Anybody using one of the new F-150's as a toad? I currently have a 2006 Dodge Dakota as a toad. It's been a good truck but I'm looking at replacing it. It is a fairly heavy toad but my 35 foot DP pulls it just fine. I can feel the extra weight back there with the Dakota versus when I had my Wrangler, but I've towed this thing cross country including over the Sierra's and the Rockies and it has done just fine.Dodge doesn't make the Dakota anymore and of the towable four-down trucks available out there the choices are slim. I was mainly looking at the Chevy Colorado as it's about the only smaller truck that is towable four-down. But then I took a look at the F-150. I didn't really want a full size truck, but the new F-150's are pretty light and they are actually cheaper than the comparable small trucks probably because they sell so many F-150's. According to the Ford website the weight of the configuration I'm looking at, should be 4782 pounds. That is the extended cab 4x4 model. My Dakota weighs in at about 4500 pounds according to the scales at the dump. So I'm really only adding three or four hundred pounds. The Colorado is about 4400 pounds in the configuration I'm looking at. I've put my 450 pound quad in the back of my Dakota and towed it behind the motorhome and couldn't even really notice that extra weight. So I'm thinking the F-150 will tow just as good as the Dakota, plus I get a nice full size truck for about the same as I'd pay for a smaller truck if I went with the Colorado. Anybody towing the new F-150 and have you had any problems with it?

I think Holstein does. Maybe look up some of his posts, I think he wrote some stuff on the subject a while ago.

I tow a 2015 F150, 4 wheel drive. Not a problem.

gtschulz wrote:I tow a 2015 F150, 4 wheel drive. Not a problem.Your motorhome is bigger than mine, but the engine isn't much bigger. I have the 330hp Cat and you have the 350hp Cat. I'm thinking the few hundred extra pounds shouldn't make that much difference.

msmith1199 wrote:Anybody towing the new F-150 and have you had any problems with it?Yes, no. Mine is the crew.

You said trucks that can be towed 4 down are rare. Dodge 4x4 can be. Stick with Dodge!

Ford F-150 as a toad? | Good Sam Community

tropical36
Explorer
Jun 10, 2017
msmith1199 wrote:
I am the OP. I concluded that the F-150 is probably a good toad for a large DP with a 400+ hp engine, but probably not so good for my 35 footer with a 330 hp engine. Especially since I live in California and we have mountains here.

Approx. 10 HP/foot is the criteria that many use for not having a dog, so you're pretty close. The torque required usually comes with it. Still, there's many out there on the road with less and they do just fine, expect for winning the trophy, as King of the Mountain.
We have a F-150 that I'd like towing as well, but it's a 2 x 4 and if I'd have thought this back then, would have gotten a 4 x 4.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2017
I am the OP. I concluded that the F-150 is probably a good toad for a large DP with a 400+ hp engine, but probably not so good for my 35 footer with a 330 hp engine. Especially since I live in California and we have mountains here.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Jun 10, 2017
There are a lot of them, for sure. I see a mix of everything when we travel, with very few being F150s, as the OP was asking about.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2017
I think it you were to take a poll on here, you would find the Wrangler is the most popular toad used by RVers. At least I see more Wranglers used for toads than any other vehicle.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Jun 09, 2017
Makes sense - thanks!

Funny too, as a Wrangler wouldn't make my list of vehicles to consider - where I live and how I use my vehicles.

Isn't it nice we have choices.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2017
Bruce Brown wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
You brought this post back from over a year ago! I ended up not getting the F-150 and instead got a new Wrangler. I'm glad I went with the small vehicle, it's so much easier to tow and much better as a daily driver. I bought a nice long utility trailer that I can put two quads on as well as haul anything around that I would have needed to haul in a pick up.

Question; if you don't tow an F150 how do you know it's easier to tow and a better daily driver?

