F150 owners!

[orange kayak]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! Hoping to test drive today and still doing research.

[Arcticfox]

I have had nothing but F150's for many years (maybe about 40). Anyway, with your small trailer you actually don't need the Eco-boost engine the 5lt would be just fine. Actually if the truth be known, the 5 LT gets slightly better gas mileage than the Eco-boost. That said, if there is even a slight chance of getting a bigger trailer then go with the Eco-boost. The 3.55 gears will be just fine with either engine and the 3.73 is not that big an advantage.

I normally put about 175 a 200,000 miles on my trucks before I trade them off and get a new one. You should get that distance out of either engine without putting a wench on it. Just change your old regularly and you should be trouble free.

As for options. The backup camera is huge as it allows you to hook up solo. The built-in brake controller is also nice. The seats in the higher trim version are better for the long hauls, but again this might or might not be an issue for you. I know it was for us as we often put in 10-12 hour days. If you really want to go high end. The platinum version of the f150 has two options that are not available with other options. One is the power step that is very nice as it comes out further than a standard running board. The second is a rain sensing wind screen this is a nice option as the windshield wiper will speed up and slow down based on the amount of rain hitting the wind screen. Good option if you go with the platinum version.

Have fun and look really hard at the 2014 versions as they are being discounted heavily right now and there is lots of them around.

Cheers
Doug


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[orange kayak]

Just test drove a 2013--I was pleasantly surprised by the nice ride and really impressed with the turning radius. I'm sure it's better than the Ridgeline's. Even discounted I think the '14 are out of my price range. Hoping to make a deal on this one still under warranty.

[kscherzi]

A big advantage of a turbo is power at altitude. My normally aspirated V8 just runs out of steam above 5,000 feet. This is an issue when towing a trailer, especially on busy two lane roads in the mountains.

[BHBadger]

I am pulling a 25 foot FC with a 2013 F-150 EcoBoost. Logged over 10k miles to the West Coast and AZ from South Dakota and still love my TV. Absolutely get the OEM trailer mirrors, as aftermarket mirrors do not fold flat for getting into a single garage or while parked. I added an AMP step to the rear and do not miss the factory step.

[orange kayak]

Thank you all! I did it. V6 ecoboost, 3.73 rear axle ratio, tow mirrors, backup camera, 36 fuel tank.

[orange kayak]

2013 w 35000 mi. Thanks again. Very happy. Meg

[Nomad518]

Looks nice! Now, you may want to consider a bed liner if it doesn't already have one (I got the Line-X spray-in liner for mine) and a bed cover of some sort to keep things in your bed safe and dry when traveling (I got the Bak Roll-X for mine). Search these forums and you'll find lots of posts on these topics.

Enjoy!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

I have had nothing but F150's for many years (maybe about 40). Anyway, with your small trailer you actually don't need the Eco-boost engine the 5lt would be just fine. Actually if the truth be known, the 5 LT gets slightly better gas mileage than the Eco-boost. That said, if there is even a slight chance of getting a bigger trailer then go with the Eco-boost. The 3.55 gears will be just fine with either engine and the 3.73 is not that big an advantage.

I normally put about 175 a 200,000 miles on my trucks before I trade them off and get a new one. You should get that distance out of either engine without putting a wench on it. Just change your old regularly and you should be trouble free.

As for options. The backup camera is huge as it allows you to hook up solo. The built-in brake controller is also nice. The seats in the higher trim version are better for the long hauls, but again this might or might not be an issue for you. I know it was for us as we often put in 10-12 hour days. If you really want to go high end. The platinum version of the f150 has two options that are not available with other options. One is the power step that is very nice as it comes out further than a standard running board. The second is a rain sensing wind screen this is a nice option as the windshield wiper will speed up and slow down based on the amount of rain hitting the wind screen. Good option if you go with the platinum version.

Have fun and look really hard at the 2014 versions as they are being discounted heavily right now and there is lots of them around.

Cheers
Doug


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

Agree; Platinum has some great features mentioned. We have 75K on our 2012 model. I wouldn't be scared about the 3.5L Echoboost with 3.55; there are plenty positive stories with 150K+ miles on this workhorse engine. We have the 4X4 SuperCrew short bed model, with step and tri-fold bed cover and have been very happy. I did not like the stiffer ride on the "off road" model vs the standard 4X4. One fine truck! Waiting for new transmission on next years model....then the argument starts with the wife, I'm sure..."whats wrong with the one we have?" LoL

[55AS]

Spray in liner and BakFlip VP on mine. Protects the truck bed and contents.

[orange kayak]

Glad to hear there are so many happy owners! Truck has bed liner and I'll definitely be getting a tonneau cover. Ridgeline had a BakFlip and I really liked it.

[kb0zke]

Congratulations on the new truck!

The other night, just for grins, I looked up the towing capabilities of newer F150 trucks. We're thinking about something like a 1999 34' coach. According to what I found, an F150 might be able to handle one. Since there are far more F150's for sale than F250's, I'm wondering if I ought to consider an F150, or should I stick with the F250? Also, is a diesel available in an F150?

[orange kayak]

Any 34' owners or more experienced people want to chime in? I'm completely unqualified to speak to this!

[Arcticfox]

Sorry cannot help with the 34' question. We pull a 28' and it does a fine job both in mountains and on the flat's
Cheers
Doug

[orange kayak]

Doug, what is the weight and tongue weight of your 28'?

[Arcticfox]

I think the the trailer gross weight is 7600.
We find the actual (ready to camp weight for us) is about 6400
The tongue weight is just over 1000

[richinny]

Originally Posted by orange kayak

Any 34' owners or more experienced people want to chime in? I'm completely unqualified to speak to this!

it is working for me. my payload is higher than most i've seen because i ordered a minimum of options.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by orange kayak

Thank you all! I did it. V6 ecoboost, 3.73 rear axle ratio, tow mirrors, backup camera, 36 fuel tank.

Originally Posted by orange kayak

2013 w 35000 mi. Thanks again. Very happy. Meg

Hi, except for the decals on the bed, your truck looks exactly like my 2014 with all of the same items you listed above.

[orange kayak]

Hi Robert! Haven't towed with it yet but very happy--everything I wanted. 36 gal fuel tank ++! How do you like yours?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by orange kayak

Hi Robert! Haven't towed with it yet but very happy--everything I wanted. 36 gal fuel tank ++! How do you like yours?

Hi, orange kayak; We bought our new F-150 October 6th 2014. Two days later we took a two month trip with our Lincoln. To this date, we still haven't towed our trailer with it, but we love this truck. I had to have 1,000 miles on the truck for Ring & Pinion break-in and had to buy a new hitch shank. I also had a spray on bed liner done at Line-X and installed a Retrax Pro bed cover. Next will be securing or mounting my generator in the bed. I had to add a generator inlet on my trailer.