Opinion on upgrading tow vehicle

[dretired]

Mine towed a 33 ft 5th wheel to Florida ..from Michigan ..and back this last winter..It did a fine job for me..5.4 engine..3.55 limited slip...4x2... rated to tow 9,800 lbs..conventional TT or 5th wheel

[beanoil]

Originally Posted by donn

I am not a fan of 1/2 ton trucks except maybe for getting groceries. Get a 3/4 ton. You gain so much and give up so little. Bigger/stronger frame, better brakes, better springs, better tires/wheels, and the list goes on and on. With the right combination you should not loose any on fuel economy, and it will pull much better. As a side benefit if you decide like 80% of first time buyers that you want to upgrade next year or so, you will already have enough truck to pull a larger TT.

I went from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 to a 1 ton. When a dealer or manufacturer says "1/2 ton towable", they are telling a half truth. I liked my F250, I love my F350 with the Powerstroke. Consider a diesel when you upgrade. For example, my F250 with the 5.4 Triton got 17 MPG empty and 9 towing. My 6.0 Powerstoke gets about 21 MPG empty and 13 towing the same trailer. With diesel and gas running close in price, the diesel is currently winning. And it tows much better - no loss of speed on hills.

[flc]

Several years ago I had a F150 SuperCrew and really liked it. I went to a 34' fifth wheel so I also went to a Chevy 2500HD D/A 4x4. I later went to a newer GMC 2500 D/A 4x4. They were both great trucks when hauling my 5'er and later 34' travel trailer. But around town sucked.

I longed for a smaller trailer and have a 29' ultra light on order. I wanted the shorter trailer to be able to boondock better, or park in older Corps, Nat'l Park or Nat'l forest sites easier. I knew the D/A would handle a small trailer well but didn't like it for anything but towing. A friend let me tow my 34' travel trailer (shipped dry at 7000 lbs) with his newer F150 SuperCrew Ecoboost. It was superb!

I'm still waiting for my 4500 lb trailer but now own a F150 SuperCrew Ecoboost and I'm loving it!

[dustman_stx]

I've owned 4.6's and 5.4's. You CANNOT simply look at the peak HP and torque numbers and get an accurate comparison. If you look at the torque curves you'll see that the 5.4 puts out a lot more power in the typical towing range. Also, you have to be very careful about looking at the max towing capacities when you are talking about an RV. The wind resistance you encounter when towing a TT makes it much more difficult to tow than other types of loads that weigh the same amount. I've got an Expedition that is rated to tow (I think) 5900 pounds. I towed my previous trailer with it 1 time, a Tahoe by Thor that weighed about 4500, and I had no other gear- just the trailer, dry- and it was HARD on that 4.6. The main thing I think you have to worry about is constantly changing gears to maintain speed and burning up your trans. As others have mentioned, a cooler would help, but the 4.6 of that era really is not a good setup for towing in my opinion. You will be much happier with a 5.4. A rear gear swap could help, but you will be losing some fuel efficiency for the vast majority of your driving.

[merlin66043]

Well after reading everyone's posts and then talking to the wife we have decided to go ahead and buy a new truck. Well a used truck...

So if anyone is around Lansing, KS and is looking for a truck I have one for sale on craigslist...

One more question if anyone is still reading this thread. I am still trying to figure out some of the abbreviations used on this site. I finally figured out TT and TV . But am still trying to figure out DH and DW .

Again thanks.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by merlin66043

I am still trying to figure out some of the abbreviations used on this site. I finally figured out TT and TV . But am still trying to figure out DH and DW .

Darling or dear husband/wife.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by merlin66043

Well after reading everyone's posts and then talking to the wife we have decided to go ahead and buy a new truck. Well a used truck...

So if anyone is around Lansing, KS and is looking for a truck I have one for sale on craigslist...

One more question if anyone is still reading this thread. I am still trying to figure out some of the abbreviations used on this site. I finally figured out TT and TV . But am still trying to figure out DH and DW .

Again thanks.

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Darling or dear husband/wife.

Those acronyms should be banned from the internet. Just sayin'.

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by beanoil

I went from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 to a 1 ton. When a dealer or manufacturer says "1/2 ton towable", they are telling a half truth. I liked my F250, I love my F350 with the Powerstroke. Consider a diesel when you upgrade. For example, my F250 with the 5.4 Triton got 17 MPG empty and 9 towing. My 6.0 Powerstoke gets about 21 MPG empty and 13 towing the same trailer. With diesel and gas running close in price, the diesel is currently winning. And it tows much better - no loss of speed on hills.

