f250 Camper Package for Towing?

[Mark Ulmer]

My current TV is a 2017 f150 3.5L Ecoboost with max tow package . I've done everything I can to improve the towing: swapped out the tires, added rear air bags, optimized my WDH configuration and verified it on a CAT scale. However, in windy situations, I still get pushed around more than I would like. I suspect this might have to do with the fact that the TT and the truck weigh just about the same. I'm considering trading up to an f250, which is about 3000 lbs heavier. Does this make any sense? If I do this, should I get the camper package (for the suspension upgrades and rear stabilizer bar) even though I'm towing a TT and don't have a truck camper? I understand that this would make the ride bumpier when not towing. Does anyone have a feel for how much bumpier? Thanks.

[Dustyhd]

There’s certainly nothing wrong with a 1 to 1 TV/trailer weight ratio, but what is the wheelbase of the current truck? If it’s 145 in. that’s the most likely cause. Increasing the unladen TV weight is the best things you can do to improve stability on the TV side of the combo but it’s expensive. Consider one of the Hensley design hitches as cheaper alternative. The camper pkg is probably not necessary but won’t hurt anything but the unloaded ride.

[Mark Ulmer]

Dustyhd, thanks for the thoughts on the Hensley hitch. I'll think about that. Are the Hensley/Propride hitches really that much better than the Equal-i-zer? Certainly they're much heavier. You're right, the wheelbase is 145". The longer wheelbase f150's won't fit in my garage. The f250 has a 148" wheelbase configuration, which would fit in my garage.

[uhduh camping]

Originally Posted by Mark Ulmer

Dustyhd, thanks for the thoughts on the Hensley hitch. I'll think about that. Are the Hensley/Propride hitches really that much better than the Equal-i-zer? Certainly they're much heavier. You're right, the wheelbase is 145". The longer wheelbase f150's won't fit in my garage. The f250 has a 148" wheelbase configuration, which would fit in my garage.

I was in your shoes but with a Titan. The Hensley is that much better. I can't begin to tell you how much better the Titan did with Hensley over Blue Ox. I did still jump from a Titan to a F250. I went back to the Blue Ox for one trip with the F250 just to see. I will never tow without the Hensley again. To say "it tows like it not even back there" is a bit absurd but it does. Most wind you don't even notice, when you do notice the wind, it pushes the whole rig together no sway.

[Dustyhd]

The HA/ProPride will add another 100lbs to the TV GVW so that’s something to consider but it will solve the problem. If the money and/or loss of it is not a concern, go to the larger TV.

[dalford]

Mark, If you are pondering a F250 you may as well get a F350. Only about $1K in list price difference but much more payload capacity. SRW...

One day you will want that 5th wheel...

[mfen]

Mark, I can tell you first hand from a whole lot of experience (I used to spec trucks for Hertz Penske, Ryder, and a whole lot of others, I'm a class A driver) I currently own three bumper pull trailers myself 8 to 32 ft and have been towing one thing or another for more years than I care to admit.

I'll likely spark some lively conversation here, but I agree with others who've said, go to the 250/2500 series TV, and honestly I'll even agree with one person who said for another $1,000 plus, go to the 350/3500 series srw TV.

I myself am looking for a 450/4500-550/5500 series truck as we speak, giving up my beloved 2500 Megacab.

Ride difference is marginal except on very bad roads. You'll find the truck tends to be "bouncier" and some would say it will "ride hard". I do find it bouncier, but I don't find it all that much harder than my Tarus, or Subaru.

Regardless the easy answer to that is, throw sandbags or something in the bed. Better yet, add a set of fuel tanks, fill em, and keep em on the fuller side. Functional weight.

On any of the TV you have two choices, enough spring to handle the payload, and enough to gear to move it, or you start adding things like helper springs, airbags, sway bars and torsion controls....which are all alternative ways to manage the weights and dynamic effects of the weight, but at the end of the day they are still not carrying the weight the way a properly sprung vehicle will.

The airbags like the overload springs simply force the stance of the vehicle into a "preferable" position to "reduce" the ill effects of inadequate spring or load carrying capability. If you have the right springs, you won't have the need for these various management devices.

The exception might be the various sway control devices.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide and how it works out for you.

Best of luck.

[B and B]

I got a sweet deal on a F 250 year end with camper pkg. Towed like a dream. Had a service issue with this vehicle and was able to trade up to a F 350 for minimal money. I say go for F 350 now.

[Dustyhd]

“Regardless the easy answer to that is, throw sandbags or something in the bed. Better yet, add a set of fuel tanks, fill em, and keep em on the fuller side. Functional weight.”

I wouldn’t recommend doing this on a already loaded vehicle. To be really effective you would have to get that weight far forward beyond the bed. The problem with the shorter WB light weight vehicles is how close the TV COG ends up to the rear axle with the addition of hitch load.

[Brother Les]

Your airbags may be hurting your WDH. You need to 'lift' the tongue and ball to level out the unit and throw more weight to the front and the back of the 'train'.



I have a F-250 and love it. I pull a 35 foot unit and use two sway bars. The front is a little high and squirrely when starting out, but after burning about It 1/4 tank of fuel, it levels out and runs/pulls great. Sometimes it feels like driving a stiff lumber wagon when the tires are aired up to the cold psi of 80. Have it at the higher mark when pulling. when not pulling, I will put the psi at 70 and this makes the ride smoother when not pulling and pleasure driving. Really depends on what tires are on your tv and the truck leaf springs are very stiff. You will want this when the truck is loaded and your RV is loaded .

[Mark Ulmer]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

Your airbags may be hurting your WDH. You need to 'lift' the tongue and ball to level out the unit and throw more weight to the front and the back of the 'train'.

