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Ford for a tow vehicle

wtmtnhiker
Explorer
Explorer
Hi all,
Looking for a tow vehicle to replace my GMC. I've only been looking at GM products up until now. My current truck has a GMC 5.3 litre and is rated towing capacity of 9500 lbs. What would a close equivalent engine/axle ratio be in a Ford F150. Looking to buy 2016 or newer and not a diesel. Thanks
bgbassman(bluegrass bass man)
11 REPLIES 11

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
wtmtnhiker wrote:
Hi all,
Looking for a tow vehicle to replace my GMC. I've only been looking at GM products up until now. My current truck has a GMC 5.3 litre and is rated towing capacity of 9500 lbs. What would a close equivalent engine/axle ratio be in a Ford F150. Looking to buy 2016 or newer and not a diesel. Thanks


GMs 5.3 with 355hp/383 torque isn't a good comparo to the F150 3.5 EB engine with 395 hp/and a whoppin' 470 torque. Even the 5.0 has 395hp/400 torque.
Now GMs 1500 trucks has a 6.2 engine has 420hp/460 torque that can compete with the f150 3.3 eb or the 5.0 F150 engines.

However the real difference comes in the many different GVWR/RAWR packages for the F150.
#1. 7850 gvwr...4800 rawr....2500 lb in the bed payloads.

#2. 7600 gvwr...4550 rawr... 2200 lb in the bed payloads

#3. 7050 gvwr...4050 rawr... 1800 lb in the bed payloads

#4. 6800 gvwr...3800 rawr...1500 lb in the bed payloads.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

garryearl
Explorer
Explorer
any 2500 pickup with at least 3.373 rear end they all chevy ford or ram Gasser

packpe89
Explorer
Explorer
I had the 5.3/6speed ('07) and now have the 3.5 ecoboost ('14) also with a six speed. The ecoboost has much better power, no struggles in the mountains. I also have a 5.7 hemi in my work truck. It's power seems very similar to the ecoboost. Agree with others the 10speed would help.

I would suggest watching tfltruck. They have good towing reviews of all these engines. Good Luck.

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Explorer
wtmtnhiker wrote:
APT wrote:
Equivalent is Ford 5.0L V8, 6-spd 3.55 axle or 2.7L Ecoboost 3.55. If you want an F-150 "upgrade", then I recommend a 3.5L Ecoboost and if you can get a new enough one the 10-sp transmission.

I think Op has ~2013 GM half ton 5.3L/6pd/3.42.


Thanks that's what I was looking for.


The 2.7 is going to be the closest in capability to the 5.3. Both the 5.0 and the 3.5 would be upgrades and more comparable to the 6.2 GM.

I agree on the comments about the 10 speed transmission. Big improvement over the old 6 speeds.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
bikendan wrote:


Be sure to focus FIRST, on the truck's payload capacity. Then you can look at the truck's towing capacity. A 1/2 ton will always run out of payload capacity WAY before getting close to the max towing capacity.
I have a 2014 F150 SCREW 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload capacity. It tows my 26' 6000lbs loaded TT like it's not there and I go through our Western mountain ranges.
But I wouldn't tow anything longer than 30' and over 7500lbs loaded.


Sooo, he'd be better off with a stripper base V6 reg cab truck with a much higher payload??
ROFL
Another one of 1000s of posts that prove the author doesn't know payload capacity from Payday candy bars.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

bikendan
Explorer
Explorer
wtmtnhiker wrote:
APT wrote:
Equivalent is Ford 5.0L V8, 6-spd 3.55 axle or 2.7L Ecoboost 3.55. If you want an F-150 "upgrade", then I recommend a 3.5L Ecoboost and if you can get a new enough one the 10-sp transmission.

I think Op has ~2013 GM half ton 5.3L/6pd/3.42.


Thanks that's what I was looking for.


Be sure to focus FIRST, on the truck's payload capacity. Then you can look at the truck's towing capacity. A 1/2 ton will always run out of payload capacity WAY before getting close to the max towing capacity.
I have a 2014 F150 SCREW 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload capacity. It tows my 26' 6000lbs loaded TT like it's not there and I go through our Western mountain ranges.
But I wouldn't tow anything longer than 30' and over 7500lbs loaded.
Dan- Firefighter, Retired:C, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur:W, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever(RIP:(), 2014 Ford F150 3.5 EcoboostMax Tow pkg, 2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255 w/4pt Equalizer and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes

wtmtnhiker
Explorer
Explorer
APT wrote:
Equivalent is Ford 5.0L V8, 6-spd 3.55 axle or 2.7L Ecoboost 3.55. If you want an F-150 "upgrade", then I recommend a 3.5L Ecoboost and if you can get a new enough one the 10-sp transmission.

I think Op has ~2013 GM half ton 5.3L/6pd/3.42.


Thanks that's what I was looking for.
bgbassman(bluegrass bass man)

APT
Explorer
Explorer
Equivalent is Ford 5.0L V8, 6-spd 3.55 axle or 2.7L Ecoboost 3.55. If you want an F-150 "upgrade", then I recommend a 3.5L Ecoboost and if you can get a new enough one the 10-sp transmission.

I think Op has ~2013 GM half ton 5.3L/6pd/3.42.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
After going from the GM 6 speed transmission to the GM 10 speed transmission, I wouldn't recommend any transmission without ten. It makes a big difference.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
wtmtnhiker wrote:
Hi all,
Looking for a tow vehicle to replace my GMC. I've only been looking at GM products up until now. My current truck has a GMC 5.3 litre and is rated towing capacity of 9500 lbs. What would a close equivalent engine/axle ratio be in a Ford F150. Looking to buy 2016 or newer and not a diesel. Thanks


What do you plan to tow and what are the full specs on the GMC?

Towing capacity is largely a silly number that rarely controls what you can tow.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

Old_Days
Explorer II
Explorer II
Not a F-150 but I would go to a F-250 with the 6.2 engine. And 6 speed transmission. My next truck will be a F-350 with the 7.3 engine, and 10 speed transmission. I see you don't have a trailer so go with a bigger truck.