Towing With F150 or Ram 1500 - Which One?

[BW1]

Well, the time is finally here to get our new truck to pull our 1991 29ft Excella, which I believe has a GVWR of 6900 pounds, dry weight 5500??
The question being…which truck and what engine?

I did so much research my head is spinning and I thought my fellow Airstreamers might have an answer for me.

Looking at 2016 F150 4x4 Crew Cab with 3.5L EcoBoost with 145" WB. The GCWR(Gross Combined Weight Rating), of both the Airstream loaded up as well as the truck loaded up is 16,900 pounds. The towing capacity is 11,500 pounds.
HP on the 3.5L is 365 and torque 420.

I was all over this truck, then I read some very bad reviews of this engine on Ford F150 Forums mind you a few years earlier, but have they fixed the problem?? I am now thinking this is not the engine to go with.

Now looking at the same F150 with the 5.0L TI-VCT, 385HP and 387 pounds of torque. It's GCWR is 16,200 pounds and Towing capacity is 10,900 pounds.

Looked at 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.7L Hemi 395HP and 410 pounds of torque. It's GCWR is 15950 pounds and towing capacity is 10,160 pounds.

This info is all from the current Ford and Ram brochure, so I hope I have deciphered it correctly.

The real question is will any of these trucks do the tow job with little or no issues, meaning lack of power and actual capability, for my trusty old 29 footer?

Any feedback will be helpful from other owners. I know there are awesome salespeople out there, but some just want a sale.

[Bruce B]

One thing to consider in your quest is turning diameter of the tow vehicle. It makes a difference when you are backing up the trailer. The crew can F-150 uses about 47 feet to turn around. The Ram about 42' if I remember correctly... That is a big difference!

[badkat]

We have a 28' 1999 Excella and it weighs 8000 loaded. This was info from a weigh station. We tow with a Dodge Ram 2500 because we like doing mountain passes without a worry. Better to have more than less.

[jonnyo]

both truck will do the job very well...no issue

as for the 3.5 ecoboost...well, the F150 is the most sold truck in canada and usa...of those....the most popular engine is the 3.5 ecoboost. it s a phenomenal engine and it s reliability as been proven over the year. yes, the first year (2011 ) saw a few issue but we are now in 2016 and those motor have been going strong.

[Bruce B]

A per thing to consider is payload. I like my trucks fairly "optioned up" and this reduces the available payload. Both makes have models in this range that can happily pull your trailer but if you like to load up your truck with other stuff, you may find yourself hitting the limit. Some people make good arguments against worrying about the limit but it makes me uncomfortable. My 2010 F-150 Platinum was not a confidence inspiring vehicle when it was loaded beyond its meager payload. It never seemed to bother the truck though...
Bruce

[Jukeboxfun]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

A per thing to consider is payload. I like my trucks fairly "optioned up" and this reduces the available payload. Both makes have models in this range that can happily pull your trailer but if you like to load up your truck with other stuff, you may find yourself hitting the limit. Some people make good arguments against worrying about the limit but it makes me uncomfortable. My 2010 F-150 Platinum was not a confidence inspiring vehicle when it was loaded beyond its meager payload. It never seemed to bother the truck though...
Bruce

+1 on this one. Payload of the truck is the limiting factor. I upgraded from a Hemi 1500 to a F250.

[Mrjkq]

If you can deal with a lighter pay load, the RAM 1500 ecodiesel is a great choice. My RAM gets 16+mph towing, it averages 22+ mpg overall & believe it or not close to 30 mpg highway. My truck is a top level trim Laramie Limited and a pleasure to drive & look at.

[dkottum]

Another Ram 1500 Ecodiesel here. Great match for a mid-size Airstream, great ride for us and our Airstream, and all the payload we ever needed in 50 years of travel and camping.

[xrvr]

If the payload and tow capacity are great enough for the truck equipped exactly how you want it, then go for it. Both of these should be calculated considering options, bed length, drive train variables and color. Color is the most important! Red being the best.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by avionstream

If the payload and tow capacity are great enough for the truck equipped exactly how you want it, then go for it. Both of these should be calculated considering options, bed length, drive train variables and color. Color is the most important! Red being the best.

