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Old 06-20-2018, 11:02 AM   #1
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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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Old 06-20-2018, 11:42 AM   #2
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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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Old 06-20-2018, 11:52 AM   #3
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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!
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Old 06-20-2018, 12:22 PM   #4
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I did the same thing and loved the switch
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Old 06-20-2018, 12:27 PM   #5
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I love my 3/4 ton....
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Old 06-20-2018, 12:34 PM   #6
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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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Old 06-20-2018, 02:13 PM   #7
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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...
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Old 06-20-2018, 02:56 PM   #8
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Very few truck owners who use their trucks for towing or "work" ever "regret" having too much truck.
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Old 06-20-2018, 03:12 PM   #9
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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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Old 06-20-2018, 03:54 PM   #10
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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.
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Old 06-20-2018, 07:50 PM   #11
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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.
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Old 06-20-2018, 08:21 PM   #12
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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.
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Old 06-20-2018, 08:31 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jlechmanik View Post
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.
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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Old 06-20-2018, 08:33 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by TCNashville View Post
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.
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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Old 06-20-2018, 09:41 PM   #15
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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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IMG_20180620_211007172.jpg   IMG_20180619_205820_779.jpg   IMG_20180619_190025548_HDR.jpg   IMG_20180528_173434_036.jpg   IMG_20180616_052700_061.jpg  

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Old 06-20-2018, 09:52 PM   #16
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Few better pics of the camper
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IMG_20171006_163016707.jpg   IMG_20171006_173503018.jpg   IMG_20171006_162921750.jpg  
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Old 06-20-2018, 09:55 PM   #17
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350/3500 would be even better. Why do you compromise?
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Old 06-20-2018, 10:16 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morleyz View Post
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?
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....
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Old 06-20-2018, 10:55 PM   #19
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Quote:
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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.
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. Click image for larger version

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Old 06-20-2018, 11:16 PM   #20
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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...
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