Ford F150 Diesel

[Youngsters]

Anybody out there have any experience towing with Ford's F150 with the Diesel engine?



We pulling our 5er (Jayco 27.5RLTS) with a F150 3.5 Eco-Boost with the 5.5 box and have no complaints. But, we have the opportunity to buy a new 2018 F150 truck equipped with the diesel (6.5 box) and all the necessary towing options that may to good to pass up.


Love to hear from anyone with the F150 Diesel.

[Sundancer330]

When I bought my 2018 F150 the diesel had just come out. The salesman told me it was really designed to offer great mileage for a pickup but not designed as a great tow vehicle. I looked at the door sticker and the payload was just over 1300 pounds, and the added cost of $5000 I passed. If I really wanted a diesel I would go 250-350 for a much higher payload.

[Murff]

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

When I bought my 2018 F150 the diesel had just come out. The salesman told me it was really designed to offer great mileage for a pickup but not designed as a great tow vehicle. I looked at the door sticker and the payload was just over 1300 pounds, and the added cost of $5000 I passed. If I really wanted a diesel I would go 250-350 for a much higher payload.

Yikes!

You can buy a lot of gas for $5000!!!

I agree with this:

"If I really wanted a diesel I would go 250-350 for a much higher payload."

Looking at the 2020 F150 Tow Guide, the Turbo Diesel could have a 2020 lbs max payload.

A comparable 3.5 EcoBeast could max payload at 3230 lbs, however.

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content...F150_Oct15.pdf



Murff

[Youngsters]

Murff, Sundancer330,
Thank you much for your input. You are confirming everything that I read about this F150 diesel. It is really not worth the money with no appreciable improvement in towing, towing capacity or fuel economy over the 3.5 Eco I have. In the case of the truck I am looking at, it is a 2018 demo and the dealer is practically giving it away in as much as the diesel engine will cost zero. But, no one is saying anywhere that it would improve my towing world so much that I have got to have it over my setup now that I really like. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?



The dealer sales guy texts me weekly that they can sweeten the deal even better. No surprise there. But, since he has me in a truck buying mood, think I will spec out a 250 and see what happens. But, not sure I can embrace the up charge for the diesel in that model. Ouch!

[Midnightmoon]

Just an interesting side note on the 250/2500 series diesels. On paper, my Ram 2500 Cummins has less than a 200# payload advantage over my F150 3.5L Ecoboost Max Tow.

The trucks can't be compared when it comes to axle capacity, tire load, etc. But, on paper, they are very close to each other in cargo capacity. It is definitely something to consider when looking at any 250/2500 series diesel and why many decide to jump over that 3/4 ton segment all together and go to a 1-ton single wheel when moving to a modern diesel.

[curver900]

check your registration costs in MN if you buy a 250/2500 you pay about 10% of the MSRP in tabs ~$700.. buy a 350/3500 $130 a year....

[Jim Smyth]

I had a 2017 F150 3.5 Eco. Found out after I bought it what it couldnt tow. It had the max tow package and my payload was 1620lbs. I didnt know at the time but if I also got the max payload package it would have had a 1000# more axle and in the low to mid 2000# for payload.



Needless to say we tried to make it work however with a 28' Rockwood 5th wheel (the lightest one made that we could find with a 1050# pin weight) it towed like crap. Got blown all over the road especially when being passed by a 80mph Prevost. Violent tail wagging the dog effect!


Had that setup 5 months and went and traded truck in for a F350 and traded the trailer to what we really wanted, a 33' 5th wheel Jayco. Drives like a dream now with plenty of power.



You find out Ford is pretty deceptive with there adds. My current F350 TD has a payload of 3540#. I find it very unlikely any F150 would come even close to that and if it did it would be a stripped down, no option, 2WD single cab, long bed. Not usually what people like to drive when camping.


IMO you need a Super Duty for the weight stability as well as the power. For me I lost being able to get it into the garage but my overall gas mileage is almost identical unloaded and much better loaded. My 3.5 Eco was getting 7-8 mpg towing where my F350 averages 11-12 mpg.