Tow Question: Your Opinion

[Bobfrapples]

Hello Airstreamers!
Thought I'd ask my first question with a Topic you have never heard before..
Drumroll...... Tow Vehicle!

We're about to pull the Trigger on a New Globetrotter shortly.

We're leaning toward the F250 XL or XLT Gas 6.2 with an 8 Foot Bed which we will be installing a Bedslide and a Lear Cap essentially turning the Pickup truck into our Toy Hauler. (4 Bicycles, Inflatable Kayak, etc.)

Ford Specs says 12,000 Pounds for the Gas Engine:

Airstream Specs say:
Base Weight with LP and Batteries: 6125
Hitch Weight 820
Carrying Capacity 1405 LBS..
39 Gallon Fresh Water.

Any issues you see with the Gas 6.2 with Built In Sway Control and Trailer Brakes?
Any Input would be appreciated from this Airstream Newbie
Happy New Year!
See Y'all out there
Thanks for your Time

[SeeMore]

If your question is, "Is either size truck enough?" Then, yes...

Caution, your choice of brand and indecision between fuel type may unleash the hounds

Ultimately it is an actual use and pocketbook equation.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Bobfrapples

Hello Airstreamers!
Thought I'd ask my first question with a Topic you have never heard before..
Drumroll...... Tow Vehicle!

We're about to pull the Trigger on a New Globetrotter shortly.

We're leaning toward the F250 XL or XLT Gas 6.2 with an 8 Foot Bed which we will be installing a Bedslide and a Lear Cap essentially turning the Pickup truck into our Toy Hauler. (4 Bicycles, Inflatable Kayak, etc.)

Ford Specs says 12,000 Pounds for the Gas Engine:

Airstream Specs say:
Base Weight with LP and Batteries: 6125
Hitch Weight 820
Carrying Capacity 1405 LBS..
39 Gallon Fresh Water.

Any issues you see with the Gas 6.2 with Built In Sway Control and Trailer Brakes?
Any Input would be appreciated from this Airstream Newbie
Happy New Year!
See Y'all out there
Thanks for your Time

It's perfect. Runs on regular gas, almost 400 horsepower, nicely appointed truck. I tow a 27' with my F350, works great.

Do yourself a favor, get a Hensley.

[Rocinante]

Sounds like a promising choice. Check the load capacity of your chosen model in addition to the towing capacity. [emoji6]

[Baby Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Sounds like a promising choice. Check the load capacity of your chosen model in addition to the towing capacity. [emoji6]

Yes, good point. Look at the sticker on the door jamb of a similarly equipped truck at the dealership.

We have a 2017 F250 6.2 liter gas truck, but it's a Lariat crew cab, 4WD.
Load capacity is 3055 lb. We have a new 28' Flying Cloud, got a Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH. So far we've only towed it from the dealership to home, though tomorrow we'll be towing it back to the dealership to fix a couple of minor problems before taking it on a real trip.

I'd encourage looking into some of the other nifty towing friendly options like the 360° camera system, blind spot warning, etc.

Enjoy your new truck and trailer!

[DocJim]

We have short bed 2017 F250 6.2L gas 4X4 XLT towing a 30' Classic.
Truck Payload 3217 Lbs.
Excellent combination.

[Mollysdad]

Do you really need an 8' bed?
It makes the truck really long, so things like parking spaces and U-turns are difficult.
I have the 6.5' bed and I've never wished it was longer.

[pt.reyesfan]

Originally Posted by Bobfrapples

Hello Airstreamers!

Thought I'd ask my first question with a Topic you have never heard before..

Drumroll...... Tow Vehicle!



We're about to pull the Trigger on a New Globetrotter shortly.



We're leaning toward the F250 XL or XLT Gas 6.2 with an 8 Foot Bed which we will be installing a Bedslide and a Lear Cap essentially turning the Pickup truck into our Toy Hauler. (4 Bicycles, Inflatable Kayak, etc.)



Ford Specs says 12,000 Pounds for the Gas Engine:



Airstream Specs say:

Base Weight with LP and Batteries: 6125

Hitch Weight 820

Carrying Capacity 1405 LBS..

