Community Forums

tuffr2 · 03-16-2023, 09:56 AM

I saw the Nissan Titan XD on dealer lots before Covid all the time. It would be worthwhile if you find one to check it out. Nissan updated the interior with a nice sized bigger screen, went from a 7 speed to a 9 speed transmission. Even if not getting a 5th wheel this truck will control a travel trailer better than a normal muscled up truck. (A F-150 with the heavier axle and 2,000lb. Payload) because of the longer wheelbase. 151" vs 147" I think. I think one of the problems with the F-150 towing heavy is it is too light. The Aluminum body is good but not for towing heavy.

Agree the 8' bed on the F-150 does not look proportionate. But it sure is functional when it comes to towing. The Ford F-150 has a 163" wheelbase with the 8' bed.

Nissan has all the safety gizmos too. Maybe even standard. I know on the Altima they are standard. Don't know for sure about the truck. I think the Titan XD will weigh close to 6,000lbs. That helps control the trailer, especially with the slightly longer wheelbase. If towing a 8,000lb travel trailer a normal muscled up F-150 can tow that but the Nissan Titan XD can control the trailer better.

Sbad0cko · 03-16-2023, 11:04 AM

Interesting, in reading some of the tech literature for the Titan XD, they call out the max tongue weight:

Maximum towing capacity – Tongue (lbs) (when properly equipped)

4x4

1,090 S

1,077 SV

1,080 P4X

970 Plat Reserve

*****
I wonder if that's w/o a WDH; I can't find any info about it. I'm going to ASSUME it is, but assumptions can be costly !!!!

Sbad0cko · 03-16-2023, 11:39 AM

XD also has a TINY fuel tank - 26 gallons ! That's a LOT of fuel stops when towing; that could be a real deal breaker the more I think on it.

JIMNLIN · 03-16-2023, 01:07 PM

The XD is a very heavy 1/2 ton truck. It's gvwr/rawr competes with Fords F150HDPP gvwr/rawr.
The F150HDPP has more usable rawr payload due to its lighter dry axle weight.

Both work well with a TT or a very small 5th wheel trailer.

Florida Rang · 03-16-2023, 01:26 PM

Because you know you will eventually upgrade to a bigger rig,,just go ahead and buy you a F-450 Platinum diesel dually and be done with ever having to worry about being overweight. And then when you get that 43ft 5th wheel you can tow it Anywhere in the USA with no problems, Plus you can’t take it $$$$$ with you so spend it and make memories today….

tuffr2 · 03-16-2023, 02:25 PM

I agree that 26 gallon fuel tank in the Titan XD is small. I think you get a 36 gallon tank on the Ford with the tow package. That is a bummer about the Titan XD.

I don't know but I think the F-150 with the 6.5' bed would make an ok tow vehicle. I don't know the wheelbase for sure but it will be longer than the 147" normal wheelbase F-150.

When looking at F-150's you need to do what JIMNLIN said, 'look at the axle rating on the driver's door jam'. Ford uses a lot of different axles on the F-150 like JIMNLIN said.

Dave Pelletier · 03-17-2023, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeisurePursuits

For both the people I know that had this issue, their trucks were low mileage and unmodified. I know that one of them, the one with the F350, had to take their truck to the dealer and I think they put in a beefier steering damper.

The steering damper is a bandaid and doesn't solve the root issue.....which is usually insufficient positive caster.

I've owned eleven solid front axle trucks; four Fords, five Rams and two Jeeps and have never had an issue going back 37 years or so..... not saying it can't or doesn't happen but it isn't something that would steer me away (no pun intended) from getting a Super Duty or Ram over a GM HD truck.

Dave

Sbad0cko · 03-17-2023, 01:27 PM

Maybe if I lowered my trailering expectations I could do another option.

In doing more digging, I'm kicking around:

F150 SCAB XLT 145" WB (regular bed) 2.7T w/ the 2.7 payload package (7000 GVWR). It gets me:

1. Shooting range of the 5.0 from a tow rating perspective
5.0 10,500lbs or 12,800lbs w/ Max Tow
2.7 10,100lbs w/ 2.7 Payload Package
2. its (from what I read) the most reliable / proven engine that Ford puts in the F150
3. It comes w/ a rear axle that is not having bolt shear problems (big thread on this on the F150 forum; Max tow got a new rear axle recently).

Maybe I'd have to drop my trailer 2' and go to 24' max ~6500 pounds scaled to make it work. I'm thinking my original 26' 7k pound trailer might be a smidge too much for it, but I've read people making it work.

2.7 Heavy Payload Package also nets me the 3800 pound rear axle that is stock on the bigger motors, but not the higher max tow axle. Not sure if I'd be bumping up on that w/ a shorter lighter trailer.

I'm really trying to find a daily driver that can recreationally pull a travel trailer a few times a year. I'm a bit off from retirement, and my oldest is off to college in the fall. Really looking to avoid a very expensive HD Truck / 3rd vehicle sitting in the driveway.

Thoughts?

