KJR

For those who don't want to go the diesel route or are shy of turbos (Ecoboost) I'm wondering how these two 2015 vehicles would stack up to each other towing a 25' 7300lb Airstream? I currently own a 2010 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 2wd 5.7L. I would like to upgrade to 4x4, larger fuel tank, rear view camera and more payload so I'm contemplating a new truck. Read a lot about the 3.5L Ecoboost but since I'm also researching F250 I thought I'd ask about this comparison.

F150 with HD Payload and Max Trailer, SuperCrew, 157" wb with the 5.0L engine. Payload 2660lbs (real life more like 2300lbs)
385 HP at 5750 rpm
387 ft/lb at 3750 rpm
Base Curb weight 4930lbs for Supercrew 157"wb with 5.0L V8. 3.73 axle ratio

F250 Crew Cab, 156"wb with the 6.2L. 3000lb payload
385 HP at 5500 rpm
405 ft/lbs at 4500 rpm
Base curb weight 6828lbs for Supercrew 156"wb with 6.2L V8. 3.73 axle ratio.

The engines specs seem similar and even if the 5.0L is slightly less powerful its not having to push almost 1 ton more of weight before even adding the trailer, occupants and cargo. I would hope the fuel mileage, solo and towing, would be better on the 5.0L than 6.2L. I would expect the towing performance of the 5.0L F150 to be better because of the lower curb weight of the F150 vs F250.

Wheel bases are the same so they are both stable towing platforms.
2300lbs of payload for the F150 is plenty for most towing needs. I would expect the F150 even with HD Payload to be a better ride.

When pricing out an XLT in both the F150 HD Payload and F250 are pretty closely MSRP priced however dealers in my area are discounting F250 6.2L more than F150s. Maybe that will change later on in the year.

To get an F150 with HD Payload special order is needed. F250 you might find one the lot.


Thanks


KJR

xcntrk

This should be an interesting comparison.

I was looking at an F250 4x4 SCREW with the PSD drivetrain and was shocked that the payload (door sticker) was only 2k lbs. Granted the PSD is a heavy platform but that was only a few hundred lbs more than my current F150. That said, the 6.2l drivetrain is lighter and will net more payload, but I would imagine it will be close to the F150 HD. That then comes down to which is probably better for your use. To tow, I would still prefer the F250. It’s bigger, heavier, longer and more is better when towing. Now if you plan to use it as a daily driver, that’s where the F150 would be more favorable. So it really comes down to preference and intended use. A couple other factors I don’t see included is price & availability. We know the F150 HD are not yet available and you can probably get a great deal on an F250 before the upcoming 2016 refresh.

mvander

The 250 would be a better tow vehicle no doubt but would the trade offs be worth it (poor mileage, rougher ride, higher repairs and maintanance cost).
I have a 14' hd f150 and the ride is firmer than other non-hd 150s i have driven but not lumber wagon hard.
If you plan on upsizing you trailer you might be better sevred by the 250. Keep in mind the receiver will be rated for less on the 150 and that could be a limiting factor.

Good luck.

KJR

I'm probably looking until after June to make any decision. Looking at the Ford website, the F250 payload is around 3000lbs but it will diminish according to trim. The XLT is the most I could afford. Unfortunately most of the 6.2L XLT F250 around me have packages I don't really want; camper, snow plow, FX4 and heavy suspension. They appear to ride higher than the diesel models measuring the vendor clearance.


Our Airstream has a 1100lb tongue weight. I'm use an Equalizer for my WDH. The Tundra tows it well enough and I've achieved up to 12.9mpg (hand calculated on one flat leg of a trip out to Florida) but most of the time mid 11s.

Currently our use for a truck is limited to towing weekends and summer vacations but in a few years we would like to take extended travels out west. We would need to use the truck as a daily driver once the Airstream is at a campground.


The length is similar since they both have the same wheelbase length. I would expect either a 157" wb F150 and F250 to maneuver the same in parking lots and tight spaces. I'm not sure which has the best turning radius but the 2014 Supercrew 157"wb I test drove didn't have a tight turning radius.


I just see the F250 6.2L having to work harder as the curb weight is so much higher so mpgs suffer solo and towing.


Locally I've seen 2015 6.7L diesel XLTs advertised in the mid $40k range and XLT 6.2L around $40k. XLT 2015 F150s are mid to upper $40k range.


I've never owned a diesel let alone a Ford. Although the maintenance I've read in the diesel supplement doesn't seem outrageous, the DPF regeneration and electronics used to process regens concerns me regarding reliability.


I was hoping the 2015 F150 payloads would be higher than 2014. I test drove a 2014 Supercrew 3.5L EB, 157" wb max tow and its payload was 1765lbs based on a 7700 GVWR. Looking at 2015 the max GVWR before HD Payload is 7050lbs (looking at the Ford website specs) so the payloads are about the same or less as 2014 depending on the trim. Only in the 2015 Platinum models do you see a few hundred pounds payload increases, up from about 1000lbs to around 1500lbs since even in 2014 those models were limited to 7000lbs GVWR. My conclusion is you still have to order HD Payload on 2015 F150 to get close to or slightly exceed 2000lbs payload.


KJR

11screw50

I do not believe you can get the 5.0 with max tow but max tow doesn't add payload anymore and the 5.0 with 3.73's should be rated to tow upward of 10k. You might still run into an issue with the hitch though, not sure what the standard hitch is rated to carry with a WDH.

A7B2FX4

Payload on my new 15 F250 Crew Longbed 4X4 with the 6.2L is 2845 on the yellow sticker. Has snow plow prep and camper package. Ford.com doesn't let you select both but it can be done if you can convince the dealer to try. Pricing on the F250 is a big plus right now. Got $ 4500 in various rebates and the $750 private cash from the brochure.

nihilus

The 7700 GVWR trucks had good payload, but they are bottlenecked by Rear axle weight rating. You can get a 145" 2015 with over 2000 lbs payload if you are ok with a supercab. I've heard they are rather roomy. Here is a link from Brulaz:
http://www.hannafords.ca/new/Ford/20...08e986e3fd.htm

It's a 2015 4x4 xlt with 2108 lbs payload. Even better then the older 7700 GVWR trucks since you won't run into rear axle limits.

wintersucks

I havn't done enough digging myself but who makes the axles for Ford? What is the true rating of that axle? More than likely the factory installed tires/rims are the limiting factor. If other breeds do it like dodge did a few years ago they derated the axle rating for what model it was put in. My Dodge has a Dana 80, Dodge says max axle weight rating of 6500lbs, and the axle actually is rated from Dana at 11000lbs. They derated them for tire & safety reasons from individual manufacturers. The axle in my 2500 is identical to the 7500lb dually rating (well...from Dodge) except for the outer wheel spindle and hub assembly. While different beasts, I question the limitations of Ford. My guess is it has to do with 'c' tires that are put on them.
Who knows...its probly AAM axles just like GM runs, and what Dodge went to after the fallout or whatever happened with Dana.

Far as 6.2's go, I've been pretty happy as long as gassers go with the old mans F350 QCSB. I would like to try it against a 6.4 dodge tho.

brulaz

The 2015 F150 Hitch Receiver rating has been upped to 1220# TW and 12,200# Trailer.

The F250 gasser has a rating of 1250# and 12,500#. Not a big diff, until you get into the Diesels and F350 gassers with the 2.5" hitch receivers.

You can replace the F250 gassers with a higher rated after-market one, and there are hitch places that will strengthen your receiver, but I'm not really sure that these TW ratings have anything to do with the structural capabilities of the hitch anyway.

brulaz

Not sure how much that 25' Airstream weighs, but I would probably be looking at an F250 for any travel trailer over ~9500K#. And a HD Payload truck for ~7500# to ~9500#, depending upon tongue weight.

Currently at 8K trailer (1220# TW) and wishing I had a HD Payload truck with the heavier rear axle rating. (But I would get another 3.5L EcoB for the available low rpm grunt).

The 5L in the HD Payload truck should get much better mileage than the Superduty when not towing. When towing, it might be a wash. The 5L will be running at higher rpms when towing if that is an issue.