DOWNgrading truck - sanity check please
Hi All. Advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I currently have 2011 Ram 2500 Hemi w/4.10 rear axle. 11400# towing, 2300#payload. RV is 23’ Shamrock hybrid 4900# dry, 6200# ...
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OP, just did that very thing. Went from a 2015 Chevy 2500HD, 6.0, that was a really great truck, to a new F-150, 3.5 eco, 3.55 rear-end and max-tow package. We own a 32' Jayco While Hawk that weighs in at about 7600lbs loaded. We take 1 long trip a year, 4-6K miles, out West in the mountains, and a couple of 150 mile trips to the Texas coast. Here's my reasons:
1. Mileage, 9 MPG towing, which in itself was OK. Solo, 13mpg - that sucked.....
2. Solo, my HD drove like a HD truck. Live about 10 miles down a pretty rough road and when not towing was bbaadd.
3. The new F150, 3.5 EB, is a towing beast - 375h/p and 470 torque. My configuration can tow up to 11,000 lbs. Payload is fine for us at 1780lbs.
4. Because of gas mileage and using the truck to tow only a couple of times a year, just couldn't justify such crappy solo mileage.
5. I wanted a new truck.
Only towed the TT once for a test drive and it did great. Yes, you can feel crosswinds and the semi's passing you a little more because the F-150 is much lighter than the HD, but my WDH is dailed in and it wasn't a "while knuckle" experience by any means. In fact, in some areas the F-150 towed better. I have no regrets in my decision to downsize. Good luck in whatever you decide OP.
1. Mileage, 9 MPG towing, which in itself was OK. Solo, 13mpg - that sucked.....
2. Solo, my HD drove like a HD truck. Live about 10 miles down a pretty rough road and when not towing was bbaadd.
3. The new F150, 3.5 EB, is a towing beast - 375h/p and 470 torque. My configuration can tow up to 11,000 lbs. Payload is fine for us at 1780lbs.
4. Because of gas mileage and using the truck to tow only a couple of times a year, just couldn't justify such crappy solo mileage.
5. I wanted a new truck.
Only towed the TT once for a test drive and it did great. Yes, you can feel crosswinds and the semi's passing you a little more because the F-150 is much lighter than the HD, but my WDH is dailed in and it wasn't a "while knuckle" experience by any means. In fact, in some areas the F-150 towed better. I have no regrets in my decision to downsize. Good luck in whatever you decide OP.
