I've read people say "No one ever complained about having too much truck when towing a travel trailer." That may be true, but I'm not towing my trailer yet, and I feel like I bought too much truck. I bought a Ford F-250 with crew cab and a long bed. I didn't really want the long bed, but stock is limited across the country right now.The truck rides nice and it's probably going to pull my trailer comfortably. I have a 37 foot trailer that will run about 9,000 pounds loaded up. So I felt that it would be pushing an F-150, even if if was max towing. And I asked the salesman about that and he said an F-150 with max towing will cost more than the F-250 model I wanted. I believe that may be true based on the initial shopping I did. There wasn't much price difference between the two.The problem for me is parking it and driving it down the road. My research says it's about 10 inches wider than an F-150, and about a foot longer, plus it rides a lot higher so I have to avoid any parking garages. I'm retired so I don't have to park it at work every day, but I can barely get it in my covered parking spot at home and when I went to the gym last night it took all of the parking space. I don't think I could get the doors open if someone parks next to me. They are huge doors, too.Has anyone else with a "work truck" lived this nightmare? Is it just a matter of parking at the back of the parking lots and taking up 2 spaces? I'm in good health so I can walk. I don't think I can park it in a regular spot like a normal vehicle. I don't think my dealer will let me swap it for an F-150 now, so I have to make the best of this.

you have the perfect truck ,its one tuff brute that will serve you well won,t labor up the hills use the truck as it was made for not going to the gym but to work. get a mini car for you town stuff.

I like driving my F250, even when not towing! I have the choice to drive a Honda sport coupe, Escape SUV, truck. I like sitting higher, and for whatever reason, the tailgaters/idiots give you more room/respect.Mine is just a standard 6' 9" bed, and extended cab, so shorter. Are you sure your 250 is 10"s wider than late model 150?Anyway, you'll get used to the size, and when towing, you'll be a Happy Camper!Jerry

You bought the truck to tow your rather larger trailer.before you question your decision take a tow first. You will then understand why you have the F250.I bought my dually to tow my 5th wheel. It does a great job however parking lots, ,underground garages and drive thru's are not its strong suit.Yes parking in urban or congested places is more of a challenge vs. a typical commuter car but I can't tow my fiver with a commuter car.In the end you need to set your priority. If having a very capable TV is your priority. Than the F250 makes lots of sense. If having a small grocery getter is your priority than there are better options than the F250.

I think your concerns about the size of the F250 vs the F150 are somewhat overblown. The extra width of the F250 is all in the mirrors- the bodies are exactly the same width. (well, the F250 is a tenth of an inch wider) The F150 is listed with the standard mirrors, and towing that big trailer you'll want towing mirrors. That will put you at the same width as the F250. The F250 is only two inches higher than the F150, so not a huge difference there. Doors are the same as well. I daily drive a newer F150 at work, and I don't find that it's really any easier to park than my older F250. The big difference is that the newer truck has a much tighter turning radius, but older Fords are notoriously piggy when it come to turning. Towing a 9K 37' trailer, I think you'll be much happier with the F250.

MFL wrote:I like driving my F250, even when not towing! I have the choice to drive a Honda sport coupe, Escape SUV, truck. I like sitting higher, and for whatever reason, the tailgaters/idiots give you more room/respect.Mine is just a standard 6' 9" bed, and extended cab, so shorter. Are you sure your 250 is 10"s wider than late model 150?Anyway, you'll get used to the size, and when towing, you'll be a Happy Camper!JerryI'm not sure if it's wider, but that 10" came off a Google search comparison. I'm not sure what year they were comparing. It is a long truck. I just parked it in my covered space and I backed into the corner of my brick house. I heard a crunch and I was sure that was $1,000. But I got out and I can't find any damage. I guess I just tapped it with the bumper. With a little practice I'll probably get good at getting in my covered space. Fortunately I have extra space, it's not between 2 cars.The dealer had the shorter bed and I may ask if they would like to swap out, but they probably won't want to do it. The longer bed may help keep the trailer a little more stable so if I keep it I may appreciate that.

