Tundra and F150 questions

[love2rvcamp]

Getting closer to getting a new TV to replace the 2001 F150 Supercrew. We have narrowed it down to a 2011 or 2012 F150 V8 5.0 or same years Toyota Tundra. 4 door version on both.

I know from reading some posts the Tundra payload is lower than Ford. Went looked today, looked at a Tundra that showed payload 1385 lbs. The Ford dealerships were closed for the 4th so couln't look at the inner door sticker.

When looking at the door sticker what should we pay attention to Payload, GVWR??? Anything else?

Our camper is a 2008 Rockwood 8313SS (GVWR 7784)

We want to make sure we get the most truck we can.

Thanks

[camp-n-family]

Payload rating is often based on the tires that the factory chose to put on the truck and also includes a 150# passenger calculation. If the truck has a crew cab that holds 4 passengers there will be 600 lbs. subtracted from the "payload" rating for the pickup. This is only done with trucks and is confusing and never spelled out in the brochures.

I don't believe this is correct. The "tow" rating accounts for a 150lbs driver, not to be confused with the "payload" rating. The payload rating is simply the empty truck weight (including fluids) subtracted from the gross vehicle weight rating. Payload reduces by the actual weights added to the vehicle, not 150lbs per person.

[love2rvcamp]

Pictures of the F250

Here is a link where I posted pictures of the new F250.

[wintersun]

The only number to worry about is the CGWR which is the total weight of the truck with passengers and the fully loaded trailer. If you stay well under that figure you will be fine. Toyota and Ford produce towing guides you can download as a PDF and see the specs.

Payload rating is often based on the tires that the factory chose to put on the truck and also includes a 150# passenger calculation. If the truck has a crew cab that holds 4 passengers there will be 600 lbs. subtracted from the "payload" rating for the pickup. This is only done with trucks and is confusing and never spelled out in the brochures.

If I had a choice between a Toyota and another make with similar specs I would always go with the Toyota. There is a reason why they have had the highest reliability rating for the last 5 years in a row in the USA. I have owned Dodge, Ford, Willys, GM, and Toyota trucks and SUV's and currently own a diesel powered GM truck, and by far the most reliable and trouble free vehicles were the Toyota's.

[spoon059]

15-16 highway isn't horrible for a big truck. Interested to see your MPG's towing. I expect to to get another 5 or 6 years before I upgrade my truck... but the F250 with the 6.2 is high on my list right now.

[vacuumbed]

Congrats on your new Ford! Be sure to post pics for us.

[love2rvcamp]

Spoon059 wrote:
The safest bet is a 3/4 ton. The Ford 6.2, GM 6.0 and Ram 5.7 are all great gas engines for the 3.4 ton platform and aren't too God awful expensive. They will give you a lot more payload than any halfton, outside of the F150 HD Max payload/max tow package (which is darn near impossible to find and usually more expensive than a 3/4 ton... only worthwhile if you demand the Ecoboost engine, shich you don't want anyways).

We ended up with a new 2013 F250 6.2 and loving every minute of it. It is not bad as a daily driving vehicle, gas mileage is around 13 to 13.5 around town and we drove it to Orlando (not towing) and got around 15 - 16. We have not had an opportunity to tow the Rockwood yet but trying to get a trip planned soon. The F250 is just itching to tow that trailer :B

[spoon059]

I'll throw in my worthless 2 cents here. If you are concerned with the yellow sticker inside the door panel, you probably don't want a half ton truck. The safest bet is a 3/4 ton. The Ford 6.2, GM 6.0 and Ram 5.7 are all great gas engines for the 3.4 ton platform and aren't too God awful expensive. They will give you a lot more payload than any halfton, outside of the F150 HD Max payload/max tow package (which is darn near impossible to find and usually more expensive than a 3/4 ton... only worthwhile if you demand the Ecoboost engine, shich you don't want anyways).

That being said, my combined axle rating in my 2010 Tundra is 1000 lbs MORE than my yellow sticker says it is rated for. I honestly believe that the Tundra can handle close to a ton in payload with no ill effects. I don't advocate pushing a vehicle beyond its rated limits, even though I know that Toyota really unvershot their payload ratings. We were down in Florida last winter and I ran into a guy pulling a 31 foot fiver with a Tundra... from Michigan. He's done it every winter since he bought it in 2007. All he did was add airbags and E rated tires to prevent rear end squat.

Chances are you could buy a Tundra Crewmax, hook up that trailer and be 500 lbs over your payload rating and tow for 100,000 miles with great results. I can get 10.5 to 11 mpg towing on relatively flat ground if I keep it under 65mph.

[Hokie_Camper]

Mike Up wrote:
IMO, F150s are for those that are worried about fuel economy and F250s are for those that are worried about being overloaded.

Good luck!

That's not always the case.

I grew up around trucks and have driven just about everything out there. In fact many many many years ago when I was 16 and first got my drivers license I took my test in one of the F-250s that my parents had for their construction company.

