Forum Discussion

RVdreaming2020's avatar
RVdreaming2020
Explorer
May 07, 2020

Tow Vehicle Advice For Newbie

Hi All!

I've been browsing through the forums for awhile and decided to finally join up and post. I am hoping to get some feedback on two tow vehicles that I have my eye on. I am new to travel trailers and towing in general. We are a young family and are struggling with making the right decision on trucks. We don't have a specific trailer picked out yet but most of the bunkhouse ones that we've seen come in right around the 7,000 lb mark fully loaded.

I am bouncing between a pre-owned F150 and a pre-owned Tundra.

With the F150 I've been looking for a 2013 to 2017 V8 with less than 60k miles, max tow package 4x4 Crew cab with the 3.73 rear end. This is proving to be a very difficult thing to find. The V6 eco boosts are everywhere but I made the mistake of reading too much about them online and am now terrified of getting one and having reliability issues with the turbo in them. BUT the 2018 F150 V8s and newer seem to have bad issues with oil loss. So IDK.

I like the 5.4 V8 tundra but the price is a lot higher and their payload is significantly less than the F150. On the plus side it has a 4.41 rear end.

I'm just so overwhelmed. I'd appreciate any advice. It's so confusing making sure you find something preowned with all of the accessories that you need to safely tow trailers. I don't want to buy something and realize that I've made a mistake. Been saving too long to mess it up now, hahaha
Tow Vehicles

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  • RVdreaming2020's avatar
    RVdreaming2020
    Explorer
    May 07, 2020
    BenK wrote:
    Welcome !

    First, decide if you believe in the OEM's ratings or not

    If not, then pure academic

    If yes, then read up on how the ratings system works and know that the only person responsible for the setup is the driver. Us advisors here on these freebie forums have no skin in 'your' game

    I'm conservative advising any newbie who has to ask for a reason...and personally like to have as much safety margin as I can get. I do keep my automobiles a looong time, so understand the wearing out faster due to higher stresses well...

    Good luck and post back as your story goes


    Comments embedded below in red



    RVdreaming2020 wrote:
    Hi All!

    I've been browsing through the forums for awhile and decided to finally join up and post. I am hoping to get some feedback on two tow vehicles that I have my eye on. I am new to travel trailers and towing in general. We are a young family and are struggling with making the right decision on trucks. We don't have a specific trailer picked out yet but most of the bunkhouse ones that we've seen come in right around the 7,000 lb mark fully loaded.

    Best to use the trailers GVWR and actual weight (load it up and weigh it)

    Most newbies are surprised how much stuff they have loaded





    I am bouncing between a pre-owned F150 and a pre-owned Tundra.


    With the F150 I've been looking for a 2013 to 2017 V8 with less than 60k miles, max tow package 4x4 Crew cab with the 3.73 rear end. This is proving to be a very difficult thing to find. The V6 eco boosts are everywhere but I made the mistake of reading too much about them online and am now terrified of getting one and having reliability issues with the turbo in them. BUT the 2018 F150 V8s and newer seem to have bad issues with oil loss. So IDK.

    Nothing is perfect and they all have issues

    A lot depends on your mechanical abilities and/or how deep your pocket book is

    A point not discussed much...enough...those who chose a TV just big enough will wear it out faster than someone who chose a higher class TV with more margin...it won't wear out as fast, IMHO





    I like the 5.4 V8 tundra but the price is a lot higher and their payload is significantly less than the F150. On the plus side it has a 4.41 rear end.

    I'm just so overwhelmed. I'd appreciate any advice. It's so confusing making sure you find something preowned with all of the accessories that you need to safely tow trailers. I don't want to buy something and realize that I've made a mistake. Been saving too long to mess it up now, hahaha



    I generally follow the guidelines by manufacturer. I am the farthest from handy or mechanical. I'm wanting to stay under $30k. I work from home so this truck is being purchased specifically as a tow vehicle and to allow us to bring my boys out riding on their dirtbikes.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    May 07, 2020
    Will it be your daily driver and do you put on a lot of miles for work? Ideal situation is a big ole truck for towing and something smaller and more comfy with awesome gas mileage for everything else. Many people who love camping and consider it their main hobby still only go out a handful of times a year.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2020
    “and personally like to have as much safety margin as I can get.“

    BenK is not alone!
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2020
    If I was waking into a 7,000 lb trailer and didn’t already have a TV I would opt for a 3/4 ton truck. The 7,000 lb dry trailer will be 8,000-8,500 lbs. loaded.

