Modern 1/2 ton tow vehicle question

[thesumners]

Hey all,

Our family was active on RV.net and camping for a while but we moved on to new hobbies. Now we're picking it back up again.

In the past we towed a heavy 30' Arctic Fox and dirt bikes in the truck bed with a longbed F-250 diesel. It was fine for that purpose.

We're looking a similarly heavy trailer again, maybe 25'. We haven't bought yet. Of course I would rather drive a 1/2 ton as a daily driver and tow with it.

A F-150 with max tow package is right at the top of the specs. Dirt bikes in the bed with humans is pretty heavy, maybe 2800lb payload and 12k towed.

So yeah the F-150 CAN do it but SHOULD it? I have not driven one or towed with a newer truck. Any pointers appreciated.

[We_ll_See]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Yeah I see lots of posts from F150 owners who say their F150 has 6800 gvwr and the "max tow" option.
Like other options it may be depending on year models.

I was thinking the OP would want a crew cab and with max tow that would be at least a 7,000 gvwr. I guess someone could get a regular cab truck with max tow but that would be very rare. Maybe the extended cabs with max tow are less than 7,000 gvwr?

[easycamper]

RV.net is still a great place to come if you'd like to show your wife pages of opinions about why you need an HD truck to tow a trailer or fifth wheel of any size. 🙂

Glad OP has made a decision. Some of us have plenty of experience towing with half-tons, no burned-out rear ends or accidents. Not a triple-axle Mobile Suites, mind you, but there are suitable choices at the smaller end.

Many factors go into a safe and enjoyable towing experience.

[2012Coleman]

thesumners wrote:
Thank you all, for confirming what I thought. I'll be shopping for a 250 or 350 instead of a 150. Used prices are OK for what I'm looking for, so no worries on this end.

Thanks!
Greg

I had a 2500 Ram with the coil spring suspension in the rear - was not a bad ride at all.

[thesumners]

Not to worry, I have written of the F-150 as an option. I don't know if we'll end up with a travel trailer or a camper so I'm only targeting 1-ton trucks, but not DRW.

The last time I dealt with diesel trucks I owned the 7.3l powerstroke and everybody was angry about the 6.0l engines. Now I'm doing my research on used trucks and I see the 6.4l is almost as hated as the 6.0. So I suppose Ram and Chevy are in the mix, which is fine I just prefer the Fords. I wish I had kept that old F-250.

[Skelshy]

This is always going to be controversial in here. There is no doubt the heavier the tow vehicle, be better it's going to tow, and the rougher it's going to ride unloaded. So it's a bit of a trade-off that depends on how often and how far you tow, and your performance expectations.

Official Ford Towing guide: https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/dam/aem_fleet/en_us/fleet/towing-guides/2020_Ford_RVandTrailerTowingGuide.pdf

Notably, a 4x4 F150 Supercrew can take 1822 lbs in the bed WITH a "150-lb. passenger at each available seating position" with the F-150 Heavy-Duty Payload Package (Option Code 627). It's even rated for fifth wheels. These are numbers unheard of in previous generations. The availability of 8 and 10 speed transmissions also means real world available power has increased.

I only ever owned a pre-aluminium F150, so I can't tell first hand. My buddy used to own a 8ft box F350 diesel that was a dream tool for towing, but not fun in parking lots.

[JIMNLIN]

Yeah I see lots of posts from F150 owners who say their F150 has 6800 gvwr and the "max tow" option.
Like other options it may be depending on year models.

[Boomerweps]

We'll See wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

max tow is less.
It's really a false narrative;

Just part of your reply.... but I would agree on the F150 "max tow" option.
Just about every rv website we find where some poor soul bought into Ford "MAX TOW" options thinking it was the max tow even though their new F150 had the small 6800 GVWR and 3800 rawr package. Then found out the truck didn't have enough suspension to carry the load.
This happens a lot.
Its a great option for towing....but IMO Ford needs to drop the wording "MAX" and just call it a "tow package".

If it has max tow it has at least a 7,000 gvwr. Ford already has a regular tow package. Max tow is a great package. Many people tow heavy loads that aren't RVs with 13% tongue weight such as boats.

In the 2019 towing guide, there are a few entries with Max Tow required at less than 7000# GVWR with 4900# GVWR on a regular cab 141” wheelbase as the lowest charted. GCWR minus Tow a Rating equals GVWR.
Extended range or enhanced tow package just doesn’t have the advertising ring to it like Max Tow. Ford already has three tow package variants plus bumper ball mount to sort through.
If I had the larger fuel tank and even heavier rated receiver, I’d have the Max Tow equivalent but with the V8. And I do have a GVWR of 7000#, CCC of 1990#.

[Blazing_Zippers]

I'm not an expert here, however, I will chime in;
Towing a long, large trailer at the top end of a 1/2 ton capacity wouldn't make for an enjoyable outing. 1st off, you have to nickel and dime all the weight in the tow vehicle. 2nd, the tow vehicle isn't going to have as highly rated tire system as a 3/4 ton.,3rd, the trailer contents would be a concern with regard to weight,ei beans, water, drinks, clothing, toys, etc. 4th, the cost of a 3/4 ton truck isn't all that much more than a smaller truck.
We own a 3/4 ton truck and have just jumped in and took off on a cross country trip with no regrets. Yes, gas is more than a 1/2 ton, but overall, the 3/4 ton is worth it just for the safety value.