I don't believe that's the case. I added the airbags to fix a "porpoising" problem, which they did (or mostly, anyway). Once I figured out the proper pressure (through some trial and error), I readjusted my WDH to account for the added height of the rear of the truck. I have verified the weight distribution on a CAT scale, and I think it's as good as I can get.

Thanks for the f250 info.

[ScooterSkip]

I recently upgraded from a ‘12 f-150 4x4 3.5 to a ‘15 f-250 4x4 6.7. I got pushed around quite a bit towing my ~5K lb TT. I used the same WDH on both vehicles with the anti-sway bar. The F-250 made a night and day difference. It’s very stable, even when passing semi trucks or in heavy crosswinds. Mileage improved significantly as well for what it’s worth.

It’s bumpier when not towing. Considering it has stiffer suspension and a solid front axle I would expect as much however, it’s not nearly as bad as I imagined. In my opinion the slightly stiffer ride is well worth the trade-off. I’ll never go back to a 1/2 ton if I can help it. Good luck!

[Brother Les]

(((((Brother Les Your airbags may be hurting your WDH. You need to 'lift' the tongue and ball to level out the unit and throw more weight to the front and the back of the 'train'.)))))

Originally Posted by Mark Ulmer

I don't believe that's the case. I added the airbags to fix a "porpoising" problem, which they did (or mostly, anyway). Once I figured out the proper pressure (through some trial and error), I readjusted my WDH to account for the added height of the rear of the truck. I have verified the weight distribution on a CAT scale, and I think it's as good as I can get.

Thanks for the f250 info.

Your WDH should have been able to stop the 'porpoise' effect by lifting it up and 'tightening' the RV tongue area and shoving the distribution weight to the front of the TV and the back of the RV. Your 'airbags' are now 'masking' this effect by stiffing the TV rear end. imo

A F-250 will help you in every way because it is beefier. Go for the diesel version (power and fuel mileage).

[Brother Les]

Originally Posted by ScooterSkip

I recently upgraded from a ‘12 f-150 4x4 3.5 to a ‘15 f-250 4x4 6.7. I got pushed around quite a bit towing my ~5K lb TT. I used the same WDH on both vehicles with the anti-sway bar. The F-250 made a night and day difference. It’s very stable, even when passing semi trucks or in heavy crosswinds. Mileage improved significantly as well for what it’s worth.

It’s bumpier when not towing. Considering it has stiffer suspension and a solid front axle I would expect as much however, it’s not nearly as bad as I imagined. In my opinion the slightly stiffer ride is well worth the trade-off. I’ll never go back to a 1/2 ton if I can help it. Good luck!

What will help on this is to 'let a little air out of the tires when not towing'. Example: my tires say 80psi cold. I use this number (80psi cold) when towing or loading up the bed of the truck and this is correct. when not 'towing', I will have at 70psi cold in the tires. This will smooth the ride considerably. I have 190,000 miles on my F-250. I have NEVER changed tires because of tread wear. Always changed tires because of age, and have around 60,000-70,000 miles on tires.

[Tigger1]

Originally Posted by Mark Ulmer

My current TV is a 2017 f150 3.5L Ecoboost with max tow package . I've done everything I can to improve the towing: swapped out the tires, added rear air bags, optimized my WDH configuration and verified it on a CAT scale. However, in windy situations, I still get pushed around more than I would like. I suspect this might have to do with the fact that the TT and the truck weigh just about the same. I'm considering trading up to an f250, which is about 3000 lbs heavier. Does this make any sense? If I do this, should I get the camper package (for the suspension upgrades and rear stabilizer bar) even though I'm towing a TT and don't have a truck camper? I understand that this would make the ride bumpier when not towing. Does anyone have a feel for how much bumpier? Thanks.

Another couple in our camping group have the same trailer and their TV is a 2500 although different manufacturer. They have no problem pulling it. He does have a truck cap; not sure if that helps with the wind.

[Kaadk]

When I ordered my F250, it was only $126 (Cdn) for the option under X-plan. On our 60 month 0% finance, that only adjusted my monthly payment by $2.10. I considered that affordable to get the beefier capability.

I haven't driven one without the camper package, so I don't have a comparison, but so far, both towing and not towing, it's been a comfortable ride. No complaints here.

[ronheater70]

I had an Ecoboost f 150 I bought new, crew cab 5.5' bed. It pulled very well, But OI also had some sway issues occasionally that just made the experience less than desirable. I traded up to a 2500 series truck and have to say that the experience is very nice now. Nice relaxed,1 hand on the wheel, etc.
My personal thoughts, are that when you need to spend a couple grand on a hitch, or airbags, or engine modifications etc, then you really seem to have the wrong vehicle for the job. But that's just me.

[Mark Ulmer]

Thank you, everyone for your responses. You've given me lots to think about. I'll update the thread eventually once I make a decision. Thanks, again.

[Cypressloser]

There is no point denying the upgrade to a 250/2500 or higher would increase the over all stability.

However, have a look at the tires on your F150, they are most likely 20" P rated for a sedan like smooth ride experience but lack the stiffness to handle the added stress from towing. If you would upgrade to LT tires that alone would make a tremendous difference.

[Mark Ulmer]

Originally Posted by Cypressloser

There is no point denying the upgrade to a 250/2500 or higher would increase the over all stability.

However, have a look at the tires on your F150, they are most likely 20" P rated for a sedan like smooth ride experience but lack the stiffness to handle the added stress from towing. If you would upgrade to LT tires that alone would make a tremendous difference.

Already swapped out the tires. Helped some, but not enough...