Curious if the Ford F150 will tow 10,000+

[C130]

While I fully understand the diesels cost more, they get better mileage than the gas engines, typically last way longer, and are more stable towing. I'm on my second diesel truck and don't think I'd ever go back to a gas engine, towing or not. I just like the larger size of the Super Duty or equivalent trucks.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by C130

While I fully understand the diesels cost more, they get better mileage than the gas engines, typically last way longer, and are more stable towing. I'm on my second diesel truck and don't think I'd ever go back to a gas engine, towing or not. I just like the larger size of the Super Duty or equivalent trucks.

Couldn't agree more. A 1/2 ton gas truck is nothing more than an SUV with without the back 3rd row seating. Mushy suspension is not good for towing. That's why 1/2 ton owners are always the ones looking to beef up the rear end on their trucks when towing relatively light weight trailers.

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Couldn't agree more. A 1/2 ton gas truck is nothing more than an SUV with without the back 3rd row seating.

Or is an SUV nothing more than a 1/2 ton gas truck with a back cover and 3rd row seating?

[runsdeep]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Couldn't agree more. A 1/2 ton gas truck is nothing more than an SUV with without the back 3rd row seating. Mushy suspension is not good for towing. That's why 1/2 ton owners are always the ones looking to beef up the rear end on their trucks when towing relatively light weight trailers.

There are some beefy GM 1/2 ton max tows with big motors that will pull the weights but like others have said its often the rear axle & payload that limits you can exceed. In my case our 1/2 ton did a great job for short runs but on long hilly mountain trips had to go with the Chevy HD 2500 due to the rear axle/payload weights.

[Fishhogg]

RE: tow vehicle

First off I was in the trucking business 43 years (3.8 million miles) I only say that so you know I have a little experience with weight's and measure's. We live in Alaska and looked for months and finally found a Ford F-150 Ecoboost w/ heavy tow package and 3.73 rearend in Washington state flew down got the truck and hit the road to California. We bought a Arctic Fox 25R (2007) in like new condition. weight's of trailer dry 6300, 640 tongue and GVW of 10,000. Spent 3 miserable days in Sacramento 112deg. out fitting, tires, bearings etc. we hit the coast 65deg. At no time did I feel unsafe, unstable or uncomfortable. We have a WDH with Anti-sway built in and it worked great. I did my weights all under GVW adjusted the hitch and 5200 miles later we are home. I had a F350 power stroke I sold with my boat and for us this truck is great. I don't care what you drive cross winds and trucks, trailers and buses will move you. Good luck in your search??

[09 harley]

The tow ratings of trucks are hype put out by the manufacturers. You could tow the weight suggested by the company but you would be overloaded and unsafe. Max comfortable weight for 150,1500 or whatever is about 7500. Do yourself a favor and get a F250 because they are much more capable. Don't look at the Ram because they don't have leaf springs. This was done for ride comfort not towing. Why do a lot of buyers add air bags? Because the coils can't handle the weight and you need to add a bandaid to solve the problem caused by a design not meant for towing.
Get a real truck and go with the Ford.

[onechaddude]

Originally Posted by 09 harley

The tow ratings of trucks are hype put out by the manufacturers. You could tow the weight suggested by the company but you would be overloaded and unsafe. Max comfortable weight for 150,1500 or whatever is about 7500. Do yourself a favor and get a F250 because they are much more capable. Don't look at the Ram because they don't have leaf springs. This was done for ride comfort not towing. Why do a lot of buyers add air bags? Because the coils can't handle the weight and you need to add a bandaid to solve the problem caused by a design not meant for towing.
Get a real truck and go with the Ford.

This is completely untrue. My 14 ram 2500 with coil springs handles the weight just like the leaf springs. I've had more weight on the rear coils hauling lumber than what the truck is rated for and they actually hold up better than the leafs. Ive towed my gooseneck dump trailer loaded to the max and the coils dont wallow up and down like leaf springs do either. An added benefit is they don't beat you up empty like the leafs on the Ford does. Keep on trashing the ram coil springs but what you gonna say when ford goes to them in a couple years.

Chad

Chad

[marcham]

Originally Posted by 09 harley

The tow ratings of trucks are hype put out by the manufacturers.

Pulling a 10000lb flatbed with steel beams is nothing. A 7000lbs 5th wheel with a stand up bedroom is a whole other ball game in terms of drag or wind side load. The hitch weights will be very different. Some common sense is required. Also pulling that 5th at 50mph would probably be quite safe, but not so at 75mph.

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by marcham

Pulling a 10000lb flatbed with steel beams is nothing. A 7000lbs 5th wheel with a stand up bedroom is a whole other ball game in terms of drag or wind side load. The hitch weights will be very different. Some common sense is required. Also pulling that 5th at 50mph would probably be quite safe, but not so at 75mph.

