Should I Buy The Dealer's Hitch

Thomas/NH wrote:

Having towed with several F150s (hundred of thousands miles), it's a better truck than the Super Duty. I have had 3 Super Duty's. My current one is a F350/PS 6.7 Lariat and I tow 42' fifth-wheel and it's one hell of a good truck, but the last F150 was a better truck all around (except capacity & power). Keep in mind, that there are F150s and then their are F150s. You need to buy a truck properly equipped to tow the load you have.

Thomas
Thanks for the feedback. It seems like I need the F250 for this much trailer, but your comment concerns me. (In case you missed it the trailer is a max weight of 9,000 pounds- 7,760 empty) Why do you think the F150 is a better truck? Will I regret stepping up to the F250?

Make sure they are specifying an Equal-i-zer and not any other hitch that they are calling Equalizer. the fact that you spelled it out seems you've already checked that but you want to be sure.

Make sure it's a 4 point sway control Equal-i-zer and not the less expensive 2 point sway control.

Yes they can be a bit noisy. Make sure the bottom and top of the sway bar sockets are greased. This is not the inside of the socket where the bar actually goes but the exterior top and bottom of the square tubes the bars slide into.

$300 for install doesn't found too far off.

DallasSteve wrote:

TenOC wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
I'm buying a bumper pull trailer and the dealer is offering to install a weight distribution hitch for $1,000. ?

$1,000 NO NO NO!!!! You can get a used Hensley Arrow or a used ProPride hitch for a few $ more. Search this forum for either and read the reviews.

"a few $ more"? Really? I just did a search and it looks like the new ones run about $4,000. Yikes! I'm not poor, but I'm not made out of money, either.

One quick search for a USED ARROW Link $1,800

TenOC wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:

TenOC wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
I'm buying a bumper pull trailer and the dealer is offering to install a weight distribution hitch for $1,000. ?

$1,000 NO NO NO!!!! You can get a used Hensley Arrow or a used ProPride hitch for a few $ more. Search this forum for either and read the reviews.

"a few $ more"? Really? I just did a search and it looks like the new ones run about $4,000. Yikes! I'm not poor, but I'm not made out of money, either.

One quick search for a USED ARROW Link $1,800

That's a bit more than a "few Dollars more" .. Almost double.! Not saying that the Hensley is not worth it, they are.

If you get the F250, you will not need a weight distributing Hitch.
If you get the F150, you will need a weight distributing Hitch. Ford requires a WDH for the F150 at tongue weights over 500# and tow weights over 5K#.
There was an online seller a couple years back that was selling the Husky Centerline WDH for about $300 and it can be had with various ratings up to 1200# TW, 12K# tow. Noisy on tight right angle turns from the bars sliding on their brackets. Part of the friction needed for sway control. I like mine but it’s the only one I’ve owned.
If you go the F150 route, get the Max Tow (53C) for the reinforced hitch & a thicker frame.
9000# towing with an F150 is doable, but I kinda concur with the other poster who said 7500# is the F150’s comfortable tow limit. Above that is more work. And really crappy gas mileage. Towing usually makes for crappy gas mileage but pushing the upper limits is worse. Anecdotal evidence here and at related sites is you’ll get 6-9mpg with 9K# towed by an F150. So the choice is also, better non towing mileage with the F150 or bettering towing mileage with the F250.
At 9000#, you’ll likely need the 2&5/16”? ball. Yes, you need big balls!
Sometimes the RV dealer will have used WDHs from upgrade trade-ins, ask about those. Mine was, and they installed it for $300 total (& they did it perfectly) I downloaded the manual and watched YouTubes on it. I didn’t have to reset it going from my 2008 Explorer to my 2019 F150 but did have to after moving the trailer axle from above to below the springs for a near 5” clearance gain.

Thomas/NH wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
If you're willing to pay the $1000's extra for an F250 over an F150, then why are you quibbling over the $300 of shop time to have the hitch installed? That's 2 hours of shop time these days, which is about right.

Say what??? When was the last time you went truck shopping? There is very little differnce between the 150s and the 250 or the 350 set up the same. Availability of trucks is another issue. Yes, I've been shopping and very discouraged by the lack of inventory. My local Ford dealer usually has hundreds of trucks on the lot, only had 6 Super dutys and 35 F150s.

Don't know where you've been but the difference between 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons is about $10,000. Trim level for trim level.

Of course if you compare a mid-trim F150 with a base F250, the price is about the same. That's not apples to apples.

