Towing with a Half Ton

[BobnLee]

I think I'm the guy JRTH was referring to. I have that trailer and somewhere on the forum I posted my actual weights. The trailer loaded is a lot heavier than I thought. My F250 diesel pulls it no problem the 150 was working hard and didnt want to go into 6th gear unless real flat. I am getting better mpg now than with the 150 No comparison go with a 3/4. I know it is not a big trailer as compared to most 5th wheels but the weights will surprise you.

[BobnLee]

check out my post you will get the true facts. True weights weighed by my son at the MTO (DOT) scales. Pulled fine on flat land screamed up the grades while the fuel economy dropped off the scale Still have the trailer its just a lot easier with the new F250

[Jerryb1973]

Ecoboost: only If you get 373 rear end, max tow, AND HD payload do you get 2620 payload and 11,000 pound tow capacity and 8200 lb GVWR. I don't believe anyone here is set up that way but I'd like to know mpg with that config. I checked it out and this is only config I'd pull my 5th wheel with using Ecoboost. Couldn't find a dealer with one set up like this to test drive so I went with a 3/4 ton 05 dodge diesel.

[theasphaltrv'er]

Originally Posted by Jerryb1973

Ecoboost: only If you get 373 rear end, max tow, AND HD payload do you get 2620 payload and 11,000 pound tow capacity and 8200 lb GVWR. I don't believe anyone here is set up that way but I'd like to know mpg with that config. I checked it out and this is only config I'd pull my 5th wheel with using Ecoboost. Couldn't find a dealer with one set up like this to test drive so I went with a 3/4 ton 05 dodge diesel.

Jerry... I'm set up that way ... 13' Xlt, Ecoboost, 3.73, max tow, and HD payload, only 2172 payload though, 8200 GVWR, 11,100 TC 17,100 GCWR. Mileage 11,450, MPG as follows: city 15.2-15.6, hiway 21.3-21.8 and towing a 8600# TT 9.8-10.6 .

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by theasphaltrv'er

Jerry... I'm set up that way ... 13' Xlt, Ecoboost, 3.73, max tow, and HD payload, only 2172 payload though, 8200 GVWR, 11,100 TC 17,100 GCWR. Mileage 11,450, MPG as follows: city 15.2-15.6, hiway 21.3-21.8 and towing a 8600# TT 9.8-10.6 .

David, You're running about a 7000 lb travel trailer with an empty tongue wright of about 10%. loaded, I'd guess you're about 8-8.5K with a tongue weight of around 800-1000 lbs. Your truck is a great match for that weight travel trailer with the right hitch.

Now, as a former fifth wheel "tow-er" using an F150 and a "small" fifth wheel. (about 7300 lbs with 1000 lbs on the pin when loaded), I found that my 1700 lb payload was pretty much eaten up by pin weight and passengers. I didn't have much left over for anything in the bed. With your 2200 lb payload, where do you see your "HD F150" (for lack of a better way to express it) when used to tow a fifth wheel weighing about 8500 lbs with a pin weight around 1700-1800 lbs and a passenger load of 200-300 lbs? The actual pin weight (advertised as 1120 lbs) is really in the 1800 lb range when loaded for travel, so it will pretty much "fill your payload" once you put 2 or 3 people in the truck.

I'm not trying to be cynical, and don't want to make you feel defensive. I'm just asking for your opinion of where you think your truck would be given a max load with nothing in the bed and how you'd manage the load with being unable to put anything in the bed except the pin weight? The reason for asking is that's where I was with our Springdale and I knew I'd be well over the payload with a heavier fifth wheel.

We know the ECOboost is more than capable of towing the load, heck it's 3000 lbs below max rating, but payload is right there, at the limit without putting anything in the bed. How would you manage the bulky camping necessities like a generator, bikes, gas can, etc?

[Jerryb1973]

Originally Posted by theasphaltrv'er

Jerry... I'm set up that way ... 13' Xlt, Ecoboost, 3.73, max tow, and HD payload, only 2172 payload though, 8200 GVWR, 11,100 TC 17,100 GCWR. Mileage 11,450, MPG as follows: city 15.2-15.6, hiway 21.3-21.8 and towing a 8600# TT 9.8-10.6 .

