I'm planning to tow a 30' Flying Cloud with a Ford F-150. Is that crazy?

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by JuryDuty

I'm planning to get our family their first Airstream and truck. I had planned to get an F-250, but after visiting the dealer, he said that would be overkill.

Apparently an F-150, 3.5L EcoBoost with 420 torque has a 3180 max payload and 12,200 lbs max towing. The 30' Flying Cloud tops out at 885 payload and 8800 lbs towing. So on paper, it sounds like an F-150 is more than enough truck. But seriously, I'm still learning what these numbers mean.

Is that crazy? We're planning on cross country trips, so I don't want anything underpowered, but I like the idea of the F-150 since this is all new to me.

That F150 with quoted numbers is higher than some 3/4T trucks. It's overpowered, to boot.

The move to a heavier truck is what one finds with someone full timing. And who insist on carrying a lot. It's possible to cover the continent without much stuff past appropriate clothing. That's rather the point of a self contained RV. (Read that again).

If the truck is to be a daily driver otherwise, the F150 will be easier to live with.

The idea that bigger is "safer" is untrue. That F150 is already big.

Go drive them all. Every brand. Big and small. Take your time.

[DoublTrouble]

Switz +1

[Chaplain Kent]

I wonder if in the 60's the big debate on the forums would have been over the two door hard top or the SS configuration? My vote would have been the SS,I loved mine.

[m.hony]

Your truck will do fine.
No need to replace your truck.

[Buzzr]

There are some on this site that will tell you nothing short of a BNSF diesel locomotive will do the job. The figures on the Ford website suggest, however, that you will be fine with your truck.

[greghoro]

Andy Thomson of CanAm RV writes a monthly column in a Canadian RV Magazine, RV Lifestyle, on the subject of towing and hitching and is an acknowledged expert in this field.

In the May 2016 edition, he writes a column starting out with "Today we debate the merits of half-ton and three-quarter-ton trucks…".

You can read the article in the magazine's Back Issues section here: http://rvlifemag.dgtlpub.com/?i=3914

Note, this is an on-line magazine, so you will have to figure out the navigation controls and will need to scroll over to page 6 to see the quoted article.


Greg

[B00merang]

I can't believe the dealer, of all people, stated that an F-250 would be overkill pulling a 31 ft Airstream. Just sitting here shaking my head. Ignore this guy, and talk to someone with real experience towing larger trailers.

[charlesk]

We purchased a new 30' international..tounge weight was supposed to be 880. Went ahead and purchased the new Silverado 1500 Max Tow Package. The truck could PULL the Airstream all day but it was not enjoyable.

After going to a scale, found out the Airstream was tipping 1250 tounge weight.

Traded the Silverado 1500 in on a Silverado 2500 diesel. Wow, what a change. Could not be happier.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by JuryDuty

I'm planning to get our family their first Airstream and truck. I had planned to get an F-250, but after visiting the dealer, he said that would be overkill.

Apparently an F-150, 3.5L EcoBoost with 420 torque has a 3180 max payload and 12,200 lbs max towing. The 30' Flying Cloud tops out at 885 payload and 8800 lbs towing. So on paper, it sounds like an F-150 is more than enough truck. But seriously, I'm still learning what these numbers mean.

Is that crazy? We're planning on cross country trips, so I don't want anything underpowered, but I like the idea of the F-150 since this is all new to me.

I don't see why not!
I have the SAME set-up and it works for me.
And I like the way the Ford drives.
Should you decide to go for it; NEVER use Sixth gear.
It's way too long legged.. (3.55 final drive)
If you WANT to use sixth gear, get a 4.10 or better yet a 4.56 final drive ratio.

2500 RPM is the perfect cruise speed,; and in third gea
r will give you about 60 KPH, (45 MPH) in fourth about 90 KPH, (55 MPH) and in fifth, will give you 118 KPH (almost 75 MPH). on the 400 series highways here.; (The interstate hwys. For the U.S.)
ALL on regular gas too.

Go for it.:

Trailer Trash awaiting Spring.

[tnich1]

We have a 2011 F150 FX4 with the ecoboost and have pulled our 30 FC to over 40 states, we've been to Key West, Maine, Seattle and through mountains east and west. We've never had an issue or regret having the 150. It now has close to 80000 miles and it's pulled our AS over 30000. Though I like the F250, especially the new one I'm glad I'm not driving something that big when not pulling the trailer...

[pappy19]

Andy at CanAm RV is notorious for wanting to dress up a sow's ear into a purse that is too light to haul anything but a Bambi. While I do think a correctly set up F-150 can do the job of hauling a 30-31 ' AS, I personally prefer my F-250 V-10 gas engine. Currently Ford offers the 6.2 gas engine with around 400hp, which is way more than needed to haul any AS. The initial cost and cheap maintenance, makes it a good choice, IMHO. That being said, if the F-150 was a daily driver, I could live with it for towing.

[cliffcharb]

For occasional use loaded up to the max rating you'll be fine. If the truck
is loaded heavy most of the time I'd move up to a 3/4 ton. With that said I haul my 30 Bunk with a 1/2 ton Sierra and am well within my limits.

[Mpohly]

Sure you can pull it. But can you stop it? On a wet road going down hill?

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by Mpohly

Sure you can pull it. But can you stop it? On a wet road going down hill?

Probably, yes? Why wouldn't he be able to?

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Chaplain Kent

I wonder if in the 60's the big debate on the forums would have been over the two door hard top or the SS configuration? My vote would have been the SS,I loved mine.

