Jebby, papyload for the 2007 is 1728, not at lot less than yours. And my camper weighs probably 40% less than yours. I think it should tow fine. I do appreciate that input, though, I hadn't been looking too closely at those numbers.
I test drove an f150 for the second time. 4.2l v6, 2007, towing package with taller 3.73 gears. It's fine. I might jump on it Monday after having a mechanic look it over. Rough cosmetics, think it was owned by someone running a painting company, little tan and white flecks in the interior. front seat torn up. bed paint is half gone.
But only 147k miles.
Got it down to $3100. Think I might have a mechanic look it over to give me peace of mind on monday.
There are pics and a link to a vid of it running below, but...
I broke down and paid $10 to access consumer reports today. I had hoped to confirm what I had read about the 4.2L engine. Unfortunately, consumer reports doesn't list anything by-engine, as far as I can tell. They just rate the trucks by year, basically, overall. I know the bigger engines were severely flawed, and that the 4.2L was pretty rare overall because everyone wanted the big one, but it shook me a bit.
I just decided this evening to look into the xterra's again. They look pretty good on consumer reports. Read more about their towing ability--the thing is basically a truck, with strong reliability. After 2005, it has a 5k towing limit... and 260 HP instead of the F150 4.2L's 202 HP. There are reports of people towing way above the recommended limit, too, in those xterra's. Also better mpg than the F150.
I immediately thought I should jump on that xterra I saw a few days ago, low miles '08 with a little body damage from a fender bender for $2950. It was gone, sold.
I've looked at a couple more. I'm considering them. I'm kicking myself for not giving them a closer look sooner.
But it's buying season now. At the dealer today, the guy sold 3 cars and 2 others were being test-driven when I showed up--and it was a half day, and Feb 1. It's about to be near impossible to find a vehicle, so I may just have to jump on the F150, or take a big risk by waiting. :/
Pretty much I need to drive up to Michigan next weekend, so... no luxury of time. I'm crashing on a friend's couch, and I really don't want to overstay my welcome, and the buyer has already let me hold off on picking it up for a month.
Here's that F150 running:
https://myimagehosting.surge.sh/07-f150-nc/truck-running.mp4
here's some pics:
