Volkov
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Re: Expedition vs Suburban
Deja vu all over again. As has been mentioned and I alluded to above, it is all about payload. We have 4 kids and when it came to the end of our 3/4 Suburban's reliable service life, there was nothing that could replace it other than a full size van. Trust me I looked. Nobody makes a 3/4 T SUV for consumers anymore. The listed max payloads for Expy, Sub, Sequoia are like 1300-1600# but I never actually saw one with a sticker that wasn't around 250# less than that. YOu will spend 800# on the tongue weight, leaving you with 550 for the family of six and any stuff in the SUV. If the kids are small, you might make it, but kids have this bad habit of outgrowing things, so you will be on the clock. We are pretty skinny overall, but by the time the boys were into the teens, I calculated a family weight of around 800#, then there were the fur babies. We got lucky in a way as boys got older and had Summer jobs so long trips with the whole family faded away replaced by parking closer and everyone constantly rotating back and forth so the crew cab became functional for us as a TV. Now the running gear isn't going to explode if your overload it by 200#, but I prefer to be on the underside of ratings. Do the math yourself,look at the real door sticker and then decide.405Views0likes0CommentsRe: Expedition vs Suburban
silverfz wrote: Dick_B wrote: My 6.0L 2500 Suburban can barely handle my 7500 lb. TT so I can't imagine how a 1500 could handle yours. If I had to buy another tow vehicle I would look at the Chevrolet pickup trucks and put a cover on the back to hide my tools. really. my tundra pulls my 7500 lb TT real good . never ever bogged into 1st gear on any climb. I do have airbags and hd shocks. i never felt any kind of crazy movement in any weather condition which includes driving through a tropical storm once Last I checked, your Tundra is a p/u like the OP suggested. I'd like to see how towing your trailer with a Sequoia ( corollary to the 1/2T Suburban or Expy we are actually discussing here) would do.390Views0likes0CommentsRe: Ford increasing EcoBoost power
Yeah, but all that towing power in an 8 passenger vehicle is useless without payload. How about an HD payload version? Looked at the Expy to replace the old 2500 Yukon XL. Our family of 6 and 2 dogs is over 1000# and we are small on a N. American scale. Looking at door stickers on the lot, the best any Expy had to offer was 1350#. Leaving a whopping 350 of tongue weight to be at max capacity.309Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
Yes, I mean shifting to first or second to keep speed down and keep off the brakes. Something I always use when driving the Duffy Lake Road. We drive that about every one to two years. Don't let that shallow 10% at the end fool you, that is where the 6 switchbacks are!! First sign is hard to read...it is 13%. And those speed limits are km not mph, so multiply by .6 for conversion. Downshifting lets me get down nice and slow in complete control and the tranny temps actually drop. I use the brakes only in pulses when the revs climb too high. Usually behind someone in a small vehicle whose brake lights are on the entire time with that wonderful smell of burning brake fluid.574Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
DwnSth, many thanks for the info. NO, won't find a diesel 250 for comparable $$ but the gas 6.2 can be , and that would be my target. Less worried about going up than coming down. That remains the crux for me I think. How well does the EB engine brake on downhills? The next consideration is weighing the 2017 improvements relative to the deep discounts with employee pricing right now. I understand that the SCrew in the 250 is actually smaller than the 150 but that will change this year. Thought the back seat of the 150 was cavernous to begin with, and certainly bigger than the back seat of my current TV so not a concern really. Sales guy is trying to dissuade from the 250. NO idea why ( but I do have theories)and I could care less. I will decide based on my needs and expectations.573Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