I have to agree with you. My DH drives our '06 Dodge Ram CTD every day and wait for it....wait for it.....it drives and rides like a TRUCK, which of course, we expected it to! It gets about 22 mpg not towing and about 14 towing. We have friends who tow with a 1/2 ton Dodge with a similar TT and they're overloaded and get about 7 mpg. NO comparison in my book. If you're going to upgrade your tow vehicle, you have to do your homework and compare gas vs. diesel.

[ng2951]

You can do a lot of your shopping for a truck on the Internet. I forget which ones were pretty good, but there is one out of Texas that has a huge number of diesels.

Just as an FYI, I had the TH before I had the TV. We just walked into such a good deal I could not pass it up.

I learned a lot about diesels along the way too. If you buy the right diesel, other than panic, you are going to love the truck. You have so much power it makes managing towing so much easier. The newer 6 speed transmissions really make hills a lot different. Its no longer a Mr. Scott/Star Trek experience (engine noise) going up hills.

Maybe Lou will put his chart on gas vs diesel up again. It was one of the better presentations I have read.

[merlin66043]

Well I did it. Bought a new truck. Bought a 2012 f150 lariet platinum with the 3.5L v6 with echoboost. Did not get the Max tow package though. Will get to use it this weekend pulling the trailer. Looking forward to seeing how it works out.

[DonG]

I think you will be pleased how that EcoBEAST pulls!
Good choice.

[FreedomTracker]

You (OP) certainly evolved over the course of this thread and in the process I think we all learned a few things along the way...

Enjoy!

[BlakeB]

I bought my 2010 F150 used a few months ago and it has the 5.4L w/3.55gears. It pulls my 28BH no problem. I know some people cringe at using 1/2 tons but they are usually people that have owned older 1/2 tons.

Mine has a towing capacity of 9800lbs with the 5.4 3.55 gearing and tow package. it's a beast.

[merlin66043]

BlakeB - I almost bought a 2010 as well, but I was able to get a good enough deal on the new one that didn't mind spending the extra money. That and the wife was like well this should be the last vehicle we buy for a long time so might as well spend the money and get all the options we can.

FreedomTracker - Thanks for the comment. I have defiantly learned a bit over this thread.

This is a really nice forum with a lot of very helpful people. Plan on sticking around here for a while.

[Len & Cheri]

Originally Posted by merlin66043

Well I did it. Bought a new truck. Bought a 2012 f150 lariet platinum with the 3.5L v6 with echoboost. Did not get the Max tow package though. Will get to use it this weekend pulling the trailer. Looking forward to seeing how it works out.

Pics! Pics! Pics! We gotta' have pics!

[merlin66043]

Yes, I will put pics up. Don't pick it up till tomorrow. Will try and get pics this weekend with the trailer on our lake lot.

[gwest3024]

I have a new 2012 f150 Super crew and haul about 8500lbs loaded. We have the 5.0 as it had better rebates than the Ecoboost and my wife uses it as a daily and gets about 19MPG ( I get about 14 when I drive it). I am going to go with Glenn5995 here and say, if it is paid for and you like it, make minor upgrades and maybe the rear end before you go all out.

[dretired]

Originally Posted by merlin66043

Yes, I will put pics up. Don't pick it up till tomorrow. Will try and get pics this weekend with the trailer on our lake lot.

Is it too late to change it ??? A 2012 F150 Supercrew with a 6 1/2 foot box.. 3.5 ecoboost engine.. 3.73 limited slip.. Heavy Duty Payload package... Max Towing Package... Would give you .. 11,300 lbs towing in either a 5th wheel ..or TT.. and about 2,600 lbs payload in a 4x2 ..a little less in 4x4...AND ..You.. could get it in the Lariat model

[merlin66043]

I thought about that but I don't anticipate getting a bigger trailer and the 3.55 limited slip will help a little bit with the gas mileage. Figured just the standard tow will pull my trailer just fine. Has to be better than what I am driving now.

But will know more this weekend after pulling. Lake time and lots of .

Thanks for the idea though.

[dretired]

Originally Posted by merlin66043

I thought about that but I don't anticipate getting a bigger trailer and the 3.55 limited slip will help a little bit with the gas mileage. Figured just the standard tow will pull my trailer just fine. Has to be better than what I am driving now.

But will know more this weekend after pulling. Lake time and lots of .

Thanks for the idea though.

OK.. We stated with a 26 foot Puma 26 rlss TT.. Then.. i couldnt stand the hitching/un hitching (especially if the ground or concrete isnt level ) so i got the itch for a 5th wheel..SO GLAD we did !!