Options for towing a 9,000lb trailer - as I now see it.

[Maury82]

Originally Posted by Demiles

Can someone please post a picture of how the HDPP handles 1300lbs TW and Ford’s required 25% FALR? Maury82, since you are within all manufacturers limits you should be setup this way right?

Here are my numbers from the CAT on the same day of the truck and wet and ready to camp.

Steer Axle: 3260 lbs.
Drive Axle : 2360
Gross: 5620

Loaded and ready camp

Steer: 2980 lbs
Drive: 4040
Gross WT: 14,660 lbs.

Gross Combine Vehicle Rating: 17,000 lbs
Tow rating : 11,400 lbs

My hitch is rated at 1,320 lbs

2,472 lbs payload (yellow door)

Trailer yellow door 8,400 lbs (second a/c)

My two Champions 2000 watts inverter generator's probably outweigh everything I pack.

[Maury82]

Now keep in mind, although I've ridden in many trucks, I haven't driven a truck in over 15 years, when I borrowed a friend's truck to pick up a desk in a box, so I had to first get use to driving a long truck first.

I was scraping my back wheels while turning, didn't know that towing mirror had a blind spot in that flat upper portion, and the curved mirror only made me dizzy like I had on the wrong glasses.

When it came to towing, there were two opposite viewpoints.

The specs from Ford, and the comments on those Ford F-150 forums that the HDPP trucks can handle a TT within its rating.

Then you had what I call the "doom and gloom" squad, like most are aware about.

The doom and gloom squad (D and G), I soon figured just loooves a big hulking trucks ...the bigger the better, and "you can't have too much truck"

With the D and G squad, if the 1/2 ton truck had the ratings, they will find some excuse why it is unsafe, unwise, or anything they can stretch to make it fit.
The trailer is too long for a 1/2 ton, the driver has too many fat kids who will eat up payload, he will pack too much, etc.

This transmission excuse was a first, and most humorous one yet.

Oh, another funny one is the small 5 ft 200 lbs trailer with a 10,000 lbs weight carrying capacity; and how he needs a 1 ton diesel dually because he the dry weight is useless and he might upgrade in 30 years when he reach 50...lol

Trust me when I say this, I didn't have any towing experience, and didn't know how a trailer was supposed to normal feel, even simple things like that slow bounce of the added weight took some getting used to.

Anything could have frighten me to pull off to the shoulder, especially any trailer swaying from passing trucks, or any flimsy feeling like the truck wasn't enough, especially braking.

On top of all that, I failed to take note of it was a windy day with gusts of 30 mph. I noticed it when a truck was wandering in its lane, and tree tops were waving.

I gained my confidence from being frighten and nervous, to being confidence to the point traveling on US 35 in southwest Ohio to I-64 towards Charleston WV in two lane traffic. That was my first time having big rigs passing my in the opposite direction...I forgot about that when I took that route.

Death grip time!!...first truck passed, ok, that wasn't bad at all. Psss, I pick up speed from 50 mph to keep up with traffic, probably to the delight of the bottleneck that was gathering behind me...lol

Even towing in the rain was something I had to overcomen.and my first hard braking, and realizing the front lose grip first...duh!!

It stopped fine, but you can never have too much braking performance.

I plan to utilize all that extra rear end weight by adding high performance slotted rotors and performance pads on both ends.


Then it dawned on me that there i still have to go through the Hampton Roads tunnel!!...none event.

Oh, on my second trip out, I traveled across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnels...19 miles of bridges and two long tunnels.

I would have never towed that trailer had it not been stable and allow me to build confidence in that truck.

If I'm confident, anybody would be.

[Jshopes81]

Tuffr, the market for them was garbage. Everyone just bought the 2500hd if they needed more than a grocery getter or they got the chevy with the hd trailer package that got you the semi floating 14 bolt and hd springs. It was pretty much a gas only 2500hd with light springs. It did get you the 6.0 instead of the 5.3. I remember when they came out back in like 2003 or so. I dont remember seeing many on dealer lots and ive only ever seen 1 or 2 on the road. At the time they had a 1/2, heavy 1/2, heavier 1/2, 3/4, srw 1ton, and drw 1 ton. They got a little out of control.

[tuffr2]

I usually fall into the doom and gloom group as soon as I see 150 or 1500. The F-150 HDPP should be called an F-200.

How long did it take to get the HDPP? From time you ordered it to picking it up.

[mre]

Here are two posts that were started this year that are very similar in nature to this one that might be of some interest.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/ford-...ng-375842.html


http://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/big-b...st-376089.html

[Maury82]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I usually fall into the doom and gloom group as soon as I see 150 or 1500. The F-150 HDPP should be called an F-200.

How long did it take to get the HDPP? From time you ordered it to picking it up.

Three months, and that was during that plant closing Ford had this year. My truck was stuck in one process for an extra three weeks.

[redhooker]

Tuff

I agree with jimnlin the Chevy just doesn’t have anything like Ford in half-ton capacities. Nothing really to compete with the EB engines either. For decent power in a GM you still need well over 300 cubic inches.

The 1500HD (2001-2003) was a bastard truck as GM didn’t have a half ton frame capable of a crew cab until 2004. So they just called a 2500HD a different name to have something to offer. Came complete with a 6.0 and eight lug wheels, just a different badge. The leaf springs were identical to my 2500hd at the time. If you recall even the Fords back then had little 5 foot beds on the crew cabs. Was definitely a transition period for a while.