AlmostAnOldGuy wrote: I believe the GVWR dropped from 8200 to 7850 for the 2015+ rigs. With the reduction in weight the payload still increased. Also, on the 2012 the receiver is good for 1150 with a WD hitch but that is less than you will get on the 250/2500 truck. Yeah, they no longer upgrade to the 7 stud axles. That might be the reason for the lower gvwr. For me it was a bonus as it will be getting a set of winter wheels and the 7 stud weren't an easy or cheap pattern to find. Max tongue is 1220 which is the same as my 1200 on the XL ( and many would say to keep it below that on the GM design on a 12 year old hitch.) and basically same as the 250 gasser which rates at 1250. A thanks to everyone else's replies. It will be the gasser. I won't get into why and start a debate that has been beaten to death. We wanted the capacity to seat 6 with everyone getting both shoulder belts and headrest. That isn't negotiable with DW. Only the Ram and Ford give that. ONly the ford HD payload package offered the payload to be well above limits - something I knew without even looking ( I have been around a while). With the 250 in the discussion, maybe the Ram 2500 gets a revisit. There are benefits to the 150 platform in daily use. 2 inch lower entry height might not sound like much, but with elderly parents with 3 bionic joints who we routinely drive around, it does make a difference. The Lariat hits the spot for the indulgences I want. With 5 months of real winter, heated seats in a vehicle kept outside is no longer an option - it is a necessity for my purchase. Plus I want leather over cloth with kids and 3 large long haired dogs in the household. Cleans much easier. I know the difference that 1500 to 2500 makes as I have done that upgrade, but given the 150 HD offers better numbers than my current 2500, it worked its way into the equation. Braking will be a big part of the final decision.573Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
Many thanks Stu that is just the sort of info I was hoping for. I also run a Dual Cam. One big thing will be the driving characteristics, so I will have to wait for the Max Payload that is coming in to the dealer. I do think the brakes will be the biggest issue here. The GVWR is basically the same, just added payload for the weight they took off the truck in '15. NO doubt the 250 will see bigger brakes, but as I said they need that just to stay even. THe better engine braking of the 6.2 is a very good point. Years ago I picked up that advice here and have used it many times to good effect on some nasty descents.573Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
donn0128 wrote: 150= p metric tires, semi floating axles, weaker frame, weaker wheels, smaller brakes. 250= LT tires, full floating axles, stronger frame, bigger brakes, stronger wheels. You choose Partly true. max payload gets LT E tires, and heavy duty rims. Yes, still the same 1/2 ton frame (edit: wrong, actually thicker frame members than standard) used to get axle upgrade per some, but can't confirm for the 15+ models. (edit, yes 9.75 ring gear) Stiffer springs . No debate that 3/4 will be more capable: 1 ton would be more capable still but not necessary. Ford says the 150 is rated higher that what I currently tow with,and I would be at about 75% of capacity which I am comfortable with. My question began with and still is whether less weight up front is an issue. Remeber too that much of the heavier components on the 250 are necessary just to accomodate the extra ton of weight it is carrying dry. As an aside, it would be interesting to compare the brakes on my current XL, 250 and the max payload.306Views0likes0CommentsRe: F150 vs 250
The interesting thing is that the tow rating for the max payload 150 and the Yukon is the same, but the F150 has significantly higher payload. The real difference is the inherent weight of the TV. I wouldn't consider standard f150 for what I am hauling don't worry. Waiting for 2 max payload versions to come in so I can crawl around and really see the differences. Should say over 90% of the mileage will be unloaded. Tow 4-5 trips per year and usually less than 2 hour trips.132Views0likes0CommentsF150 vs 250
Considering replacing the old girl - 04 8.1 Yukon XL as her electrical gremlins and module failures are becoming increasingly frequent. Plan 1 had been max payload SCrew with max tow pkg but then saw 250 with 6.2 for about the same $$. Both Lariats. THe one thing I have not seen discussed (with apologies if my search skills are lacking) is the flip of the significant curb weight difference. It is great that the light weight f150 bumps its tow capacity, but coming in a only 5k#, I stopped to wonder if it might be more prone to being pushed around by the 8000+# I would have behind it. THoughts? Anyone with real life experience with the two?6.2KViews0likes36Comments
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