Do you gain a big advantage with an F250?

[5arnolds]

I own a 2011 Jayco Jay Feather 29L (5500 lbs dry) and tow it with a 2005 Ford F150 4x4 5.4L SC (3.55 axle)....see pic below in my signature. We have a Reese dual cam anti-sway/weight distribution set-up and use the Tekonsha P2 brake controller. Given this is my first trailer and truck, I have nothing to compare it to with regard to towing experience. I do feel it tows fine (and I feel pretty relaxed when pulling) although it does struggle a little on larger hills as I would expect it to. Occasionally, I'll feel a slight sway, but that's usually when a tractor trailer is passing me or I get a strong crosswind on an open highway.

So my question is, in your experiences what engine/body upgrade do you feel I would need to move to in order to feel an measureable improved pulling experience? I don't feel that going from my current F150 5.4L to an F250 with the same size gas engine would make much of a difference, but I'd like others' opinions on this since I really don't know. And putting the engine aside for a moment, does the heavier duty frame, etc. of an F250 make a towing experience better?

I'm just trying to decide if it's worth considering a 'swap' to a heavier duty truck frame and/or larger, more powerfull engine, and how big of a step I'd need to make in order to feel any real noticeable difference.

One last note is that my brother-in-law is a Ford master mechanic, so I would stick to a Ford for obvious reasons.

Thanks in advance.
Dave

[nylyon]

Assuming that your 150 has load range E tires, if you were to go with an F250 and a similar engine I don't think you would experience a whole lot of difference with that camper. The F250 is going to give you more payload and a little more comfort in the weight category. Now if you went with a larger engine or a diesel, I think that you would begin to see some difference in pulling.

[dmax_83]

I went from a 1/2 ton suburban to a 3/4 diesel pickup. I never really felt that the suburban didn't have enough power, it just felt 'loaded up' when towing. The new truck obviously has more power being a diesel, but it also feels more confident when towing.

[TexasA&M]

If you were to trade for a brand new F250, you would notice a HUGE difference, regardless of which engine you went with (gas or diesel). If you were to trade for a 2005 with the 5.4 V8, the difference wouldn't be nearly as large, but still noticeable. You'll have bigger brakes and a longer wheelbase (assuming you stick with a crew-cab), along with a stiffer suspension. All of these things are better when towing (although not necessary for your current trailer). The tradeoff would be ride/comfort/etc when you aren't towing.

As far as the question of 'Is it worth it?', you are probably the only one who can answer that. If you're thinking about getting a bigger trailer in a few years, I'd go ahead and get a new truck now so that you can engine easier towing with your current trailer. Then you'd be ready for that bigger one whenever (although once you get a bigger truck, a bigger trailer usually follows closely behind!).

[squidmotion]

my next will be a diesel, more than likely... more likely if toyota makes it

remember, even with the same engine and trans, the F250 is going to be geared differently for better towing. they won't be much fun on rough highways without a trailer (some strategically placed bags of concrete can help a bit with that)

[29BHS ECO]

5arnolds-- You can change the 3:55's to 3:73'S & you would feel a difference in towing ( gas mileage also) or get a ECO-BOAST pu and REALLY feel a difference ( and in mileage this time to the good side) Larry

[poohbear]

when towing,greater load capacity PLUS HP/TORQUE is simply the only way to go.
Now ,if you tow 3 or 4 times a year for a short drive,probably not worth it.However if you go a couple of times a month why arent you at the dealer?A friend tows a 30ft brand x and thought his 08 f250 diesel was overkill and swapped for a 12 F150 with tow package,fuel eats him alive when towing now.
Why not just buy a good used f250 and keep it hooked up ready to go,?

[Gunnar]

I towed with a 99 F250 for a while. It had the 5.4 as well. Being an early 5.4 it didn't have the hp the newer models have. Our 5th wheel was just over 7300 lbs. unloaded. It had to work pretty hard on the hills or traveling into a wind.

I think you would notice a favorable difference with the heavier truck. You may or may not notice a difference in power due to the heavier truck the engine has to move.

One thing about the 5.4 is it will work at high rpms all day long. It may not be one of the most powerful engines around but it is a very strong engine.

[drfife]

You can never have too much truck.

