New TV

[lkpills]

On the 4th of July, I celebrated by bring home a new 2011 F250 Diesel Crew Cab 4wd. My old TV was a 2005 F250 with the 6.0L problem diesel. This new truck is a joy. 390 hp with over 700 ftlbs of torque. Smoothest driving 4wd I have ever driven. Whats interesting is that the trailer/towing package has what Ford calls trailer sway control. Basically the computer uses the tranny, braking and throttle to keep your rear end under control. (the truck rear end, not yours personally). Improved exhaust braking as well.
I gotta go put some more miles on it so I can tow something.
One issue. The truck is rated to tow 14,000 lbs and the AS is, lets say 6,000lbs loaded. I currently have 1,000 lbs bars on my hitch, which I know is way too much. I gotta see what the lightest bars are that I can get. I'm not sure I even need the bars really.
Either that or I gotta get a much heaver AS.

[2airishuman]

congrats on the new truck...

but...



so at the very least SHARE THE DETAILS (color, trim, options)

i had an f350 ordered but the dealer mucked the order...

so it was on to something else.

the axle/spring rating for the 05 and the '11 are identical (6100/6000)

unless either truck has some ODD combination of features or wheelbase.
________

the 11 has LONGER, more progressive leaf springs at the rear, but with the same axle...

so it SHOULD (and they definitely do) ride 'softer'.

so IF the old truck/hitch combo was ok, there is NO reason to swap spring bars.
_________

many of the 11s are spec'd with 20 inch wheels and lower profile tires...

so THAT may affect the ride/towing some in a good or bad way.
_________

btw the YAW sensor that helps to 'control' the truck rear end...

most definitely will control YOUR rear end too...

cheers
2air'

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by lkpills

390 hp with over 700 ftlbs of torque.

....and I thought 260HP/260TQ was over kill for our 23'

[lkpills]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

....and I thought 260HP/260TQ was over kill for our 23'

Can you ever really have enough torque ?

[lkpills]

Lets see,
Charcoal Grey Metallic
F250 4wd CC Diesel
18" Wheels with conti's
Short bed, Getting Line-X'd on Friday
Microsoft Sync - still trying to figure that out.

The ride is most definitely more smooth. My wife loves it. And she loves the quiet. We can actually talk inside the truck.

The 1000lb bars where way to much on my other truck. I inherited the hitch when I bought the trailer. I always put them on the 1st link and I hope thats soft enough.

[Mexray]

My Ford dealer won't let look at the new trucks any more - I tend to drool all over the leather interior...

I've even tried staging a 'slip' on a wet floor to throw out my back so I can settle for a new truck 'swap' for damages, but they're on to me for that as well...

Maybe Ikpills will let me salivate over their new rig if we're parked nearby - I promise to keep my distance....

Ray

[BillTex]

Sounds like a nice truck. Please keep us updated on fuel mileage over the years.
You may need to adjust the tension in your spring bars...you should not need to replace them.
There is a reason these are adjustable. If the bars are rated for 1000# of force, that is the max. The min force would be equal to the weight of the bars alone.
(I am sure some one here will try to sell you new ones anyway...)

Best of luck with the new hauler. These new Fords are real nice, with some very innovative features.

Bill

[mello mike]

Sounds like a nice truck. I just bought a 2010 Ford F-150 and absolutely love the ride and engineering. Does your truck also have the built-in anti-sway feature?

One thing I learned the hard way, my truck uses the low profile (LP) mini fuses. You might want to check and see if yours uses them, too. I had a couple blow while working on my pigtail wiring and thought I was covered with my large supply of regular mini fuses until I discovered my truck uses these new type fuses.

[Streamer1492]

What was the mileage with and without the AS and where did you go?? Thanks

[lkpills]

Originally Posted by mello mike

Sounds like a nice truck. I just bought a 2010 Ford F-150 and absolutely love the ride and engineering. Does your truck also have the built-in anti-sway feature?

One thing I learned the hard way, my truck uses the low profile (LP) mini fuses. You might want to check and see if yours uses them, too. I had a couple blow while working on my pigtail wiring and thought I was covered with my large supply of regular mini fuses until I discovered my truck uses these new type fuses.

Yes, it does have the anti-sway feature. I haven't had the chance to try it yet. I only have 320 miles on it right now and I'm trying to get at least 700, which Ford recommends, before towing anything. But I will!

[lkpills]

Originally Posted by tlcbuilder

What was the mileage with and without the AS and where did you go?? Thanks

I haven't gotten a chance to tow with it yet. I'm planning a 4 day trip in August up the coast. By then I should have the truck broken in and ready to go. I'll keep track of the mileage

[lkpills]

Okay, here is a pick of the new rig!