In my own case, I really wanted an F-250. I didn't get one as most of the time my F-150 is more truck than I need. The few times I need more truck I can borrow one. Now the F-150 does limit me to 8,900lbs with the options I have on it and that's a bit light for a toy hauler, but I really don't need anything huge as all I really want is something along the lines of a Fun Finder XT-190. In other words big enough to hold the Harley, have a nice bed, kitchen, and bathroom.

Another concern was that when I bought my F-150 I couldn't afford more than what I spent. And that was with the discounts on the 2008 when the 2009s came out, and a D plan.

So yes you're right that many people will concern themselves with mileage. And even that is tough as my F-150 actually gets better mileage than my old 4.0L Ranger.

[RinconVTR]

music69 wrote:

Home Skillet wrote:
Tundra is no comparison to the Ford.
LINK

If you believe their rating numbers, there's only a 6% margin between #1 (Ford) and #4 (Toyota). I'd buy the one I liked best.

Ahhh. I love it when common sense makes it way to internet forums!

[Mike_Up]

love2rvcamp wrote:

BTW, try to find someone with a Ford discount as an Xplan and you'll be able to purchase new at a cheaper price than a used model. My previous 2010 F150 was cheaper than used 2008 F150s when using my Xplan.

I have access to the Xplan but I didn't think it would make that much difference in the price.

We are wanting to stay below 40,000 and didn't think the Xplan would make that big of difference when the 250 are sitting here at 60,000

But might be the time to take a look to see if it helps.

I configured a 2013 F250 to have the exact same options as the truck in my signature except with the 6.2L and the price was right around $45,000. If I added Ecoboost, Max Tow package, and HD package, my truck would had been very close in price to the F250.

With my Xplan I was able to get the truck just above invoice when all fees were added. It brought my trucks actual price down to $31,800 after the rebates and the Xplan. My truck's MSRP was $41,470 before taking off for it's package discounts.

Unless the dealer is flipping your numbers with a trade, to make it look like their giving you the new truck for less, you're not going to do better than the Xplan. The dealers will sit on the truck waiting for another dealer to request it for a dealer trade and then they get to pick another vehicle out of that dealer's stock. F150s go quick at our dealers so they aren't going to sell at a loss.

[love2rvcamp]

BTW, try to find someone with a Ford discount as an Xplan and you'll be able to purchase new at a cheaper price than a used model. My previous 2010 F150 was cheaper than used 2008 F150s when using my Xplan.

I have access to the Xplan but I didn't think it would make that much difference in the price.

We are wanting to stay below 40,000 and didn't think the Xplan would make that big of difference when the 250 are sitting here at 60,000

But might be the time to take a look to see if it helps.

[Mike_Up]

love2rvcamp wrote:
Decided on the F250 but... There was a snafu at the dealership and our hold was lost and another salesman sold it before we got up there this morning. Guess it wasn't meant to be in this one. I think we have decided to get a F 250 but have to start the search over again.

You are making the right decision. IMO, F150s are for those that are worried about fuel economy and F250s are for those that are worried about being overloaded.

In my case both would be correct. I would had rather gone to a F250. Actually had one built up and ready for a dealer search but I came to my senses and realized I couldn't afford to drive it. I would had the 6.2L as I really do not like Diesel engines unless they are in an employer truck where their expensive maintenance costs and expensive fuel won't affect my wallet.

I daily drive my truck as we aren't rich enough to have separate vehicles for every different task.:) I put on around 70 miles per day so I needed a truck that could work like a truck and still be decent on fuel. The 5.0L is even better than the previous 2010 5.4L F150 I had and is more powerful.

I think you'll love your F250 just get the 6.2L and you'll be set. Seems like all the newer redesigned diesel engines have troubles. I believe the older ones that didn't cater to the EPA were more reliable.

BTW, try to find someone with a Ford discount as an Xplan and you'll be able to purchase new at a cheaper price than a used model. My previous 2010 F150 was cheaper than used 2008 F150s when using my Xplan.

Good luck!

[RWDIII]

In the Denver Post,dealer had new 2012 4x4F250 with warranty 12601 off list price,pretty soon 2013 will be the same.

[Mike_Up]

EcoBullet wrote:

love2rvcamp wrote:
Does the max tow package automatically come on the truck if it has the 3.73 gears? This one had the 3.73 but payload was only 1200. The salesman said it had the max tow but I don't think so. It didn't have the inter grated brake controller.
Mike

Salesman lied. Max tow comes with 7600 gvwr, integrated brake controller, beefier receiver hitch, and Dumbo towing mirrors.

That's the problem when you get a loaded truck, it's payload is so low it can't be used as a truck.:S

The 3.73 gears are an option for a 5.0L truck as a standalone axle. The 3.73 gears are part of an optional package for Ecoboost trucks. Either part of the Off Road package, part of the Max Tow package, or can be had separately on the FX4 Off Road model.

That low payload 1200 lbs Ecoboost truck most likely is either a FX4 or Lariat model, or is an XLT model with the Off Road Package. Just remember to test drive a lot as Off Road shocks (Off Road package or FX4 model) 'usually' aren't as good as standard shocks when towing.