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greydawg00's avatar
greydawg00
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015

Anybody towing 36', 9000lb TT with F150 HD payload ecoboost

I have a new travel trailer (Cruiser Enterra 327RLS) that is 32'box, and just under 36' total length. It has a dry weight of 7500lbs and GVWR of ~9500. I am trying to decide between a 2015 F150 3.5l ecoboost with heavy duty payload package (2740 lb payload) or a 2015 F250 either gas or diesel (2700lb or 2300lb, payload).

My trailer is under all the specs of the F150 heavy duty but is very long and weighs more than the truck curb weight. Is the difference between TT weight and TV weight an issue?

Will I have any issues with the F150 or do I really need the F250? Anybody currently towing a large bumper pull with an F150 ecoboost that can give recommendations and real world MPG?
Tow Vehicles

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  • wing_zealot's avatar
    wing_zealot
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    TomG2 wrote:
    Why buy an "Almost F-250" when the real things are easier to find and about the same price? ...
    Because you can get an ecoboost in the "Almost F-250", which is a huge advantage for every day use. Not to mention more parking lot friendly.
  • fitznj's avatar
    fitznj
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    One of the lessons I learnt from towing for 20? years. Always buy a bigger TV than you think you need.....

    I've always towed with vans and always purchased the 1500 versions which theoretically has the capacity to tow the TT. The towed okay just had to be cautious. 2 years ago I bought a 3500 van and what a HUGE difference in the towing experience. It feels much safer, has the heavy duty everything (brakes, transmission, rear axle......).

    IF you only tow one or twice and mostly local, then you may want to get the F150. If you will be towing many times and far away, then I'd opt for the F250.

    Gerry
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Jul 22, 2015
    TomG2 wrote:
    Why buy an "Almost F-250" when the real things are easier to find and about the same price? I would opt for the heavier F-250 platform to tow that size trailer.

    X2
  • TomG2's avatar
    TomG2
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    Why buy an "Almost F-250" when the real things are easier to find and about the same price? I would opt for the heavier F-250 platform to tow that size trailer.
  • TomHaycraft's avatar
    TomHaycraft
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    greydawg00 wrote:
    I have a new travel trailer (Cruiser Enterra 327RLS) that is 32'box, and just under 36' total length. It has a dry weight of 7500lbs and GVWR of ~9500. I am trying to decide between a 2015 F150 3.5l ecoboost with heavy duty payload package (2740 lb payload) or a 2015 F250 either gas or diesel (2700lb or 2300lb, payload).


    Going with the 3/4-ton and diesel, will reduce the odds of having buyer's remorse later. Yes, you can tow with 1/2-ton trucks, I did for 3 years. It was what I owned at the time when buying a trailer became a viable option for my wife and I. We got all over Texas, into the Davis Mountains, down into (and back up and out of!) Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Limiting factor was horsepower to hold 65mph into a headwind.

    We were saving for a bigger truck when I found the one in my signature at a CarMax lot. It has been a world of difference towing with this. If you are laying out that kind of money now, buy the one with more capacity, you won't regret it later.
  • JD_and_Beastlet's avatar
    JD_and_Beastlet
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    How's the availability of the Max Tow, Max Cargo EcoBoost in your area? I've heard that the combination can be hard to find...

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