Forum Discussion

Jfet's avatar
Jfet
Explorer
Feb 13, 2017

toad for truck camper? F250 4x4?

We just finished up a 11,000 mile loop of the USA in our homebuilt flatbed truck camper pulling a 17 foot sailboat. It performed flawlessly and I think we sailed in about 15 states plus the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

The downside is the truck + camper and garage pod is a bit large for going up rocky steep mountain roads or really any sandy spot. I am also not comfortable at all driving in any ice or snow with the weight, height and 2wd. At 28 feet long it is a bit large for some of the cities we visited...we had to use Uber in New Orleans and rode the bus in Austin.

We are back in Washington state and want to do some winter and summer stuff here again...maybe even buy a bit of land for a home base. We still plan to go to Alaska and also Maine (didn't hit the NE on our first loop).

So...I was thinking we could get a toad for the RV and sometimes pull it instead of the sailboat. Or sometimes pull the sailboat with the toad and leave the RV at our home base. 4wd cars are around 25k new and I noticed I can get a 2017 4x4 F250 supercab (gas) with a 4000 pound payload and 12,500 pound hauling brand new for $35k. A 2wd regular cab is $30k new.

Trying to convince myself that a F250 4x4 is not too big for a toad. Opinions on that truck? It seems like it would also make a nice platform for a offroad camper if we get in the building mood again.
Truck Campers
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Feb 13, 2017
    I can't really think of why you'd pull a F250 instead of a F150. It's quite a lot heavier (2000 lbs) and longer too from bed to front bumper. If you are talking popup, I think a F150 would be fine.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Feb 13, 2017
    Jfet, you might get more informed suggestions if you spelled out exactly what your homebuilt flatbed truck camper consist of.

    Wayne
  • Jfet's avatar
    Jfet
    Explorer
    Feb 13, 2017
    Yes right, sorry. Our truck is a 2006 Isuzu NRR flatbed with a max payload of around 11,000 pounds. We have been towing the sailboat (around 3200 pounds) for 11,000 miles without any real issues. We get about 9 to 11 mpg depending on wind and speed.

    Actually I am not sure you can even tow a F150 or F250 with wheels on the ground. I just found the manual and it says they can't be towed if they have electronic on the fly shifting, which almost all of the ones on the dealer lot do have (you would have to special order one with manual locking hubs).

    Here is a pic of our setup. I have a thread on here about the build too: Flatbed camper build


  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Feb 13, 2017
    Superduties with a manual transfer case can be flat towed. I believe this also applies to manual transfer case Rams. You are probably looking at a 6k+ lb truck if it is a F250 or F350 gasser.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Feb 13, 2017
    Etrailer sells tow mounts for each which is interesting because I never thought about flat towing a big truck like a F250, F350, or F450!

    Based on info found on Ford-trucks.com, the manual for a F250 says unlock the hubs and put the transfer case in neutral. I have to assume it would be the same for a F150 if you had unlockable front hubs, and you seem to need the manual transfer case. It doesn't seem to matter if the transmission is automatic or manual.

    Weight ranges from some quick searches.

    2016

    F150 - 4,049 to 5,236 lbs

    F250 - 5,941 to 6,942 lbs

    Obviously, 4 wheel drive is heavier than 2 wheel drive, more doors weigh more, more options weight more, and heavier gasoline engines and diesels weigh more.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Feb 13, 2017
    I don't believe the F150 has a manual transfer case option. I think you need a drive line coupler to tow this truck four down. Wayne should probably move this to the toad/towd section for more eyes and experience with towing a motor vehicle.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Feb 13, 2017
    Seems like a lot to tow with the NPR. What's that thing got for power?
    Of course you're already pulling the boat ok, but guessing a F250 outweighs the boat by double.
    If I had to do a toad I'd be more inclined to pull a little jeep or similar.

    Your rig is still one of the coolest TCs on the road btw.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Feb 13, 2017
    Bedlam wrote:
    ... Wayne should probably move this to the toad/towd section for more eyes and experience with towing a motor vehicle.
    I agree, and will move it at Jfet's request.

    Wayne
    Moderator
  • kohldad's avatar
    kohldad
    Explorer III
    Feb 13, 2017
    Superduties with a manual transfer case can be flat towed. I believe this also applies to manual transfer case Rams. You are probably looking at a 6k+ lb truck if it is a F250 or F350 gasser.


    My 2015 Ram with 6.4L gas engine weighs 7,200 lbs. It has the electronic shift and can be flat towed four down. Problem is it get about 14 mpg running around and only about 18-19mpg on long highway jaunts. Of course, get the Power Wagon version and it comes with lockers and winch at the cost of a couple mpgs.

    I was thinking Toyota Tacoma, but according to Toyota, even with the 4wd transfer case it is not recommended to flat tow.

    Another option would be a manual transmission Subaru Forester which can be flat towed plug it gets great mileage. From watching videos and reading reviews, it won't do anything hard core, but with 8" of ground clearance and symmetric AWD, does a good job on ungraded roads and mild trails.
  • Jfet's avatar
    Jfet
    Explorer
    Feb 14, 2017
    Thanks guys. You can move the thread if you want, but I think it looks like the F150 or F250 would not work well as a toad and at any rate are too heavy.

    Too bad, because that is the only vehicle I would be willing to spend $25k+ for. I don't really want a $25k Subaru.

    I think the Isuzu might be able to pull a F250 if we leave a few of the things out of the garage pod, like the milling machine and four of the six boats we carry. But no way could it pull the F250 on a trailer which would itself probably be 1500 to 2000 pounds.

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