F150 EB owners who have moved to F250/F350?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

One thing that helped my 1/2 ton feel more planted was swapping the stock P rated tires for LT tires.

For sure. We did that on our earlier Tundra a few years ago on Andrew Thomson's recommendation and it made things much more steady.

We now use the stock 60 series P-rated tires at max sidewall pressure (on the rear tires) and there is no noticeable sidewall flex. Our ProPride hitch ensures there is no trailer yaw transferred to the steering axle. Two fingers on the steering wheel will do, too risky to use only one.

[GoWhereTowed]

Titan makes a great 50 gallon after market fuel tank for the 250. My 150 holds more fuel than a short bed 250. First thing I am doing when I get the 250 is to swap the tanks out. I continue to worry about overloading the TV and don't need anything else to worry about and the 250 gives me much more peace of mind.

[Moflash]

A properly set up wd hitch will only help to a point .When your suspension is maxed out even though you may be sitting level it cannot do its intended purpose which is to absorb the shock of rough pavement,potholes etc.And thus the problem begins.Hit a pothole and a jolt is felt instead of a soft bump due to a overloaded suspension.A wallowing will also be felt soon after that some think different tires cure.But they are only covering up a problem that still exists.You are over loaded.
With heavier tongue weight trailers a 3/4 or 1 ton will ride smoother and handle better than a maxed out soft sprung 1/2 ton.The reason is simple this is what they were designed for.
Next time you visit your local car dealer take the time to look under a 1/2 ton look at the suspension and rear differential.Then do the same with a 3/4 ton.You will see a big difference in their components but there are many more differences larger radiator,hd 8 lug rims and tires,stiffer frames,hd transmissions and coolers,larger brakes etc.These are items that are designed and proven to carry more payload and pull larger trailers.Hit a pothole in one of these there is no jolt felt only a bump and no wallowing will be felt.These trucks are quiet,comfortable and ride smooth.
A 1/2 ton is a great choice for a lot of towing applications but for heavier tongue weight trailers and people that max their payloads they are the wrong choice.

This is the reason they make different payload rated trucks.

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[Wanna EB]

Originally Posted by Moflash

A properly set up wd hitch will only help to a point .When your suspension is maxed out even though you may be sitting level it cannot do its intended purpose which is to absorb the shock of rough pavement,potholes etc.And thus the problem begins.Hit a pothole and a jolt is felt instead of a soft bump due to a overloaded suspension.A wallowing will also be felt soon after that some think different tires cure.But they are only covering up a problem that still exists.You are over loaded.
With heavier tongue weight trailers a 3/4 or 1 ton will ride smoother and handle better than a maxed out soft sprung 1/2 ton.The reason is simple this is what they were designed for.
Next time you visit your local car dealer take the time to look under a 1/2 ton look at the suspension and rear differential.Then do the same with a 3/4 ton.You will see a big difference in their components but there are many more differences larger radiator,hd 8 lug rims and tires,stiffer frames,hd transmissions and coolers,larger brakes etc.These are items that are designed and proven to carry more payload and pull larger trailers.Hit a pothole in one of these there is no jolt felt only a bump and no wallowing will be felt.These trucks are quiet,comfortable and ride smooth.
A 1/2 ton is a great choice for a lot of towing applications but for heavier tongue weight trailers and people that max their payloads they are the wrong choice.

This is the reason they make different payload rated trucks.

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This summary is very persuasive for me as it describes my 1/2 ton experience well - I have LT tires and a propride, but still get the wallowing because I am overloaded.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Two fingers on the steering wheel will do, too risky to use only one.

Yep.

If a person can comfortably tow their trailer at posted limits with one relaxed hand on on the wheel, this kind of means "no problems".

A good mannered vehicle combination has a feel that a person knows when they feel it.

As far as I know there are no numbers that can describe this feeling. I use words like "it is as if the vehicle is on rails", that is about as close as I can get to describing how my 1/2 ton pulls my trailer with its premium hitch.

