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06-20-2018, 11:02 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Oak Harbor
Posts: 7
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Traded Half Ton for 3/4 Ton. Happiness!
Hi guys... just a word to the wise. I'm a Ford guy. Love their trucks. I had a 2016 F150 ecoboost. It had plenty of power to pull our 2017 Jayco 28 foot 287BHSW. But, it was a nightmare to travel with.
I suspect there are a lot of people seeing the tow ratings of the newer Ford 1/2 tons and assume it's going to travel just fine down the road. The power is incredible in the new V6 Ecoboosts! But maybe we need to take a step back and think about it.
Our camper is 6200 pounds dry. My F150 was about 5600 pounds with me in it. That's 11,800 GCWR. Add a few bikes, food, beer, wife, kids and the max GCWR for the F150 was maxed out. The max GCWR for the truck was listed at 12500.
So I know, I get it. It was maxed out, so that's why I had sway and travel issues. Probably. No need to flame.
I put 45 pounds air in the back tires, I added Timbrens to the back and all that helped, a lot. But after our last trip on the Ohio turnpike, we decided to trade the half ton and go with a 3/4 ton. There was sway., a lot of it. I felt like I was floating and didn't have much control over 60 mph. The "semi suck" as I call it was atrocious. Like I said, plenty of engine power, but not much stability.
So we got home and I traded the 16 F150 on an 18 F250 with the 6.2L gas engine. This beast is a truck! GCWR for this truck is 19500. I went and weighed the truck, camper and me and the GCWR is 13620 before food, wife, kids.
But, I'm telling you, it tows like a dream. Sure I still use the WDH and friction bar, but it truly tows amazingly well.
The point of all this is, if you plan on towing a heavier camper, please make sure your 1/2 ton is better suited for it than mine was or just bite the bullet and get a 3/4 ton. This will save a lot of wear and tear on the smaller truck and on your nerves!
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06-20-2018, 11:42 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
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Had a buddy did the same thing towed around for about 40000 miles. Traded for a 350 couldn't take it any more! Thanks
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06-20-2018, 11:52 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 778
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IMO, when considering a TV, the vast majority of people ask the wrong questions. Instead of asking can I tow this with my vehicle? They should be asking, will my vehicle control this XYZ camper in an oh **** moment? Those situations that rarely happen but when they do you get to walk away instead of being carried away.
I went from a Jeep Commander 5.7L Hemi to a 1 ton F350 Dually, the differences are incredible. You're more relaxed towing, the trip is more enjoyable, you can pass when you need to and stop when you have too!
I've heard very good things about the 6.2, enjoy your new truck, it'll make family trips far more enjoyable.
Oh BTW...pics or it didn't happen!
__________________
JOHN
People Sleep Peacefully in Their Beds at Night Only Because Rough Men Stand Ready to Do Violence on Their Behalf
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06-20-2018, 12:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Louisville Area
Posts: 408
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I did the same thing and loved the switch
__________________
John
2017 F-250 Lariat FX-4
2016 Whitehawk 27DSRL
Equalizer WDH with 10k bars
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06-20-2018, 12:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston
Posts: 1,210
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I love my 3/4 ton....
__________________
Don & Donna Stout
E-9 Anchor Clanker
Full timers since 2010
2017 North Point 381 DLQS
2015 F-250 6.7 w/Timbrens
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06-20-2018, 12:34 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 76
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Did the same thing moving from a 2017 Silverado 1/2 ton with the 5.3 to 2018 3/4 ton with the 6.0. My pocket book hurts but it tows night and day better and more comfortably.
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06-20-2018, 02:13 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hood River
Posts: 170
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A lot of it has to do with weight. As the trailer approaches or worse exceeds the weight of the pickup the joy of towing declines. Just because it has the engine power to pull it doesn't mean it will be a joyful experience.
The majority of people going from 1/2 to 3/4 are glad they did so when towing. But it is a compromise when not towing...
__________________
2017 RAM 2500 Tradesman CTD CC LB
2017 Jayco Jayflight 28BHBE
Equal-i-zer 1200# WDH
Prior 2011 Jayco Greyhawk 26DS
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06-20-2018, 02:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: S. Indiana
Posts: 334
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Very few truck owners who use their trucks for towing or "work" ever "regret" having too much truck.
__________________
2017 29RKS
2018 Ford F-250 Lariat, 4X4, 6.7L PSD, SC, SB
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06-20-2018, 03:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Quincy
Posts: 643
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If they tell you a 1/2 ton will do it............figure a 3/4 ton. I have a Tundra but I know it will not be near enough truck when we buy a new TT. I love Tundra's but Toy. is missing out on a good market by not stepping up to the plate. I will be going with either a F250 or F350.
Congratulations on being one of the smart ones to realize that there is a huge difference between being able to do it...............and being able to do it safely. You have a great truck! Enjoy!!!
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06-20-2018, 03:54 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,710
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Congratulations on the truck! I too made the switch from 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton and will never buy another 1/2 if towing is ever in the plans. My TT is a bit lighter at 5,000 lbs but the handling characteristics of a 250/2500 made me a firm believer that you cannot have too much truck. The compromise is lower fuel economy but a safer, more comfortable towing experience is all worth it to me.
__________________
2018 28BHBE
2017 Ford F250 XLT, 6.2 gasser
2013 26BH (traded)
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06-20-2018, 07:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,203
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Love driving/towing with our new '17 F-250 with the 6.2l. It'll pass anything but a gas station but I bought it for peace of mind not fuel economy which btw isn't that bad.
__________________
2012 Eagle 320 RLDS
2017 Ford F-250 FX4 Crew STX 6.2l
3.73 E-locker
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06-20-2018, 08:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mckinney
Posts: 106
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Yup, same thing here. I was towing this weekend going on some of dfws crap highways which rise and fall in each section. It was causing all kinds of heck and truck was dipping to absorb each bounce. I simply cannot image that situation with my old 1500.
__________________
2017 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE
2016 Ram 4x4 Crew Cab Laramie Diesel
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06-20-2018, 08:31 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Chicago
Posts: 242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jlechmanik
A lot of it has to do with weight. As the trailer approaches or worse exceeds the weight of the pickup the joy of towing declines. Just because it has the engine power to pull it doesn't mean it will be a joyful experience.
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My F-250 6.2L weighs about 7K. An F-350 and a 6.7 is just north of 8K. Go crazy and get an F-450 dually and maybe you get close to 10K. Pretty much every Eagle trailer weighs more than 10K and I would guess any non-ultralight 5th wheel weighs well north of 10K. Are you suggesting you need a Peterbuilt to joyfully tow a nice toy hauler 5er?
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06-20-2018, 08:33 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Chicago
Posts: 242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TCNashville
Love driving/towing with our new '17 F-250 with the 6.2l. It'll pass anything but a gas station but I bought it for peace of mind not fuel economy which btw isn't that bad.
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Can't say enough about my 6.2 keeping oil stocks up...but I'm with you, the Super Dutys tow like a dream.
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06-20-2018, 09:41 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Oak Harbor
Posts: 7
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Thanks guys for all the kind words. I absolutely love the 250. I've wanted one since I was 10 years old, I'm 45 now. Had several F150's and a Lincoln 1/2 ton, among other vehicles over the years but never had the 250.
So far just towing around the country block to dial in the brake controller and to the scales to weigh everything, it tows amazingly well!
I'll attach some pictures:
Washed and waxed it tonight at work
Pics of it in our back field
Wife likes to drive it
Old F150 and our camper
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06-20-2018, 09:52 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Oak Harbor
Posts: 7
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Few better pics of the camper
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06-20-2018, 09:55 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 765
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350/3500 would be even better. Why do you compromise?
__________________
28DSBH (MY2017)
Propride 1400
Solar powered 640W plus 400 Ah lithium batteries
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06-20-2018, 10:16 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hood River
Posts: 170
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morleyz
My F-250 6.2L weighs about 7K. An F-350 and a 6.7 is just north of 8K. Go crazy and get an F-450 dually and maybe you get close to 10K. Pretty much every Eagle trailer weighs more than 10K and I would guess any non-ultralight 5th wheel weighs well north of 10K. Are you suggesting you need a Peterbuilt to joyfully tow a nice toy hauler 5er?
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Actually I was refering to travel trailers. They have a different relationship with their trailers than 5th wheels do. Or semi's for that matter....
__________________
2017 RAM 2500 Tradesman CTD CC LB
2017 Jayco Jayflight 28BHBE
Equal-i-zer 1200# WDH
Prior 2011 Jayco Greyhawk 26DS
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06-20-2018, 10:55 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charles Town
Posts: 123
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morleyz
Can't say enough about my 6.2 keeping oil stocks up...but I'm with you, the Super Dutys tow like a dream.
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Did the same. Went from a 2016 F-150. F-150 did okay last summer going out to Rushmore. But seemed to be strained all the way. Upgraded to a 2018 F-250 6.2 gasser. Much better tow experience. But that thing is a thirsty bugger. Averaging 8.5 mpg on the way west now. But a much more confident towing experience. Right now we're in Arkansas heading west to the left coast.
__________________
Greg & Nancy Hubert
2017 Jayco 28RLS
2018 Ford F-250 Lariat 6.2L Gas
Equalizer 12K WD Hitch
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06-20-2018, 11:16 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 765
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Why usually 3/4 ton truck tows usually better than 1/2 ton truck? Because 3/4 ton truck has firmer suspension and tires. That's it. If you upgrade 1/2 ton truck suspensions and tires, it will handle overall better than 3/4 ton.
There is not much depth in handling of 3/4 ton truck. Try to change the direction in hurry...
__________________
28DSBH (MY2017)
Propride 1400
Solar powered 640W plus 400 Ah lithium batteries
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