F150 HD or F250 diesel, 25% towing

[Greydawg00]

So after reading and reading and ..... reading, I am still not sure which to get. I recently purchased a 36' TT weighing 7900lbs dry with a GVWR of just under 10k. I towed it 900 miles from Illinois to Texas and it was ok, but along the way I stopped at a CAT scale and my weights were right at the limit with a couple hundred pounds in the trailer and almost nothing in my truck except me and the wife. Normally we will have a loaded trailer, 2 teenage boys, and stuff in the truck as well so I don't think my current truck will be within spec.

My current truck is a 2011 F150 Eco, 3.55 rear, payload of 1650lbs. I am looking to upgrade and trying to decide between a 2015 F150 EB with 3.73 and hd payload (2750lbs sticker) and a 2015 F250 6.7l diesel 4x4 with 3.31 (~2300 lbs).

Based on this the F150 has more payload which is where I need help (have plenty of tow capacity in either) but I am wondering if I will have issues with weight of the trailer vs the weight of the truck (ie tail wagging dog).

Considerations:
1) F250 is about 8k more upfront
2) F150 does not have 4x4
3) MPG for F150 I expect 17 in town, 20 highway, 9-10 towing
MPG for F250 I expect 15 in town, 20 highway, 12 towing?
4) Weight of F250 vs F150 for towing, does the weight of the TV matter?
5) added maintenance cost of diesel engine
6) F150 rides better when not towing

So which is the better choice, Will I be comfortable towing with the F150 even though it only weighs around 5000 lbs unloaded vs a 9500lb trailer? Do I really need the F250? How much more will the F250 cost me around town and maintenance.

Looking for opinoins based on real world experience. Thanks.

[schrederman]

Originally Posted by Greydawg00

So after reading and reading and ..... reading, I am still not sure which to get. I recently purchased a 36' TT weighing 7900lbs dry with a GVWR of just under 10k. I towed it 900 miles from Illinois to Texas and it was ok, but along the way I stopped at a CAT scale and my weights were right at the limit with a couple hundred pounds in the trailer and almost nothing in my truck except me and the wife. Normally we will have a loaded trailer, 2 teenage boys, and stuff in the truck as well so I don't think my current truck will be within spec.

My current truck is a 2011 F150 Eco, 3.55 rear, payload of 1650lbs. I am looking to upgrade and trying to decide between a 2015 F150 EB with 3.73 and hd payload (2750lbs sticker) and a 2015 F250 6.7l diesel 4x4 with 3.31 (~2300 lbs).

Based on this the F150 has more payload which is where I need help (have plenty of tow capacity in either) but I am wondering if I will have issues with weight of the trailer vs the weight of the truck (ie tail wagging dog).

Considerations:
1) F250 is about 8k more upfront
2) F150 does not have 4x4
3) MPG for F150 I expect 17 in town, 20 highway, 9-10 towing
MPG for F250 I expect 15 in town, 20 highway, 12 towing?
4) Weight of F250 vs F150 for towing, does the weight of the TV matter?
5) added maintenance cost of diesel engine
6) F150 rides better when not towing

So which is the better choice, Will I be comfortable towing with the F150 even though it only weighs around 5000 lbs unloaded vs a 9500lb trailer? Do I really need the F250? How much more will the F250 cost me around town and maintenance.

Looking for opinoins based on real world experience. Thanks.

If you will be towing 25% of the time, the 250 would definitely get my vote. It's going to cost more up front, no doubt about it. However, if this is a long-term situation, the heavier-duty components will last longer due to not being so highly stressed for long periods. The diesel and HD truck will be well worth it down the line, unless you like being on the side of the road after leaving a trail transmission or engine parts down the road... (I've done this once, unfortunately). More than that... the extra stability of the 3/4 in towing and stopping are worth the extra, and the main reason I upgraded last year.

just my nickel's worth... (inflation)

[gwlaeb]

Look at the reviews of the power stroke diesel many friends have had to replace the motors once or even twice. Also depending on where it's registered weight fees come into play for registering. I have an 05 Silverado 4×4 2500 and registration is 330 a year not including smog every other year

[rskeans]

My $.02 - - Don't even think about the 150. You need more truck than that. And, for about $1000 more than the 250 you can get a 350. My vote would be to not short yourself! You have too much at stake.

[Cummins12V98]

No offense here but you are insane towing anything 36' long with a 150!

[Cumminsfan]

Skip the F250 and get a Ram 2500 Hemi 6.4 with 3.73 gears. Comes with the best rear suspension of any 3/4 ton truck. 3000lbs of payload. Keep the $8,000 for the diesel option. You won't have to deal with any diesel maintenance or unexpected repairs.


As Cummins12V98 said don't even think about the 1/2 ton for that big of a trailer. Yes the F150 HD is a step above the non HD but it's still way less truck weight wise than the 3/4 ton. You need the weight of the 3/4 ton along with the more solid handling to help control that 36' TT. The F150 HD may do well 95% of the time but then there's that other 5% that you may wish you'd had a bigger truck.