As far as hills go, there is not a hill on the Interstate system between Little Rock and Phoenix that I cant pull at 70 mph, but I have been knocked back to 35 up a piece of long 8% grade on hwy 77 south of Globe AZ, and about 44 mph up the steepest part of Saint Augustine pass on US 70 east of Las Cruces.

I can live with that.


Superat stultitia.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by Wanna EB

This summary is very persuasive for me as it describes my 1/2 ton experience well - I have LT tires and a propride, but still get the wallowing because I am overloaded.

Are you overloaded, or do you have your weight bar jacks too tight?

The only time my combination even hints at what I might call "wallowing" is when I have the jacks too tight.

(Which makes the rear TV axle too light)

Superat stultitia.

[PaulnGina]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Yep.

If a person can comfortably tow their trailer at posted limits with one relaxed hand on on the wheel, this kind of means "no problems".

A good mannered vehicle combination has a feel that a person knows when they feel it.

As far as I know there are no numbers that can describe this feeling.

My sentiments exactly. You know the sweet spot when you have it. This description is exactly how our combination of our F250, 34-foot Avion, and a properly set up WD hitch feels.


PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

"I don't mean to sound degrading but with a face like that you got nothing to laugh about" Rod Stewart (Faces)

[switz]

Not sure if folks are aware that the replacement Titan brand fuel tanks are rated only for diesel fuel and not also gasoline.

[silverlabs]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I know it was your choice, but if you didn't have to get the most fancy schmancy truck made, you would have the proper payload to do the job. My XLT has a payload of 1,745 lbs.

We are talking 200lbs difference in payload capacity with my Platinum "fancy schmancy" truck to your XLT. Not a real big difference in the big picture of things. The added items in the Platinum allow us to travel in the comfort we enjoy as well as allowing my wife easy entry/exit with the power running boards.

Our 2015 F150 Platinum is an excellent truck for towing in most every situation. It just turned 52,000 miles with much of that towing. We use it a lot and travel through many types of terrains all very comfortably. My decision for a change is the ability to not only have more "beef" in the truck components (payload, suspension, brakes) but to continue to have the flexibility to take more if I decide to take more and not be over overall capacity. That 200lbs of extra payload capacity means nothing "if" I want to take my two kayaks, and need two generators and any extra items I may want to take, whatever that might be. My two labs alone eat up that 200ibs. The F150, with the ProPride and the 28FC tongue weight of 1200 lbs would be over the limit. With a 3/4 Ton, not an issue should I "choose" to take more.

The decision for any individuals purchase should be to solve their concerns, not anyone else's. There are options out there for folks to evaluate and for them to do their own needs analysis and make a decision. A discussion of the pros and cons of a particular vehicle is a great discussion, but the decision is still the buyers. The F150 EB is a wonderful truck. Plenty of power to climb most any incline and handle most all Airstreams out there. We have loved both of ours and have put a few miles on them (2011 - 150,000+ and the 2015 already noted) I choose after much evaluation to have larger brakes, larger truck components and interior comfort features which makes my travel the most comfortable and safest in my mind that I can. I look forward to the arrival 2017 F250 Platinum coming in and the many days of towing it will provide down the road.

Chuck

[rostam]

Originally Posted by DPRoberts

This post really resonated with me. As someone who knows nothing about trucks or towing (we're years away from getting an Airstream, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can), I'm spending a lot of time reading about different people's experiences using a wide variety of trucks to tow an even wider variety of trailers. Please understand that I'm not aiming this at anyone or any specific posts in this thread, it's just my feeling over reading many, many threads on this forum. My least favorite phrase on here, by far, is "no problems." As in "I've towed thousands of miles all over the country with Truck X with no problems."

The problem with the phrase "no problems" is that everyone sees problems differently. For one person, going up a mountain at only 45 mph is to be expected when towing a trailer, for someone else it's a problem. For some people, every minor inconvenience is a problem; for others, they didn't get in an accident, so there were no problems.

