Need suggestion on tow vehicle

[h.karst]

guaranteed pick up a 3/4 , 1 ton diesel. used is beauty if everything checks out good. It will be a comfier ride while towing, and its nice to have some weight when on the road especially if there is snow/ice. Surely yioure wife can let it warm up for a few minutes. Not the best for short trips but it will be safe/comfortable right off the get-go when towing,.

 

[papajake]

you want to see what a 150 brakes are like put 1000 lbs in the box put a 2 place sled trailer with no brakes behind with 2- 500 lb. sleds and try to slow down going in to golden when i hit the first gas station my brakes were toast

 

[magnet]

you want to see what a 150 brakes are like put 1000 lbs in the box put a 2 place sled trailer with no brakes behind with 2- 500 lb. sleds and try to slow down going in to golden when i hit the first gas station my brakes were toast

older half ton? not sure why as the new ones are huge. does your unit have the trailering package? I pull my holiday trailer, only 23ft mind you, but still heavier than 2 sleds on a trailer, and put my qaud in the box. and have never had a stopping or driving issue with mine. never been down the hill in golden, thats a major hill for anything, but have been up and down the forestry trunk and north of hinton on the willow creek rd and the willow is a pretty wicked hill if you have never been. need 4x4 when going around the corners or you spin out if its a little wet.

 

[Transporter]

you want to see what a 150 brakes are like put 1000 lbs in the box put a 2 place sled trailer with no brakes behind with 2- 500 lb. sleds and try to slow down going in to golden when i hit the first gas station my brakes were toast

LOL. I pulled four place enclosed with my F150 for a few years out to golden. I think it now has 300 000km and only on its second set of brake pads. I do also know some gas well operators that replace their brake pads every four months and they dont tow anything. This leads me to think it must be something to do with the driver.

 

[Samsung3]

Thanks for that. Ya truck going to pull the trailer at most 12 times a year within a 400km radius. No quads, sleds etc. Being wife will drive every day, the 150 is prob best way to go.
Again thanks

 

[Junior Highmark]

This thread is basically 2 fights:

Gas 1/2 ton vs Diesel 3/4, 1 ton.

Magnet vs Everyone else who has truly done their homework.

I mean come on magnet, a 13 year old 3/4 ton vs a 2009 f150 with a fancy shmancy computer.

I bet you the 13 year old still has more power if it's a cummins.

I know dad's '06 dodge 3500 tow rig (not dually. =P) Has bigger brake then my f-150 does. Try again. And I also know his 3500 will tow a HECK of a lot better then my f-150 EVER will.


Theres a HUGE difference in being ABLE to tow, and being able to safely and efficiently tow.

My f-150 could, yes tow our 28' holiday trailer, but DAMN would it be pushing the limits.

My f-150 could also tow our 28' sled trailer (Empty) But damn would it also be pushing the limits.

The f-150 doesn't have the weight / suspension / power to it.
Dad's 3500 cummins tow's these things with ease. No power / suspension / weight struggle. Ever.


Being able to, and under control and safely being able to. Theirs a difference there.


Why risk it 12 to 15 times, having to be super cautious of being over and keeping control etc. When you could just buy a better tow rig, and not having any worrys.

That one blind corner when you hit ice in your shiny little f-150 could end it all when you slide off the side because you did not have enough weight to control your trailer, or the brakes to slow it down in time.

/end rant

 

[Junior Highmark]

Oh and I love using the 3500 MEGA cab as the tow rig.

Reclining seats in the back is soooo nice.

 

[magnet]

i dont disagree with you junior. but now your talkin 3500 to a half ton. i agree with that one way more truck. but i have done the math junior looked it up on the manufacturers website, what you gain in overall gcwr from 3/4 to half is lost in higher weight for the truck. a 3/4 will haul more on the susp than a 1/2ton. but will tow less if the susp is loaded to max first. a 1/2 will be way more economical if you are not hauling a deck and only towing a few times a year. if towing every weekend go with a 1 ton. if hauling your sled deck every weekend in the winter you can use a 3/4 but would be better with a 1 ton. i am just tired of everybody out there saynig a half ton is useless. imo i feel that a 3/4 is useless as the only gain over a half ton is you can haul a little more in the box of the truck. if a half ton wont pullit for you a 3/4 wont do it any better and a person should go to the 1 ton.

 

[shawnmcgr]

Thanks for that. Ya truck going to pull the trailer at most 12 times a year within a 400km radius. No quads, sleds etc. Being wife will drive every day, the 150 is prob best way to go.
Again thanks

I don't think I could convince my wife to drive a 3/4 ton as a daily driver either. Having pulled a 6000lb trailer with a half ton I would recommend:

Get 10 ply tires (stiffer and higher weight rating) - I would not even attempt with 35psi tires.

Get air bags or stiffer spring package.

Get a good sway control hitch, not just weight distribution bars, they do nothing to control sway.

You may also want to upgrade your rear shocks - really, spring upgrades and shock upgrades go hand in hand - unless you've got adjustable shocks.

Maybe the pick-up your looking has some of the above upgrades (included in some trailer or camper packages). But you really want a stiff rear axel to control the trailer. Set the front up for ride and the rear for towing.