    That being said, if you can find a F-150 with 1700-2,000 lbs of payload and the 5.0 Coyote (the 3.5 EcoBoost is a fine engine, and I would not be afraid of it at all) and 3:55 sir better axle ratios you should be okay.

    JMHO based on experience.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    May 07, 2020
    Welcome !

    First, decide if you believe in the OEM's ratings or not

    If not, then pure academic

    If yes, then read up on how the ratings system works and know that the only person responsible for the setup is the driver. Us advisors here on these freebie forums have no skin in 'your' game

    I'm conservative advising any newbie who has to ask for a reason...and personally like to have as much safety margin as I can get. I do keep my automobiles a looong time, so understand the wearing out faster due to higher stresses well...

    Good luck and post back as your story goes


    Comments embedded below in red



    RVdreaming2020 wrote:
    Hi All!

    I've been browsing through the forums for awhile and decided to finally join up and post. I am hoping to get some feedback on two tow vehicles that I have my eye on. I am new to travel trailers and towing in general. We are a young family and are struggling with making the right decision on trucks. We don't have a specific trailer picked out yet but most of the bunkhouse ones that we've seen come in right around the 7,000 lb mark fully loaded.

    Best to use the trailers GVWR and actual weight (load it up and weigh it)

    Most newbies are surprised how much stuff they have loaded





    I am bouncing between a pre-owned F150 and a pre-owned Tundra.


    With the F150 I've been looking for a 2013 to 2017 V8 with less than 60k miles, max tow package 4x4 Crew cab with the 3.73 rear end. This is proving to be a very difficult thing to find. The V6 eco boosts are everywhere but I made the mistake of reading too much about them online and am now terrified of getting one and having reliability issues with the turbo in them. BUT the 2018 F150 V8s and newer seem to have bad issues with oil loss. So IDK.

    Nothing is perfect and they all have issues

    A lot depends on your mechanical abilities and/or how deep your pocket book is

    A point not discussed much...enough...those who chose a TV just big enough will wear it out faster than someone who chose a higher class TV with more margin...it won't wear out as fast, IMHO





    I like the 5.4 V8 tundra but the price is a lot higher and their payload is significantly less than the F150. On the plus side it has a 4.41 rear end.

    I'm just so overwhelmed. I'd appreciate any advice. It's so confusing making sure you find something preowned with all of the accessories that you need to safely tow trailers. I don't want to buy something and realize that I've made a mistake. Been saving too long to mess it up now, hahaha
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2020
    Don’t violate the rule! Buy or select the travel trailer first. Match an appropriate tow vehicle to the trailer.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2020
    You're going to end up with a larger trailer, so why not just get that larger truck now? F250.
  • PA12DRVR's avatar
    PA12DRVR
    Explorer
    May 07, 2020
    May not help, but strictly FWIW, I have a Toyota Sequoia in the fleet and have used it several times in a "oh ****, the truck is out of service" situations.

    I've used the Sequoia (comparable to the Tundra) on those instances to tow at or slightly above it's tow limits and it's proven to tow "large" loads without any problem.
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2020
    Avoid the common mistake of starting out with a big heavy trailer and just enough truck.

    My cousin bought a classic old canned ham trailer. He works in Hollywood and lives in his trailer when not at home. He bought a Tundra new and sold it. He bought a Ford F-250 and now has no problems.

    Tundras and F-150s have their limitations. If you are new at towing you probably do not want to be anywhere near the max towing limits.

    What kind of trailers are you considering? You need to have that discussion before you decide on a truck. You might need to consider a larger truck.

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