Towing performance - F150 vs F250

wowens79 wrote:
By the time you add the heavy tow and payload to a 150, it is as much as a F250. The 250 with the bigger brakes, axles, stiffer frame, and pretty much heavier duty everything will be a much better option. The new 7.3l gas engine is a really good choice for that weight.

This is so true. It's not that you can't get a F-150 that will do the job, you can. But any F-250 will, and likely do it better.

We towed with a 2016 F150 2.7 Eco 3.55 for 4 years. Our camper is just under 7K loaded, 2.7 had plenty of power, but the set up was a handful if it got windy. Passing semis got exciting. Last year we moved to a 2018 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi. Much better. Except for the 14 mpg in town...

"Now, to you guys who talk out of both sides of your mouth, "grossing 36k, towing doubles, behind a dually" types."


So you may be referring to me not sure since I am in the just over 35k crowd. I am within my SAE ratings and I have towed in SEVERE wind conditions and was vERY stable and also have been in evasive maneuvers and came out just fine.

I know something about towing with a 1/2 ton that was supposedly properly setup. Ended up going the wrong way theu the Portl;and curves and rolling over.

Like I said the 1/2 ton probably tows just fine but can it handle it???

I have a 2018 F150 3.5L Ecoboost 375HP 470LBS of torque Max Tow Package 3.55L and I love it. It tows our trailer great. It rides pretty good and I like the electronic steering. Depending on your weight that want to pull that could change on whether you stay half ton or move up but I love mine and I get 17 around the city because it also acts as my daily driver. They are pretty solid.

Most everyone wants reserves. The F-250 with 7.3 gas and 4.30 is rated for 15K conventional and 19K fifth wheel (26K GVCR). It tows a 15K fifth wheel fine, but you would have generous reserves at 10K.

BenK wrote:
IMO, not a 'can do' (as a VW ad shows it towing a 474, or half ton towing the Space Shuttle), but more to do with the ability to 'manhandle' the setup during a Mr Murphy encounter. That has to do will the sizing & the margins that comes along with sizing.

Right up to 100% of the OEM ratings will NOT have the margins of a bigger OEM rating, which might be in the 80% or less OEM ratings.



Add...for how long, as it has to do with how long you keep your vehicles. Using it at 100% of OEM ratings will wear it out faster than using it at 80% of OEM ratings.


OPs decision where they plan to be in reference to the OEM ratings, how they drive, and where they will drive. I and all the advisors have zero skin in the OP's setup...

Duty rating sums it all up. Look it up if don't know what that means or represents and best to add truck class to your search. You'll find "light duty", "medium duty", "heavy duty", etc.

Has anyone besides me and mkirsch picked up on the fact that the OP never even alluded to taking issue with how his, now, 13 year old F150 "handles" his trailer?

Instead, right into the barrage of typical, you "need" a HD pickup and all the other nonsense...
Ben, you have the most valid point, that use at a greater % of rated capacity will inevitably cause increased wear n tear vs a lesser use.

I mean, I believe that. Driving our HD pickups around mostly as grocery getters for the last 20 years means components last even longer than their average expected duration. Great, do a cost benefit ratio calc or something, but don't act like the truck can't handle it's rated towing capacity.
And I've also used MANY half tons to do the work, day in day out, that the rvnet weight cops say will now not only endanger everyone around them, but also, destroy the truck? I can turn in a truck with 60-100k on it, it may or will have used up a set of brakes or shocks quicker. Sure it has more wear on the chassis and drivetrain than a HD doing the same would. (Like I said before, I'd "prefer" a HD even in the OP's scenario) But that same truck gets used and abused for years after I'm done with it and life goes on. A 1/2 ton truck is not a Fabergé egg!

Now, to you guys who talk out of both sides of your mouth, "grossing 36k, towing doubles, behind a dually" types. You're safer pulling a semi trailer with your "little" 1 ton, than the guy who is running on the upper end of the ratings on his half ton? For fcks sake...quit running your mouth about how you're right and anyone with a half ton is wrong!

Back to the age of the OP's truck. Unless it has been a grocery getter up until recently, the OP probably knows or has at least experienced nothing out of the ordinary with his truck.
Y'all don't even know how much he will use it to pull the 5ver! A "bucket list" trip to the Rockies from the east coast does not make him a hotshot hauler in terms of % of time at % of ratings. Not even close.

I swear, coming on here for advice about towing a RV is like talking to your mailman about your medical issues. Neither will give you accurate advice!

By the time you add the heavy tow and payload to a 150, it is as much as a F250. The 250 with the bigger brakes, axles, stiffer frame, and pretty much heavier duty everything will be a much better option. The new 7.3l gas engine is a really good choice for that weight.

IMO, not a 'can do' (as a VW ad shows it towing a 474, or half ton towing the Space Shuttle), but more to do with the ability to 'manhandle' the setup during a Mr Murphy encounter. That has to do will the sizing & the margins that comes along with sizing.

Right up to 100% of the OEM ratings will NOT have the margins of a bigger OEM rating, which might be in the 80% or less OEM ratings.



Add...for how long, as it has to do with how long you keep your vehicles. Using it at 100% of OEM ratings will wear it out faster than using it at 80% of OEM ratings.


OPs decision where they plan to be in reference to the OEM ratings, how they drive, and where they will drive. I and all the advisors have zero skin in the OP's setup...

Duty rating sums it all up. Look it up if don't know what that means or represents and best to add truck class to your search. You'll find "light duty", "medium duty", "heavy duty", etc.

I had a 2010 Max tow f150 with the 5.4. LT rubber etc. 7700 gvwr
My fifth wheel at the time was a Cougar 27sab. It was 6900 dry ( weighed) and pin around 1200. I was always around 8000 pounds and that still put me right at payload, axle, but under tow rating by more than 3000 pounds. I did add a superspring right away and used this combo for 3 years but as the boys grew what we dragged along with us also did.
Even then, power was not the issue but being so close on the ratings ate at me and jumped to a F350 with 6.7.
The trailer you are looking at will be happier with 250.
Best of luck!!! You are wise to ask.

Sure it will tow it but can it "HANDLE" it?????

I would not want to find out!!!