Did I buy the wrong truck for towing?

[Cobraman428]

What trailer? How does it tow?

2023 E-Pro 20FBS 4400 total pounds fully loaded. It tows great. I forget it behind me sometimes. I've been from Florida to the NC mountains a few times and no problem in the mountains. Just locked out gears 8-10 (overdrive) to keep out of the turbos and run 93 octane while towing.

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[Snakebitten]

If there isn't a trailer connected, it's kind of difficult to leverage a weight distribution hitch. I'm just saying. ?

 

[Snakebitten]

We went with thier Model Z Air 295, which they no longer manufacture. 11500 lbs loaded. Supposed to have an 800 lbs tongue weight but it seems like you should add 400 lbs to any manufacturers claim on this!
This is our second trailer and I can see why you are beat down! The lack of any quality, or any at all, standards is frustrating! All these trailers are built by Amish workers. But they get paid piecemeal?. Finish thier quota and walk across the street to another manufacturer to start another quota. In my case, this meant the Dexter axle wasn’t torque to specs and moved. I caught it early enough, thanks to social media. Then the brakes stopped working, caused on the same axle and wheel the torque spec wasn’t followed. The mobile tech took the drum off an the guts fell out.
Brinkley is responsible for who they buy there frames and axles off. They were stand up in that they picked up the cost, including his service charge, to repair this brake issue
Drives me out of my mind being a skilled craftsman!

Exactly.

I have a "Camp-in" teardrop that is handmade using techniques more "marine" than RV. It's now 15 years old and it's basically as sound as it was in 2009.

The RV I live in (Dutchman product) was manufactured in 2016 and is surprisingly more resilient to use than the other two RV's. But that's not saying much. And living full time in it has it GROSSly over gross. So it's not roadworthy.

My other two RV's are "OK", but do require a fair amount of attention to keep everything functional. Fortunately they aren't complicated or too expensive.

The trailer I am in the design/wait stage is far more engineered like the little teardrop is. Completely 1-off and built to spec. I'm hoping it takes the place of both my live-in, and the "family RV" that doesn't get used much.

Powerboost will tow the little toy hauler
F350 will tow the condo ?

I'm just trying to have as much fun with as many grandkids as I can before they get old enough to ignore me and I can't keep up anyway.

 

[HammaMan]

If there isn't a trailer connected, it's kind of difficult to leverage a weight distribution hitch. I'm just saying. ?

Moves CG forward, changes the frequency of the suspension, prevents bump stop contact, etc...
May seem counterintuitive to some, but they're not looking close enough.

 

[Star Lord]

I think that is a fairly extreme decision.

If you want to keep the Powerboost, just get a different PB, with more payload.

Stay away from the optional tailgates, moonroofs and FX package and you'll be in the 1600lb class. Put a Weather tech bedliner and soft tonneau on it and you won't have used but 40 bs of that.

Its been a while but last I looked, the 150s had a lot more tech and creature comforts, than the SDs. Is a platinum 250, even as nice as Lariat 150?

Is it your daily driver? I'd have to have real reason to give up the F150 platform for an SD. Harder to park, rough ass ride, sucky gas mileage and you've given up PPOB to boot, all for a few hundred pounds of payload, that you can have in a different PB?

Ford refreshed the SDs in 23/24 with the F-150 goodies.

 

[Snakebitten]

Brinkley is responsible for who they buy there frames and axles off. They were stand up in that they picked up the cost, including his service charge, to repair this brake issue
Drives me out of my mind being a skilled craftsman!

I do wish someone would build an RV with Brinkleys approach to lifestyle, but NOT on a Lippert or any other RV frame.

I think RV consumers eventually are faced with the issues related to the quality/engineering of the frame the RV was built on. Or put another way, if the manufacturers wouldn't play so close to the edge regarding the chassis and frame, then over the life of ownership it would be worth the effort and expense of general upkeep.
It's those foundational compromises that can render the whole RV not worth the co$t or effort to repair.

But I blame us, the consumer, as well. We demand all the features and creature comforts but unwilling to pay for what it might cost to build to a high quality. I imagine you could almost double the price of a typical RV to build the same exact unit, but to high standards. I think I'm finally there. I mean I'm willing. I want good bones with quality electrical and plumbing, for example.
It appears that you have to accept the weight per linear foot though. Lol

 

[Star Lord]

I do wish someone would build an RV with Brinkleys approach to lifestyle, but NOT on a Lippert or any other RV frame.

I think RV consumers eventually are faced with the issues related to the quality/engineering of the frame the RV was built on. Or put another way, if the manufacturers wouldn't play so close to the edge regarding the chassis and frame, then over the life of ownership it would be worth the effort and expense of general upkeep.
It's those foundational compromises that can render the whole RV not worth the co$t or effort to repair.