[We_ll_See]

JIMNLIN wrote:

max tow is less.
It's really a false narrative;

Just part of your reply.... but I would agree on the F150 "max tow" option.
Just about every rv website we find where some poor soul bought into Ford "MAX TOW" options thinking it was the max tow even though their new F150 had the small 6800 GVWR and 3800 rawr package. Then found out the truck didn't have enough suspension to carry the load.
This happens a lot.
Its a great option for towing....but IMO Ford needs to drop the wording "MAX" and just call it a "tow package".

If it has max tow it has at least a 7,000 gvwr. Ford already has a regular tow package. Max tow is a great package. Many people tow heavy loads that aren't RVs with 13% tongue weight such as boats.

[BenK]

OBTW...many of my posts are NOT for the OP or the tread, but for the lurkers out there

One lurker turned out to be the parents of my buddy

They were in their 80’s and had a 40 acre orchard in the foothills of California. They found this site and purchased their dream setup based on advice this and other forums

A farmer without a high school education and his orchard paid for his kids college (one a MBA and buddy a PhD) by mortgaging it several times

Finally they decided to selll and helped them deal with the Silicone Valley group who wished to build their getaway homes with million buck views of California’s Central Valley

They had several million bucks in the bank after taxes/etc and wished to visit long time friends along the foothills of Calif and Central Valley

Unfortunately, they purchases a CUV...thinking it was a SUV and a modest trailer around 24’ to 28’ long...based on advice from these freebie forums. It was hard to get them to understand that their SUV was a CUV and it was basically a Camry...buddy didn’t know either (his PhD is in bio-tech), but once he understood, they came around

Received a phone call late one night from buddy and wanted me to drive him to help his parents.

They almost lost is during a storm out on central valley’s 99

Buddy almost lost it and had to slow down. This buddy used to beat me out on track days with his RX7 and better at drifting than me...

[BenK]

Years ago, there was a forum member who constantly advised that his F150 ‘can do it...he has been doing it for years with no problems” and therefore “you can too”...

Received a PM from a newbie who was mad has heck at that guy, because this newbie burned up his F150’s rear end on their way to Disneyworld

He lost his deposits in Florida, had to pay for several days of motel (the city they broke down in didn’t have camping sites), paid storage at the mechanic’s parking lot and the cost of the parts & labor to rebuild his F150’s differential

Told him he can sue that guy, but the advice on these free forums is worthless...or that the advisors have not skin in his game...so he will lose

Checked out that advisor and found that he has the highest GVWR F150 and is where I coined the term “fake half ton”...it Is more 3/4 ton than 1/2 ton. Fake in both classes, as the rear GAWR was about 1,000 lbs more than his, but still about 1,000 lbs below the MINIMUM 6,000 lb of higher class TVs

They used to have marketing reference as : “F150HD”, “1500HD”...

That Newbie was a lurker and didn’t feel comfortable posting. Just reading and taking notes.

Unfortunately, only looking for what he wanted to hear...as he already bought that trailer based on the advisor’s “been towing that for year with no problems”

He insisted I delete his PMs, of which did so years ago

Wanted to know what his diff ratio was, but by that time, he was so PO’d and no longer providing info. Also wondered how he got it home without burning up the rebuilt diff...

Not just Ford either...they all have marketing departments who spin verbiage to make their products “King of the Hill’” to folks who believe marketing as the absolute truth...

Repeat that we should NOT be using OEM Marketing name/coinage, but true specifications that has regulatory agency testing requirements

GVWR, GCWR, F/R GAWR and the main tell is the rear GAWR

But...am in the minority on this topic of marketing vs specifications...guess it is more fun boosting ‘mine is bigger than yours’....plus the OEM’s sell more trucks because many newbies end up purchasing another TV...

[JIMNLIN]

max tow is less.
It's really a false narrative;

Just part of your reply.... but I would agree on the F150 "max tow" option.
Just about every rv website we find where some poor soul bought into Ford "MAX TOW" options thinking it was the max tow even though their new F150 had the small 6800 GVWR and 3800 rawr package. Then found out the truck didn't have enough suspension to carry the load.
This happens a lot.
Its a great option for towing....but IMO Ford needs to drop the wording "MAX" and just call it a "tow package".

[wing_zealot]

Groover wrote:

thesumners wrote:
3.5L ecoboost is 13,200 towing and 3,230 max payload, in the base configuration. We'd get a 4x4 crewcab so it would decrease a bit. So yes it's right at the ceiling of the specs. I am not arguing it's a good idea.

In what appears to me to be on of the dumbest things that I have ever seen the max payload package requires 3.73 axle which for some reason drops the trailer tow rating to 11,300lbs on the 4wd version. 11,500lbs for 2wd.

Not being able to get both on one truck is insane in my opinion.

See the specs on page 19 of the tow guide, 3.73 axle.

Ford 2020 tow guide

The 3.73 only comes on the Heavy Duty Payload Package (there is no such thing as a max payload package - I think your confusing HDPP package with max tow package), and the HDPP with it's beefier components weighs more. Hence, because the GCVWR is the same as the max tow package (w/o the HDPP), max tow is less.
It's really a false narrative; You'll hit the limit on payload before you'll hit the limit on max tow anyways.

[specta]

thesumners wrote:

Boomerweps wrote:
Did you consider a toy hauler TT?
Might move the weight around enough to meet TV load capacity.

Yes, but my wife hates the toy-haulers. She doesn't care about the toys, if she's going along she doesn't want toys in her living space so I gotta live with that. Some do have garages but, I'm good with the TT.

My ex and I felt the same way.
Never been a TH fan but they sure fill a huge niche in the OHV world.