39 Gallon Fresh Water.



Any issues you see with the Gas 6.2 with Built In Sway Control and Trailer Brakes?

Any Input would be appreciated from this Airstream Newbie

Happy New Year!

See Y'all out there

Thanks for your Time

Tow capacity is key. Add up the weight of all the realistic potential items (including human beings) you will want to haul in the truck plus the hitch weight (adjusted for weight distribution effect.)

[CRH]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Do you really need an 8' bed?
It makes the truck really long, so things like parking spaces and U-turns are difficult.
I have the 6.5' bed and I've never wished it was longer.

My current truck has an 8ft bed. I have never wished it were shorter.

[CRH]

If I were shopping for a new 6.2 Ford, I would be looking for one with 4.30 gearing over the 3.73.

[2bkidfree]

It's a good choice. I use several work trucks and one of them is a F250 with crew cab and the long bed. I tow a pretty heavy trailer. Probably close to 10,000. No anti sway or WD. The only thing the company adds is air bags. We have guys driving the trucks all over the US.

On my personal F150 I have the slide out bed. If possible ask the installer to put bolts and washers on the underside. The expansion bolts that some bed slide manufacturers use can, over time, rip out of the bed. My installer didn't want to do it and charged an extra $75. Well worth it when one of our work trucks had a bed slide rip out under full extension.

Good luck.

[majorairhead]

Since I have a '17 F250 CCSB with the 6.2 I probably shouldn't weigh in as my opinion is somewhat skewed.....

however,

yes, yes, YES, that truck is the perfect choice!

Only thing that could sway that would be the argument for the diesel, and for me, the diesel wouldn't cut it as I make too many short trips when not towing.

[pt.reyesfan]

Originally Posted by pt.reyesfan

Tow capacity is key. Add up the weight of all the realistic potential items (including human beings) you will want to haul in the truck plus the hitch weight (adjusted for weight distribution effect.)

I meant "payload capacity."

[billrector]

Making the popcorn now....this should be good!

[moosetags]

First off, welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Congratulations on your decisions. You're going to love Airstreaming.

We are somewhat experienced Airstreamers. We have 1,900 nights and 170,000 of towing under our belt.

We will share with you our experience. We have spent the last six years towing with a crew cab, 8 foot bed pick-up. We recently bought a new tow vehicle. it is a crew cab, 6.5' bed pick-up. The 8' is handy, but it is really long and more difficult to maneuver. The 6.5' bed is much easier to deal with.

As far as the engine, we have two tow vehicles. One is gas (6.0 liter) and Diesel (6.6 liter). It has been our experience that the towing benefits of Diesel far outweigh those of a gasoline engine.

Brian

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by billrector

Making the popcorn now....this should be good!

This one is following the general trend for tow vehicle threads. I'll give it another page...

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by billrector

Making the popcorn now....this should be good!

Not quite to form, but.....

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...ad-143228.html

[emoji3]

[RandyNH]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Do you really need an 8' bed?
It makes the truck really long, so things like parking spaces and U-turns are difficult.
I have the 6.5' bed and I've never wished it was longer.

For me, the 8' bed was the only way to get the 48 gallon fuel tank and we haven't taken a short trip yet, so that was a necessity. 600+ before fuel stops.

As to parking, I've always parked at the far end of the lot or two blocks off main street anyways so nothing has changed.

I try to minimize u-turns, go around the block, whatever. Last truck was a Sierra 1500, that thing maneuvered like the Titanic so a long bed CC isn't much worse

1500 51.2'
CC SB 53'
CC LB 57'

I like the ability to put sheets of plywood or sheetrock or 100 2x4s UNDER the tonneau AND close the tailgate

[billrector]

Originally Posted by RandyNH

600+ before fuel stops.

600+ miles! It is not the FUEL that causes me to stop MUCH more frequently than that!

[xrvr]

With large fuel tank you czn buy fuel at your convienience not when you have to. Other reasons to stop can be anywhere without worryingg about having to get fuel also. Stop to eat anywhere, use rest areas to use thebathroom with no need to buy fuel at the same time.