[2airishuman]

thx 4 da pix!

that's a good lookin' color combo and a sharp lookn pickup truck!

cheers
2air'

[mello mike]

SWEEEEET!!! Nice looking rig!!!

[Pinky65]

Hey guys:

Quick F150 question for you.

I am also now looking at the 2010 F150 Supercrew with the Max tow package of 11,200 and the 3.73 rear end. The dealer found several with the lighter tow package - rated 9600 I think - and 3.55 rear. But it sounds like I could really use the heavier tow package and the 3.73 if I am going to tow the '05 28' international CCD I am searching for. Looking at fully loaded with 4x4.

I drove the awesome monster of the F250 4wd CC Diesel all day yesterday - and it seems to be too tall and too much truck for me.

Am I doing the right thing in the F150? Is that a good truck for mountains? And will the 3.73 rear end help me in mountain pulling that much? If so, how?

Tons of newbie questions - but want to do it right. This is my first Airstream, first TV and best chance to do it right

Thanks in advance for your input - Pinky

[2airishuman]

pinky

definitely go for the 3.73 rear IF u go 150.

and while the 20 inch rims LOOK cool, go for 17s or 18s for better towing.

that's a high rev'n gasser and it will pull fine.

performance will fall off some at ELEVATION, combined with grade.

but that only means 55 mph going UP hill...

the primary issue is PAYLOAD.

PEOPLE/dogs, tongue, hitch, lpgas, GEAR, junk, a shell/liner and STUFF in the truck all use up payload.

depending on model of 150 that figure will range from 1400 lbs UPto ~2,000.

most folks end up with 1/2 trucks that have ~1500 lbs payload.
_________

the 250 or 350 takes that figure way UP (2400-4000+ lbs)...

so figure out HOW MUCH will be carried and add in the hitch, A frame weight and so on...

IF u r the sorta camper that can FILL a long bed and plan LONG trips, the 250/350 becomes a better mule.
_________

it's no fun to buy a new truck only to find out you gotta put your camping NEEDS on a diet to fit the capacities...

cheers
2air'

[Pinky65]

Hey 2Air:

You are why I'm looking at trucks now, and not SUVs

The payload on the F150 Platinum is 1900 - and I guess I'm confused a bit.

I want to take max 3 adults, a dog, our gear and maybe a vespa scooter in the bed of the truck from time to time - otherwise it's just me and 3 dogs.

Isn't 1900 additional pounds on top of what the capacity of the trailer holds enough? How much extra weight do I really need to allow for?

[Pinky65]

Also guess I need to factor in 2 linked 2000 generators and the weight of a hitch - which reminds me, what hitch would you get for the F150 i'm looking at and what might that and the 2 genny's weigh?

[2airishuman]

the h2000s are ~50 lbs each (100#)

3 adults are ~350-500 lbs

3 dogs are ~100-150 lbs

1 vespa is ~250 lbs

gear...i got no idea.

a 'hitch apparatus' is 100-250 lbs (i use this... http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ide-57179.html)

((but u will have to review them all and decide on a hitch))

now whatz the tongue weight on a modern 28 footer?

looks like 900-1000 lbs for the TONGUE per a/s factory info.
_________

your 05 may be different, gotta measure the tongue WITH lp gas to know.

WAIT, have u purchased a stream yet ???

don't commit to a tv UNTIL u've nailed down the stream.
_________

so 900+200 for a hitch = 1,100 lbs

add the scooter and the total goes to 1,350 lbs.

that leaves 550 lbs for people, dogs, gensets, gear AND cheetos ...
_________

1900 lbs is a VERY GENEROUS payload which is why the f150 is so appealing...

but IF you got 2000 lbs of stuff, well...?





cheers
2air'

[newsgauger]

As per the conversation, in this thread, on Tow Vehicles (TV), I have a new (2010) Ford F150 XLT 6.5’ box; 4X4; SuperCrew with the 4.6 litre V8; 6-speed automatic; 3.55 Rear-end...whew, and factory Trailer Tow package. The GVWR rating is 6,800 lbs with P275/65R18 and Ford states a towing capacity of 7,700 lbs.

I think Ford updates the GVWR and towing specs when you take the optional Light Truck (LT) tires to 7,100 lbs and 8,000 lbs towing.

I, like ‘mellomike’ and others, am going to upgrade the rubber to LT, as soon as I can.

With these limits I’m looking at 1980-1989 models, which are far lighter than the later model travel trailers. The 27’-31’ units weigh in around 4,230-5,800 lbs (Dry) and a hitch weight of 490-700 lbs.

Am I correct in my thinking?

Looking forward to everyone's response.
Chris