A great example (not from this thread, I'm not trying to call anyone out) is someone I read about recently who had "no problems" towing with his half ton that had a payload of 1600 lbs. He then pointed out that he carried two passengers, had a tongue weight over 1000 lbs, and carried another 1000 lbs of equipment in the bed. If you add up that weight, he was about a thousand pounds over his payload capacity. To many people, that in itself would be a big problem. But to him, he didn't experience any negative effects when traveling, so it was "no problem."

So, the problem with "no problems" is that it's just an opinion - it basically just means "I never felt uncomfortable." But everyone is different, and we all have different comfort levels. So, posting about your experiences having "no problems" is essentially meaningless to everyone but you. This is why I basically must ignore all the posts where people have "no problems", but I really appreciate the specific feedback people with weights, grades, temperatures, trim levels, speeds, mileage, etc. Those sorts of details really help clueless noobs like me navigate this often confusing subject.

Your are absolutely right. Subjective opinions could sometimes be misleading. I have heard folks here say a minivan can tow a 34 "no problem at all". I've also heard someone say their minivan struggled pulling a sub 3000# popup in the mountains. How do you reconcile these two? Objective tow ratings exist for a reason.

[SCOTTinNJ]

Just throwing this out there, but not all 3/4 tons are equal. If you are talking about moving from the Ecoboost to a gas 3/4 ton you probably will get a meaningful payload increase. If you are looking at a diesel 3/4 ton, you probably will not. That diesel eats up a ton of payload. In that case you probably have to move to a 1 ton.

As an example, the MAX payloads for a 2015 F250 4x4 Crew short wheelbase is 2426 lb for the gas engine but only 1792 lb for diesel. And that's max before options. Any options will eat into that.

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...tyPU_Sep30.pdf

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

Just throwing this out there, but not all 3/4 tons are equal. If you are talking about moving from the Ecoboost to a gas 3/4 ton you probably will get a meaningful payload increase. If you are looking at a diesel 3/4 ton, you probably will not. That diesel eats up a ton of payload. In that case you probably have to move to a 1 ton.

As an example, the MAX payloads for a 2015 F250 4x4 Crew short wheelbase is 2426 lb for the gas engine but only 1792 lb for diesel. And that's max before options. Any options will eat into that.

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...tyPU_Sep30.pdf

That's interesting and something I never considered...
Thanks for pointing this out.

Wonder how the numbers would compare if you configured an F150 Lariat with eco-boost and Max Payload Package compared to the F250 with a powerstroke. Wouldn't it be interesting if the F150 actually had more payload?

Wouldn't that be interesting..... lol

Cheers
Doug

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

Wonder how the numbers would compare if you configured an F150 Lariat with eco-boost and Max Payload Package compared to the F250 with a powerstroke. Wouldn't it be interesting if the F150 actually had more payload?

Wouldn't that be interesting..... lol

Cheers
Doug

If I am reading this correctly, the MAX for a 2015 F150 4x4 crew cab is 1960 lbs or 1957 lbs 3.5 vs. 5.0. (I chose 2015 to keep the years the same for comparison).

So call it 1960 for the F150 vs. 1792 for the F250 diesel and I think it's safe to say the F150 is going to have more payload throughout the option range.

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...0_r1_Jan12.pdf

[Moflash]

That is why you pay 650 more and get a F350 when you order the 6.7 Turbo Diesel.Rides exactly the same unloaded as the F250 as they share the same primary springs in the rear spring pack but as the load increases it has more capability.Over 3000lbs payload with the 6.7 diesel with all options in a Platinum package Supercrew.


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[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

So call it 1960 for the F150 vs. 1792 for the F250 diesel and I think it's safe to say the F150 is going to have more payload throughout the option range.

So, my 1/2 ton Silverado has only 150 pounds less "payload capacity" than a F-250 Diesel?

How much is that 150 pounds worth?




Superat stultitia.

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by Moflash

That is why you pay 650 more and get a F350 when you order the 6.7 Turbo Diesel.Rides exactly the same unloaded as the F250 as they share the same primary springs in the rear spring pack but as the load increases it has more capability.Over 3000lbs payload with the 6.7 diesel with all options in a Platinum package Supercrew.