Book says you should be at 2620 payload which would make a great difference in the whole conversation. How did you lose 500lb payload? In my research I asked dealerships these loading/towing questions and no one had an interest in figuring out the answer. They just want to sell something on their lot.

[Jerryb1973]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

David, You're running about a 7000 lb travel trailer with an empty tongue wright of about 10%. loaded, I'd guess you're about 8-8.5K with a tongue weight of around 800-1000 lbs. Your truck is a great match for that weight travel trailer with the right hitch.

Now, as a former fifth wheel "tow-er" using an F150 and a "small" fifth wheel. (about 7300 lbs with 1000 lbs on the pin when loaded), I found that my 1700 lb payload was pretty much eaten up by pin weight and passengers. I didn't have much left over for anything in the bed. With your 2200 lb payload, where do you see your "HD F150" (for lack of a better way to express it) when used to tow a fifth wheel weighing about 8500 lbs with a pin weight around 1700-1800 lbs and a passenger load of 200-300 lbs? The actual pin weight (advertised as 1120 lbs) is really in the 1800 lb range when loaded for travel, so it will pretty much "fill your payload" once you put 2 or 3 people in the truck.

I'm not trying to be cynical, and don't want to make you feel defensive. I'm just asking for your opinion of where you think your truck would be given a max load with nothing in the bed and how you'd manage the load with being unable to put anything in the bed except the pin weight? The reason for asking is that's where I was with our Springdale and I knew I'd be well over the payload with a heavier fifth wheel.

We know the ECOboost is more than capable of towing the load, heck it's 3000 lbs below max rating, but payload is right there, at the limit without putting anything in the bed. How would you manage the bulky camping necessities like a generator, bikes, gas can, etc?

Exactly! Just try to ask these questions at a dealership. Even their special truck salesmen are clueless.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Jerryb1973

Book says you should be at 2620 payload which would make a great difference in the whole conversation. How did you lose 500lb payload? In my research I asked dealerships these loading/towing questions and no one had an interest in figuring out the answer. They just want to sell something on their lot.

Jerry,

If you look at the specs, you're right, the "MAX" payload is 2620 for an F150 SuperCrew with the 8200 lb payload package. However there will be reduced payload for packages added to the truck. In other words, if the SCrew is an XL model with manual windows, AM radio, etc it will weigh significantly less than a Platinum SCrew with leather seats, rear camera, added chrome, electric options, and so forth. Also, if you look at the SCREW with ECOboost and 5.0 V8, you'll note the same GVW/payload rating. The ECOboost weighs a couple hundred pounds less than the V8, yet the payload is rated the same.

What Ford does is give the "maximum payload" in the charts, but as each vehicle is weighed at the end of the assembly line, the payload sticker is produced by taking the actual weight of the vehicle and subtracting that from the GVW of 8200 lbs. (actually this has been done by computer before the truck was even produced but for explanation purposes....) So, two "same model" trucks produced sequentially on the line may differ in payload by several hundred pounds based on equipment installed (or left out) of the specific truck.

[moonner2]

Just to add to the pile....I have a 2004 GMC 1500 ext.cab 2wd....spec'd with the 5.3...heavy duty tow pkg....oil coolers...3:73's...transmission temp gauge..rated at #8100 towing capacity...it has dual exhaust added and a cold air intake. I live in southern Alberta and purchased a Springdale 266RELL in Seattle..(dry weight 5640..hitch weight 720lbs.) I was pretty nervous about being able to tow it...especially through the mountains from Seattle. I stuck to I-90 right to Missoula...then took the short cut over McDonald Pass to Helena then through Great Falls on I-15 to Canada. The only real strain I felt on the truck was over the Snoqualmie Pass just out of Seattle...outside of that it pulled like a champ.
I have an 8000/800 weight distribution hitch and a sway controller with a brake controller plugged into the factory port. On the flat I was on cruise at 65 mph. The transmission temperature gauge never moved past 1/2 way ( except on the Snoqualmie where it went up to about 3/4's)...gas mileage wasn't great but then I had a few 460 cu. in. motorhomes prior to this so know what it it's like to get 9-10 mpg. I have pulled into the mountains in southern Alberta and have had the same experience....it tows straight and true and doesn't appear to be a problem for the truck....love it !!!