[Gavenger]

Based on what I am seeing and reading, GM doesn't need to come out with a 1/2HD because even though Ford offers one, you cant hardly find one. How many have they really sold through the custom orders or standard dealer orders? GM isn't going to spend a few million designing a niche truck to compete with Ford on that one. Now, if Ford integrates the HDPP package into the normal F-150 Tow package, GM will respond.

[Cumminsfan]

There's only two reasons to get an HDPP over an F250 6.2 or any other 3/4 ton gasser.
Non towing ride and mpg's.
If those two items are more important than towing ability then go for it. I'm not saying an HDPP can't tow a 10,000 TTT, I'm saying a 3/4 ton will do it easier.

[tuffr2]

My F-250 rides ok, I would like the better MPG. I also like what I have read about the 3.5 Eco-Boost. My test drive, I could not stop smiling. I bet the HDPP rides very nice with that 157" wheel base.

And the price, seems like it is very negotiable. But you will need to order it and wait a few months so planning ahead is a must. Agree with, or just go buy a F-250 that is on the dealer lot.

The 2020 Model year trucks will change a lot with improvements. New F-150, 250,350,450. New Ram 2500, 3500. New Chevy 2500, 3500.

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

There's only two reasons to get an HDPP over an F250 6.2 or any other 3/4 ton gasser.
Non towing ride and mpg's.
If those two items are more important than towing ability then go for it. I'm not saying an HDPP can't tow a 10,000 TTT, I'm saying a 3/4 ton will do it easier.

The reason I was considering a HDPP truck at one point was the transmission. 10 speeds coupled to a turbo engine makes a much more potent and flexible drivetrain than the 6.2 with a 6 speed. Now, will it last under that load... that all remains to be seen. I bet it does, and we get a very similar 10 speed in the F250s in a couple years.

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

My F-250 rides ok, I would like the better MPG. I also like what I have read about the 3.5 Eco-Boost. My test drive, I could not stop smiling. I bet the HDPP rides very nice with that 157" wheel base.

And the price, seems like it is very negotiable. But you will need to order it and wait a few months so planning ahead is a must. Agree with, or just go buy a F-250 that is on the dealer lot.

The 2020 Model year trucks will change a lot with improvements. New F-150, 250,350,450. New Ram 2500, 3500. New Chevy 2500, 3500.

When I bought a Chevy 2500 gasser a year ago, that's where I landed. That I could look for the hen's teeth HDPP (and be happier than hell if I found it), but with very little ability to negotiate. Or I could go to any lot and find a 3/4 ton gasser with similar towing specs in a slightly used price range.

I was shocked when I was really looking for a F-150 set up to tow--NO ONE ORDERS THEM. As in, even if you go to a farm town, you won't find a single F-150 on the lot with tow mirrors, let alone the tow package and the right rear end. The HDPP was simply non-existent, in my search. My wife was relieved when I bought my truck. Simply so she wouldn't have to hear me complain about how I found yet another vehicle on the lot with a $450 option for the larger fuel tank, but no one would check the box for the $475 option that was the big fuel tank, heavier rear axle, transmission cooler, and something else.

It wore me down. The majority of on-the-lot 3/4 ton gassers you will find will have tow mirrors, and EVERY newer Chevy gasser will have 4.10 gears. None of them will have that sweet kick-in-the-butt of the 3.5 Ecoboost, however...

[tuffr2]

When I was looking at a normal F-150 with the Eco-Boost my local dealer told me 3 times that there was a lifetime warranty on the driveline. And that the turbo was included. If I bought one I would have insisted that in writing. I went with a F-250 instead.

[JIMNLIN]

Just in case anyone is interested in old iron this copied from a GM website some year back so numbers may be foreign to some. The 1500HD was in production from '00 to '06 and was a very popular truck at that time for those few that wanted a 1/2 ton HD truck.

The 1500HD was the old 2500 (non HD) replacment. At one time GM offered a 8600 lb 3/4 ton and a 9000 lb 1 ton single rear wheel truck. They came out with the 2500HD at 9200 lb and a 2500 at 8600 lb. The changed the 2500 to a 1500HD (I think it was so they could claim the highest towing capacity in the 1/2 ton market). When they brought out the 2500HD they dropped the 9000 lb 3500 single rear wheel truck.

The 1500HD was only available with a 6.0L but you could get 3.73 or 4.10 rears (the 2500HD was only offered with 4.10 ratio unless you got the 8.1 or the 6.6). The 2500HD was offered with the 6.0, the 8.1 or the 6.6 engines.

The 1500HD has a 4500 lb front axle and 4500 lb front suspension vrs the 4800 front axle and 4500 front suspension in the 2500HD.

The 1500HD has a 6000 lb rear axle and rear suspension vrs the 6900 rear axle and 6084 rear suspension on the 2500HD.

The 1500HD was only offered in a crew cab with a 6.5' box vrs a full line offering for the 2500HD.

The max payload of the 1500HD was 3129 lbs. vrs 3606 for a comparable 2500HD.

This info was found in the 2006 Chevrolet Truck Order Guide