Sbad0cko · 03-17-2023, 01:31 PM

And yes I know this thread started out looking at a 3/4 ton gasser; FWIW I know what I would order now if I went that route. In the interest of my wallet I'm just evaluating all my options so I can say I made my decision eyes wide open.

JIMNLIN · 03-17-2023, 01:47 PM

Quote:

I'm really trying to find a daily driver that can recreationally pull a travel trailer a few times a year. I'm a bit off from retirement, and my oldest is off to college in the fall. Really looking to avoid a very expensive HD Truck / 3rd vehicle sitting in the driveway.

Thoughts?

Then look no farther than a F150 3.5 Ecoboast with the 7150 gvwr and 4150 rawr. The F150 does have higher gvwr/rawr packages.
Those 4150 rawr will give you in the 1900 lb in the bed payload range. Of course payloads depends on the trucks configurations.

The 3.5 EB engine will give you better mpgs (low to mid 20s) when not towing vs than the 5.0 engine.

tuffr2 · 03-17-2023, 03:16 PM

Agree with get the 3.5 Eco-Boost for the better payload. If this truck is also going to be your daily driver the 3.5 Eco-Boost is not a bad option. It can be both a daily driver plus tow a travel trailer.

If you have not test driven a 3.5 Eco-Boost try not to smile when you accelerate.

Try to keep the weight and length down so you have a comfortable towing experience.

The 2.7 Eco-Boost, although fast it does not have the guts IMHO.

Sbad0cko · 03-19-2023, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Depends how you want to camp / travel. If not staying in the trailer for long periods of time like two weeks then it might be better to buy a camper that can be towed by a 150/1500 series truck. That size and weight would be 28' and 6,500lbs.

Now to mention the toughest 150/1500 series trucks. They are a F-150 with the HDPP option. Heavy Duty Payload Package. And the Nissan Titan XD. The Ford will have a 4,800lb capacity rear axle and the Titan XD a 4,900lb capacity rear axle. Each truck has a special heavier frame with a longer wheelbase. Of these trucks I like the Ford with the the more powerful 3.5 Eco-Boost engine. The Nissan Titan XD will be a lot easier to find and can come with the gooseneck option.

Since you mention the Titan XD, how about a F250 SuperCab 6.5' bed? Wheelbase is 148", a little less than the XD but beefier everywhere else. Could I comfortably tow 26'-28', 7k-8k travel trailer w/ that? (Preferably 26 but I'd like to know I could go one step up if I wanted to). I'm sure people pull 30' and much heavier, but I'm nowhere near being there yet.

Any other config F250 gets me into limo/stretch lengths; this COULD be my daily driver if it had to work out that way. Its a little bigger then the F150 SCAB 6'5" bed, but shorter then the F150 SCREW 6.5' bed.

Looking for a happy medium (if that exists).

tuffr2 · 03-19-2023, 05:18 PM

A F-250 is always better than a 150/1500 series truck for towing. While the best 150/1500 series trucks will have a 4900lb rear axle capacity a F-250 will have a 6,300lb rear axle capacity.

The only issue with the 148" wheelbase is you will not be able to control a trailer over 30' IMHO.

Google 'trailer length vs wheelbase length'.

My experience was with a 26.5' travel trailer towed with two different trucks. 1st truck was a 122" wheelbase Honda Ridgeline which had terrible sway at 60mph. Traded for a F-150 with a 145" wheelbase and that truck was rock solid at 75 mph. Zero sway or effect of semis that I passed.

My 2017 F-250 6.2 gas crew cab SB can seat 5 people very comfortably but has 160" wheelbase. It does not fit in the garage. It sits in the driveway. It does not make a good daily driver.

I would look at a F-150 with the 6.5" bed and it wheelbase. That truck with the tow package and 36 gallon fuel tank 10 speed transmission and 3.5 litre Eco-Boost would make a better daily driver. My F-250 gets 13mpg around town.

I just looked at a F-150 6.5' bed and it has a longer wheelbase of 157". That truck with the 3.5 Eco-Boost would be a good daily driver plus tow a 7,000lb travel trailer at 28'.

Sbad0cko · 03-19-2023, 06:29 PM

The Ford Max Tow package comes w/ an 'upgraded' rear axle and hitch/bumper. I've been reading on many forums how Ford changed the Max Tow rear axle to a 3/4 floating axle; the problem many are having is a bolt is shearing off the end of the axle assembly.

https://www.f150forum.com/f129/2021-...heared-515460/. The thread started off as a power boost issue but it quickly coalesced around the Max Tow axle (all powerboats F150s get the Max Tow package/axle).

I don't think I have a good way of knowing what RAWR I'd get on my truck if I ordered it w/o the Max Tow package. I'm fearful I'd end up w/ a lower rated axle, and pretty much torpedo the whole point for this long thread.

Nothing is easy when it comes to trucks. I'd almost rather order just the regular tow package and add the 36 gallon fuel tank alacart if I knew for sure I'd get a 4150 rear axle and a receiver strong enough to support everything.