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Agree 100%.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

So, my 1/2 ton Silverado has only 150 pounds less "payload capacity" than a F-250 Diesel?

How much is that 150 pounds worth?




Superat stultitia.

Hi, and my 2014 F-150 is only 47 lbs less than this F-250. Mine would have been 1900 lbs without the Off Road Package.

[DPRoberts]

Are those payload differences between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton particular to Ford? While I haven't looked at door stickers, Ram has a pretty good online calculator - you can imput the trim level, bed length, axle ratio, engine, and even transmission into their calculator & it will tell you the payload, towing capacity, and more.

Ram Towing Guide

For comparison purposes, I used a 4 x 4 Crew Cab, short bed, Limited level (so lots of options are onboard), trying to use similar axle ratios when possible. Here are their respective payloads:

1500 5.7 L Hemi, 3.92: 1199 lbs
1500 3.0 L Ecodiesel 3.92: 1007 lbs


2500 5.7 L Hemi, 3.73: 2110 lbs
2500 6.7 L Cummins 3.42: 2168 lbs
2500 6.4 L Hemi, 3.73: 2923 lbs

So, in this case the diesel does indeed have about 800 lbs less payload than the biggest Hemi in the 2500 - but it has about the same payload as the 5.7 L Hemi. And either way, even the smallest / heaviest engine in the 2500 has about a thousand pounds more payload than any of the half tons.

So, clearly there's a huge difference between the half tons and the 3/4 tons in the Ram. One would assume that there's a limiting factor with the Ford trucks that allows their current half tons to look so competitive vs. the 3/4 ton. Perhaps the new 2017 F-250 w/ the aluminum body & other changes will be much more capable & have a much higher payload compared to the F-150.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by DPRoberts

This post really resonated with me. As someone who knows nothing about trucks or towing (we're years away from getting an Airstream, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can), I'm spending a lot of time reading about different people's experiences using a wide variety of trucks to tow an even wider variety of trailers. Please understand that I'm not aiming this at anyone or any specific posts in this thread, it's just my feeling over reading many, many threads on this forum. My least favorite phrase on here, by far, is "no problems." As in "I've towed thousands of miles all over the country with Truck X with no problems."



The problem with the phrase "no problems" is that everyone sees problems differently. For one person, going up a mountain at only 45 mph is to be expected when towing a trailer, for someone else it's a problem. For some people, every minor inconvenience is a problem; for others, they didn't get in an accident, so there were no problems.



A great example (not from this thread, I'm not trying to call anyone out) is someone I read about recently who had "no problems" towing with his half ton that had a payload of 1600 lbs. He then pointed out that he carried two passengers, had a tongue weight over 1000 lbs, and carried another 1000 lbs of equipment in the bed. If you add up that weight, he was about a thousand pounds over his payload capacity. To many people, that in itself would be a big problem. But to him, he didn't experience any negative effects when traveling, so it was "no problem."



So, the problem with "no problems" is that it's just an opinion - it basically just means "I never felt uncomfortable." But everyone is different, and we all have different comfort levels. So, posting about your experiences having "no problems" is essentially meaningless to everyone but you. This is why I basically must ignore all the posts where people have "no problems", but I really appreciate the specific feedback people with weights, grades, temperatures, trim levels, speeds, mileage, etc. Those sorts of details really help clueless noobs like me navigate this often confusing subject.

Go read Andrew_T s posts and threads. The only expert around here. Search also the online Hitch Hints column. Has set up more than 10,000 trailer combos.

Use his guidance as leavening for the rest. Few here or elsewhere have been towing, much less setting up tow combinations for well over forty years. You'll find some of us around here who have . . but one gives away naivete by thinking a pickup the default choice.

[rostam]

Go to any campground and you will see that pickups ARE the default TV of choice for most. You may see a few SUVs and vans here and there. I seriously doubt 95% of customers who choose pickups are naive. Sedan/minivan TVs have a heavy online presence. You would have a hard time finding one on the road or in campgrounds.