1/2 ton towing fact or fiction

max2bob · 12-17-2014, 06:55 AM

for those interested, on trailerlife.com they just ran this article. no new news here but interesting nonetheless. they did the article based on a 1/2 ton towable fifth wheel and a new chevy 1/2 ton.

NHcamper · 12-17-2014, 08:21 AM

http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-h...ct-or-fiction/

This one I assume

ykcamom · 12-17-2014, 09:16 AM

Now these new F150's will tow a 5th wheel, without a doubt. Not a huge one, but a maximum payload of 3300lbs! On a 1/2 ton? Wow.
http://www.trailerlife.com/reviews/f...kups-revealed/

max2bob · 12-17-2014, 10:38 AM

yes NHcamper that is the article. thanks!

goducks · 12-17-2014, 11:22 AM

Fiction. The F150 with 3300lbs for payload is a stripped down XL 2wd regular cab 8' bed. Who buys that? Fleet buyers. Buy the time you get an F150 in a popular trim level, that 3300lbs will be around 14-1800lbs for MaxTow and 21-2400lbs for the Heavy Duty payload version. Total media hype. Might as well buy an F250, it'll cost the same by the time you option out the F150 and add MaxTow and the Heavy Duty payload packages.

Camper_bob · 12-17-2014, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goducks

Fiction. The F150 with 3300lbs for payload is a stripped down XL 2wd regular cab 8' bed. Who buys that? Fleet buyers. Buy the time you get an F150 in a popular trim level, that 3300lbs will be around 14-1800lbs for MaxTow and 21-2400lbs for the Heavy Duty payload version. Total media hype. Might as well buy an F250, it'll cost the same by the time you option out the F150 and add MaxTow and the Heavy Duty payload packages.

+1

I read the article, it was a good read.

But even 21-2400 is very respectable for a "1/2 ton". Still, personally, I'm going to just skip all the marketing hype and go with a 3/4 ton when the time comes. The new base model RAM 2500s (Tradesman) are better equipped than my 2012 Sierra SLE.

goducks · 12-17-2014, 03:35 PM

I have the mag subscription. TL tends to push it too far IMO. They constantly hitch up a trailer that puts a truck at it's limits. Then say it pulled it fine. "It's a Great combo". What they don't mention is no one tows a dry trailer. Most load 1000-1500lbs into their TT or 5er. When doing that it almost always puts the 1/2 ton over it's GVW.

With all that being said, the HD F150 is a heck of solid truck. And for those that can match it properly to a larger TT or small 5er(8500lb) it'll work great.

DocBrown · 12-17-2014, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goducks

Might as well buy an F250, it'll cost the same by the time you option out the F150 and add MaxTow and the Heavy Duty payload packages.

On the day of delivery, yes. How much more over a 5 year period will the F250 cost to keep it fueled? At $3 a gallon and 20k miles a year, that could be upwards of $7k difference (over $1000 a year!). Increase the difference at $4 a gal. And I think that's why a lot of people buy 1/2 ton class trucks, especially if they are used as a daily driver. If people don't "need" a 3/4 ton...

goducks · 12-17-2014, 04:09 PM

If you order the HD F150 it only comes with the 3.73 gears so it won't get the mpg that a non HD 3.55 geared one will. From what I've read it's around 16 mpg average.
The F250 should return 13 mpg average.
Not that many people put 20k a year on their truck. 15,000 is more realistic as an average. Also if someones putting 15,000 on their truck as a DD then it's being driven on the freeway a bunch.
Figure 16 fpr the F250 and 19 for the F150. 3 mpg difference
15,000 miles @16mpg = 937.5gal. @$3.00=$2812.50 year.
15,000 miles @19mpg = 789.4gal. @#3.00=$2368.42 year.
2812.50
-2368.42
= 444.08
444.08x5years =$2220.4
Not quite $7000.00
Even going with 20,000 a year it's only $2965.00 different. Not $7000.
Sure #3000 is a chunk of change, but figure what most guys add to their F150's to stiffen them up and some of that $3000 will be ate away.
The other fact is the comparison is about the HD F150 trucks and not the typical 7200GVW F150's that have low tow ratings along with low payload ratings. Those F150s are the ones that are usually running the 3.31 or 3.55 gears and return the 19/21 hwy mpg.
You're right about the mpg cost. But that's the pay to play factor when it comes to towing heavier.

If you go to Fuelly.com the spread is even closer. More like 1-1.5 difference. So that $444 would be closer to $180.00 or less. Not enough to really matter.

