Debating future TV choice

[tuffr2]

I never ordered a truck. But I would build them on-line. Getting the good rear axle capacity is important. Anyway - the 36 gallon fuel tank is also important when towing. You should order it à la carte if needed.

Not sure what travel trailer you are thinking but one with at least one slide I would expect. Have you nixed a 5th wheel yet? It is easy to find a 5th wheel that is more comfortable than a travel trailer. I like the smaller 5th wheels with 3 slides. Opposing slides in the living area, which opens up the rig and gives more room. And a wardrobe slide in the bedroom.

If you are leaning to a F-250 then the recommendation is to get a F-350 SRW truck. Especially if you have to order a truck. You simply get more truck for the $$$. Plus a F-350 SRW is better to tow a 5th wheel.

The type of camping/traveling is important. If still working, the local State Parks are nice. Some even have a lake to fish and swim. And a F-150 makes more sense. If retired and long trips out west are planned then the F-350 and a 5th wheel makes more sense.

[Sbad0cko]

All right so if I order a F250 (at some point) it'll either be the 148" wheelbase SCAB or 160" wheelbase SCREW. Both will pull my 26' fine, both would pull a potential (way down the line) 30' too. The SCREW would pull it better. *so far so good?*

As to the F150, the options I'm willing to put my money on would be (in order of how I like them):

XLT 3.5 EB SCAB 148" wheelbase 7050 GVWR
XLT 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7150 GVWR
or ...
XL 5.0 SCREW 157" wheelbase 7850 GVWR

*Interesting note, the F250 Lariat SCAB prices out only 1800 dollars more then the F150 XLT SCREW.*

Can't get the EB in the HDPP unless I go Regular cab (don't want) or long bed SCAB (also don't want). Going HDPP also knocks me down into the XL trim, which means it'll be relatively spartan.

To me, a pickup "looks" like the regular bed SCAB; in my head when I think pickup that's the profile I see and it's the one that calls to me all things being equal. Really wish they'd let us build out a HDPP in the XLT line to make the comparison more feature equal. If the conventional wisdom on this forum says the 157" wheelbase is noticeably better/more capable then the 148" than my decision is pretty much made up; F150 wise.

And - I still don't know how a 'Max Tow' axle compares to the stock axle. The charts make no mention of the difference aside from Max Tow can pull more and has higher GCVWR.

[mistercee]

Originally Posted by Sbad0cko

All right so if I order a F250 (at some point) it'll either be the 148" wheelbase SCAB or 160" wheelbase SCREW. Both will pull my 26' fine, both would pull a potential (way down the line) 30' too. The SCREW would pull it better. *so far so good?*

As to the F150, the options I'm willing to put my money on would be (in order of how I like them):

XLT 3.5 EB SCAB 148" wheelbase 7050 GVWR
XLT 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7150 GVWR
or ...
XL 5.0 SCREW 157" wheelbase 7850 GVWR

*Interesting note, the F250 Lariat SCAB prices out only 1800 dollars more then the F150 XLT SCREW.*

Can't get the EB in the HDPP unless I go Regular cab (don't want) or long bed SCAB (also don't want). Going HDPP also knocks me down into the XL trim, which means it'll be relatively spartan.

To me, a pickup "looks" like the regular bed SCAB; in my head when I think pickup that's the profile I see and it's the one that calls to me all things being equal. Really wish they'd let us build out a HDPP in the XLT line to make the comparison more feature equal. If the conventional wisdom on this forum says the 157" wheelbase is noticeably better/more capable then the 148" than my decision is pretty much made up; F150 wise.

And - I still don't know how a 'Max Tow' axle compares to the stock axle. The charts make no mention of the difference aside from Max Tow can pull more and has higher GCVWR.

Google 'Ford max tow axle issues' and do some research. Apparently, there are many reported incidents of max tow axle bolts shearing in recent production years. There is a lot of talk of it on the Ford truck forums. Ford did offer the HDPP in XLT - and even Lariat until a few years ago, don't see that happening again.

You can get more in depth specs on axles/suspension etc. from the Ford Body Builders guide. Also, posting on a site like F150forums.com will garner you a ton of information.

Finally, as having 'been there, done that', I'd also recommend the HD truck. We towed a 33' with an F150 max tow for a bit and the difference in towing/stability in moving up to an F350 is night and day. I'm also in the camp of skipping the 3/4 and going directly to the 1-ton. Be prepared for the future....that next bigger trailer always seems to happen sooner than you think.

[Sbad0cko]

Originally Posted by mistercee

Google 'Ford max tow axle issues' and do some research. Apparently, there are many reported incidents of max tow axle bolts shearing in recent production years.

