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Naper · 11-19-2016, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjpuckett

If it's to be a daily driving vehicle the F150 crew Cab should be considered. Especially if the F250 price makes you pause.

You can installed 3rd party rear view mirrors from the web to be able to extend them when towing. Set you brake control to 10 if you are going any mountain descents. Otherwise the trailer will try to push the truck downhill.

They also sell what they call a Super Spring that is engaged when your rear end is leaning down and the nose is lighting up the trees.
Get a WD hitch to get some of your weight off the hitch.

We have a 2013 and it handles our 25' FC fine.

In my case, when the wife wants to take everything I tell her she better not make me take her to the Cat Scales. It helps control her 'take it in case I need it problem'.

Trailer tow mirrors are an option on the F150.
Setting the brake controller to 10 is not a good idea. Properly adjusted brakes would lock up. Set the brake controller as described in your owners manual.

rostam · 11-19-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

The trailer has its own brakes. Make sure the gain is set right.

Even with trailer brakes set properly, the combo will stop noticeably slower than when solo. Also you have to have a contingency plan for trailer brake failure, as they are not as reliable as TV brakes. I have never had a brake failure in my vehicles in the past 25 years. I have already had an issues with my trailer brake in less than 2 years of ownership. Past summer, coming down a 9% grade, I lost my trailer brakes (umbilical cord pulled hard when navigating uneven campground, severing some of the wires). I managed to make it down safely. But our trailer weighs only 6000# (our TV is rated at 7500# and has a curb weight of around 6000#). Had I followed the advice of a vocal crowd here in ignoring tow ratings, and getting my beloved 34' Avion (grosses at around 10,000#) instead of our 26' Avion , I probably would have a very different experience. IMO its a good idea to have spare towing capacity. Seeing what your TV is I think we are in agreement here.

Lkjdude · 11-19-2016, 07:42 AM

I have a Cheverolet 2016 Z71 and a 2016 Suburban LTZ both with 4WD and the Max trailoring package and both do a very good job.
Gross vehicle weight of 7200 for the Z71 and 7500 for the Suburban.
Towing weights . 10,800 for the Z71 and 8,300 for the Suburban.
Both vehicles do a very nice job. As I live in the mountains they both perform flawlessly towing my 2015 Airstream FC25 FB.

spider1250 · 11-19-2016, 08:09 AM

We have been towing our 2005 Safari 25 with an '08 Tundra with 5.7L and full towing package and it performs quite well. Purchased it used and it needed new tires so installed some E rated LT tires which have been great so far.

dkottum · 11-19-2016, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapt59

It ain't the ability to pull that you should worry about. Be sure it can stop you.

Of course, and the reason we choose our present truck and do not carry excessive loads around the country, rather than heavier duty options.

switz · 11-19-2016, 10:45 AM

In the mountains, I keep the Tekonsha RF manual control for the trailer brakes close to hand when driving the Mercedes and 23D combination.

I will give the trailer brakes a leading drag before hitting the car brakes to ensure both parts stay in alignment.

On really steep grades, 35 mph or lower speeds will let the small 3.0L V6 diesel provide all the braking necessary (using 4th or 3rd gear) to control speed.

dkottum · 11-19-2016, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

On really steep grades, 35 mph or lower speeds will let the small 3.0L V6 diesel provide all the braking necessary (using 4th or 3rd gear) to control speed.

Pretty close to our experience with a 25' Airstream, 3.0L V6 turbodiesel, and 3.92 axles. Grades are usually inconsistent, but on long 6-7% I manually set the trans in 4th and the speed at 45 mph. This covers most interstate travel in the country, at least any we have been on and we've been on much of it.

The engine/trans will hold the speed without service brakes unless there is a temporary increase to a steeper grade going along, then I may touch the brakes if the speed creeps up. The options of reducing speed further and/or shifting down further still remains when needed, as well as more service brake application.

Generally, steeper grades use lower speeds, lower gears, and higher engine rpm's to stay in control. Switz has very good advice to be ready to apply manual trailer brakes in case something happens in front of you, to keep things in alignment.

dames7 · 11-19-2016, 12:05 PM

We have a Tahoe LTZ 2013 and have done over 10,000 with no problems, living in AZ the air conditioning seats are great.

