If anyone is following this thread it's now a non-discussion. I had Dunesport in Mesa, AZ build me a custom 12' x 7' mini toy hauler. I towed it home to OR with my Ford Flex and it was a horrible experience. I learned that just because Ford says it CAN tow 4500# it doesn't mean you SHOULD.
I fueled up in Sacramento & from there to Mesa averaged 22.5 mpg (2wd, non EB engine) and that included climbing Tehachapi Pass and driving 70+ most of the way. I left Dunesport during rush hour & my first stop was in Surprize, AZ, 40 miles away. My mpg had dropped to 12 mpg but the worst was the climb from Vegas to Tonopah - 200 miles & a 2000' climb. That was 6.2 mpg so I knew the Flex wasn't cut out for it. I found a one-owner 2wd 2005 F-150 XLT extended cab with a 6.5' bed an 59,035 miles on it. It had been maintained faithfully and for some reason the transmission had been completely rebuilt with all HD parts 1400 miles (9 months before I bought it) from the late owner's estate. I paid $10,000, had to spend $1000 on new tires & I had a new audio/nav system installed. I sold the Flex quickly on CL without any issues and the f-150 was what I needed all along. Now my towing anxieties are over.
