IdaD wrote:
humblerb wrote:
IdaD wrote:
That's right at or just a bit over the limit of what I'd personally want to try to tow with a half ton, but lots of guys on this site are doing it and report good results. I guess I'd say a lot depends on how you use the trailer. If you don't leave the island much and mainly just camp fairly close to home I would be more apt to do it than if you plan to haul it on longer trips into the Rockies regularly.
I definitely would not spend the money on an F250 since you have an F350. If you want an F250 it would be much cheaper to simply remove your overload springs.
He was asking about a New F150 or a New F350. Looks like he is going to buy a new vehicle, but wanted advice on F150 versus F350. To me, the F250 is the best of both worlds - downgrade from the current F350, but enough truck to not have to ask if he would be comfortable pulling his rig.
Pulling off the overload spring would give him an F250 except for the badge on the fender. Unless the F250 in question came with the package that included the overload spring, because those trucks exist too. My point is that they're basically the same thing so spending a bunch of money to switch from one to the other doesn't make a lot of sense. Obviously going to an F150 is a big enough difference it can warrant a change for some folks in some circumstances.
The main thing about an F150 that appealed to me over an F250 is the empty gas milage. The 6.2 in the F250 seems to be a great engine for towing but when they were both offered in the F150 the Ecoboost gave an extra 3mpg. If you are going to drive empty a lot that might be important to you. The added weight of the F250 will further hurt your mpg, especially around town. I think that I read recently that Ford is going back to using the same cab across the board in 2017 so differences in the two trucks are mostly going to be drive train, frame weight and suspension. The last time I priced the two I was shocked at how little price difference there is in the two. In my case I also wanted the lighter weight of the F150 largely because I want to use it as a toad behind my motorhome that is really only rated to pull the weight of the new aluminum bodied F150.
As for towing, I have been really impressed with the my 2016 F150. Shortly after ordering the truck I decided to start a business that requires me to pull a trailer that is at or a little over 11,000lbs. I felt obligated to try the truck that I had instead of trading in my brand new one. So far towing this trailer has not been an issue and the 2016 F150 tows better than my 1991 F250 did. This trailer is not a camper and may not have the wind loading of a camper but this truck has really impressed me so far. I did get max trailer tow option, 6 1/2ft bed, 4wd and the optional LT tires plus I added air bags in the rear and use a load distributing hitch. I did not get max payload package because it could not be ordered with several other options I wanted. For some reason when you check the box for max payload package most of the option list on the F150 goes away, including some things that I view as important safety features. This will probably change in the next year or two.
Bottom line, I am pulling 11,000+ lbs and have no regrets over getting the F150. But, short of getting the max payload package it is equipped the best I knew how to get it for the job, including aftermarket airbags. Ford would recommend the the load distributing hitch for either truck and I would suggest the air bags on both in place of the steel overload springs on the F250. Based in my experience with a 2013 F150 I feel that the LT tires are very important for good trailer pulling. I recently replaced the factory car tires on the 2013 F150 with LT tires and the truck is much more stable now. Good trailer brakes are going to be important with any truck but more so with a half ton.
