1/2 ton towing a 318BHS

bobbyg123 · 02-18-2012, 01:14 PM

Hi everyone. For those of you towing with 1/2 ton trucks, I'm curious how they're handling your 318BHS. I've got a 2007 F150 5.4L that pulls our 32' Jayfeather (6500lbs loaded) without issue, but the additional 2000lbs on the Lacrosse concerns me. I fully intend to upgrade my truck in a year or 2, but if I can get away with another 1/2 ton, that would be ideal.

grhodes50 · 02-18-2012, 01:20 PM

I don't have the 318BHS, so I can't offer any first hand experiences.

I think you will definitely feel the difference with the additional 2,000 lbs, but you really need to watch your tongue weight and not overload your tv's GVWR.

The Ecoboost are getting some pretty good reviews. In a couple of years all the bugs, if any, should be worked out.

Good luck and happy camping!

weiman1983 · 02-18-2012, 01:22 PM

You will be fine pulling that trailer with your F150. We have the same trailer and it pulls very well. I'm pulling mine with a 2010 F150 with the 5.4.

Quite honestly, the Lacrosse pulls way better than our 2009 Jayco 23FB. And that trailer only weighed 5000LBS.

padave65 · 02-18-2012, 02:59 PM

Same here...my Titan pulls my 318bhs just fine....average 8.5 mpg's though. Your only concern will be with payload of the truck. Airbags may help in this area...not increasing the payload, just reducing the stress on the rear shocks and springs.

bobbyg123 · 02-18-2012, 07:42 PM

Yup, payload is always a big concern; but my current trailer still has a whopping 900lbs of tongue weight despite only weighing 6500lbs.

phrogdriver93 · 02-18-2012, 09:54 PM

I tow our 2012 318BHS with a 2010 F-150 (5.4L/3.55 axle/tow pkg) and it tows just fine. I usually cruise about 65 mph going down the hwy. Any long/steep grades and the speed may drop off a few mph with a corresponding increase in rpm's. I'm not familiar with the specific tow capabilities of your older Ford, but a quick google search should tell you if you at least meet the limitations.

21C1 · 02-19-2012, 08:14 PM

We are towing our 318 with a '10 F150 with Max Trailer Tow package and the 5.4L. We used to pull a 5500# camper. I was actually surprised that the 7800# Lacrosse didn't feel that much different. I am guessing on steeper grades on the highway that I will notice it more.

kozzy · 02-19-2012, 09:32 PM

I have a 318 BHS and I own a half ton truck, newer however, 2011 dodge ram outdoorsman...I have not towed the camper yet as I just purchased it in the fall...I will be picking it up in 2-3 weeks...I will be happy to given u a report. Both the RV dealer and the dodge dealer said I would have no issues. The max tow rating for my truck is 10,050 lbs, so I am within then limits. It also has a built in break controller which is nice. And I'll be using the Reese dual cam strait line trunion wd 1200 hitch. All the numbers are within limits. Now, I do tow my boat with my truck...it is a 27' cruiser...weight is approx 9000 - 10,000 lbs when on the trailer behind the truck. I use a standard weight carrying hitch...not gonna lie...i feel it back there...but my truck has no issues towing it at all...down the highway at 70-75 mph no problem...any more and I get some sway...I don't anticipate that with the camper though with the hitch I will be using...good luck an I can def. get you more info in a few weeks...

bobbyg123 · 02-20-2012, 01:01 AM

Hi Kozzy. Yes, I'd appreciate a towing review of your Dodge. Given the cost of diesel fuel today, I'd rather stick with a gas engine. The 2500 HEMI or the F150 heavy duty payload package seem like good options. The HEMI is pretty brutal with fuel economy though.

kandl · 02-20-2012, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyg123

The HEMI is pretty brutal with fuel economy though.

The Hemi is not so bad with fuel economy - at least with the half-ton doing the tugging. We've averaged 10 -11 US MPG pulling the Rockwood, which tips the scales at 7K lbs plus when loaded with all the beer and other stuff. I'll add that our Dodge is maxed out with this TT. The issue with half-tons pulling 30 ft plus TTs is the tongue weight. A half ton with a 10K lb plus tow capacity is really kewl but if you balance the TT just right (10-15 percent of TT weight on the ball), you'll eat up the TV's GVWR in very short order.

My $0.02: I would not pull a 318BHS with a half-ton. Yeah, I read the replies to your post but I remain reluctant to be confidently towing a TT of that magnitude with a half-ton.

All the best

kozzy · 02-20-2012, 10:05 AM

I agree. The 1/2 ton hemi is not too bad with fuel because it has MDS. The hemi 2500 does not. I get average 15 mpg...and have been up as high as 19 on the highway...towing my boat I get 10- 12.
I do think you will be fine with tongue weight though, my boat is around 700 lbs...about the same as the 318... No issues. if you get the 1/2 ton equipped right you would be fine, that's why I went with the outdoorsman edition...it's made for towing. The ram slt maxes out 8500 lbs...the outdoorsman is 10050 lbs...
With the right weight distribution setup m confident you will be ok...no one ever knows until it is done...I will be doing it in 2-3 weeks so I'll be sure to let you know..

My old truck was a 2007 ram 2500 with the hemi....and I can say that pulling my boat is not any harder with the 1/2 ton that I have now vs my old 3/4 ton...and I get better mpg around town...since I'm not towing everyday.

trudinator · 02-20-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandl

The Hemi is not so bad with fuel economy - at least with the half-ton doing the tugging. We've averaged 10 -11 US MPG pulling the Rockwood, which tips the scales at 7K lbs plus when loaded with all the beer and other stuff. I'll add that our Dodge is maxed out with this TT. The issue with half-tons pulling 30 ft plus TTs is the tongue weight. A half ton with a 10K lb plus tow capacity is really kewl but if you balance the TT just right (10-15 percent of TT weight on the ball), you'll eat up the TV's GVWR in very short order.