DallasSteve wrote:

Thomas/NH wrote:

Having towed with several F150s (hundred of thousands miles), it's a better truck than the Super Duty. I have had 3 Super Duty's. My current one is a F350/PS 6.7 Lariat and I tow 42' fifth-wheel and it's one hell of a good truck, but the last F150 was a better truck all around (except capacity & power). Keep in mind, that there are F150s and then their are F150s. You need to buy a truck properly equipped to tow the load you have.

Thomas
Thanks for the feedback. It seems like I need the F250 for this much trailer, but your comment concerns me. (In case you missed it the trailer is a max weight of 9,000 pounds- 7,760 empty) Why do you think the F150 is a better truck? Will I regret stepping up to the F250?

Remember what I said: Not all F150s are equal. There are the "Air Haulers" and then there are the work horses. Since my trucks have to work every day with either the service cap/tools or hauling my trailers. I also haul a 5-ton dump trailer at least once a month. My last Heavy Duty F150 hauled my Reflection 313 RLS (11,000 lbs.) 37,000 miles and it had 1,400 lbs. tongue wight. The truck had more advanced electronics, a better ride, better mileage and a better safety (that truck actually cared who was riding in which seat). My F350 (same trim level) is such a dumb truck and its 5 years newer. Short of my $10,000 Diesel option both trucks cost about the same. Make no mistake about it, you will most defiantly need an equalizing hitch for that trailer for either truck.

Well Dallas steve, this thread will turn into a doozy real quick….
Having read your posts for years, I understand sort of “where you’re at” with respect to understanding the nuances of vehicles and mechanical stuff. You have a good base to make a decision, however there is so much more to that decision (which also be reading your posts will end up being an expensive venture).
So know this. An F150 properly equipped will tow a 9klb travel trailer like a dream. Period end of story, don’t let the weight cops scare you away from that option, if it works best for you overall.
A comparable (gasser) F250 will not necessarily do a better job, it will just be more capable handling the load with less modifications. So yes it is “better” if you’re towing weight bearing. No wdh.
A big ole F150 should have a wdh for a trailer that size, unless you shore up the rear suspension. I would still tow that, unless it’s a poor handling trailer, all day long with a good stout half ton. However you’re in the territory where most would want or use a wdh….as far as I see.
A F250 any of them from base model to fully loaded cc 4wd diesel, won’t need any additional jewelry on the hitch whatsoever. Unless of course you get an aforementioned poor handling trailer. In which case sway control is a good band aid for that.
The decision is largely in how you will be using the truck. A daily driver commuter and occasional towing is largely F150 territory. Primarily towing and towing a lot, the F250 makes more sense. Or in your case, I know you have completely switched gears on RV types recently. If you have another gear to switch and that gear involves a bigger trailer, then save yourself half the mistake now and get a 250.

On to the hitch. $1000 is a total ripoff for that hitch, which btw the dealer can “install” in like 30 minutes. Maybe 19 min if that guy who claims 15 minute wheel bearing services on this forum works there! Lol.
You can buy other clanky old school spring over whatever they’re called wdhs for cheaper, new. And you can buy them even cheaper, used. I have a basically new Husky hitch that so far I can’t get $250 for….
If you can install a base plate on that Jeep, the hitch is a 1 beer job for you.

But not sure where you’re at with all this since you don’t have a truck or a trailer yet. I’d get those 2 married up first then decide what kind of jewelry you want or need in the hitch/suspension department.

mkirsch wrote:

Thomas/NH wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
If you're willing to pay the $1000's extra for an F250 over an F150, then why are you quibbling over the $300 of shop time to have the hitch installed? That's 2 hours of shop time these days, which is about right.

Say what??? When was the last time you went truck shopping? There is very little differnce between the 150s and the 250 or the 350 set up the same. Availability of trucks is another issue. Yes, I've been shopping and very discouraged by the lack of inventory. My local Ford dealer usually has hundreds of trucks on the lot, only had 6 Super dutys and 35 F150s.

Don't know where you've been but the difference between 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons is about $10,000. Trim level for trim level.

Of course if you compare a mid-trim F150 with a base F250, the price is about the same. That's not apples to apples.

I ordered a 2022 F150 platinum AND a 2022 F250 Platinum, both speched as close as possible... they came in and the sticker was just about $4500 higher on the F250... BTW, there is a 2022 F250 Platinum in Feasterville PA if anyone wants one ! ! :B