PatLee · 11-19-2016, 01:13 PM

Thiel,
I've been out shopping trucks today and visited the Toyota dealer after looking at Ford 150s. I really liked the simplicity of the Toyota Tundra plus Consumer Reports rates them very high on reliability (in the 90's on a 100 scale). I was wondering if I could get away with the 4.6L engine versus the 5.7 and in reading your post, it seems it would work. On the other hand, I might feel 'safer' with the 5.7. Decisions, decisions! The dealer said that they have a hard time finding 4.6L engine-equipped Tundras. I haven't found the Tundra price tags to be that cheap compared to the Ford 150 but then I'm just getting started. Thanks!

thiel · 11-19-2016, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatLee

Thiel,

I've been out shopping trucks today and visited the Toyota dealer after looking at Ford 150s. I really liked the simplicity of the Toyota Tundra plus Consumer Reports rates them very high on reliability (in the 90's on a 100 scale). I was wondering if I could get away with the 4.6L engine versus the 5.7 and in reading your post, it seems it would work. On the other hand, I might feel 'safer' with the 5.7. Decisions, decisions! The dealer said that they have a hard time finding 4.6L engine-equipped Tundras. I haven't found the Tundra price tags to be that cheap compared to the Ford 150 but then I'm just getting started. Thanks!

My guess is that if I lived or was going to spend most of my time in the Rockies, I'd want the 5.7, but without that as a factor the 4.6 is up to the task.

Mine is a 2013. Official tow rating for my flavor of tundra (4.6, 4x4, off road package, tow package, sr5) is 6900 pounds. That's just a couple hundred pounds short of the max weight of the 25fb.

In terms of payload, mine is rating at just about 1250 pounds of cargo. I certainly exceeded that before I ever looked at the specs for towing. I towed home with four passengers and that how I will usually travel. Seems clear that the truck had no payload issues and it sat nice and level with the equalizer.

I find the Toyota to be a bit generic inside but boy are they reliable. I have lots of friends that use their tundras for construction work and they rate it very highly. It is also made in America and has the highest percentage of American parts of all the major truck makers.

My mileage is 10.2 mph at 65mph. My year of tundra has a small tank so I only get 200 miles between fill ups with the trailer. I think the newer ones have larger tanks.

I hope that helps!

WesChilton · 11-21-2016, 06:51 PM

I've been a Toyota owner going back to the late 70s... I've had 6 of their trucks and they were all great. But when looking for a proper tow vehicle for the 25ft - 27ft FC we are considering, the F-150 was the best overall package. I really wanted to like the Tundra, but between the poor gas mileage, rougher handling compared with the F-150, and the sheer amount of style and luxury offered by Ford for the money, it was too hard to walk away.

We picked up our 2016 F-150 Lariat FX4 this past Saturday. Its even better than I thought it would be when doing research and test drives... quiet, smooth, powerful and comfortable. Its got 1,700lbs payload and will tow 10,600... which is more than enough for our needs.

It simply blows away the 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport that I sold to buy the F-150, and IMO, is a definitely nicer truck than the Tundra.

BTB · 03-22-2017, 01:53 PM

FWIW, I have been looking around quite a bit and concluded that for the 3.5 F150 EB, the Max Tow package (not the max payload package) was the main requirement - as others have said to get enough payload.

Ponyfvr · 03-22-2017, 02:17 PM

We had a Toyota Tundra to tow our 2015 25' International and didn't like it for towing, no factory brake controller, no towing mirrors. We went with a 2015 Ford F250 diesel and recently upgraded to a 2017 Ford F250 Diesel and love it. We like the towing package (brake controller, towing mirrors etc) we really like the blind spot indicator that will alert you if a car is next to the truck or next to the tar trailer. We really like the camera system, it helps when parking and is very helpful when backing up. We live in Arizona so the engine braking is very helpful in the mountains. The F250 can tow 18,000 pounds and our trailer is under 7,000 so it may be a bit of overkill but we love the truck.

zapper · 03-22-2017, 05:56 PM

Another country heard from on Tundra's. We have a 2010 Tundra Crew Max Limited 2 wd 5.7 ltr iForce. Sold our Ford Expedition to pull our 2007 Safari 25. Recently purchased a FC 30. Despite 10 mpg and a 200 mile towing range while towing the FC we have been very happy with the comfort and reliability of the Tundra and have never looked back.

drairstream · 03-27-2017, 05:48 PM

If you're looking at a Ford f150 it must have HD tow package and brake controller. Try to avoid 4wd or you lose a lot of towing capacity. I tow with the v8 4wd, but have heard the larger eco boost will outperform. We pull '99Safari 27 and were very comfortable going through smokies. Western towing might stretch it a bit.