Help me choose truck! Yay!

[jackman5000]

Buying new truck in February. Yay!

Currently pull 3000lb bumper pull with f150. Will eventually be upgrading to a 5000lb. Camper.

Want either:
1. Tundra
2. 2500 ram
3. F250

Please advise. Would love diesel but don’t think I’ll spend that much.

Thanks y’all!

[NewBlackDak]

From that list, my choice right now would a 7.3L F-250

[morleyz]

F-250 as well, but if that's the heaviest you're going to tow, 6.2 is a good choice. Better gas mileage and as reliable as they come.

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by morleyz

F-250 as well, but if that's the heaviest you're going to tow, 6.2 is a good choice. Better gas mileage and as reliable as they come.

I would actually do the opposite. 350 with the 7.3 10-speed would give plenty of headroom for a later trailer upgrade.

[jackman5000]

7.3?! Didn’t even realize that’s an option. Sounds awesome but I think too much engine, as I am confident that we will never be interested in much more than MAYBE 6000lb camper. We do a lot of boondocking in backcountry and only three of us plus Aussie

[jackman5000]

I feel most confident in the Toyota products (but no 3/4 ton)

Next most confident in ford...but spend all my time in f150 at work (oilfield)...so really wanting my camping rig to be “different”

Had bad experience with rams back in 90’s (cosmetics dashboard falling apart, , window motors bad repeatedly, etc) Surely they’re better now?! I do Like the way they feel inside.

Chevy? Nope

[jackman5000]

I have a feeling the f250 with 6.2 will be the choice. Guess I’ll have to get fancy interior to offset the tired of work truck thing. Darn.

[NewBlackDak]

Originally Posted by jackman5000

7.3?! Didn’t even realize that’s an option. Sounds awesome but I think too much engine, as I am confident that we will never be interested in much more than MAYBE 6000lb camper. We do a lot of boondocking in backcountry and only three of us plus Aussie

It’s really the nice 10-speed that makes it. Last time I looked, you can only get it with the 7.3 on the 250. I think you can get 6.2/10 speed on the 350.

[crl]

Originally Posted by jackman5000

Buying new truck in February. Yay!

Currently pull 3000lb bumper pull with f150. Will eventually be upgrading to a 5000lb. Camper.

Want either:
1. Tundra
2. 2500 ram
3. F250

Please advise. Would love diesel but don’t think I’ll spend that much.

Thanks y’all!

My DW and I towed our 2019 White Hawk 28RL with a Tundra dressed with the max tow and off road package and a 5.7L. The Tundra had enough hp to tow our TT which is a bit heavier than what you are considering, but we upgraded to a 2500HD gasser several months ago.

The biggest drawback we found with the Tundra was its payload. We were bottoming out on some pretty minor highway bumps. So.... we added air bags. This helped some but did not completely cure the problem. We also had an instance when we could not get stopped as quick as we needed to. This instance was the straw that broke the camels back and caused us to upgrade. Gas mileage on the Tundra as as a daily driver was actually a little worse than what I get with the 2500 Chevy.

If you are truly gonna stay with a 5k trailer when loaded, you would likely be ok with a Tundra, they are really nice trucks. But just be aware of payload limitations and the need for a little extra room when needing to stop in a hurry.

Best of luck.

[MichaelO]

If you’re only upgrading to 5k trailer you could easily stick with a half ton truck. The F150 could easily pull that either the coyote 5.0 or the ecoboost. I used my parents F150 with ecoboost to pull my 7k trailer and it pulled it easier then my ram 1500 with the 5.7L V-8. If it were me I’d get the F150 with the ecoboost. It gets better gas mileage when not towing and will hav no trouble towing what you’re planning. As an owner of a ram truck I advise to stay away from them. They’re less expensive then the other brand of trucks, but they were able to achieve that by cutting corners and giving you less truck and lower quality as well.

[KevoTheFord]

I am also in the market for a new truck for my new trailer and I settled on the Ram 2500. just deciding between a gasser and a diesel engine now. Our trailer is heavier so a Tundra isn't an option so it comes down to the F-250 and Ram 2500 for us. We currently have 2 Fords (both 2014) and both have been absolute money pits so I am fairly soured on Fords as a result.

In the end for me it came down to the comfort driving the trucks and the look of the interior, the Rams have the new "high tech" interior whereas I believe the F-250 is still another year away with delays from 2020

[Lmbrjk]

This is not on your list but we pull our 7500lb WhiteHawk with RAM 1500 eco-diesel. Pulls it great but I don't scream down the highway. Payload is an issue but workable for us. Gets 29 mpg not towing(which is 95% of the time) - 14/15 towing. Love the ride and interior too. Don't have long term faith in the RAM so will be trading after 3 years unless things go really good! But will likely just go to RAM2500.

