Tow Vehicle Question

[BroT]

The wife and I are looking at getting a truck for camping (we have an explorer now and it is too small). Considering whether a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton is necessary. I want to be able to pull a 3 place in the future. We are looking at a 4-door F-150 with tow package and 5 liter V-8. The specs say 8k towing capacity. Is it doable?

I figure about 2,000 pounds of sleds and then gear, plus the trailer. But, I don't know how much a 3 place will weigh.

I know a 3/4 ton is a better tow rig, but my wife has to drive it daily and I want it to be easy for her to park, etc. Going from an Explorer to an F-150 isn't much of a change.

Your input is appreciated...

BroT

 

[Blu Du]

i'd get the 3/4 ton just for the tranny. big difference then the 1/2 ton for pulling. wife has an avalanche and i have 3/4 ton crew, night and day difference.

 

[skibreeze]

Haven't you read all the other discussions that are constantly being posted? If any subject was beaten to death, this one would be it. I've pulled a 4 place enclosed alum for years with a 1/2 ton and will probably never have the need for anything larger. Where's the popcorn.

 

[catman M8]

I tow 2 place trailer with 2 sleds and gear and extra gas with a toyota Tacoma V6 and have no problems at all and i live in the mountains.So i'd say a half ton ford would have no problems at all with a 2 place or a 3 place.

 

[Blu Du]

i would say it depends on how far you drive to get to riding. we drive 1000 to the mountains

 

[switchback]

Wait, I need to mix another whisky

 

[BroT]

Haven't you read all the other discussions that are constantly being posted? If any subject was beaten to death, this one would be it. I've pulled a 4 place enclosed alum for years with a 1/2 ton and will probably never have the need for anything larger. Where's the popcorn.

Sorry guys...did a search but must not have used the right search terms.

Don't have the time to live on this forum like some of you

I appreciate the input.

T

 

[trackvs2wheels]

i would say it depends on how far you drive to get to riding. we drive 1000 to the mountains

BLU DU IS EXACTLY CORRECT HERE...

In addition, I might add it depends on the terrain you are pulling that three place through to get to the "spot". I live in Colorado and I tell you I wouldn't be pulling my trailer with anything less than my 07 D-Max due to the passes we have to navigate!!

Now, if you live in a low elevation place where you don't trailer over large passes then by all means...get a new 1/2 ton because we all know the auto makers could use a sale these days

 

[Dogmeat]

The wife and I are looking at getting a truck for camping (we have an explorer now and it is too small). Considering whether a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton is necessary. I want to be able to pull a 3 place in the future. We are looking at a 4-door F-150 with tow package and 5 liter V-8. The specs say 8k towing capacity. Is it doable?

I figure about 2,000 pounds of sleds and then gear, plus the trailer. But, I don't know how much a 3 place will weigh.

I know a 3/4 ton is a better tow rig, but my wife has to drive it daily and I want it to be easy for her to park, etc. Going from an Explorer to an F-150 isn't much of a change.

Your input is appreciated...

BroT

My parents have a 27' Charmac enclosed trailer that is big enough to fit three mountain sleds comfortably in, you could probably fit four short tracks in it just fine.

He's pulling it with what you'd consider a "heavy half" I guess, a 2008 1500 Vortec Max Chevy ... It pulls the trailer well enough, but IMO if I was gonna buy something in 1/2 ton trim I probably wouldn't buy the GM truck ... the reason being is the GM 1/2 tons have really high-revving motors and only 4 gears to pick from in 1/2 ton trim, so you really wind up wrapping those things out and on long hills that isn't really a good thing.

If I remember right the 5.4L triton motor has a peak torque output some 1200 RPM lower than the GM 5.3L motors do ... I think that most likley the F150 is a better 1/2 ton for towing due to more low end torque.

On the flip side, I have a 2009 2500HD GMC with the 6.0 and the 6 spd allison i got for a new work truck last month, and that 6.0L mated to a 6 speed transmission actually does a lot better than I thought it was gonna ... still not near as well as my 8.1L big block does, but I haven't been unhappy with it so far.

I think overall you would be just fine with an F150 though. It will pull the trailer well enough, it will cost you less money to operate than a 3/4 ton will, and the wife will like it better probably .... but with that said, a 3/4 ton will tow more better than a 1/2 ton will .. .they feel a lot more stable ...

 

[Rixster]

Enclosed or open three place? I pulled a 3 place enclosed with a toyota land cruiser with a 4.7L V8 n it. It did ok, I wouldnt do it alot in that vehicle. But a 4 door F-150, I think you will be ok. If you are going to keep it for very long get a standard tranny. That is the only worry I would have with towing close to the max weight of the vehicle often. If you are talking a 3 place open trailer, then you have nothing to worry about. Now, with that said, After owning a diesel for a year and towing with it I would NEVER go back to gas. Now with that said, I would NEVER drive my diesel EVERY day for a commuter car. I drive my 88 buick that has 216,000 miles on it. They only time I even start teh diesel is when i a taking a trailer (boat in the summer) somewhere.

 

[R J]

Either choice is fine. How much towing will you do? 3-5 times a year with the sleds is not enough for a 3/4 ton. Heck I was towing a T320 Bobcat all weekend long with my 1/2 ton F-150 and never even thought of having something bigger and I'll tell ya that Bobcat and trailer was a lot more then 8K. Trans temp was 175 and cylinder head temp was 216. (normal everyday driving is 150ish and 210 respectively)

Properly set up with a brake controller and a performance module will allow this combo to be very, very acceptable.

The only reason I mention the module is because it does make the transmission work better. Everything from shifting up and down to being able to hold overdrive and simply getting in and out of lock up instead of downshifting a full gear.

Sure it's nice to have more truck then you will ever need but you will be just fine with the 1/2 ton in all respects.

 

[unatainableadreanaline]

half ton will do it

I have done both. For the couple dozen times you go riding, and the money difference, either the gmc 6.0 litre or that triton 5.4 and the rest of the time you drive it , you can get 13-17 mpg. versus the 12 I get with my v-10. Company buys my gas, no big yank. I need hp to pull my gooseneck too so i use it hardcore. my 2Cents.

 

[BroT]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I am planning to buy an enclosed 3-place and use it for camping as well. Still, will probably only pull it 20 or so times per year, camping and sledding. I will probably go once a year on an extended sled trip, but otherwise will stick within Washington.

I appreciate it.

T