I think the back end of most 1/2 tons are too soft (tires and springs) to control that much weight. Set-up properly, a few 1/2 tons could likely handle it. It's not just a hook it up and go set-up, it'll take some care running it down the highway. Careful on the corners, especially if it's wet, with no weight in the box that trailer is really going to push.

Careful out there and enjoy the camping,

Shawn

 

[Longhorn]

Funny...people ask advice, get it from people with experience, but still dont take the advice...funny...

 

[Transporter]

i dont disagree with you junior. but now your talkin 3500 to a half ton. i agree with that one way more truck. but i have done the math junior looked it up on the manufacturers website, what you gain in overall gcwr from 3/4 to half is lost in higher weight for the truck. a 3/4 will haul more on the susp than a 1/2ton. but will tow less if the susp is loaded to max first. a 1/2 will be way more economical if you are not hauling a deck and only towing a few times a year. if towing every weekend go with a 1 ton. if hauling your sled deck every weekend in the winter you can use a 3/4 but would be better with a 1 ton. i am just tired of everybody out there saynig a half ton is useless. imo i feel that a 3/4 is useless as the only gain over a half ton is you can haul a little more in the box of the truck. if a half ton wont pullit for you a 3/4 wont do it any better and a person should go to the 1 ton.

I agree with you and you have to remember some of the people on here still live with their parents and the rest are all caught up in the marketing. If its rated to pull...pull away.

 

[Modman]

i dunno - i thought Samsung was asking which would be the better truck for limited hauling and daily driving - the balance sheet looks like the F150 for both I think for his application, sounds like we solved that debate.

As for the other debate - well, we pulled 4 sleds a few years ago in an enclosed and no 1/2 ton truck was keeping up to us, in fact they were being passed left and right as we went through the mountains and valleys, most of them hauling 2 place trailers. Hook up 10,000 lbs to your 1/2 ton and I'll get a 3/4 ton with 10,000 lbs and we'll take a rip down the 1/4 mile and see who gets to the end first.

Would you prefer to wipe your ass with soggy newspaper or Scotties? Just because Ford/Dodge/Chevy says you can and it'll work (as in legally), doesn't mean there isn't a better solution out there.

 

[Transporter]

If the 150 and the 250 had same gears and same engine I'd put my money on the 150.

 

[08summit]

I think all manufactures should stop making different size trucks and everybody should buy an F-150 cause they can haul anything. Just load it to the max and put the peddle to the floor...Safety and rating crap is just for losers...pass me another beer...LMFAO

 

[Modman]

I think all manufactures should stop making different size trucks and everybody should buy a Ford Ranger cause they can haul anything. Just load it to the max and put the peddle to the floor...Safety and rating crap is just for losers...pass me another beer...LMFAO

fixed it for ya....

 

[Grizzaris]

I have a 2007 F250 Superduty with the 5.4L and I pull a 30', 6500# (dry) trailer and I just hate having to listen to the engine scream at 4000+ rpm while trying to maintain 100 kmph up hills or in stiff winds. I even bought a SCT programmer that made a big difference but unless Ford has changed things I wouldn't consider buying one for any pulling ever again. Just my opinion so Ford lovers relax

 

[magnet]

I have a 2007 F250 Superduty with the 5.4L and I pull a 30', 6500# (dry) trailer and I just hate having to listen to the engine scream at 4000+ rpm while trying to maintain 100 kmph up hills or in stiff winds. I even bought a SCT programmer that made a big difference but unless Ford has changed things I wouldn't consider buying one for any pulling ever again. Just my opinion so Ford lovers relax

yes in 09 they went to a different transmission. than previous. towing our 23ft loadedwith ater under storage loaded with firewood and my qaud and our bikes in the back i pull the hills at 3500 or so. but on the flats it pulls at about 2200 or so if i am realy pushing it will shift down more and rev pretty high.
but for what samsung was looking for i think we solved it a 150 will be good for him. if toewing lots stay away from the gas like everyone has agreed upon. and go to a 1 ton.

 

[WinchBreaker]

I am in a similiar situation. We have a 30ft TT which ways around 7000 lbs. We pull this with a 1/2 ton truck. When we head out camping, we take the dogs, a generator, some jerry cans and some firewood. When I weighed the truck at the scales, I was 1100 lbs overweight. If I could do it all over again, I would buy at least a 3/4 ton truck. Half ton trucks are very light duty. The diesel versus gas is another issue all on its own. My personal opinion on the diesel vs gas (after having owned a lemon ford 6.0 litre) is to stay away unless you drive a lot, haul often, and have the money to fix them because the maintenance costs can be way more than gassers are. Basically, ensure that you really need a diesel before you buy one.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks.

 

[magnet]

here is a pic of our 150 when we moved the mother and brother in law back to alberta. i weighed the truck at yak scales. front axle was around 3200lbs rear was around 3700lbs and the trailer was 7700lbs and change. i was maxed right out on the truck. box was full of boxes under the cover and had 4 adults in the cab.

 

[polarice]

anyone notice he is in vancouver so the warm up period is next to nill