I originally posted we recently bought an F150 that would probably be towed. While I haven't set it up to tow yet (I still have my Fusion) I can say without a doubt this is the nicest driving vehicle I've ever owned. It handles better than my Fusion and rides better than my wife's old Lincoln.

The aluminum benefit is more than just weight reduction, it's also where the weight is lost. The weight reduction comes from the highest point in the truck, lower the center of gravity.

My truck now has just under 25,000 miles on it and I simply cannot say enough good about it - just an awesome vehicle.

I know it's easier to tow because it's easier to tow than my Dakota was and the Dakota is smaller and lighter than the F-150. And I know it's a better daily driver because I live in California and smaller is easier to get into parking spaces and manuaver around here. No doubt the F-150 has a better ride than the Wrangler as everything has a better ride than a Wrangler, but I like the smaller vehicle for every day use.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Jun 09, 2017
irishtom29 wrote:
Soccer dad trucks abound.

If Ford still made a standard shift I'd be all over a 2WD standard cab, 6.5' bed XL to use as a toad. Fine state of affairs when you can't get a stick shift truck anymore.

Tom,
:B on the soccer truck comment. I call my F150 the baby truck. It's not a heavy duty truck, it's a darn nice car with a box. It's also an excellent daily driver. :W

I also have a Super Duty diesel when it's time for the heavy work. They're both 2016s and they both have around 25,000 miles on them so in my case it sure is a 50/50 mix of work and hard work.

If I had to tow my Super Duty I'd agree 100% with msmith.

Does anyone offer a manual transmission anymore? With the strength of todays automatics they work pretty well. I like a manual in a car but prefer an automatic in a truck. Then again I also plow (snow) with my Super Duty and plowing with a manual is just a real headache.

My F150 is a twin to Oceans.
irishtom29
Explorer
Jun 09, 2017
Soccer dad trucks abound.

If Ford still made a standard shift I'd be all over a 2WD standard cab, 6.5' bed XL to use as a toad. Fine state of affairs when you can't get a stick shift truck anymore.
Ocean_Mist
Explorer
Jun 09, 2017
Bruce Brown wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
You brought this post back from over a year ago! I ended up not getting the F-150 and instead got a new Wrangler. I'm glad I went with the small vehicle, it's so much easier to tow and much better as a daily driver. I bought a nice long utility trailer that I can put two quads on as well as haul anything around that I would have needed to haul in a pick up.

Question; if you don't tow an F150 how do you know it's easier to tow and a better daily driver?

I originally posted we recently bought an F150 that would probably be towed. While I haven't set it up to tow yet (I still have my Fusion) I can say without a doubt this is the nicest driving vehicle I've ever owned. It handles better than my Fusion and rides better than my wife's old Lincoln.

The aluminum benefit is more than just weight reduction, it's also where the weight is lost. The weight reduction comes from the highest point in the truck, lower the center of gravity.

My truck now has just under 25,000 miles on it and I simply cannot say enough good about it - just an awesome vehicle.

Bruce Brown wrote:
Danford50 wrote:
I have a 2015 f150 2 wheel drive, according to the owner manuel you can only tow the truck 4 wheels down as only in emergency, and then according to manuel you can only drive at 35 mph for 50 miles.

True. The 2 well drive doesn't have a transfer case. The 4 wheel drive transfer case can be put into neutral, making them towable 4 down.

Wow, that is good to hear! I also have the 2016 Ford F-150 4x4

The Aluminum body and really does save a ton of weight and it handles great. I actually do enjoy driving it.

I really like the flat bottom floor, and the fold up rear seats
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Jun 09, 2017
Danford50 wrote:
I have a 2015 f150 2 wheel drive, according to the owner manuel you can only tow the truck 4 wheels down as only in emergency, and then according to manuel you can only drive at 35 mph for 50 miles.

True. The 2 well drive doesn't have a transfer case. The 4 wheel drive transfer case can be put into neutral, making them towable 4 down.