[Preston]

Originally Posted by squidmotion

my next will be a diesel, more than likely... more likely if toyota makes it

remember, even with the same engine and trans, the F250 is going to be geared differently for better towing. they won't be much fun on rough highways without a trailer (some strategically placed bags of concrete can help a bit with that)

Yes, I have seen the demo truck and love it. It's a nice dually diesel. It's no wonder the Tundra has always been best of class in the 1/2 ton catagory with the 4.3 gear ratio and the frame of the F350, and an American truck made in Indiana.
Can't wait to see how they will beef up that frame!

[Diesel Donnie]

Originally Posted by drfife

You can never have too much truck.

X2- The first rv is called a "starter unit"- It has been my experience that the next rv purchased is always larger and heavier- If you intend to be a weekend camper forever and the tv is your daily driver, a 1/2 ton pickup may be a reasonable choice- If you have retirement dreams involving extensive travel, it might be prudent to upgrade to a 3/4 ton and experience firsthand how you will feel in a heavier truck with a larger engine- We started out with a pop-up towed by the family station wagon and gradually arrived at our present equipment- Today, I would not turn a wheel unless I were driving a diesel crewcab dually which is what we have- JMHO- DD

[squidmotion]

Originally Posted by Preston

Yes, I have seen the demo truck and love it. It's a nice dually diesel. It's no wonder the Tundra has always been best of class in the 1/2 ton catagory with the 4.3 gear ratio and the frame of the F350, and an American truck made in Indiana.
Can't wait to see how they will beef up that frame!

i'll get a a lot more years out of our gigantor toyota, as it tows the 19H just fine... even with the smaller 4.7 V8....but i'll probably sock away for a new one down the road...


i do plan to upgrade to a diesel, as i'm doing a lot more towing.. and have a lot more stuff that i want to tow around... i finally feel the need for diesel power and a larger GVWR... however, in my best Texspeak, "DANG they are PROUD of those things!"

i sure hope they offer a manual transmission model, but i doubt that is in the cards.. in fact, i doubt a tundra diesel is in the cards either...

[dmax_83]

Currently the only diesel from the big three that you can still get a manual trans with is the Ram/Cummings combo, and when you do the engine is mildly detuned in comparison to the auto trans.

[mach8274]

I went from a 2002 F150 5.4L to a 2011 Superduty with the 6.7L Powerstroke. I will NEVER go back! It is a HUGE difference. Not only the HP/TQ but because it is a much heavier truck, you will naturally get a lot less sway. Passing trucks don't bother me any more, not even a little wiggle from the trailer. The integrated trailer brake control works flawlessly as well. Night and day difference. I have not driven the Superduty with the 6.2L gas engine, but I have been told that it is also a very strong engine. Your gas mileage will suck though. I get close to 12 MPG while towing with mine.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[drfife]

Originally Posted by mach8274

I went from a 2002 F150 5.4L to a 2011 Superduty with the 6.7L Powerstroke. I will NEVER go back! It is a HUGE difference. Not only the HP/TQ but because it is a much heavier truck, you will naturally get a lot less sway. Passing trucks don't bother me any more, not even a little wiggle from the trailer....

I agree X 2!!!

[TexasA&M]

Originally Posted by dmax_83

...Ram/Cummings...

Cummins

[5arnolds]

So with what everyone has said, a 2005 F250 with a 5.4 Liter V8 (there is actually a nice one at a lot in my area right now) might feel more 'firm/stable' since it's heavier duty than my 2005 F150, however, it goes without saying that I would probably actually struggle a little more in pulling since it's a heavier truck with the same engine that I currently have.

Is this fair to say?

[nylyon]

Opinions will vary, if it were me, I don't think that there would be enough bang for the buck to make the switch. I made a change (from a Hemi Durango) to an F250 and I went Diesel and that was a significant change. Not sure I would have gone to an F250 with a similar sized engine though, but that's just me.

[TexasA&M]

I agree with nylyon. If that 2005 had the V10 or the 6.0, I'd make the change. Going from one 5.4 to another though, I don't think you'll notice enough of a difference, especially if your F150 is doing an admirable job right now.

[dmax_83]

Originally Posted by TexasA&M

Cummins

Oops, thanks. Can you tell I don't own one? :hihi: