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Old 03-18-2022, 08:47 AM   #1
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Tow Vehicle-F150 vs F250 or similar

Working on payload calculations for the F150. If towing a travel trailer with GVWR of approx 6000-7000lb, and a bunch of passengers with total weight of 650-800lb (depending on who joins). Is the F150 capable in this situation? Should I be looking at an F250 (or similar in other makes)?

The max payload of the F150 listed online is much higher than the actual trucks I've seen, with real life door stickers noting only around 1700lb payload.

The dealers just dismiss the sticker weight & go back to talking about tow capacity & online info. Ordering an F150 new with a 'max payload package' will leave us with no TV for many months (6-12 months!) & we don't want to wait a year to get out there.

We started out hoping to tow with an SUV. Once we moved up to the F150, we thought we would have lots of room before reaching weight limits, but seems it isn't so. We're still figuring this out. Looking forward to your good advice.
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Old 03-18-2022, 08:55 AM   #2
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My opinion - Buy a 250, shouldn't be a huge cost increase and you will have the capacity and no worries.
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Old 03-18-2022, 09:07 AM   #3
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My 157" wheelbase F150 4x4 has a payload of 1857 lbs via the door sticker. My 3/4 ton diesel Ram is 2047 lbs as a comparison.
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Old 03-18-2022, 09:12 AM   #4
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I towed an 8,000 lb camper for 1 season with my F150 - It had a Payload of 1890 pounds. It pulled the camper just fine but it just couldn't handle the weight and was the cause of more than one white knuckle towing experience. I loved the truck but gave in an upgraded to a 250 and then ultimately to my current ruck a 350.

There is no comparison to towing with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. The trade off is the ride quality when you are not towing. My truck is not my daily driver so it doesn't make much of a difference to me.
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Old 03-18-2022, 09:48 AM   #5
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As I recall the "Max Tow" doesn't really get you any increase in payload. You'd need to add the "HDPP" (Heavy Duty Payload Package) which is very limited in cab/bed and trim level configurations. It's a unicorn that you will almost never find on a dealer lot.

If you estimate 15% of a 7K trailer GVWR for tongue weight you are around 1K. Add in your worst case scenario of 800lbs passengers - which based on how you phrased the OP that wouldn't account for other cargo in the truck - and you are out of or over the payload on the F-150.

For another example of F-250 payload my 2019 F-250 w/6.2L gas engine came with 3216 payload - plenty of head room there for you what you are considering. A 7.3L gas engine model would be close to that amount as well. A diesel in the 250/2500 model will cut that payload down a fair amount - often times in the low to mid 2K range - so if interested in a diesel then look at the 350/3500 models.
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Old 03-18-2022, 09:54 AM   #6
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Forgot I recently came across this document that might be helpful for working through the weight calculations:
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File Type: pdf towing-capability-calculator-for-f-series-trucks-in.pdf (1.30 MB, 57 views)
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Old 03-18-2022, 10:52 AM   #7
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Buy more truck than you think you need right now. You will upgrade the trailer sooner than you think and then be looking at another expense for a bigger truck.
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Old 03-18-2022, 11:13 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ttavasc View Post
As I recall the "Max Tow" doesn't really get you any increase in payload. You'd need to add the "HDPP" (Heavy Duty Payload Package) which is very limited in cab/bed and trim level configurations. It's a unicorn that you will almost never find on a dealer lot.

That is correct. It does however get you the HD frame, suspension components, HD receiver, etc. We had a thread running over on ford-trucks.com a while ago about the different combinations. I will try and see if I can find it.
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Old 03-18-2022, 11:25 AM   #9
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There's no such thing as "overkill" or "too much truck" when towing. I've never heard anyone complain about having too much truck. Go F250.
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Old 03-18-2022, 12:01 PM   #10
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My trailers have always been in that same weight range. Currently have a Jayco with GVWR of 7500 lbs. Have towed with a few F150’s as well as a GMC 1500. I now have a RAM 2500. Don’t want to ever tow it with a half ton again. What used to be a stressful towing experience is now pure joy.
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Old 03-18-2022, 07:12 PM   #11
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With just a rough crunch of the numbers you have I’d say you are close to the max with an F150, as others suggest look at the 250. I pull 1300# with an F350 6.7 and it’s my first pickup and first diesel. The 6.7 is an OX and it loves to pull. With 6 to 7k you can get by with a gasser but mileage and towing will struggle, IMHO.
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Old 03-19-2022, 08:49 AM   #12
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Thanks everyone-very helpful!
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Old 03-19-2022, 01:36 PM   #13
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F150 is my favorite truck.
But for towing anything, you'll want a Super duty.
And if you ever decide you may want a 5th wheel, minimum 350.
People will argue about this, but you will be happy knowing that you don't need to worry about your new toaster oven putting you overweight.
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Old 03-19-2022, 02:16 PM   #14
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I don’t think you’ll ever regret going with a 3/4-ton over a half-ton. The peace of mind in towing is worth it alone. And you’ll know you can get a bigger TT later (sounds like you already are creeping up from your original candidates.) If you are needing it to be a gas-friendly, 8-passenger daily driver, you probably are relegated to an SUV and limited TT choices.

FWIW, when we were shopping for a trailer and TV, we considered new half-tons (Tundra, F-150 etc) and ended up with a mint-condition used F-250 diesel with less than 100k miles. Way less $$ (and tech), but it’s great for towing and will last our lifetime of RVing. YMMV.
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Old 03-20-2022, 09:43 AM   #15
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If you go to Fords build and price section and as an example build an F150 XLT Super Crew 3.5 EB with the 6.5 bed which is needed for the HDPP option and then build out an F250 XLT CC 6.5 bed with the 7.3 gas, the F250 is a fair amount cheaper by the time you add all the tow package options needed to be on par with the F250.
Like Tow mirrors, Max Tow which is required with the Heavy Duty Payload Package and a couple other items. No other options added, just a base XLT on both trucks.

The F150 3.5 XLT 4x4 with the HDPP comes in at $55,808
The F250 7.3 XLT 4x4 comes in at $53,445.
A savings of$2,363 and thats adding the 7.3. The stock 6.2 is $2045 cheaper at $51,400.
Makes zero sense to order an F150 with the HDPP height is an issue with your parking.
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Old 03-20-2022, 06:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goducks View Post
If you go to Fords build and price section and as an example build an F150 XLT Super Crew 3.5 EB with the 6.5 bed which is needed for the HDPP option and then build out an F250 XLT CC 6.5 bed with the 7.3 gas, the F250 is a fair amount cheaper by the time you add all the tow package options needed to be on par with the F250.
Like Tow mirrors, Max Tow which is required with the Heavy Duty Payload Package and a couple other items. No other options added, just a base XLT on both trucks.

The F150 3.5 XLT 4x4 with the HDPP comes in at $55,808
The F250 7.3 XLT 4x4 comes in at $53,445.
A savings of$2,363 and thats adding the 7.3. The stock 6.2 is $2045 cheaper at $51,400.
Makes zero sense to order an F150 with the HDPP height is an issue with your parking.
Thanks for the research! I don't want to order a new truck because they're taking 6-12 months to arrive these days. Hoping to find something good that's incoming & it sounds like the dealers don't order any HDPPs.

Appreciate the good advice from everyone & I am going to look at F250s. I'm a newbie truck driver - any issues going from SUV to F250? My wife is concerned it'll be too big of a jump for me re: adjusting to the driving.
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Old 03-20-2022, 06:53 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckyDuck View Post
I don’t think you’ll ever regret going with a 3/4-ton over a half-ton. The peace of mind in towing is worth it alone. And you’ll know you can get a bigger TT later (sounds like you already are creeping up from your original candidates.) If you are needing it to be a gas-friendly, 8-passenger daily driver, you probably are relegated to an SUV and limited TT choices.

FWIW, when we were shopping for a trailer and TV, we considered new half-tons (Tundra, F-150 etc) and ended up with a mint-condition used F-250 diesel with less than 100k miles. Way less $$ (and tech), but it’s great for towing and will last our lifetime of RVing. YMMV.
Thanks. Yes, we are creeping up! We looked at the smaller TTs & they seemed tight with the 4 of us. It's a case of 'well, if we're going to get a trailer...' (but we've been happy in a tent so far). So I'm going to look at F250s this week.
How did you find it driving your truck? Did it take time to adjust? I haven't driven one before.
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Old 03-20-2022, 06:55 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cincinnati Kid View Post
F150 is my favorite truck.
But for towing anything, you'll want a Super duty.
And if you ever decide you may want a 5th wheel, minimum 350.
People will argue about this, but you will be happy knowing that you don't need to worry about your new toaster oven putting you overweight.
Thanks-I'm going to check the F250 out. It would be very disappointing to get all set up & realize we're so close to the edge.
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Old 03-20-2022, 07:00 PM   #19
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Go for the 250.
When I reach this point, I will go for a 350. I see little value in the 250.
But if it's btwn. the 150 and the 250, get the 250.
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Old 03-20-2022, 07:34 PM   #20
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Go for the 250.
When I reach this point, I will go for a 350. I see little value in the 250.
But if it's btwn. the 150 and the 250, get the 250.
Considering I started this process wanting an SUV with good towing capacity, the 350 is not a big stretch now. I'm chuckling at myself.
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