Buying 24' Lariat vs XLT - Need some advice!

[Chili]

My next truck I plan on getting is going to be a Lariat FX4 with the 3.5 ecoboost and 3.55 rear end. The lariat makes more sense I think in the long run, when both are spec’d out, the price isn’t that much different between the two. Are you set on getting the 5.0? The new 5.0 has a belt driven oil pump and cylinder deactivation so it seems like it would be less reliable than the 2020 and below 5.0’s. The 3.5 is also rated to tow 13,000 pounds. You can always custom build it and send it to a dealer to get exactly what you want too.

The 18-20 5.0 were the worst of the 5.0s from Ford. So far no widespread issues on the 5.0. If you do go 5.0 and want to tow, absolutely go for 3.73. With the 3.5, 3.31 or 3.55 will tow fine but the 3.55 package gives you the beefier rear springs.

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[2992set]

The 18-20 5.0 were the worst of the 5.0s from Ford. So far no widespread issues on the 5.0. If you do go 5.0 and want to tow, absolutely go for 3.73. With the 3.5, 3.31 or 3.55 will tow fine but the 3.55 package gives you the beefier rear springs.

Typo at the end? 3.73 gets the better springs or 3.55?

 

[Chili]

Typo at the end? 3.73 gets the better springs or 3.55?

With the 3.5, used to be you get 3.31 gears and 3.55 gears was an upgrade with beefier rear springs. Looks like 3.55 are standard now with the 3.5 in a 4wd crew, with the beefier springs.

With the 5.0 it's 3.31 gears and 3.73 come with the tow /haul package. That's what you want if you get a 5.0.

3.5 is the torquiest and best towing engine Ford offers. 5.0 will still do the job, but you need that package.

 

[2992set]

With the 3.5, used to be you get 3.31 gears and 3.55 gears was an upgrade with beefier rear springs. Looks like 3.55 are standard now with the 3.5 in a 4wd crew, with the beefier springs from the look of it.

With the 5.0 it's 3.31 gears and 3.73 come with the tow /haul package. That's what you want if you get a 5.0.

3.5 is the torquiest and best towing engine Ford offers. 5.0 will still do the job, but you need that package.

Oooh, my mistake I read that wrong at first. Makes sense now

 

[Chili]

Oooh, my mistake I read that wrong at first. Makes sense now

I worded it very poorly, my responses are a mess from my phone.

They also changed quite a bit of packaging options for 2024. You no longer have as many choices as you would have in years past.

 

[Ricksc]

I bought a 22 xlt fx4 3.5 eco. Does what I need it to do. Pulls my 25 foot trailer great. I didn’t need all the options on the next trim level.

 

[GypsyDanger]

If I were you I’d continue to do my research on what this that you want (Features, trims and etc.). Because it took me almost two years to really center in on what I wanted before I got my 2023 Rocky Ridge F-150 XLT back in February this year. I timed it perfectly because I wasn’t willing to pay an upward of over $100K for an already 6in lifted truck with bells, whistles and warranties. So I was patient and waited because I knew that during Ford Truck month (Beginning of February until the end of March every year) they have to try and sell the previous year trucks just to make room for the new year truck inventory. So I definitely had that working in my favor. It took me two days of negotiating but I drove away in a so called $100K valued truck with all the bells and whistles I wanted for $74K. Ford will be making more slight changes to their 2025 trucks. Here are two YouTube links to check the changes out. I hope this helps you. Good luck! ?

Was that Rocky Ridge at least a Lariat?

 

[Kidder]

Get a SuperDuty STX 250 or 350 with the V8. You'll have a lot more head room on towing. A 30' trailer can get heavy in a hurry and blow through the max tongue weight even with a WDH.

 

[Eighthtry]

You should seriously consider the F250. What you will be towing is close to maxing out the F150. That can be a disaster with the trailer towing you if you are not careful. That F250 will not know that trailer is back there. You get better brakes and a suspension and frame designed to better deal that weight. The interior does not change.

I am talking safety considerations only. Why people in this forum want to max out f150 towing capacities is beyond my comprehension. Maxing out a F150 is simply not smart. You have your family to consider, not to mention others on the road.

 

[CND Supercrew]

As someone who has towed lots the XLT will give you more payload. Payload is what counts! From my research on a 23, the max tow did not offer any benefits for towing as it did back in the Gen 12 truck. You will actually lose a little payload. The 302a pkg is nice and the truck I found had every item on my list. My trailer weights in at 7k # before we add gear. See sig...

 

[Sigma1914]

Was that Rocky Ridge at least a Lariat?

It’s on a Lariat chassis and has all the Lariat upgrades just XLT side finder vent badging. So someone must’ve ordered it that way and ended up not getting it.

 

[Mt.F150..]

I couldn't afford the lariat model so I went xlt with the 302 pkg.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Here is something to think about. A few people replying here suggest an F-250 instead and I agree with them. You can spec out a Lariat F-250 for less than a F-150 by about $1000 and in the process you are getting a much more capable tow vehicle. Of course this is ordering one as anything on the lot will be more heavily optioned. As far as your Tundra goes, I would worry first about finding a dealer willing to take it. As I understand it, dealers are shy about taking them in on trade because of the engine recall.

 

[2992set]

Here is something to think about. A few people replying here suggest an F-250 instead and I agree with them. You can spec out a Lariat F-250 for less than a F-150 by about $1000 and in the process you are getting a much more capable tow vehicle. Of course this is ordering one as anything on the lot will be more heavily optioned. As far as your Tundra goes, I would worry first about finding a dealer willing to take it. As I understand it, dealers are shy about taking them in on trade because of the engine recall.

Tundra sticker was 64, I got it for 58k…so far I had 3 ford dealers come in at 43, 44, and 44,500 initially. Yesterday one of them offered 45,000 looking to sell me the XLT (that’s has everything I want except color and those highlights are making me hesitant). I wish I had the balls to pull the trigger on the f250 but what’s holding me back is I drive 240 miles round trip to work about once a week. Diesel would be better but the up front costs I don’t think seem worth it. It would probably take years to hit the break even point become higher up front costs/better fuel economy with higher diesel costs. I plan on looking into travel trailers maybe in a year or 2. But right now the uncertainty with the tundra issues is what got me going down this path.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Tundra sticker was 64, I got it for 58k…so far I had 3 ford dealers come in at 43, 44, and 44,500 initially. Yesterday one of them offered 45,000 looking to sell me the XLT (that’s has everything I want except color and those highlights are making me hesitant). I wish I had the balls to pull the trigger on the f250 but what’s holding me back is I drive 240 miles round trip to work about once a week. Diesel would be better but the up front costs I don’t think seem worth it. It would probably take years to hit the break even point become higher up front costs/better fuel economy with higher diesel costs. I plan on looking into travel trailers maybe in a year or 2. But right now the uncertainty with the tundra issues is what got me going down this path.

Crunch the numbers, a diesel never makes sense unless you tow heavy. The huge upfront costs and fuel cost sink it for the average person. If you only drive the long trip once a week then I bet the fuel cost between a F-150 and F-250 will not be as great as you think. One thing to consider is the size of the F-250 as in the greater height, unless you have a larger garage it may not fit. Best wishes in your decision.

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