Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
This is surly not the first post like this and probably not the last, but I am a newbie looking at purchasing a Rockwood mini lite 2304s dry wt. 5654, GVW 7660. I have never towed before. Finding th...
Forum Discussion
I bought a half ton 2018 F-150 with the intention of using it to pull a travel trailer. I chose the 3.5L Ecoboost motor as it is the most powerful motor you can get in ANY half ton truck other than the F-150 Raptor. It outperforms the V8s and the diesel motors that are in half tons now. I absolutely LOVE my F-150.
That being said, Ford inflates their numbers on a lot of things. Tow ratings and gas mileage are the big two. My truck can tow 13,200 pounds according to Ford! If I were to tow a trailer that big though, I'd easily be over my payload capacity. Make sure you check for that. I have no doubt that this truck has the power to pull that much weight. I'd definitely be overloaded though. I used to have a 2002 F-250 with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. My new F-150 has almost as much power as that truck had.
The gas mileage is advertised at 17/23. You might be able to get 23 mpg on the highway if you are going 55 mph the whole time. I just took an 850 mile trip in mine and was taking it easy at 70 mph most of the way. I averaged 18 mpg. I knew all of this going in to buying this truck.
I could have bought any truck I wanted. I looked at the F-250s and F-350s. But I won't be towing my trailer all the time. I commute 25 miles each way to work. The super duty trucks just don't ride as nice. They're still very good though. My F-150 is by far the most comfortable and the quietest vehicle I've ever owned. Lots of creature comforts in it. I have the Lariat. The higher trim packages will reduce your payload capacity as well. Stuff to keep in mind. When you are looking at truck on the lot, the payload capacity is on a sticker on the driver's door jamb. That is the main number that matters. It also takes into account something like two passengers at 150 pounds each or something like that. It figures in 300+ pounds in people and stuff and the leftover number is the additional weight you can carry. That includes additional people and your hitch weight. Figure in 15% of the total trailer weight plus the hitch.
Like I said, I knew all of this going in. I'm going to buy a 7,000 pound trailer soon. I'm also getting a ProPride hitch to help but I'm not worried about it. Half tons are pretty much the new 3/4 tons. The F-150 is a great all around vehicle. Especially for driving around when you're not towing! Parking a 3/4 or 1 ton is like docking a cruise ship in comparison.
That being said, Ford inflates their numbers on a lot of things. Tow ratings and gas mileage are the big two. My truck can tow 13,200 pounds according to Ford! If I were to tow a trailer that big though, I'd easily be over my payload capacity. Make sure you check for that. I have no doubt that this truck has the power to pull that much weight. I'd definitely be overloaded though. I used to have a 2002 F-250 with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. My new F-150 has almost as much power as that truck had.
The gas mileage is advertised at 17/23. You might be able to get 23 mpg on the highway if you are going 55 mph the whole time. I just took an 850 mile trip in mine and was taking it easy at 70 mph most of the way. I averaged 18 mpg. I knew all of this going in to buying this truck.
I could have bought any truck I wanted. I looked at the F-250s and F-350s. But I won't be towing my trailer all the time. I commute 25 miles each way to work. The super duty trucks just don't ride as nice. They're still very good though. My F-150 is by far the most comfortable and the quietest vehicle I've ever owned. Lots of creature comforts in it. I have the Lariat. The higher trim packages will reduce your payload capacity as well. Stuff to keep in mind. When you are looking at truck on the lot, the payload capacity is on a sticker on the driver's door jamb. That is the main number that matters. It also takes into account something like two passengers at 150 pounds each or something like that. It figures in 300+ pounds in people and stuff and the leftover number is the additional weight you can carry. That includes additional people and your hitch weight. Figure in 15% of the total trailer weight plus the hitch.
Like I said, I knew all of this going in. I'm going to buy a 7,000 pound trailer soon. I'm also getting a ProPride hitch to help but I'm not worried about it. Half tons are pretty much the new 3/4 tons. The F-150 is a great all around vehicle. Especially for driving around when you're not towing! Parking a 3/4 or 1 ton is like docking a cruise ship in comparison.
