Chevy or Ford

[digmed]

I'm sure this has been discussed plenty. But I'm hoping to get some opinions based on my set-up.

I'm hauling a 30' Jayco 5200 dry & 7600 GVWR. I'll be in the market soon for a new truck. I'll apologize in advance to all the Dodge lovers including my son who thinks I should get one. But I have my choices narrowed down to a 1/2 ton pick-up.

Chevy Siveraldo or Ford F-150? Why?

[padave]

TomG2 wrote:
For a trailer with a gvwr of 7,600 pounds, I do not recommend either the typical Chevrolet or Ford "Half ton" with their 1,300-1,600 pound payloads. I would look for something with a payload of over 2,000 pounds. Easy to find in the F-250 or 2500HD models. A tow vehicle is a lot more than just the engine.

Don't forget, you might get the urge for something even heavier, if you are like most of us. Nice to have that option without trading trucks. The extra thousand pounds of payload will only cost a little more now but a whole lot more to trade up to later.

This person is misinformed. They really do not know the specs of the F150 Ecoboost....Get an Eco with max tow and your are looking at 1800-1900 payload for a supercrew get it also with the hd payload package and you are looking at 2200-2500. I love my 2012 Ecoboost SupCrew 4x4 xlt max tow. Tows my 35 foot 8500 pound trailer very nicely. Love the truck. If you go 250-2500 be prepared for 12-14mpgs when not loaded for a gasser. Oh, and by the way, I have been a happy test subject for Ford with respect to the F150 Eco..along with many people on this forum...

[APT]

6.7 tow rig wrote:
A cummins with 800 ft lbs of torque compared to a gas engine with 420 lbs of torque will keep the load moving with less effort. Real world tests show that.

Duh! Specific power output, direct injection turbocharged gas engines have similar torque, far more horsepower. I never compared Ford's 3.5L Ecoboost to Ford/Ram/GM 6.6-6.7L diesels. Of comparable displacement and vehicles, i.e. 2013/2014 half tons, Ecoboost offers better than diesel power.

[Marsland]

Please excuse my interjection here but the OP was not asking about 7.3's,Cummins, Duramax's or 3/4-1ton trucks. He clearly stated he was looking at two specific half tons.

I know, (almost) everybody likes what they have, including me, and wants to convince others they have the best setup but that's not what he's asking.

Okay I'm done with my rant, carry on.

Respectfully submitted,
Richard

[Stclairm]

No offense, but I wouldn't own a diesel made by Ford after the 7.3. Obviously a 2500 series truck makes a better tv than ANY 1500, but I didn't have that kind of money, especially considering I was looking for a cheap TV, something under $8k. I got what I was looking for, $8k trucks that needed thousands more spent on them that I didn't have. I'm no where near the capacity of my truck with my 28 ft 49XX# dry travel trailer, so I call it fine.

[keithinspace]

I tow a 5,150# 28' trailer (dry) that is about 6,500# loaded and wet.

I towed with an Expedition for 3 years and knew it would be the death of my truck. It had the 5.4 Triton with 300 HP, absolutely identical to the F150 drivetrain. 9,000# towing capacity and 3.73 gears. A towing beast, but it wasn't enough.

I was on trasmission #2 and was nursing a bad cam phaser on the passenger's side when the 'tick' got to be too much to bear.

I looked at 1/2 tons, but could not fathom getting into yet another truck that just wasn't up to the task.

I'm now towing with a F250 with 6.7L Diesel. You guys can talk all you want about the EcoBoost, it is NOT a Diesel.

I will say that I tow a lot in the mountains and the Expy was hating life on hills. Towing flat to the beach was tolerable, but now I'm towing however fast I want, wherever I want. Not only am I good with the engine, but I don't have to worry about the transmission either.

Look at the prices, too. It isn't that massive of a jump to the 3/4 ton. And you get SOOOOOO much more truck. Mine is my daily driver, too, and I couldn't be happier. I get a solid 20 MPG on the interstate, 16 MPG around town, and 12 MPG in mountain towing. Pretty awesome stuff for such a capable truck.