But I blame us, the consumer, as well. We demand all the features and creature comforts but unwilling to pay for what it might cost to build to a high quality. I imagine you could almost double the price of a typical RV to build the same exact unit, but to high standards. I think I'm finally there. I mean I'm willing. I want good bones with quality electrical and plumbing, for example.
It appears that you have to accept the weight per linear foot though. Lol

Or you could get an Airstream. 70% ever built are still on the road.

 

[Snakebitten]

Or you could get an Airstream. 70% ever built are still on the road.

I do respect them. Great history. But even they are no longer immune to structural shortcomings. Thor strikes again! ?

 

[Star Lord]

I do respect them. Great history. But even they are no longer immune to structural shortcomings. Thor strikes again! ?

You could get a pre Thor and remodel it. Seems like there is a booming industry doing that. Or an earlier Thor. I hear the QC was better then.

 

[Snakebitten]

True.
I could.
But I'm going to have this RV built exactly to my desired layout and feature set. And the quality is beyond reproach.
Not to mention, similar to the Camp-inn teardrop, the family that builds them are people I want to do business with.

The only negative is the wait time. And I conquered that demon a long time ago.

 

[Davexxxx]

I do wish someone would build an RV with Brinkleys approach to lifestyle, but NOT on a Lippert or any other RV frame.

I think RV consumers eventually are faced with the issues related to the quality/engineering of the frame the RV was built on. Or put another way, if the manufacturers wouldn't play so close to the edge regarding the chassis and frame, then over the life of ownership it would be worth the effort and expense of general upkeep.
It's those foundational compromises that can render the whole RV not worth the co$t or effort to repair.

But I blame us, the consumer, as well. We demand all the features and creature comforts but unwilling to pay for what it might cost to build to a high quality. I imagine you could almost double the price of a typical RV to build the same exact unit, but to high standards. I think I'm finally there. I mean I'm willing. I want good bones with quality electrical and plumbing, for example.
It appears that you have to accept the weight per linear foot though. Lol

I guess I've been really lucky. Not only does it seem that I've gotten a good PB but our camping trailer, has only had one warranty issue, that the dealer caught during their own inspection and fixed right, the first time.

A couple pieces of interior trim have come loose from washboard roads, fixed with a couple of paneling nails each and thats it.

Now, I've spent thousands, upgrading and reinforcing it, maintenance proofing it etc. but thats no different than guys modding and beefing up their trucks here.

Lippert makes the frames according to the RV manufacturer's specs and from I've seen, most complaints are about appliances malfunctioning but no RV manufacturer makes their own appliances. There are just a handful of appliance manufacturers and they all buy from them.

 

[Zco1]

Well, it appears my time on the F150 forum will be short lived. Went big and over to the "other guys."

I really loved my F150. It was my first Ford and this is my first Chevy, so no loyalty either way, but I was really impressed with how smooth and quiet the ride on the 2500 is. Ride was much stiffer feeling on the F250. The F250 I tested was a Tremor, so maybe that had something to do with it, but even with the off-road package and the max trailering package which gets this the 3500 frame on the Chevy, it is still very smooth. Passed the wife and kids test. Everyone is happy... for now, until that new payment comes due ?

 

[oncechance]

Nice. Have fun camping.

 

[vandermd]

Hi all - I thought I would hijack this thread instead of starting a new one since my question is related to not wanting to get the wrong truck for towing. I'm looking at 2024 F-150s, crew cab, XLT with the thought that we may get a TT in the next few years (need to replace my large, aging SUV anyway and it's really my wife who wants the TT, but that's a different issue...LOL). I have not had a vehicle for towing before.

I am only thinking we would get something in the 25'/5000-5500 lb class. And if it's safe to assume another 1500 lbs of gear, water, etc, that would bring it to around 7000 lbs. Then factor in that you don't want to get anywhere over the 80% mark of the tow capacity. I first thought to get a truck with the max tow package with the 3.5 Ecoboost because that was the only way to get 13.1 to 13.4k towing capacity along with an 1700-1900 lb payload capacity. I doubt I would ever get close to that, but figure the more capacity the better....it's just going to cost more.

Or is the regular tow package sufficient? That would provide 10.1 to 10.8k towing capacity and nearly the same payload capacity range. I know I am leaving off out other factors, like max tongue load.

Any comments are appreciated, or references to other good threads...thanks!

 

[Zco1]

I think you'll be fine. My issue with the Powerboost was the hybrid + high trim + short bed made for the worst possible pay load config. If I was to do it over and go for an F150, I would get a long bed Ecoboost or V8. I now view the long bed as a must for towing a travel trailer on a half ton.

All that being said, we are out in New Mexico right now with the new rig, and I have zero regrets going 3/4 ton. The tow was so much better, and my specs on the trailer are similar to what you are thinking and with the scale on the Weighsafe, we approached 950 tounge weight, which meant with only our bodies in the truck, we would have already been over payload in the F150.

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