You can get more in depth specs on axles/suspension etc. from the Ford Body Builders guide. Also, posting on a site like F150forums.com will garner you a ton of information.

Finally, as having 'been there, done that', I'd also recommend the HD truck. We towed a 33' with an F150 max tow for a bit and the difference in towing/stability in moving up to an F350 is night and day. I'm also in the camp of skipping the 3/4 and going directly to the 1-ton. Be prepared for the future....that next bigger trailer always seems to happen sooner than you think.

I know - I think I may have posted earlier in this thread about the axle bolt shearing - which is why I'm wondering what I get if I don't go Max Tow. I've been in that link you've given me and printed out all the specs for the F150 and F250. For the F150, the specs don't make mention of what the axle upgrade is; in fact it doesn't mention it at all. If you get a truck that's supposed to have a 4150 rear axle per specs, what does the upgraded rear axle actually do for me? Is it a 'better' 4150 rear axle? Its a glaring omission; I'm doubtful I'd trust my dealer to figure it out.

[mistercee]

Post #6 in this thread describes some basic differences between the standard and 'max tow' rear axles:

https://www.f150forum.com/f129/2023-...rience-534469/

The post is from the first of the year. Might be a good one for you to resurrect and ask specific questions. Lot's of knowledge on that forum. Good luck in your quest!

[Sbad0cko]

Originally Posted by Sbad0cko

All right so if I order a F250 (at some point) it'll either be the 148" wheelbase SCAB or 160" wheelbase SCREW. Both will pull my 26' fine, both would pull a potential (way down the line) 30' too. The SCREW would pull it better. *so far so good?*

As to the F150, the options I'm willing to put my money on would be (in order of how I like them):

XLT 3.5 EB SCAB 148" wheelbase 7050 GVWR
XLT 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7150 GVWR
or ...
XL 5.0 SCREW 157" wheelbase 7850 GVWR

*Interesting note, the F250 Lariat SCAB prices out only 1800 dollars more then the F150 XLT SCREW.*

Can't get the EB in the HDPP unless I go Regular cab (don't want) or long bed SCAB (also don't want). Going HDPP also knocks me down into the XL trim, which means it'll be relatively spartan.

To me, a pickup "looks" like the regular bed SCAB; in my head when I think pickup that's the profile I see and it's the one that calls to me all things being equal. Really wish they'd let us build out a HDPP in the XLT line to make the comparison more feature equal. If the conventional wisdom on this forum says the 157" wheelbase is noticeably better/more capable then the 148" than my decision is pretty much made up; F150 wise.

And - I still don't know how a 'Max Tow' axle compares to the stock axle. The charts make no mention of the difference aside from Max Tow can pull more and has higher GCVWR.

*EDIT*
As to the F150, the options I'm willing to put my money on would be (in order of how I like them):

XLT 3.5 EB SCAB 148" wheelbase 7050 GVWR
XLT 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7150 GVWR
or ...
XL 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7850 GVWR

*Interesting note, the F250 Lariat SCAB prices out only 1800 dollars more then the F150 XLT SCREW.*

*Turns out you CAN get the 3.5 EB w/ the HDPP; I was mistaken. Footnote on the builder's sheet says its a Limited model; I took that to mean an actual LIMITED F150 but I think they meant they don't make many of them this way since there is no F150 Limited trim*

Going HDPP also knocks me down into the XL trim, which means it'll be relatively spartan.

[tuffr2]

It seems things are changing, even as we add to this thread. In the old days, 2 years ago you could get a Lariat with the HDPP option. Seems that is no longer true...that is bad.

It is true that 150/1500 series trucks cost as much as 250/2500 series trucks or close.

My thought - if you are going to camp local get the F-150. If you want to travel further then the F-250 is the way to go. It will tow better and wear yourself out less towing for a day. I am texting with a friend and we both agree the Ford seats are comfortable. I towed for 13 hours - 700 miles in a F-150. Then I towed the same distance in a F-450. Both times with very little fatigue.

Now Ford has two new(ish) gas engines for the Super Duty. The new 6.8 mini Godzilla and then the big Godzilla. Either one I think would be good with the same max weight.

Just maybe research the GM 1500 trucks. I know very little about them other then they are much better since 2019. I know very little about the rear axle options but know they have payloads in 1,800 - 2,100lb range. That competes with Ford and crushes the RAM 1500.

The GM 2500 trucks are beefed up too.

It will not be easy for even a truck person to pick a new truck so don't feel overwhelmed.

[Sbad0cko]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

It is true that 150/1500 series trucks cost as much as 250/2500 series trucks or close.

