Towing with Ford F150

[ghaag]

Originally Posted by silverlabs

Congrats!!! Great looking truck. I am sure you will enjoy it as we have ours. Safe travels.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck!

[ghaag]

Hooked up today for a test run, heading out soon for the maiden voyage with the tow vehicle to the Oregon coast.

[PaulnGina]

I can imagine your building excitement! Have a great time!

Good-looking, well-matched combination.


PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

Blessed and highly favored

[steverino]

Originally Posted by ghaag

Hooked up today for a test run, heading out soon for the maiden voyage with the tow vehicle to the Oregon coast.

ghaag, please let us know how it goes. The new 3.5 ecoboost F150's torque and payload numbers are all going in the right direction; it will be in the running if I choose to replace my 2010 F250 diesel in the next couple years.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[clamb]

I am really happy with my '16 F150 3.5 XLT screw, towing an '02 Classic 25'. Tongue weight is around 900. I went with the stock Goodyear Wranglers, and it felt quite drifty at first, then I ran the pressure up to the max of 51lbs, and it's good now, but still considering airbags. It's a real comfortable truck for a daily driver,. I got the 6.5 bed, so it is long and has a large turning diameter. I use the trailer backup assist and like it. The new Sync3 is very nice. IMHO, you don't need to go to a higher trim level for the bells and whistles which only rob your payload. I get 12.5MPG.

[D44]

Switched the hitch to the new 2016 HD payload F150 yesterday. Short tow home from the shop; looking forward to loading up for a real shake-down trip

[majorairhead]

I've been pulling our flying cloud 25 with a 2015 F150 XLT. It has a 2,007 pound payload capacity. 3.5 ecoboost. No problems.

[timdude]

I thinking about ordering a Flying Cloud 26u twin with a second AC unit. I have a 16 F150 Super Crew 3.5 Eco with max tow. Opinions with this combo?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by timdude

Attachment 267580

I thinking about ordering a Flying Cloud 26u twin with a second AC unit. I have a 16 F150 Super Crew 3.5 Eco with max tow. Opinions with this combo?

Perfection.

Research weight distribution hitches, get the best you can and set it up properly, it's of equal importance to your truck and trailer for a great towing experience. Then it's up to you to manage the weight and position of your loads in the truck and trailer, and learn to operate the truck, hitch, and trailer within their design parameters.

[NashBuff]

We have ben running the 150 platinum with tow
package a for a 31 classic limited. Runs like a dreem

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by ghaag

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, it was very helpful in making my decision. Here is what I decided to go with.

2016 F-150 4x4 Supercrew
3.5L V6 Ecoboost
Max Trailer Tow Package
36 gallon extended range fuel tank

I am also planning on adding the air suspension kit, anyone with positive or negative experience with those?

Attachment 264784

Originally Posted by ghaag

Hooked up today for a test run, heading out soon for the maiden voyage with the tow vehicle to the Oregon coast.

Attachment 265189

Hi, you do know that you are supposed to drive 1,000 miles before towing for the break-in of your differential. [Looks like you had your truck for about 6 days]

[rodsterinfl]

I have a 30' Airstream Flying Cloud and looking for someone who might have experience towing with Ford F150.

Sounds like you made your decision. Good choice. Configured correctly the NEWER F150 should have no problem towing any Airstream currently made. Your question "towing with an F150" leaves it open to any model year, etc. The forum has MANY threads/posts on tow vehicles with many opinions on the best tow vehicle. Some forum members do not refer to payload/towing capacities of their preferred choices AND most salesmen are not familiar with towing AND payload requirements leaving the customer to find out.

Basically the decision should be based on this:

Look up maximum payload and towing capacity of the vehicle of choice. Is it more than the gross weights of the trailer - tongue (payload) and fully loaded weight (tow)?

Payload-wise- do you have enough excess for people and some cargo?

Get a good anti-sway hitch.

My tongue weight is about 100# heavier than Airstream's figure. Many of us find that, I believe to be true so, I would add that much.

As a 2009 F150 owner I would say that my truck's power in steep incline back roads of West Va was marginal. The 2015 Truck is TOTALLY different. It is a bear. I haven't been to West Va since the purchase again but I can tell how power wise, towing- it is BARELY impacted with the trailer back there towing in FL. The other truck strained much more. I was close to the tow limit of that configured truck. This one, I am just over half of the limit- HUGE difference.

If I were shopping right now and considering a F150 I would wait for the 2017. There are two major updates- 1) the second injector modification to address direct injection carbon buildup and 2) the 10-speed transmission. The first one is critical for those who hold on to their vehicles for a while. If you have been reading about the multi-brand issues with direct injection engines, it is pretty big. Basically it has been going on for some time but was brand specific. Now, it has spread across several brands as they adopted the direct injection design in about the last 5 years. BMW and VW/Audi were early adopters, mega problems. Then many others. Toyota came up with a solution, to cool the primary injector with another injector's spray to lessen the carbon build-up. Ford added this injector on the 2017 3.5 Ecoboost redesign. Hyundai, Honda have TSBs, Chevy has the issue as well, compounded by the oil blow-by of the cylinder deactivation. The buildup occurs behind the port where no fuel or oil additive can reach. The cooling of the valve keeps the oil from caking on the back side supposedly. To those with the single injector they say to run em hard! The modern engine dilemma.

[gypsydad]

We have had our 2012 EB Supercrew Platinum max tow, short bed since new, pulling 25' AS's. Issues I have so far are 1) breaking on steep inclines coming down a long grade and, 2) turbo cooler starting to overheat in hot weather pulling up long 6%+ grades, as in Riverside to Las Vegas. Caused me to be extra cautious in those conditions. Both cases the weather outside was 100% +. Vegas I dropped from 60 mph to 45 and seemed to drop the temp down pretty quick, but happened to me 3 times over past couple years. For brakes, I just started using the trailer break on the dash to help take pressure off the truck brakes and that seemed to work. Only happened to me couple times on same grade in hot weather, back way to Borrego Springs from Ramona. Pulling up here in the Rockies of Montana, I have had no issues in the 4.5 years we have been towing our 25', even on the long 7% grade up to Banff, but weather was in the 80's.

If I was getting a 30', I would seriously consider a 3/4 T, Diesel with that size rig. That being said, many seem to like pulling a 30' with the F150's. The new 2017 F150 EB has my attention for sure for my next TV, but I intend to stay with 25'.