005 F-350 with the 6L diesel new back in the Fall of 2004, Lariat Supercab. I did not know anything about the unreliability of that engine with its' induction problems, head bolts, intercooler, etc until about a year later. After muttering a bunch of profane syllables, I did a pile of research and had everything replaced with components from Bullet Proof Diesel, including changing out the FICM (fuel injection control module) power supply. Problems solved. We (me, my wife, and her twin sister, plus 2 dogs) have been full-timers for the past 3 years, pulling our FR 43' 5th wheel (GWVR 16,000#) all over N. America (from the Maritimes of Canada to San Diego), up and down a lot of pointy landscape of the Rockies, the heat of Texas and the Southwest.

Pros: the modified engine, the roomy, full-sized interior, the suspension.

Cons: the unmodified engine, the Ford emblem on the front grill (it only lasts about 2 years before it starts to dis-integrate!), and valve stems on the rear duallys that are virtually impossible to access for air-up, or check pressures (long ago put valve stem extensions on, straight and curved, to solve the problems), Other than the engine, pretty trivial problems.

Prior to the F350, I had a Dodge with the Cummins engine. Best diesel I ever had! Only issue I had with the Dodge was the limited room for the rear seats.


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Old 12-05-2016, 04:29 PM   #17
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How's the turning radius?
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Old 12-05-2016, 05:14 PM   #18
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I 'upgraded' from a 2010 Dodge 1500 HEMI to a 2006 F350 Dually Diesel. The Dodge struggled to pull our TT up hills so I worried about long term longevity. Otherwise it was a really good truck.

The F350 tows like a DREAM. I love this truck but man when it breaks down it is EXPENSIVE to repair. It's paid for otherwise, I would probably be shopping for a Duramax or Cummins...

As 'fredcrowley' stated, I did my homework and saw that the 6.0's had a bad reputation so I bought one that had been 'bulletproofed'. It drives & tows great but for me, has had more issues than I expected. I don't want to give the impression it's horrible but it's my first diesel so maybe there's a learning curve on my part. But it will pull whatever you hook behind it!!
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Old 12-05-2016, 05:34 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Semperfi24 View Post
I have never noticed any issues with head lamps or reverse lamps with my F-150's (I have had a 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015). All of them had good lighting.


But I am on board with your complaints about the brakes I have only been towing for 3 years, so I had about a year and a half towing with each of the '13 Ecoboost and the '15 Ecoboost, and both trucks were awful on the brakes. Ford always replaces with no questions asked, but just about every time I go on a "long" trip (we take one long trip every summer) the results are that the front rotors vibrate from warping by the end of the trip. Maybe I should consider after market
Interesting. I have put 18K miles on my '16 F150 Ecoboost SuperCrew since March. 10K and change was pulling a 5500 lb. trailer twice across the Rockies and have not experienced any brake vibration or rotor issues. I do use the transmission a lot on those long down hills. Are you sure you have the trailer brake gain set high enough? How is it that Ford replaces your brakes without question? I did not think brake wear was covered on warranty. If so, I better check mine soon.
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Old 12-05-2016, 05:35 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Semperfi24 View Post
I have never noticed any issues with head lamps or reverse lamps with my F-150's (I have had a 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015). All of them had good lighting.


But I am on board with your complaints about the brakes I have only been towing for 3 years, so I had about a year and a half towing with each of the '13 Ecoboost and the '15 Ecoboost, and both trucks were awful on the brakes. Ford always replaces with no questions asked, but just about every time I go on a "long" trip (we take one long trip every summer) the results are that the front rotors vibrate from warping by the end of the trip. Maybe I should consider after market
Got 34K; but, the inside of both front rotors had "glassed up". Neither of them had more than 3/4 inch smooth touching the inner pad and the inside pad was destroyed, useless. Several service people said this was not unusual for original equipment - use after market (not Ford) replacements. Have not experienced any vibration. Not impressed with back-up lighting.
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