The XLT SCREW all tricked out comes in 4k less than a F250 Lariat SCREW. Amazing. I can shave even more off if I get the SCAB; which I visually like better but don't want to screw myself.

[tuffr2]

I sat in a F-150 XLT that had leather and had most options. I initially thought it was a Lariat. It had the 12" center console screen too. So I know Ford added items to the XLT trim level, actually a lot of items so I know the price can add up.

I have the F-250 SB that has 4 doors and 160" wheelbase. It seems small compared to the F-450 8' bed truck.

One thing that I never see mentioned is the F-250 is a bit more difficult to park. It just not turn sharp. But if you look around you do see all the trucks on the road. I would take a guess and say 20% of the vehicles around my area are trucks.

[MikeT5200]

[QUOTE=Sbad0cko;6451148]*EDIT*
As to the F150, the options I'm willing to put my money on would be (in order of how I like them):

XLT 3.5 EB SCAB 148" wheelbase 7050 GVWR
XLT 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7150 GVWR
or ...
XL 3.5 EB SCREW 157" wheelbase 7850 GVWR



I've had both... 2018 F150 XLT SC with the 6'5" bed... 3.5 EcoB... 3.55's and 10 speed. It had 1814 lb payload. Put 82K miles towing a 6,480 lb trailer (never had any problems). MPG towing 8-9... Solo was 20-22. Great truck for towing this amount of weight. I think that towing anything over 8K lbs is 3/4 and 1 ton territory.

Now, I have a 2022 F350.... Lariat...SCLB... With the 7.3 and 3.73's and 10 speed. Payload is 4,118 lbs. It tows our 9,100 lb (GVWR is 9,995 lb) Outdoors RV with ease. Towing mpg is a little better at 8.5 to 9.3 (that's hand calculated... Not from the LOM). Solo is 17.5-19 mpg. I do have a topper on it ( had one on the F150 too).

We carry our road and mountain bikes ($$$) along with other stuff in the bed that's why the topper. The longer/full size bed is so much better better for carrying extra gear,etc. A 1 1/2' extra is a lot of room.

The longer wheelbase (164") is good for towing. And the Super Cab keeps it relatively easy to be a daily driver. The Ford Super Cab doors fold all the way back and out of the way. Also, as someone mentioned above that configuration gives a good deal of privacy when changing clothes. The rear SC seats have plenty of room for an average/normal size adult. I'm not sure why people think that there isn't enough room there. With the seats flipped up it gives some extra storage (ice chest, etc) too.

So my advice is if you plan on towing less than 8K get a F150, with 8' bed and at least get the 3.73's or the 4.30's. Much better for towing.


And if you're going to be towing above 8K then go straight to the F350 and still get the 8' bed with 3.73/4.30's. Plus the brakes are FAR BETTER than the F150's.

The F350 rides surprisingly good. Major bumps and potholes... You can feel them. The biggest difference is when you go into a driveway/parking lot type entry and the truck "twist" (for better lack of word) and you get side to side motion. Otherwise it's a very quiet, stable ride.
Cheers!

[Sbad0cko]

I've decided to order the following once I actually pull the trigger:

F150 XLT SCREW 4x4 157" WB
3.5EB, Max Tow, Sport Appearance, Power Sliding Rear Window, Tow Mirrors.

I'm debating the onboard scales feature, mostly b/c I need to do more research on it and figure out if it's a heavy option pound wise. Seems super useful for pulling a travel trailer.

Thanks for everybody's help !!!!

[tuffr2]

F150 XLT SCREW 4x4 157" WB

3.5EB, Max Tow, Sport Appearance, Power Sliding Rear Window, Tow Mirrors.

That truck will tow a nice sized travel trailer IMHO. There is one problem with the 3.5 Eco-Boost. If you like to go fast you will get speeding tickets. That truck will go fast easy.

At one time trucks were borderline underpowered. I am talking the Ford 5.4 litre doggy engine prior to 2011. Those days are now long gone.

Enjoy that truck.

[Sbad0cko]

My DW (God bless her) doesn't want to go into another truck and be hung out on trailer selection down the road.

So, in a crazy pivot, it LOOKS like I'm going to order the F250 Lariat SCAB. At only $5k more then my tricked out F150 XLT, it's pushing us down that road. 148" WB on that configuration, but much heavier, LT tires, etc.

I should be able to pull up to 28'-30' if I wanted to right? Esp. w/ a Equalizer 4pt or a Pro Pride?

[vroom_vroom]

Never understood why everyone goes for a 3/4 truck. The 1 ton rides the same just has a bigger overload spring and rides the same, but you get the addition of more capacity.