New Truck Question

Yes it is my daily driver, so gas mileage is a big deal. I will usually only be pulling the camper about once a month

I don't recall if you indicated whether or not you have other uses for the truck. If you need it to be daily driver and tow occasionally, you will need to compromise. The Ecoboost is one that helps that situation, giving decent towing and also decent mileage when not towing. For me, my truck is not my daily driver. I got it to tow the trailer and occasionally drive to town or even on a trip..

I think it all depends on your setup and where you go...

We picked up our Open Range LT272RLS a couple weeks ago - it's just under 8k lbs (according to the yellow sticker on it), CVWR is 10k, 35' hitch to bumper, 31' box. I have a 2011 F150 Ecoboost Supercrew with Max Tow. They are rare as unicorns but I found one used.

Being our first RV, the dealer set us up with the biggest Equalizer brand hitch they had (I think it says 14k lbs).

People here will tell you I'm a rolling death trap. I've never towed ANYTHING besides a little landscape trailer once. Picked the unit up, went from side streets to the highway for 60 miles. The truck did fine. A little bouncy but at seeds up to 65 it was stable. Yes, I got passed by a lot of stuff - cars, trucks, 18 wheelers. I think the only thing I didn't get passed by was a bus. Pretty stable.

Even when cut off by a tanker truck at 30 MPH and I stabbed the brakes all was calm and just a slow down. No drama.

Took it 10 miles down the highway on the 2nd day to storage. Flags were doing a little dance on the poles (so it was not calm) and there was a tiny, tiny bit of nudgiing, about what I got normally driving the truck in the wind. Again, passed by a bunch of stuff.

The engine was fine - working a bit because it was in the upper 80's, I was running the AC etc. But it was drama free. Even the wife said "doesn't seem to be struggling".

Now I think you have very experienced folks here who tried this with the 1/2 tons of the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc. with surge brakes or crude controllers. Look up the #'s - today's "1/2 ton" has as much payload, power, braking, etc. as an earlier 3/4 ton.

Woud I take this combination cross country? Too early to tell. We've got a few longer trips planned this summer and fall, including one from Central PA to the Outer Banks. Is it a capable and safe combination? I'd say so.

If you're set on a 1/2 ton, the F150 with the correct options beats the pants off the Ram 1500 in just about every towing metric. And even in most non towing metrics too.

If going up against payload limits, the numbers are what the numbers are. Mine is #1800, and suits my needs. (just barely)

As for the engine and its characteristics while pulling, I think anyone that tried it would have their jaw on the ground. Even the big diesel guys. No, it won't best them, but it is darn impressive for what it is. I would guess a significant improvement over any other half ton engine. Almost all of my towing is quick and responsive without ever going over 2500rpm. I also get 11.5 towing over 7K miles.

I just not came back and saw all the replies, I appreciate all the help! Even the disagreements and difference of opinions have taught me things. The problem I am running into is budget, and then availability of anything in the 250/2500 used with decent miles for a decent price.

I have been looking hard at the F150 ecoboost. I am not a full time camper, we go around once a month for a long weekend and typically don't go far. I am just looking for something that won't be completely maxed out and will tow comfortably. Will the F150 get it done? My Ram gets it done, but struggles, as well as very poor gas mileage. I am reading that the F150 is much better on that as well.

Get a 2500 gasser of any brand. You'll be amazed at the difference in handling. Or, get an F150 that has the Max Tow Max payload option. But a 3/4 gasser will probably be much easier to find.

IndyCamp wrote:

The diesel engines are heavy as hell and eat up a lot of payload, leaving many 2500 diesels with less available payload than many 1500 trucks.

I would not go quite that far. Most crew cab diesel 4WD 3/4 tons have over 2000 pounds of payload and few half ton crew cabs have that much. I do agree in general if you want a diesel, get the SRW 1-ton.

souraider wrote:


I also mentioned if the OP was considering a 3/4 ton, go diesel.

And that is also bad advice, IMO.

The diesel engines are heavy as hell and eat up a lot of payload, leaving many 2500 diesels with less available payload than many 1500 trucks.

If someone wants a diesel truck for towing an 8,000 pound+ trailer, I would highly recommend going with a 3500. If they want a gas engine, a 2500 would be fine, but diesels in 2500s don't make much sense to me, unless they are using the truck to tow lawnmowers on a utility trailer or something like that.

At 9k loaded, you should have about 1200 pounds of TW. That is at or above most half ton receiver limits. Few half ton crew cabs have enough payload for 1200 pounds of TW plus a family in the cab (you listed a bunkhouse model) and a bed full for camping cargo. The F-150 Ecoboost Max payload would be close, but they are hard to find. You can order one. On the other hand any 2011+ 3/4 ton gas crew cab pickup will easily handle that weight without exceeding any of the truck's limits. If you can afford a 2011+ diesel, you'll never use the work struggle again.

Get a truck that is rated to tow the entire trailer GVWR.
Forget dry weight and loaded weight.