I Bought Too Much Truck | Good Sam Community

rjstractor
Nomad
May 10, 2023
4x4ord wrote:

I just taped my cellphone to the rear seat head rest so the video is not real good. I backed up 1/2 mile before doing a blindside turn onto a narrow side road. I was in the truck by myself and had to watch for traffic coming from in front, behind and ensure no one was coming down the side roads all the while I was trying to keep my foot to the floor in reverse. I was busy. It would have been much easier with a co-pilot. Having the volume turned up makes it not a boring to watch.

I've seen it before, and it's pretty impressive. Me, I try to put my old 7.3 manual trans F250 in 4 low, let the clutch out, and idle back at a speed I can manage- about 1 mph. :B
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
May 10, 2023
4x4ord wrote:

I just taped my cellphone to the rear seat head rest so the video is not real good. I backed up 1/2 mile before doing a blindside turn onto a narrow side road. I was in the truck by myself and had to watch for traffic coming from in front, behind and ensure no one was coming down the side roads all the while I was trying to keep my foot to the floor in reverse. I was busy. It would have been much easier with a co-pilot. Having the volume turned up makes it not a boring to watch.

Thats some nice driving ( backing ) skills.....
Huntindog
Explorer
May 09, 2023
4x4ord wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….

I should have made a better quality video while I had the chance. I was able to hit 35 mph backing the gooseneck with my 2017 F350 but Ford has spoiled my fun. The new 10 speed with its 4.92:1 reverse gear ratio and rev limiter has been neutered so as to have a top speed of 20 mph in reverse.
Awww shucks. I was looking forwards to a "Hold my beer and watch this" video:B
JaxDad
Explorer III
May 09, 2023
DallasSteve wrote:
The problem for me is parking it and driving it down the road..

If nobody ever told you, backing into a parking space makes it SO much easier, especially nowadays with backup cameras, etc.
4x4ord
Explorer III
May 09, 2023

I just taped my cellphone to the rear seat head rest so the video is not real good. I backed up 1/2 mile before doing a blindside turn onto a narrow side road. I was in the truck by myself and had to watch for traffic coming from in front, behind and ensure no one was coming down the side roads all the while I was trying to keep my foot to the floor in reverse. I was busy. It would have been much easier with a co-pilot. Having the volume turned up makes it not a boring to watch.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
May 09, 2023
4x4ord wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….

I should have made a better quality video while I had the chance. I was able to hit 35 mph backing the gooseneck with my 2017 F350 but Ford has spoiled my fun. The new 10 speed with its 4.92:1 reverse gear ratio and rev limiter has been neutered so as to have a top speed of 20 mph in reverse.

Is there a link to said video? I’m pretty sure I would enjoy watching that.
4x4ord
Explorer III
May 09, 2023
Grit dog wrote:
HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….

I should have made a better quality video while I had the chance. I was able to hit 35 mph backing the gooseneck with my 2017 F350 but Ford has spoiled my fun. The new 10 speed with its 4.92:1 reverse gear ratio and rev limiter has been neutered so as to have a top speed of 20 mph in reverse.
twodownzero
Explorer
May 08, 2023
There is no set of circumstances where I'd even consider pulling a 37 foot trailer with a 1/2 ton truck, so I think you'll soon realize that you did NOT buy too much truck. You might have bought too much trailer, though.

You probably also want to weigh it, because 9k pounds sounds a bit modest for a trailer that long when loaded. My 35' 5er weighs 9,200 and it's 23 years old and therefore lacks all the heavy stuff the newer ones have.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 08, 2023
HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….
4x4ord
Explorer III
May 08, 2023
^^^No it can't back double trailers but it can make it easier for a driver who is capable of backing doubles. Because my motorcycle trailer is short and a little narrow I really have to pay attention to the rear trailer when backing up .... if I use PTBA while backing around a corner, I can pay attention to the back trailer and count on the Ford system to prevent the cab of my short box truck from hitting on the front trailer. Or, when I'm backing the two trailers straight down the road, I'm not able to see the rear trailer at all, so, the PTBA is useful to keep the truck and front trailer perfectly straight while I glance back and forth from mirror to mirror watching and waiting for the rear trailer to pop into view. With the PTBA keeping the truck and front trailer straight I have enough time when the rear trailer appears to quickly respond before the short rear trailer jack knifes on me.