DocBrown · 12-17-2014, 04:38 PM

You're making lots of assumptions on those mileage figures, as I am too, to some extent. It's easy for a lot of people to put on 20k a year. 15k is the average, that means over half put on more than 15k. I was going with 17 mpg in 1/2 ton, which is what I average with 3:73 gears and a 5.3 V8. And 12 mpg in a 3/4, which is what my friends with them tend to get. Driving style, ratio of city to hwy, these are huge factors in all this, and impossible to account for.

So realistically, depending on a lot of things, it could be as low as $3k, it could be as high as $7k. The buyer has to figure that out. Like you said, you can get a really nice trailer that's well within the limits of the F150 and be very happy.

I really don't know of anyone who's ever spent $3k stiffening up their suspension. A couple of hundred on a DIY project maybe.

goducks · 12-17-2014, 04:43 PM

Agree on the assumptions. Each has to look at how they drive and what's the most important.

MrKong · 12-17-2014, 07:31 PM

I'm more curious if you put a poll, how many people here could match the 150# passenger weight in this test.

Camper_bob · 12-17-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKong

I'm more curious if you put a poll, how many people here could match the 150# passenger weight in this test.

Right?! I'm way over that! LOL!

Paintinfool3 · 12-17-2014, 08:12 PM

I looked at the towing I did versus every day driving and highway driving and in the end it really didn't matter I went with f350 diesel . Why push the limit trying to save a buck on fuel. I spend about the same weekly on fuel as I did with my 2005 Yukon 2500 with the 5.3 but when I am pulling 9500 lbs no comparison in fuel mileage

nwminnesota · 12-17-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paintinfool3

I looked at the towing I did versus every day driving and highway driving and in the end it really didn't matter I went with f350 diesel . Why push the limit trying to save a buck on fuel. I spend about the same weekly on fuel as I did with my 2005 Yukon 2500 with the 5.3 but when I am pulling 9500 lbs no comparison in fuel mileage

Glad someone brought the diesel up into the mix. I use mine as a dd I have been getting 19.5-19.7 mpg also the truck is not broke in yet and that's the number with winter fuel. With my 5.4l ford I was getting 15mpg driving to work. Towing I was getting 9mpg. Do the math with those numbers. Winter time I figured fuel being a 1.00 more and in the summer .50 more then gas. Run the numbers you'd be surprised. Then throw in resale value. Haven't towed with yet. I don't think you can compare an apple to an orange I.e. 3/4 to 1/2 ton. Brakes,rotors, transmission, payload yes there getting closer. Also you guys are right about cost. I priced up an ecoboost max tow end year model 2014. It was only 1500 dollars less the my used 2014 duramax. Granted the eco was brand new and the duramax was used. Similar trim levels on the trucks. Just some food for thoughts. However those ecoboost trucks are very impressive according to their specs.

Mach1tosh · 01-03-2015, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKong

I'm more curious if you put a poll, how many people here could match the 150# passenger weight in this test.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Right?! I'm way over that! LOL!

+1

Paintinfool3 · 01-03-2015, 08:40 PM

Yeah i noticed they do the same thing with boat passenger weights... mine says like 12 passengers or 1150 pounds ... really

RedHorse1 · 01-05-2015, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKong

I'm more curious if you put a poll, how many people here could match the 150# passenger weight in this test.

If I combine driver/passenger I can easily match the 150#

I work from the home office when I'm in town so the F350 gets very little round town exercise. That said, the '03 Expedition 5.4 pulling the little X23B (4400#) got 9 mpg while the 350 (6.7) pulling our 5th (12700#) gets 13.

Shelahschenkel · 01-05-2015, 10:15 AM

Hi all,
I am new to towing 7000 lbs with my 1/2 ton expedition. Do I turn off my overdrive on the transmission while towing or only on steep climbs? i tow her effortlessly like sjes not even there until I climb. I keep it in Drive, but I go slower as I climb, RPM's falling. Do I down shift before the climb manually to keep up the speed? Or just let her slow down? Also I get better gas mileage if overdrive is on on straight of way. Have heard mixed opions. ANyone willing to share their knowledge with a lady who is having trouble?
Warmly,
Shelah

etex211 · 01-05-2015, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelahschenkel

Hi all,
I am new to towing 7000 lbs with my 1/2 ton expedition. Do I turn off my overdrive on the transmission while towing or only on steep climbs? i tow her effortlessly like sjes not even there until I climb. I keep it in Drive, but I go slower as I climb, RPM's falling. Do I down shift before the climb manually to keep up the speed? Or just let her slow down? Also I get better gas mileage if overdrive is on on straight of way. Have heard mixed opions. ANyone willing to share their knowledge with a lady who is having trouble?
Warmly,
Shelah

On any half ton vehicle, I would lock out the overdrive while towing. The constant changing of gears is what builds up the heat and damages the transmission.

You may also like: