NC F150

I Have always been of the opinion that you shouldn't max out your tools when using them. Buy more tool than you need for the job.

So when it comes to towing a camper with a 2007 f150 rated for 8500 lbs. Will a 5000 lb travel trailer stress the truck a lot more than a 3000 lb camper. Ie shorten the life expectancy of the vehicle. Transmission, etc?

Thanks for your thoughts.

smokeywren

Truck life is not affected as much by hard work it is by lack of proper maintenance, overheating components in the drivetrain, and hauling/towing more weight that the truck was designed to tow or haul.

Especially with a diesel engine, you want to work it hard. Get it hotter than a two dollar pistol at least every few weeks, by towing a heavy trailer up a long, steep grade. But don't exceed the max temps for motor oil, ATF, gear lube, exhaust gas temp (EGT) and engine coolant. That means you gotta have good gauges for those components.


Never exceed 1,250° F. pre-turbo EGT. Never exceed 225° tranny sump temp. Never allow the engine oil temp or coolant temp to go into the red zone on the stock gauge. Never exceed the manufacturer's weight ratings of GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, tires, receiver, etc. Never drive like an idiot teenager showing off on Saturday night. Pedal to the metal is fine as long as your fluid temps and EGT stays within the green zone.

I bought a new Ford diesel pickup, and followed those rules fairly closely. I exceeded the GVWR on a few trips, but not by more than a few hundred pounds. 12 years later with about 200,000 miles on it, I sold it for one third of what I paid for it new ($10k vs. $30k). It was still as good as new. Last I heard, several years later, it was still going strong.

Change the motor oil as required by UOA (used oil analysis).
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Change the ATF at least as often as required by the Owner's Guide. And use the correct grade/weight/spec of lubes per the Owner's Guide.

isthatahemi

I'd say sure it will. Every part on the truck can only do so much before it requires replacement.
That said, I think the F150 is one tough truck, and how often does anyone "wear out" the powertrain on an F150.

Boulevard

There has got be a hundred different variables in this equation but the bottom line is that all things suffer wear and tear and loading a truck only serves to accelerate that. Will the wear and tear be a big factor at these 2 weights, no and I agree with what smokeywren is saying in that the biggest factor in this will be you.

NC F150

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm big on maintenance.

"Take care of your equipment and your equipment will take care of you."

This helps me in deciding on what travel trailer to consider for next summer. A new all aluminum light weight model or a used one on craigslist that will probably weigh a bit more.

Ron AKA

I've pulled a 23' fifth wheel trailer with my 1990 F150 for 24 years now. Truck has about 100,000 miles on it, and much of that was towing this trailer. For non standard maintenance I have replaced one exhaust manifold due to warping (5.8 V8), and the intake gasket. That is it.