Also untrue.
I've pulled several of both when I was on the road so I speaking with actual experience.

My first 5th wheel rv trailer was a new 1984 Aljo 7600 GVWR. I had several size pickups from one ton DRW 454/460 down to a '81 1500 chevy with a smallblock gasser TH350 4.10 gears. We used the 1500 as the DRW trucks simply rode harsh and weren't needed.
This trailer weighed in the 7200 -7300 lb depending on length of trip. The truck handled the Aljo just fine in CO/NM/UT/WY and western OK/KS in strong head and sidewinds.
However hook up one of my loaded 10k flatdecks (GN or bumper pull) with I beams and pallets of metal skins and the same 1500 truck would struggle on any small hill .....on the same roads I rv'ed on.

Hitch weight on a 5th wheel rv is pretty much the same unlike a flatdeck trailer where I can place loads to achieve any hitch weight I need to match the trucks axle/tire load ratings.

[wandering1]

What does the towing specs from ford tell you?

[drittal]

Originally Posted by 09 harley

The tow ratings of trucks are hype put out by the manufacturers. You could tow the weight suggested by the company but you would be overloaded and unsafe. Max comfortable weight for 150,1500 or whatever is about 7500. Do yourself a favor and get a F250 because they are much more capable. Don't look at the Ram because they don't have leaf springs. This was done for ride comfort not towing. Why do a lot of buyers add air bags? Because the coils can't handle the weight and you need to add a bandaid to solve the problem caused by a design not meant for towing.
Get a real truck and go with the Ford.

The coils have a comparatively softer rife because they are progressive rate. Soft at first then firmer and firmer the more weight you add.

Unlike ford that lengthened the leaf and used fewer on their new trucks since 08 to imove the ride. They squat under very little load and a lot of owners have turned to air bags as the fix.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/11...f-springs.html
http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/gen.../337442?page=1

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

When Ford introduced the 3.5 eco-boost they towed a open car hauler with two cars around a race track with high banked turns. I think at wide open throttle.

Anyone that has towed a camping trailer knows these trucks really can not tow a 10,000 lb non aerodynamic camping trailer at highway speeds.

I too am interested it we can find it in writting that the tow ratings are using low trailers with low cargo. Even if we can not find it in writing I still believe it.

You obviously have NOT towed with an Ecoboost. We pulled our 9500lb TT thousands of miles easily cruising at highway speeds in 5th gear right at 2K RPM. Rarely had to go below 4th at 2650ish RPM to maintain 65, even in areas that were steep enough to put semis down to 45 mph or so.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by onechaddude

This is completely untrue. My 14 ram 2500 with coil springs handles the weight just like the leaf springs. I've had more weight on the rear coils hauling lumber than what the truck is rated for and they actually hold up better than the leafs. Ive towed my gooseneck dump trailer loaded to the max and the coils dont wallow up and down like leaf springs do either. An added benefit is they don't beat you up empty like the leafs on the Ford does. Keep on trashing the ram coil springs but what you gonna say when ford goes to them in a couple years.

Chad

Chad

I haven't personally towed with a Ram with coil springs- and I've only spoken with 2 that have. First was a good friends father that met up with us on a camping trip a couple of years ago. He was towing a TT that was around 28', probably in the 6K weight range. He was complaining about how "squishy and squirmy" the rear of the truck felt. The only real difference in this rig and what he had always used was- you guessed it- the coil springs on his new Ram 1500. Second person was an RV delivery driver. His DMax was in the shop and he had to rent a Ram 2500 to make a delivery to me. One of this first things he said to me was that he was really ready to get his Chevy back because this Ram was all over the place- rear end was just "squirmy". Exact same story as the other guy. I pointed to the coil springs on the Ram and told him that was his problem. He didn't even know it had coil springs, so no way was he biased about spring type!!! I just wonder why Ram still has leafs on the 3500 if coils are better in every way???

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by drittal

The coils have a comparatively softer rife because they are progressive rate. Soft at first then firmer and firmer the more weight you add.

Unlike ford that lengthened the leaf and used fewer on their new trucks since 08 to imove the ride. They squat under very little load and a lot of owners have turned to air bags as the fix.

2012 F250 Leaf Springs - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
f250's squatting - Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

I do agree that the Ford's squat too much. Can we stop building trucks for suburban wanna-be's that are looking for a car-like ride from a 3/4 ton truck!!!! I added air bags to my 2015 F250 for this very reason. Even with WDH properly installed I had so much squat in the rear I was getting flashed constantly by people thinking my brights were on. And I've got the camper package with overloads!