I was reading another poster’s comment about “suffering” with the ride of a ¾ ton as a daily driver and was surprised to see someone else had the same opinion as I do. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great ride for a ¾ on, but a ¾ ton is harsh compared to an F-150 when you use it as a daily driver and it’s unloaded.

For several reasons, I have considered dropping back to an F-150. I average about 50,000 miles a year, with the majority of the miles just carting my butt to work and to my many jobsites. For the mileage I drive, very little of the time I am carry anything in the bed, and because I usually get flat fiberglass lids for my trucks, that limits my carrying, as well. If I really need to haul serious weight or length, I have a trailer. With that said, the only thing I THINK I really need a ¾ ton is for is to haul my 28 foot travel trailer… or do I?

I posted before that I kind of got laughed off an RV site when I posted my experience with my last F-150 hauling a heavy-tongued pop-up. With that spring-flattening experience, I can’t imagine pulling a 6,000# travel trailer will be any better – especially with the tongue weight being 250# more than our last pop-up. You see, most people look at trailer weight, but not payload. It boils down to two adults, two kids, a cooler, some descent tongue weight, and a fiberglass lid and a Supercrew is loaded to the maximum. Am I fooling myself to consider “downgrading” to an F-150? I am fortunate because the boss is nice enough to let me run Superduty diesel, but with fuel costs and the reduced mpg numbers on the new emission diesels, it is not worth driving one for a daily driver anymore. And, it is not too great telling the boss he needs to foot the freight because I need a diesel just to haul my travel trailer a dozen times a year.

I’ve run the numbers, and the actual one time savings to downgrade and drive an F-150 on a daily basis is between $10k and $12k (this year only) since I could basically get into a loaded Lariat/King Ranch F-150 for no out-of-pocket cost, and the fuel costs for an F-150 would save about $2,500. The only deal is that trading like trucks to like trucks the next time (F-150 to F-150, or F-250 to F-250) the next year is both about the same. So, the only savings (besides fuel costs) with running an F-150 is with this next trade, where the boss already has the cash spent for the diesel (the money for the diesel returns at trade time).

So, will I kick myself dragging 6,000# (about 6,000 miles a year) with a 5.4L F-150, when I will get a better daily ride for the majority of the time (45,000 miles a year)? I’d like to hear from some of you who haul larger travel trailers and your experiences. We generally run about 400 miles from home (each way), and going up the globe into Wisconsin isn’t the most hilly place on earth, but it has some. What do you all think?

 

There is basically two kinds of towing and you have the freedom to choose between them.

There is towing

and there is white knuckle towing.

 

There is a third category, actually. One that you would likely be familiar with.

'Stinky-pants' towing.

 

He didn't mention nuthin about a Ranger.

 

 

No reason you can't tow a 6000# trailer with a properly equipped F-150 with a WD hitch. The new 150's can tow up to 11000# according to the hype on their website. Order it with the lowest gears, highest payload package, and as many heavy duty options as you can.

 

That would be the ugly-*** Heavy Duty/payload package - 8' bed, small cab, 7-lug steel wheels. A Screw - capacity is MUCH less. Agree it's a bit of hype - gotta read the fine print


bubba

 

Smoke
I have never been on a forum with so many towing babys as this one. The truck is rated to pull 11k and they dont want to pull 6, it is truly pathetic. I have pulled 8k with my 4.6 and it did fine. As long as your expectations are realistic and you dont expect to travel at the same speed as an unloaded truck would you will be fine. My truck got 11 mpg and was in Od most of the trip, I gave myself plenty of room to stop and accelerate and It was a very pleasant experience. I had 2 other adults in the cab, it was a 5 hr drive and 1 of them went to bed in the back seat the truck towed so smoothly. Do it, you wont have a problem and the 150 will easly do the job asked of it

 

Scott1981, No Screw is rated to tow 11k pounds.

Smokewagun, you are right. A truck loaded up for a camping trip is very easy to go over GWVR/payload. You've only got about 1600 pounds to cover vehicle options, family/passengers, tounge weight, and whatever you put in the bed. 15% of a 6000 pound trailer (is that loaded or dry, etc?) = 900 pounds. While the F-150 can easily handle more weight on the rear axle, I don't recommend it regularily, and towing 12 times a year is what I call regular.

6000 pounds is my reasonable limit for 1/2 tons on a regular basis. I've done more with my truck without trailer brakes or WD hitch, but I wouldn't buy an RV to do that. Lots of people tow 7-8k pounds with F-150's. It works, but compared to a PSD, the power and comfort level is much lower.

@ 50k miles per year, any reason why you couldn't jusify a second vehicle that gets 30+mpg? That way, you get to keep the appropriate tow vehicle, and cut fuel costs when you travel alone. Make a spreadsheet for yourself because @ that mileage rate, 30mpg+ savings come quickly.

 

///

 

My truck tows OK. I just take it easy and keep the overdrive off so it won't shift so much. I haven't got the camper weighed yet. But the brochure saying its weighs at 6500lb. The farthest place I've gone was 75 miles each way. PA to Ohio BTW; I'm towing with 35" tires

 

APt that is true but the screw can be optioned easily at 9k so 6 should not be a problem

 

Thank you to all of the most recent posters, which clearly had some valuable input. That is what I was looking for.

Scott1981 – As was mentioned after your post, 11,000# is in a tow rig far different than what I want. I prefer a crew cab – not a regular cab. Payload is the major question here. Reasonably, the payload of a 2008 F-150 Supercrew with the 5.4L will be pushed to the limit with my tongue weight, two adults, two kids, and minimal cargo. The majority will need to go in the trailer. I do agree that an F-150 will tow my trailer and that I need to be sure to have reasonable expectations.

APT – My Jayco 26L trailer weighs 4,690# dry, and 6,000# fully loaded (with 1310# carrying capacity). I have a Prodigy from my 2007 F-150 Supercrew I would use, and an Equalizer WD to help, as well. I think for the10-12 simple 400 mile round trip averages (realistically for the next year or two) each year, an F-150 would be okay. Yes, another better mpg vehicle would be nice, but I am fortunate to drive a company truck and delete an additional car payment. I’d hate to start another payment for a simple stripped vehicle I spend so much time in. I have spent almost 600 hours in my current truck since May 2007 when I got it. And, at 6‘-5”, the economizers for tall guys are limited.

05extcabflare – I’m more interested in your experiences as it looks lie you have something similar to mine. Do you have any “wanting pangs” to get out of your F-150 because of towing experiences, or do you find it does well enough that you could pull your trailer anywhere and be happy.

In general, I just need to weigh the pros and cons hard, which seems fruitless because each F-150 and F-250 has their own. It all boils down to “want” I guess. Unfortunately, I will spend about 1,200 hours driving to/from and for work in one year. I’d like the comfort of an F-150. I just don’t want to ruin my weekends cussing at the wheel of a truck that just won’t handle it.

 

If I read your posts correctly, the scale looks this:

F150 - you save $2500 (annual) out of pocket and enjoy the level of comfort you percieve it has over the F-250.

F250 - you are out the $2500 and have the percieved improved towing experience 12 times (6,000mi) per year.

That $2500 is about $208 per trip or 42 cents a mile.

Are the Superdutys that much more uncomfortable than the F150?
I honestly don't know.

 

The new ones? a dream.

IMHO - it'd be worth it to me - I like to keep my knuckes pink and my shorts empty.