[JIMNLIN]

I am looking to upgrade and trying to decide between a 2015 F150 EB with 3.73 and hd payload (2750lbs sticker) and a 2015 F250 6.7l diesel 4x4 with 3.31 (~2300 lbs).

Just a heads up on GVWR based payloads.
Lets look at the F150HD with a 4800 RAWR your looking at. This trucks rear axle can weigh in the 2400 lb range maybe more after loading. Now add 2750 lb payload and the trucks rear axle at 5151 lb or 350 lb overload on the axles. Thats not good but typical of some of the new high GVWR/low RAWR trucks.
Real world payload for the F150 HD with 4800 RAWR is around 2300-2400 lbs. Payloads above that will have to go over the trucks front axle for a GVWR payload.

Now look at the F250 with its 6100 RAWR. These trucks rear axle can weigh in the 3000 lb range. Now add the 2300 lbs = 5300 lbs or 800 lbs under axle/tire capacity. Actually the F250 with 6100 RAWR can have 3000-3200 lb payload before exceeding axle/tire load ratings.

If you don't want to plunge for the diesel look at the F250 6.2 gasser for your size trailer.

[Greydawg00]

Thanks for the replies. Most of you are saying much of what I thought but you read around and everybody talks about the F150 HD having no problem pulling what I am looking at.

If the truck cannot handle that weight, why does Ford put those numbers on it. If I am within weight specs for GVWR, RAWR, GCWR, etc then would not ford be liable if something happened to the truck?

I also have read that wheel base is important ... the wheel base of the 150 and 250 are the same. So the only big difference I see is the weight of the truck along with the larger axle and maybe brakes (not even sure here).

For the 6.2l gasser I have read that the towing gas mileage is horrible, around 6-7 mpg since it has to rev up to 5000 rpm to get the torque/hp needed. Would think I would pay for the diesel fairly quickly at that rate. Any thoughts on that?

Also the trailer is 31' box, 35.5' tongue to spare tire.

[schrederman]

My TT is about 30' tongue and all. It weighs in at 7,200 ready for the road. I used to tow it with an F-150. The difference is night and day. The power is in the torque of the diesel. My F-150 would be at 4,500 rpm in 3rd gear on a typical hill maintaining 62 mph. My diesel doesn't down shift and remains at 1,400 rpm, and just growls a little louder. Again, if this is a long term thing, the diesel is the only way to go, in my opinion. As to maintenance, my F-150 needed an oil change twice as often as my diesel. I do it all myself and spend about the same... with the exception of fuel filters every other oil change. My towing with the F-150 got me 7 - 9 mpg. My towing with the diesel gets 13 - 14 mpg. My non-towing mileage is near the same between the two. I'll never go back to a gasser for towing... it's that much better. And... the brakes ARE bigger on the 250. I'll be upgrading to a longer TT next year. I won't have to upgrade the truck.


Best of luck with your choices...

[Greydawg00]

schrederman,

For those values I am assuming you are not referring to an ecoboost since they rarely go above 3000rpm, max torque around 1600 flat through 3000+ I think.

[Arch Hoagland]

You need the 250.

The problem comes in not for pulling power but STOPPING power and handling during an emergency maneuver.

And, believe me, that day will come.

[tuffr2]

Just a quick mention that a F-250 weighs approx 2,000 lbs more than an F-150 HD. That 2,000 lbs is because everything is bigger. Brakes, Engine, Axles. Wheelbase, Frame, etc. It is just a more capable truck.

[L.C.Gray]

Originally Posted by Greydawg00

For the 6.2l gasser I have read that the towing gas mileage is horrible, around 6-7 mpg since it has to rev up to 5000 rpm to get the torque/hp needed.

My 6.2 ain't never seen't 5,000 rpm.

I'm towing a 30 high profile TT with an actual trailer weight of 7,500 and grossing just over 15,000 total. Clocking 1,700 rpm at 65 mph and having no problems getting it done while seeing about 10 mpg.

[purduepete97]

Just upgraded from Ram 1500 to F250 PSD. Went 2 years older and 40k miles more to be able to afford it, but zero regrets. Your TT is slightly longer and heavier than mine.
The 1/2 ton Ram was struggling in the flat Indiana terrain, no way I would have ever taken it even into KY or TN let alone out west. Issues included lack of power in the 5.7L Hemi and very bad ride despite WDH, airbags, and Timbrens (this, IMHO, is mostly due to the soft coil springs on the newer Ram 1500's).

Re: the diesel engine comment above, there are problems with all engines. The 6.7 liter (2011-present) in the Fords is a significant improvement over the previous offering (international 6.4L) and has thousands upon thousands of happy owners.

My specific vehicle had 67,000 miles on it when I purchased it and has never (knock on wood) been in for anything other than routine maintenance. In fact, when I got it, Ford did a full inspection and qualified it for an additional 4 yr/48k mile bumper to bumper warranty (which I purchased). So, you can get good service from the 6.7L and it will have plenty of power for your current TT as well as the "next size up" (when the upgrade bug hits you).
Good luck!

Brian