My $0.02: I would not pull a 318BHS with a half-ton. Yeah, I read the replies to your post but I remain reluctant to be confidently towing a TT of that magnitude with a half-ton.

All the best

Nice TT! We have the same model, except ours is a 2012. We don't have the garden windows. Thought about that one for a bit, but we wanted to keep the extra storage above the couch and table. We tow ours with a Ram 2500 Cummins. DH was actually considering towing it with our '02 Durango, but luckily he saw this truck 5 days before we picked up our TT and we made the deal in 2 days. I would have been a nervous wreck pulling a TT of this size with an SUV. We have friends who tow a similar-sized Laredo with their Dodge 1500 and it pulls okay, but he needs to install air bags, as his suspension can't handle the load. Bogs down on hills, but he really doesn't pull it long distances.

Lonewolfcry · 02-20-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phrogdriver93

I tow our 2012 318BHS with a 2010 F-150 (5.4L/3.55 axle/tow pkg) and it tows just fine. I usually cruise about 65 mph going down the hwy. Any long/steep grades and the speed may drop off a few mph with a corresponding increase in rpm's. I'm not familiar with the specific tow capabilities of your older Ford, but a quick google search should tell you if you at least meet the limitations.

What is your average rpms at 65? Just curious I'm looking at getting a similar setup. Now I'm running 65 mph at about 2700 rpms.

bobbyg123 · 02-20-2012, 04:41 PM

My complaint about the HEMI's MPG is related to daily driving, not towing. Our family makes 10-15 trips per year, and the rest of the time our truck is used by my wife or me for work. I completely understand why some of you feel that a 1/2 ton truck isn't ideal for anything over 8,000lbs, because honestly, I'm right there with you. The problem is the compromise you have to make in daily driving when you step up to a 3/4 ton vehicle. If the HEMI 2500 (or the Ford 6.2L) could get 15MPG unloaded, I'd go that route for sure. I don't care about flying up the mountain roads or having power to pass on the highway when towing. I want decent fuel economy, civil road manners, and payload to handle a trailer weighing 10,000lbs. We're not likely to ever get a 5th wheel, so once I settle on the tow vehicle, we'll be set.

trudinator · 02-20-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyg123

My complaint about the HEMI's MPG is related to daily driving, not towing. Our family makes 10-15 trips per year, and the rest of the time our truck is used by my wife or me for work. I completely understand why some of you feel that a 1/2 ton truck isn't ideal for anything over 8,000lbs, because honestly, I'm right there with you. The problem is the compromise you have to make in daily driving when you step up to a 3/4 ton vehicle. If the HEMI 2500 (or the Ford 6.2L) could get 15MPG unloaded, I'd go that route for sure. I don't care about flying up the mountain roads or having power to pass on the highway when towing. I want decent fuel economy, civil road manners, and payload to handle a trailer weighing 10,000lbs. We're not likely to ever get a 5th wheel, so once I settle on the tow vehicle, we'll be set.

Our 2500 diesel gets great mileage compared to my '02 Durango. We averaged 23 mpg/highway on Saturday not pulling the TT.

acadianbob · 02-20-2012, 05:36 PM

I noticed many of the people responding to your question had newer F150s with the 6 speed auto. Your 4 speed auto will make it a little tougher performance-wise but your overall weight capacity should be the same. Just a thought . . .

I just went from an '05 4-speed truck to a 6-speed. I figure that the 4-speed had the equivalent of gears 2, 3, 4.5 and 6 in the 6-speed if you get what I mean. So 1 like 2, 2 like 3, 3 between 4 and 5, 6 like 6. I'm talking about transmission gear ratios.

Have fun! Be safe!

21C1 · 02-20-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolfcry

What is your average rpms at 65? Just curious I'm looking at getting a similar setup. Now I'm running 65 mph at about 2700 rpms.

I am doing this from memory but i think my '10 F150, 5.4L, 3.73 axle runs about 2200 rpm in 6th gear. When the trailer is in tow it has to be flat or down hill to stay in 6th!

kozzy · 02-20-2012, 07:11 PM

Bobby..my mpg is acceptable at 15 mpg...I went for the half ton for exactly the same reasons you describe...gas mileage for everyday driving..otherwise I would have went with the 2500.. Sounds like you And I are of the same mind set. My dodge is a 2011...has a higher rear axle at 3.92... Which gives it higher towing capacity. I have a 5 speed trany in it....towing the boat is a breeze with it. I pickup my camper from the dealer on march 15...so I should have more to report.
Another option if you wanted to help out with pay load and keep good mileage is to just beef up the rear suspension on a half ton...air bags something like that...you will probably still get your desired outcome.
For me...this truck gave me the best solution for all around decent everyday driving and The ability to tow my heavy boat and camper...

acadianbob · 02-20-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kozzy

Another option if you wanted to help out with pay load and keep good mileage is to just beef up the rear suspension on a half ton...air bags something like that...you will probably still get your desired outcome.

Just remember that air bags etc do not increase your payload. It might help level you out but you still have the limitations of tires, axle capacity, etc.

grhodes50 · 02-20-2012, 07:27 PM

kozzy, air bags will not beef up your suspension or increase your payload capacity. There's really no way to increase your tv's ratings without doing some expensive mods.
The air bags will only level out your tv and smooth out the ride.
There should not be a need for them if you own a tt since wd hitches will level the tv when set up properly. Of course they also transfer some of the tongue weight to the front axles which the air bags won't do.

You may also like: