I recently bought a 37 ft. Grand Design Reflection TT that's 8600 lbs dry with 11,000 GVWR. I can't imagine any scenario in which I'll load it down to the full 11,000 capacity. My beloved Ford Explorer isn't going to cut it. My fiancé drives a gazillion-ton HD Chevy that can pull it without blinking, but I don't want a big bulky truck for myself. I'm looking at the Ford F-150 and am thoroughly confused about whether a 3.5L V6 will do the job without struggle or if I need to go with the 5.0L V8. I'm not married to Ford, but I do like the brand. Recommendations?

You need to read carefully in the Ford towing guide before selecting a vehicle. You will need the HD package at least, and you may be pushing the limits there.F150 brochureFord towing guides

You should just use hers to tow it with.I have a 2013 5.0, and while the `18's have more HP & torque than mine, I'd go for the 3.5L. You're gonna have to find one with max tow/payload package.

patperry2766 wrote:You should just use hers to tow it with.I have a 2013 5.0, and while the `18's have more HP & torque than mine, I'd go for the 3.5L. You're gonna have to find one with max tow/payload package.We both need to be able to pull it for various reasons that are too boring to go into here.

coolmom42 wrote:You need to read carefully in the Ford towing guide before selecting a vehicle. You will need the HD package at least, and you may be pushing the limits there.F150 brochureFord towing guidesYes, I have read it. That's where I'm coming up with 3.5 vs 5.0 - it's what the conventional towing matrix showed. My fiancé thinks the 3.5 will do the job - if I travel at 40 mph without heavy braking. He thinks the 5.0 is best. It's all very confusing, IMO.

I'd suggest to keep the Explorer and buy a used 3/4 or 1 ton to pull the trailer. A new F-150 may get the job done but an F250 or bigger will be a better hauling combination. For engines, the 3.6 has plenty of power and offers good MPG when used as a commuter. You'll need HD payload and the trailer packages, as has been said. The 5.0 is a reliable engine and well regarded for towing. I have the 5.4 modular and it's also a reliable engine, I have 200K on the counter.

3.5L V6 of 5.0L V8 | Good Sam Community

148 Replies

IdaD
Explorer
May 17, 2018
I kinda get making an F150 and 37' TT work in the short term if that's the truck you've got and you need to make it work for financial reasons until you can upgrade it. But buying an F150 for the specific purpose of towing a 37' TT is nuts, imo.
jerem0621
Explorer II
May 17, 2018
I towed a 31.5 ft TT with my 6.5 ft bed super cab 1997 F150 with a 5.4 and 3.55.

The motor lacked the power of today’s trucks but the chassis was relatively stable.

I eventually upgraded to a long bed Dually and my tow went from relatively stable to a complete non issue. Even with a heavy golf cart in the bed the Dually barely squatted while towing.

I would not want to tow a 37 ft TT with any ‘Half Ton’ with the exception of the Titan XD.

Will you be relatively stable? Sure...you can make it work... but your looking at the wrong truck for a 37ft trailer. JMHO based on experience.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
goducks10
Explorer
May 17, 2018
troubledwaters wrote:
2112 wrote:
@Maury82 > I believed as you believe when I bought my 1/2 F-150 3.5EB MT. Now I know different. Your 2018 XLT HDPP weighs less than my 2011 XLT MT. I upgraded my tires and suspension but still struggled with a 35' 8600lb loaded trailer. What I lack compared to the HDPP is the heavier frame and axles. That would allow me to carry more weight but will not help with stability and sway while towing a long TT.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great truck, but it doesn't weigh enough to comfortably tow a long, heavy 'bumper pull' travel trailer. Physics is working against it. It can do it but it wasn't what I would call a vacation. Been there, done that, learned my lesson.
So apparently you think hooking a bigger truck to a trailer that handles badly is going to somehow magically fix the problem. Hooking up to a bigger truck so you can stay on the road while your trailer is swinging violently side to side behind you taking out passing cars and guardrails is not an answer. Fix the problem, and a bigger truck doesn't fix the problem.

You went out and got a trailer that weighs the same, but with twice as much pin weight/tongue weight and your problem went away. DUH!

Guess what, you're towing with the same truck and don't have a problem anymore. What Changed?

Hook up a DRW or a Nissan Frontier to that TT and tell me which one handles better. The Nissan will out stop and out maneuver the DRW all day long. Somewhere in between those tow are a 3/4 ton and a 1/2 ton. Ones closer to the Nissan and ones closer to the DRW.
troubledwaters
Nomad
May 17, 2018
2112 wrote:
@Maury82 > I believed as you believe when I bought my 1/2 F-150 3.5EB MT. Now I know different. Your 2018 XLT HDPP weighs less than my 2011 XLT MT. I upgraded my tires and suspension but still struggled with a 35' 8600lb loaded trailer. What I lack compared to the HDPP is the heavier frame and axles. That would allow me to carry more weight but will not help with stability and sway while towing a long TT.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great truck, but it doesn't weigh enough to comfortably tow a long, heavy 'bumper pull' travel trailer. Physics is working against it. It can do it but it wasn't what I would call a vacation. Been there, done that, learned my lesson.
So apparently you think hooking a bigger truck to a trailer that handles badly is going to somehow magically fix the problem. Hooking up to a bigger truck so you can stay on the road while your trailer is swinging violently side to side behind you taking out passing cars and guardrails is not an answer. Fix the problem, and a bigger truck doesn't fix the problem.

You went out and got a trailer that weighs the same, but with twice as much pin weight/tongue weight and your problem went away. DUH!

Guess what, you're towing with the same truck and don't have a problem anymore. What Changed?
Maury82
Explorer
May 17, 2018
Maury82 wrote:
Samsonsworld wrote:
2112 wrote:

The problem is any 1/2 ton will weigh much less than many 3/4 tons. Towing a TT weighing 2 tons more and 20' longer than a tow vehicle hitched to the rear of that tow vehicle creates an uncomfortable experience regardless of the WDH used.

About 2300 lbs less for 2018. He's desperately looking for a cop out. Sort of comical. Like Max tow adds significant weight and better brakes.

The 1/2 F-150 3.5EB unloaded can accelerate faster, stop shorter, more nimble than any unloaded version of 3/4 and 1 ton versions with its smaller brakes, and a less robust suspension, and it handles its weight very well.

It weighs less, and it is rated to tow less than the heavier trucks, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 1/2 ton truck handles 80% of its towing ratings on par or better than the heavier trucks towing 80% of its rating.

Why 80% towing is too much for a 1/2 ton and not too much for a larger truck is a mystery to me.

Eighty percent of a HD ratings is a lot of weight, and it needs that extra weight and heavier duty suspension.
2112
Explorer II
May 17, 2018
@Maury82 > I believed as you believe when I bought my 1/2 F-150 3.5EB MT. Now I know different. Your 2018 XLT HDPP weighs less than my 2011 XLT MT. I upgraded my tires and suspension but still struggled with a 35' 8600lb loaded trailer. What I lack compared to the HDPP is the heavier frame and axles. That would allow me to carry more weight but will not help with stability and sway while towing a long TT.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great truck, but it doesn't weigh enough to comfortably tow a long, heavy 'bumper pull' travel trailer. Physics is working against it. It can do it but it wasn't what I would call a vacation. Been there, done that, learned my lesson.
Maury82
Explorer
May 17, 2018
Samsonsworld wrote:
2112 wrote:

The problem is any 1/2 ton will weigh much less than many 3/4 tons. Towing a TT weighing 2 tons more and 20' longer than a tow vehicle hitched to the rear of that tow vehicle creates an uncomfortable experience regardless of the WDH used.

About 2300 lbs less for 2018. He's desperately looking for a cop out. Sort of comical. Like Max tow adds significant weight and better brakes.

The 1/2 F-150 3.5EB unloaded can accelerate faster, stop shorter, more nimble than any unloaded version of 3/4 and 1 ton versions with its smaller brakes, and a less robust suspension, and it handles its weight very well.

It weighs less, and it is rated to tow less than the heavier trucks, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 1/2 ton truck handles 80% of its towing ratings on par or better than the heavier trucks towing 80% of its rating.

Eighty percent of a HD ratings is a lot of weight, and it needs that extra weight and heavier duty suspension.
Maury82
Explorer
May 17, 2018
2112 wrote:
Maury82 wrote:
Maury82 wrote:
2112 wrote:
My previous TT was 2'shorter and 1000lb lighter than yours. It was white knuckle driving at times with my F150. The engine wouldn't matter. The truck is too light for that trailer. You need a heavier tow vehicle to keep from being pushed and pulled around by that trailer. Being passed by 18 wheelers at highway speeds and sidewinds were a nightmare.

My shorter FW of the same weight tows so much better

This same type of response is what was so annoying when I was lurking and trying to learn about tow vehicles.

This unknown year 1/2 ton, unknown tow ratings, unknown payload, unknown information regarding whether you were well within your limits of this mysterious and insufficient 1/2 to truck is meaningless to me.

What is up with these testimonials of these mysterious, insufficient and unknown ratings and capacity 1/2 trucks.

To me, this doesn't say anything about the 1/2 ton truck and it's limitations, but it points to you for picking the wrong 1/2 ton, or capacity truck for your trailer.

In addition, you never answered her question.
The details of my truck are in my signature below. Do you have "Show members signatures" selected in your preferences?

The problem is any 1/2 ton will weigh much less than many 3/4 tons. Towing a TT weighing 2 tons more and 20' longer than a tow vehicle hitched to the rear of that tow vehicle creates an uncomfortable experience regardless of the WDH used.

@2112 I wouldn't want to tow over 80% of my towing ratungs, but one of the first things I read about the F150, are how squishy the tires are and how soft the rear suspension is.

The 3/4 ton trucks already have stiffer tires and damping, and if I was looking to tow TTs, those items, along with rotors and pads would be upgraded ASAP.

I've been reading how stiffer E rated trailer tires improve stability also, so unless I just wanted another truck, I will just enhance the truck I have.

I do believe these stories about the swaying many have when towing longer trailers, but I've also believe what I've been reading about the solution to resolving them too.

I know about the weight comments, but I place more stock in the ones towing heavier and longer trailers, than I do with the ones speculating about what would happen without having towed heavy with a newer truck.

I believe it's more of a 1/2 ton softer tires/shocks issue versus the weight issue, and I believe that if you are under 80% of the towing and payload ratings, the weight of the truck should be less of the issue.

I placed my money on that when I ordered a 2018 XLT 3.5 EB HDPP to tow my 37ft 8,300lbs trailer, and I made sure to get the 6.5 bed for the longest wheelbase offered. It appears my truck has being held up with the plant shutdown, and hopefully the production can get start on Friday as planned.
Samsonsworld
Explorer
May 17, 2018
2112 wrote:

The problem is any 1/2 ton will weigh much less than many 3/4 tons. Towing a TT weighing 2 tons more and 20' longer than a tow vehicle hitched to the rear of that tow vehicle creates an uncomfortable experience regardless of the WDH used.

About 2300 lbs less for 2018. He's desperately looking for a cop out. Sort of comical. Like Max tow adds significant weight and better brakes.
2112
Explorer II
May 17, 2018
carringb wrote:
2112 wrote:
Maury82 wrote:
From what I've read about towing trailers with the HDPP, although it has a slightly reduce towing rating, they of course have a roughly 500lbs more payload and it tows it's rated weight better than the Max Trailer tow alone due to an extra leaf spring and other enhancements.
Do you know what the "other enhancements" are?

Thicker frame (shared with the Raptor), heavier rear axle, LT tires with corresponding uprated wheels, and 3.73 gears.
LOL
That wasn't your question to answer but thanks for playing :)

I've been looking for a donor truck to further beef mine up with the axle and front spindle hub assembly but so far no luck

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