[67L48]

1/2 ton diesels are built for fuel economy, not towing. It's similar to the VW TDI models ... those cars don't have a diesel because they're meant to tow. That isn't to suggest that 1/2 ton diesels can't tow. They can and they can do it well. But if you're really looking for a towing machine in the 1/2 ton skin, then it ain't the diesel option. For example, here's the Ford F-150 lineup of engines:

• Base 3.3L V6 (Only on super-low, std cab trims): 290/265 (hp/torque)
• Base 2.7 V6 (On most trims): 325/400 (hp/torque)
• Optional 5.0L V8: 395/400
• Optional 3.5L EB: 375/470
• Optional (Limited & Raptor Only) 3.5L HO EB: 400/510
• Optional 3.0 Diesel: 250/440

If you're towing, the diesel isn't the monster we're accustomed to seeing on the HD platforms. The gasoline engines are much better and, because they're lighter, will also give you more payload.

Otherwise, the OP is comparing two HD platforms to a 1/2 ton Tundra. That's weird. I'd recommend starting with the required capability, in terms of payload requirement. Then, I'd look at overall needs in terms of trailer and expected trailers of the future. While a properly equipped F-150 3.5L EB could tow a 37' trailer, you may not like the handling characteristics as well as when towing that same trailer with an HD.

But, you should start by identifying the platform you're interested in. Then, compare that Tundra to other 1/2 tons ... or scrap the Toyota because you've settled on an HD truck.

If you're shopping list includes a Ford F-250 and you don't know about the 7.3L, then you're not really shopping. Step one isn't to ask a forum. Step one is to actually do some shopping.

Go to the Ford, Ram, and other brands of interest websites to see what the available models/options are. Then, go to the brand-specific forums to read about people's experiences with those trucks.

If I want to learn about the pros and cons of Jayco trailers, I'm not going to the Ram forum ... I'm going to the Jayco forum. If I want to learn about Ford trucks, I'm not going to the Jayco forum as my primary source of info. Different tools for different jobs.

Good luck.

[kayakterp]

If the Tundra has the max tow package, that would be my 1st choice - providing the payload and brakes are adequate?
2nd choice would be the F-250 with 6.2 Liter (gas)
I agree that most F-150's will handle a 5,000 lb. trailer - maybe yours is the smaller V-6 version that won't handle that much??

[curver900]

If I want to learn about the pros and cons of Jayco trailers, I'm not going to the Ram forum ... I'm going to the Jayco forum. If I want to learn about Ford trucks, I'm not going to the Jayco forum as my primary source of info. Different tools for different jobs.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]


This!

[colby]

Originally Posted by MichaelO

If you’re only upgrading to 5k trailer you could easily stick with a half ton truck. The F150 could easily pull that either the coyote 5.0 or the ecoboost. I used my parents F150 with ecoboost to pull my 7k trailer and it pulled it easier then my ram 1500 with the 5.7L V-8. If it were me I’d get the F150 with the ecoboost. It gets better gas mileage when not towing and will hav no trouble towing what you’re planning. As an owner of a ram truck I advise to stay away from them. They’re less expensive then the other brand of trucks, but they were able to achieve that by cutting corners and giving you less truck and lower quality as well.

I ran through this and for half-tons you need to be aware of the payload limitations on certain models. My 2020 Lariat SuperCrew has a payload of 1537# which works perfectly for my 212qb as there are only two of us, all our gear fits into the payload of the trailer and very little is in the truck.

If I went with a different model, or bigger bed with max payload as well as max tow, my payload would be much different.

If I was really worried about payload, or what might be next, I would have moved up to the 250 - bigger bed, more towing and more payload. I did my homework and I just didn't need that. Now, as some say, you will never be sorry for buying too much truck...

[jackman5000]

Lots of good opinions and facts. And points that I hadn’t considered...these will add things I need to consider during upcoming research (purchase in February). And some aggression (Lol).

Planning on sitting down Saturday morning and really digging into specs, points y’all have provided, etc etc. I’m sure I’ll respond direct with questions to some of your posts. Thanks!

In response to that one person above, yes, weird way to go about it I suppose...just excited for first “exactly what I want” truck purchase and wanted to “check the water” with persons more experienced than myself.

[jackman5000]

Not positive if I Understand your intent here.

If I want to learn about trucks available to pull TRAVEL TRAILER directly from persons who pull TRAVEL TRAILERS, doesn’t it make sense to go to a forum about TRAVEL TRAILERS? If I went to Ford forum, and asked about pulling travel trailers, wouldn’t I get a mix of persons who pull all kinds of trailers?

I think I got opinions from exactly the sample set I wanted.

[hankstone]

You guys are going for way too much truck for a 5000lb trailer. The newer F150's can pull plenty more... I have a 2017 with max tow pkg pulling an 8000lb loaded trailer (I have 1700lb payload which is important) and it pulls it up hills without grunting at whatever speed I want and with the 10speed tranny I always feel in control going down hills.

F250's are great, but for 5000lbs you'll hate the gas bills. Just my opinion, what do I know

[jackman5000]

Andddd, I don’t know how to work forums quote/reply’s That was meant for curver900.