In 1986 my dad bought me a Radio Shack computer with 16 Kilo Bytes of RAM memory. It was a great computer, for back then. Nowadays, you need hundreds of Mega Bytes of RAM memory in a computer to just run a web browser. The Radio Shack of 1986 would not work now. Same goes for older tow vehicles. As good as they were in 1960's, those old sedans with their inefficient engine, poor brakes, 3 speed automatic transmissions, and monster rear overhangs are considered very very poor by today's standards.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Chaplain Kent

I wonder if in the 60's the big debate on the forums would have been over the two door hard top or the SS configuration? My vote would have been the SS,I loved mine.

It was more between brands. Only Chrysler had a great automatic transmission. Also had better brakes, steering, handling and engine design. Being unibody it was also lighter with lower COG.

What was generally agreed was big block engine and power front disc brakes after 1965 plus auto tran.

GM and Ford didn't really catch up until 1971 models. And the whole industry had allowed cars to become too big to no benefit.

The prototype tow vehicle was a family sedan (or station wagon) that had all the police or heavy duty fleet and cooling options.

One if those with some modernization would still better than today's pickups. As are cars like a Hemi Charger.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by JuryDuty

F150 payload is 3180. The FC is 885. Add 900 tongue and we've still got over 1000 without exceeding.

We were looking at the Flying Cloud 30' Bunk.

Qestion?
Are you sure about that 3180 lbs payload on that F-150 ?
That could only be on a special order xtra weight unit which comes with an 8' long box. You need to have the dealer verify that.

We have been towing our 2013 30' international, tongue weight a hair under 1,000 lbs, for 3 years with a F-150 Ecoboost. From the power stand point it got the job done but driving that setup on extended trips, especially out west, was a job. I had to replace the front brakes every 25,000 miles. So this year we decided to upgrade to a 2017 F-250 Powerstroke which we just got last week. We did it for the extra heft and more relaxed driving.
Yes the F-150 will get job done but the F 250 will do it without stressing you out every time.

[MarkFinATX]

Originally Posted by switz

The literature tongue weight of our 2013 25FB International Serenity was 833 pounds. After the dealer installed the Hensley Arrow hitch head, put a 155 watt solar panel on the roof and added street side and rear awnings, filled the two 30 pound propane tanks and fresh water tank, the tongue weight was now 1,150 pounds. A lot of work was required to load the trailer to the rear as the most storage was under the front bed, similar to the 30' bunk bed model. We scaled 1,175 pounds on the tongue weight camping ready.

With a weight distribution hitch properly setup, one would hope that ⅓ of the tongue weight would transfer back to the trailer axles, ⅓ to the tow vehicle front axle and ⅓ to the tow vehicle rear axle. But that means that a 1,200 pound tongue weight could present itself as a 800 pound or higher load on the truck suspension. Then in the back of the truck goes a perhaps a bed cover for lawn chairs, BBQ grill and propane tank, one or two generators, table, fire wood and the list can become endless. And by the way both the passenger and driver weights along with kids and pets all use up payload.

So there is a lot more to consider than an untrained salesman's sales pitch. The braking capacity has to be considered with a gasoline engine as there is much less compression braking than a diesel will provide.

I use the Cummins engine brake to hold the 2012 Ram 2500HD and 2014 31' Classic (the rig scales 19,200+ pounds camping ready) going down 7% grades without using the tow vehicle brakes.

Personally go and look at the driver door jam at the weight stickers for THAT particular truck as it is configured. The best double check is to take a test drive with a full tank of gas/fuel to some scales and find the real empty weight with the driver in the vehicle. You then can subtract that from the GVW to get an actual cargo capacity. Also compare each axle's load against the axle rating also on the door post as well as the load rating of the supplied tires.

Spend lots of time doing the homework before signing any purchase agreements. Reserve the right of refusal if they order a truck and the weight numbers come in all wrong for your application.

Hit the nail on the head! Great advice Switz! the door sticker says it all. Salespeople/Dealerships are just too afraid of assuming liability to make a recommendation.
The F-150 with the new 3.5L Ecoboost and 10 speed automatic for 2017 would be a great tow vehicle. Make sure it has the factory tow package and HD suspension. A family of 4 with the truck bed loaded is probably pushing it. We're two adults, have a tonneau cover and it's loaded just like Switz's... chairs, grill(s)- gas and charcoal, generator, and then some.
Our F-150 V-8 gasser pulls the 28 ft. Pendleton just fine and gets so so gas mileage. But it is normally aspirated and runs on regular gas.
Make sure you test drive both the 150 and 250 diesel. Go back and forth a few times and make sure that the ride is comfortable enough in the F-250. If it's your daily driver 95% of the time and you tow only 5% of the time ask yourself if the bigger, heavier truck that costs more to operate (fuel) and has higher overall maintenance expense is acceptable. If you're full timing definitely go with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Can't beat it for Torque and negligible power loss at higher altitudes.
Good luck and hope you fall in love with your Silver Twinkie like we have��

BTW- I went with the Hensley Hitch based on the advice of Switz and other posters and after a bit of a learning curve I love it! Zero sway and great weight distribution.

[johncook]

Originally Posted by pappy19

You can get a Ford F-250 with the Super Cable and the short wheel base and it is about the same length as an SUV. That's what I have with the gas engine. Plenty of power and plenty of load capacity.

Whooo do you want to be the boss, the Coach or the TV.
I would choose a heaver truck.

[PecanMan5]

Where. Did you get that 12000 lb. tow wt? I hope not from the salesman, because they don't have a clue. Don't use the sales brochure either.