[Stclairm]

Just bought a 13 F150 supercrew 4x4 ecoboost 6.5ft with maxtow and like it so far. It's absolutely fantastic as a daily driver. Still gotta get my equalizer hitch readjusted for this new truck though. Really didn't consider a Chevy since they are redesigning them and every one I found had the 5.3 in it.

[russellsawatsky]

I have a 2011 F150 screw 6.5'bed ecoboost max tow 40k km. It pulls our Freedom Express 310 BHDS well it is a bit heavier than yours I am happy with mine its a great dd and tows well no issues with the truck but it is at the top of its capability anything bigger for a tt and I would get a 3/4 ton :B thay all have good and bad points so get what makes you happy;)

[Majja13]

I have owned both Chevy and Ford Vehicles. I currently driva 2000 GMC Sierra. But IF I were to buy another 1/2 ton it would be the Tundra. That being said my next truck will be a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel.

[6_7_tow_rig]

APT wrote:
Direct injection turbocharged gas engines have a broader torque curve than diesels. Peak torque of a diesel is 1500-2500rpm. Peak torque of the gas is 1700-5000rpm. Scale the power of the 3.5L Ecoboost to 6.7L of Ford's PSS and it would have 804 ft-lb or torque and 699 HP. Yeah, I call it better. Or compare the Ecoboost to Chrysler or VW's 3.0L diesels. Similar peak torque, broader engine speed range, more HP. Not as fuel efficient as the diesels, though.

You can "scale it" all you want. A cummins with 800 ft lbs of torque compared to a gas engine with 420 lbs of torque will keep the load moving with less effort. Real world tests show that.

I was lucky enough to be able to tow my trailer with an ecoboost to try it out before I went to diesel. There is no comparison on power. Holding speed on hills while not even kicking out of 6th gear at 1800 rpms while in cruise control towing 10k lbs cant be done with an ecoboost. Im sure it can tow it but not at 1800 rpms. Thats the beauty of diesel. Number speak for themselves.

For what the OP wants though I have no doubt that either gas truck will serve him perfect. There are so many platforms that are available these days to choose from that you can find almost anything to perfectly suit the combination you are looking for.

[fla-gypsy]

For 1/2 ton towing I think the Ford F-150 with EB and Max towing and HD payload package is easily the best and most capable of the 1/2 tons in power and payload. Only you can decide what works best for you. For what you will pay for that truck you could easily buy an F-250 XL CC with enough options to be comfortable and have the best towing platform available IMO and save a few dollars too.

[gcloss]

certified106 wrote:

Love the emoticon !!!

[bnardini]

If you are going with a half-ton pick-up check out the Tundra! It has the best driveline of any of them.

[TomG2]

It doesn't really matter if you put a 800 hp engine in an inadequate chassis. Look at the whole package; brakes, transmission, frame, GVWR. I don't think you will find a lousy motor in any truck with a payload of over 2,000 pounds, no matter the manufacturer. There are already plenty of threads proclaiming the virtues of the eco boost.

[APT]

Direct injection turbocharged gas engines have a broader torque curve than diesels. Peak torque of a diesel is 1500-2500rpm. Peak torque of the gas is 1700-5000rpm. Scale the power of the 3.5L Ecoboost to 6.7L of Ford's PSS and it would have 804 ft-lb or torque and 699 HP. Yeah, I call it better. Or compare the Ecoboost to Chrysler or VW's 3.0L diesels. Similar peak torque, broader engine speed range, more HP. Not as fuel efficient as the diesels, though.

[TomG2]

For a trailer with a gvwr of 7,600 pounds, I do not recommend either the typical Chevrolet or Ford "Half ton" with their 1,300-1,600 pound payloads. I would look for something with a payload of over 2,000 pounds. Easy to find in the F-250 or 2500HD models. A tow vehicle is a lot more than just the engine.

Don't forget, you might get the urge for something even heavier, if you are like most of us. Nice to have that option without trading trucks. The extra thousand pounds of payload will only cost a little more now but a whole lot more to trade up to later.