Help me decide

[MMarty]

Hey all. My lease on my 2014 ram 1500 is about up and I am looking for a truck to pull a toy hauler. The toy hauler I'm looking at is a coachman freedom express. hitch weight is 800 lbs, gvwr is 9500lbs, and is 30ft long. I know another ram 1500 won't do it but how about a f150 super crew long bed ecoboost? I only tow about 6-7 times a year with the farthest being 400 miles one way. On paper the ford is very close to handling it ok. I've towed many miles with different rigs and understand proper hitch setup and loading to prevent tail wagging dog senario. I definately don't want diesel but would buy a 2500 gasser for extra safety if I had to but 80% of my miles will be empty. Thanks.

[colliehauler]

45Ricochet wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
You need to step up to a 250/2500 truck.

X6

X7. I own a 22' TT TH and the tongue weight would give you a rough ride even with a WD hitch. Just not enough truck in my opinion.

[MMarty]

Thanks for the input. I know a f150 hd payload would be pretty good but the truck is still 1500lbs lighter than a chevy 2500hd crew cab. What would get me is the 2500 has 3000lbs of payload and the f150hd has 2500, BUT the f150 tow rating is right in there, ford 11,600 vs 13000 for chevy with 4.10s. Last year I towed a 26' 7500lb travel trailer all over eastern wyoming and south dakota with my 2014 ram and that's all it wanted for weight.

[patperry2766]

Comparing similar configurations based of the 2016 Ford Trailer Towing guide.
2WD crew cab

F150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost and max trailer/payload packages & 6.5 ft bed:
GCWR 17,000, 2050 max payload, 11,900 conventional towing, 13.7 Dia brake rotors

F250 with the 6.2 gas and short bed:
GCWR 22,200, 2812 max payload, 12,500 conventional towing, 14.29" dia brake rotors

Since the OP stated that he doesn't tow that often and at the most, 400 miles from home. The F-150 isn't a slouch and would be more than adequate for his limited towing needs.

[Bedlam]

Footprint wise, the F150 and F250 are not much different. What's under the skin that makes a F250 a better tow vehicle is what will also make it heavier. Towing mileage will be the same, but unloaded mileage will be better in the lighter truck. Price between the two is comparable, so why would choose a vehicle that is at its limits verses one that has plenty of reserve? How much will you really save in mileage between the F150 verses the F250 over the life of the truck?

[patperry2766]

Given the parameters that you stated, in addition to your infrequency & distance towing, I think a properly equipped F-150 with the max trailer tow package would be sufficient.

Would a 250/2500 be better...well sure, without a question, but for the 80-90% of the time that you're not towing, that's a lot of excessive truck to be driving down the road

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, I own a 2014 F-150 Ecoboost and it's a torque monster; It pulls my 25' Airstream up any mountain at whatever speed I set the cruise control at. But the trailer that you want is just too much for any F-150. (my opinion)

[hitnderoad]

MFL wrote:
You could order a F150, that you could make work for towing that trailer, and might be better for non towing. Myself, I'd rather go with a truck that works great for towing, and still make a good daily driver.

Take a new 250/2500 for a drive, I think you will enjoy it. Fuel use about the same towing, and a little more non towing, than a 150. My 250 is smooth on the highway, and good city streets. In the back country non towing, the ride is more harsh.

Jerry

went from 2010 f150 to 2015 f250 gasser. Same mileage towing my TT. Plenty of pay load. Have the ext. cab, fits in my car garage. if you didn't order the camper and plow prep it would also sit lower. I have those pkg."s. and it sits high. Short trips & hi way mileage is less, but the towing experience is a huge difference. Total yearly fuel bill difference would be worth the improved towing. fuel mileage can be decent if you keep your foot out of it, which I can't always do!

[MMarty]

Thanks for all the replies, I figured a 2500 would be the better choice. Even though a a f150 with the hd payload package sounds good the truck is still undersized for that size trailer i guess. I've had a couple diesels (an 05 and 07 cummins) and both were great but not practical for my around town driving.

[45Ricochet]

FishOnOne wrote:
You need to step up to a 250/2500 truck.

X6

[Bedlam]

The lower payloads of the of 150/1500 is weak point of trying to tow a tongue heavy trailer (almost all toy haulers). If size is intimidating, look for an extended cab short bed - My F250 was just over 19' long and under 7' tall allowing it to fit most parking garages.

You can get a truck with a gasoline engine to save some money and it will pull great on the flats. Unless you plan to spend most of your time towing at elevation, you will not need the diesel. I will warn you that if you buy a diesel, you may never go back to gasser except for financial reasons. The pulling power of these modern day diesels will but a smile on your face that will just get bigger as the grade gets steeper and longer.

[Greene728]

250/2500, or even better (if stepping up to a fiver), 350/3500 series with the gas engine.
Why order a 1/2 ton "special" equipped to just barely handle it?
Use the right tool for the job and life is so much more enjoyable!

[MFL]

You could order a F150, that you could make work for towing that trailer, and might be better for non towing. Myself, I'd rather go with a truck that works great for towing, and still make a good daily driver.

Take a new 250/2500 for a drive, I think you will enjoy it. Fuel use about the same towing, and a little more non towing, than a 150. My 250 is smooth on the highway, and good city streets. In the back country non towing, the ride is more harsh.

Jerry

[Old-Biscuit]

Get a tow vehicle that can handle the GVWR of trailer then you don't have to play around with will it or won't it

In other words........250/2500 (at least)

[romore]

MMarty wrote:
Hey all. My lease on my 2014 ram 1500 is about up and I am looking for a truck to pull a toy hauler. The toy hauler I'm looking at is a coachman freedom express. hitch weight is 800 lb, gvwr is 9500lbs, and is 30ft long. I know another ram 1500 won't do it but how about a f150 super crew long bed ecoboost? I only tow about 6-7 times a year with the farthest being 400 miles one way. On paper the ford is very close to handling it ok. I've towed many miles with different rigs and understand proper hitch setup and loading to prevent tail wagging dog senario. I definately don't want diesel but would buy a 2500 gasser for extra safety if I had to but 80% of my miles will be empty. Thanks.

That hitch weight is empty, fill'er up you will be closer to 1500 lb. I really suggest you look at an F-250/2500 for an enjoyable towing experience.