2009-2010 f150 hauling 2 sleds? To much?

[Braaap12]

In the market for a new truck and I was looking at a 2009-2010 f150. Will 2 sleds on a sled deck be too much?(plan on running airbags)

I love the ford half tons and can't really afford a diesel, I was also looking at a dodge power wagon but not sure if I want to put fuel in a hemi

Any input would be great. Thanks!

 

[RMK SeVeN]

I'm in the market for a similar truck. I myself don't think it's right to put a sled deck on a half ton even with airbags but I know plenty of people who do it with no problems. Take another look at the Hemi fuel mileage...

Lariat

* 5.4L V8 engine - 320 hp and 390 lb-ft.
* Automatic transmission
* Up to 14 cty/20 hwy mpg
* 4-wheel drive

Laramie

* 5.7L V8 engine - 390 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque
* Automatic transmission
* Up to 14 cty/20 hwy mpg
* 4-wheel drive

These are both from 2009 trucks.

 

[Braaap12]

Hmm Interesting, I had a 04 f159 and I absolutly loved it, I've just herd bad things about the hemi's and fuel

 

[roughrider99]

i have a f150 lariat, beauty truck but selling for an older diesel just because of towing, hauling sleds. i would never have 2 sleds on a half ton.

 

[RMK SeVeN]

Hmm Interesting, I had a 04 f159 and I absolutly loved it, I've just herd bad things about the hemi's and fuel

I've heard the same thing....maybe things have changed. Lot more power for the same suggested fuel mileage.

i have a f150 lariat, beauty truck but selling for an older diesel just because of towing, hauling sleds. i would never have 2 sleds on a half ton.

By "On" a half ton you mean up on a sled deck? I have no problem towing two sleds with a half ton on a trailer but agree they shouldn't go up on the deck.

 

[barry1me]

I have owned 2 hemi 4x4 rams. One was a 1500 crew cab, and the other was a 2500 crew cab. They were both pretty thirsty and also had plenty of trips to the dealership. The 2009+ Ram 1500s have the coil over rear suspension which is great for your wife and anyone that wants to drive there truck like a car. Though the Coil over suspension is horrible for towing and hauling big loads due to the increased body roll. Also the Hemi makes most of its power at high RPMs unlike a ford 5.4L which has considerably more low end grunt. If you get a F150 and do airbags you wont have any issue at all with towing the sleds. I have a 2010 FX4 F150 crew cab and I put my 1300 lb Polaris Ranger in the bed of my truck and have no issue at all. Truck sits perfectly level without any airbags in it. I can drive 75mph on the highway with it in my bed and still get 14mpg. Best fuel mileage I ever got with my Dodge ram hemi 1500 4x4 was 15mpg unloaded 100% highway hand calculated driving 70mph for 100 miles. If someone tries to convince you that a hemi can get good fuel mileage its a lie. Everyone knows it. With that being said, the hemi makes mad power if you like to run it to red line. That motor rips. But the low end "normal driving" torque is lack luster.

 

[barry1me]

Also if you do look at 09+ F150s I would reccomend trying to get a 2010+ as they went to much stronger brakes...ie vented rear rotors, 12% larger....the kind of stuff that is on 3/4 ton trucks. They also did a few other little tricks to help increase fuel economy.

 

[Mike562]

2011 real world 5.7 hemi in a 1500 about 15.5mpg highway towing or carrying nothing driving 80-85. I have just made 4 trips back to back from Vegas to Salt Lake. City driving is about 12mpg. Towing a 7000 lb trailer on the highway at the above speeds it was 8.

 

[barry1me]

2011 real world 5.7 hemi in a 1500 about 15.5mpg highway towing or carrying nothing driving 80-85. I have just made 4 trips back to back from Vegas to Salt Lake. City driving is about 12mpg. Towing a 7000 lb trailer on the highway at the above speeds it was 8.

Thats deffinatley leaps and strides better then the hemis I have owned. Is your truck a 4x4? What gears? My truck at the same speed would get about 11ish on the highway unloaded. I had factory 20s with 3.92 gears.

 

[94fordguy]

Generally the problem with a half ton isn't that it can't haul that much weight in the bed, it's that it is up that high and significantly raises your center of gravity... a high center of gravity with a soft suspension is not a good mix.

Also depends where you live, I have read lots of threads about it being illegal in B.C. because they are very strict on enforcing their factory axle weight ratings.

 

[Braaap12]

hmmm interesting, maybe I should just wait for the right diesel to come along...
And I live in BC so maybe not the best idea, although I have seen lots of half tons around with 2 sleds on a sled deck

 

[Mike562]

Thats deffinatley leaps and strides better then the hemis I have owned. Is your truck a 4x4? What gears? My truck at the same speed would get about 11ish on the highway unloaded. I had factory 20s with 3.92 gears.

4x4, factory 20" with 3.55 gears.

 

[Jaynelson]

hmmm interesting, maybe I should just wait for the right diesel to come along...
And I live in BC so maybe not the best idea, although I have seen lots of half tons around with 2 sleds on a sled deck

Or you could buy whatever truck you want and just get a 2 place trailer? I know the trailer isn't the best in the spring and such, but I sledded for a year with a 2 place trailer and it worked fine. Just an idea.

 

[94fordguy]

Nothing wrong with a 2-place.... and easier to just unhook it and roll it into the garage, back yard, or driveway if you don't want to take the time to unload them.

 

[Braaap12]

Only thing I dont like about a trailer is we go alot of places where the roads are thin( ie logging roads and such) so a trailer is a pain in the butt to turn around and deal with

 

[skywagon]

Love my 2009 Laramie CC, 4 by 4, 3.55, 20 inch. Had 2006 F-150 5.4. It was terrible pulling my 2 place enclosed Charmac. On long pulls in our Colorado mountain passes it would be down to 30-35 at the top. It always let me know that I had a trailer on the back. The Dodge on the same hills will top at 60, more if you want to push it. It handles the sled trailer much better than the Ford. I towed my son's 4 place flat bed loaded with 4 sleds and it handled it fine. I also tow a tandem flat bed with a Rubicon Jeep set up for rock crawling back and forth to Moab. The Dodge will cruise at 80 on I-70 with it and you never know it's back there. Also pull a tandem boat trailer to Lake Powell sometimes. Also pulled these with the 06 150 and a 94 150. As you can tell I've been a Ford man all my life till the Dodge. Fuel mileage is about the same between the 06 150 and the Dodge empty, The Dodge does better loaded. Dodge will get 18-22 on the Interstate, depending on speed, with sled trailer around 15 mpg on flats and a little less in the mountains. Rear coils will not sag if trailer has correct tongue weight. I think the new direct injection Ford engines may finally be a decent power plant, Ford F-150's have been poor in the preformance department forever. The 460's in the F-250's were much better, but a real gas hog. One of my sons has a 2001 3/4 ton 4 by 4 Chevy with a 8.1 gasser and it smokes, but gas mileage is not good. I'm a retired auto and truck mechanic and been twisting wrenches since the mid 1950's. I think the 4th generation Dodge pickups are one of the best all around trucks to hit the market in a long time. We'll see what the new Ford engines do, might make the F-150 one hell of a truck.
Ron

 

[drypowder]

duramax 3/4 ton pulling 30,000 lbs

the skytrack is 23,000 ibs and the trailor is 7,000 pounds . in comparison i think we could pull 2 sleds in a open trailor with a honda civic just fine.http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/...nt.php?attachmentid=131529&stc=1&d=1296850418

 

[bohner]

i have a 2010 Ford F-150 with the 5.4 Triton. I pull a two place open and driving wise you can't tell its back there but the second you hook anything onto the ball big or small the gas mileage drops down to 10-12 MPG. My suggestion go with a half-ton Ford, GMC, or Chevy 6.2 liter. that will give you more then enough horsepower and no worse gas mileage then the smaller V8 when pulling

 

[otamywy]

hemi vs 5.4l

I have had a 2010 1/2 dodge, 2010 dodge 3/4 mega cab both hemi's and now I have a Raptor 5.4l.

I would have to say that in Colorado towing up the hill, both 1/2 tons got the same milage and the 3/4 hemi running 33" tires and a 3" lift was only 1mpg less than the 1/2 tons, but when I was pulling with the 3/4 ton I had a sled bed loaded and a 2 place trailer in tow. I really think it is all about preference. I got rid of the 1/2 ton Dodge because of the coil rear suspension. Yes it is smooth in the city but with a trailer it saged to much, so I went to the 3/4 ton. I then got rid of the 3/4 ton cause it was to hard to park downtown. I know have the Raptor and sold the sled bed and just tow the trailer and couldn't be happier. I avaraged last weekend up the hill and back down @ 11mpg. I drive like I am being chased by the police, if that helps on MPG factoring.