No, no, no! White is the best!
We had red, too flashy! Now we have a flashy white... Much better.
Bruce

[SeaLevel]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

No, no, no! White is the best!
We had red, too flashy! Now we have a flashy white... Much better.
Bruce

Brownstone is actually the best, but then you might need to get a GMC/Chevy.

[Peanut]

Option A: If your towing with a half-ton pickup now and are happy, then either one will be superior to your current truck.

Option B: Neither. With nearly 1000 lbs of tongue weight, you will be too close to or above the payload rating (the critical factor only available on the yellow door jam sticker) when your done loading up even after considering the 100 lbs or so sent to the trailer's wheels by the WDH. Hang in there for 4 to 6 months and get a killer deal on a 2016 Ford F250. (In 2017 the F250 receives major changes.) Not only will you be well within the limits, but you’ll have a real truck!

P.S. – I drag the Peanut with 2014 F150 EcoBoost: 6K miles towing, 20K miles total and not a single hiccup (knock on wood)!

[Rgentum]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

If you can deal with a lighter pay load, the RAM 1500 ecodiesel is a great choice. My RAM gets 16+mph towing, it averages 22+ mpg overall & believe it or not close to 30 mpg highway. My truck is a top level trim Laramie Limited and a pleasure to drive & look at.

Thank you for your comment; I've always wondered what kind of mileage a Ram 1500 ecodiesel would get.

I have a 2015 Ram 2500 tricked-out Laramie diesel 4x4 crew-cab (which pulls my 2016 FC 27 FB flawlessly), & it gets around 14 mpg towing. Its best has been 22 mpg driving dry, nonstop at 60-65 mph from Seattle to Portland. And BTW, I'll vote for arctic white & leave fire-engine red for my sweetie's lipstick.

[BoldAdventure]

For what it's worth, I've been towing my 27ft Signature for the past year with a Laramie 4x4 crew cab all over the US full-time. But I just upgraded. The Ram did great. Just watch your weights. And my tongue was 980lbs before I started doing stuff.

[BW1]

So the tongue weight is loaded onto the truck and considered part of it's payload?
The yellow sticker on the door of my current tow vehicle says 1150lbs!! It is a 2010 F1504x4 Lariat 5.5ft box with a 5.4L.

Was I overloaded for this tow vehicle?

It is unfortunate that some salespeople don't fully grasp the towing concept. How does anyone pull a big Airstream with a van or car??

[BoldAdventure]

Yes, tongue weight gets transferred to the truck as the tongue presses down on the hitch.

Can of worms when you ask that question on this forum.

For myself, I am concerned with not overloading the axles and tires. Anyone who understands suspension components and tires can understand how you can alter vehicle payload to a degree. My Powerwagon for example is the same as regular Ram 2500, but it gets different tires that can carry less weight and springs that are softer and thus bring down the payload. But it technically has a larger axle. The weak points are factors in how the engineers determine payloads. Ram for example is now using 5 link & coils out back and not leaf springs. I try not to get off into the weeds on this point around here.

But overloading axles and tires is generally bad.

After several trips across the scales with our 1500, we got our Airstream and truck balanced to all be within the ratings of axles and tires while not being overloaded. Just took some time getting the WD hitch dialed in. And loading things properly.

All that said, we did travel lite in the 1500 on purpose.

I'm sure someone will tell us about imaginary legal precedent now.

[m.hony]

Seems like either truck will do well.
Which one can you get a better deal on?

[BW1]

I think I have a better understanding of everything to do with payload etc., I do think either truck would do the job. I really 'like the features of the F150 in a Lariat with all the back up cameras etc. But that EcoBoost condensation problem is making me hesitant. Dodge 1500 Laramie is really sweet, but back up camera is limited compared to what Ford's can do.

Does anyone know if Ford has actually fixed the 3.5L EcoBoost problem for current 2016 model?, or are they handing it over to the dealers to take care of it when something happens.

Breaking down on side of the road with trailer, family and dogs no fun...been there ��

[m.hony]

I'd choose engine over camera.
Just saying-


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[Ocean Bum]

There is no comparison, watch the adds! RAM no question case closed!