arodf150

We started a small hauling company awhile back and haul around a 10 ft dump trailer. That trailer fully loaded is rated at 10,000 pounds. I dont think I have ever put more than 7,000 pounds when fully loaded. I do a lot of towing so im not new to it, but since business is really doing well we are thinking of getting a new truck and trailer. My current truck is obviously an F150 with the 5.4 Max Tow. It does the job great! We are considering getting a bigger trailer with the same 10,000 gross rating, but have weighed the options of stepping up to a 250 Diesel. Perhaps it will be more truck than what we actually need. Do yall think the new F150's are ok to be towing on a daily basis from 3 to 10 thousands pounds at a time or should we step up to a 250? Do you guys think the F150 will hold up to daily towing abuse? One more thing, it will be the 5L not EB, and it still has to tow our 6,000 pound travel trailer on occasion. Opinions?

humblerb

Let me start by saying that I tow a ~7,200# travel trailer with a 2012 F150 Ecoboost. I would not change this for me.
If I had a business and would be towing as much as 10,000# at any given time, this would not be a question for me. I would have a 3/4 ton by dark tonight.

uzikaduzi

I think an f150 isn't the job for this unless you got the hd payload package and then if it's pretty dedicated to being a work truck you tow with, i'd want the diesel.

with a dump trailer, i'm guessing you'd haul stone or soil a bit? i'd doubt you're weighing it every time and you'd be going by yards... on a wet day, you are likely over payload (and maybe over gross?) with an f150 without the HD payload package pretty easily.

over all. very few f150's are actually rated to tow 10k pds, generally the EB's have higher towing capacities, and i bet you still run out of payload without the hd payload package.

EventHorizon

Without question a 250 (even 350, but might be overkill) would be the way to go. Gas or diesel is your choice but as you said you'll be towing daily and the diesel would do it better.


Also you state that you just started a company. Would be better to have the option of towing a bit more when you start to grow rather then truck shopping and selling a worn out 150 for nothing.

06redlongbed

I have the tow and heavy duty hauling package on mine, but only the 4.6. Trailer was half Plaster, half insulation, bed was mostly plaster. Was just under 10K at the landfill. I have trailer brakes and highly recommend you get them as well. Honestly if I had room to slide those plaster backs into the back of the trailer I wouldn't be stooping so low. Personally, I don't see any issues towing 6k Lbs or so on the daily. If your going to be pushing 10K often an F250 probably wouldn't be a bad thing to look into. Personally with my long bed I typically do a lot more hauling without a trailer. I do end up hauling the occasional beast of a trailer though. My Coworker has a Silverado 2500HD that could be used for these trips but he has issues trying to back in a heavy ***** trailer in our muddy hell landfill with his 2wd truck. 4lo, gotta love it.

As far as long term, I'm not sure yet. Keep up on maintenance and do not neglect your rear diff or transmission when you do. Buy high quality heavy duty shocks when you replace ETC.
I doubt the F150 won't be fine. This is an extreme example which is why I took a pic, and once again you have more motor than I do.

06redlongbed

I've always managed to get close to blue book for my trucks when they wear out, and they are WORN when I'm done. Just starting a new or newer business, I'd recommend hold off since you have a truck now. Having a new business is tough and expensive until you start getting a good cash flow. I'd make it a goal, if towing daily to upgrade but, I think the F150 absolutely will get by. The 3/4 is for sure the best tool for a job, there's your next truck.

When you're a contractor who uses their personal vehicle to get the job done like I am, you tend to rack on a lot of miles anyway. Little over 88K miles now. I had 60K back in October. When I'm done, I expect to be over 200K,. I averaged over the last few years doing this line of work about 50K a year. Had a slow first quarter this year though. At that point resale just is what it is from what I've seen and experienced. Be it in an F150 or F250 both will be high mileage hard worked trucks when you're done with them.

arodf150

I completely understand what you are saying, but I wouldn't be getting rid of the current truck just adding a new vehicle to the fleet. Right now we have quite a bit of work and not enough capacity. Although, I don't know how long this will keep up. We might start slowing down and have an extra truck and trailer lol. Even if I don't add another trailer, I am still due for a new truck so I wanted to see if the F150 should be put through this kind of abuse.

I have towed 10,000 pounds on occasion but very short distances. Also, I run the same WDH on the dump trailer as I do on my TT and it works great. I just don't want to be overloaded all the time and put myself and others at risk. I really like my F150 and the new ones even more, but maybe a Super Duty is in order. Thanks guys.

Velosprout

Agreed, and work-appropriate dealer stock F-250's appear to be currently not much more or even lower in purchase price compared to a new F150.

arodf150

Agreed! We went looking at SD trucks yesterday found an XLT Diesel for around 55k. I was almost convinced this was my next truck until my business manager (the wife lol) found a 350 drw dump truck sitting in the back. Took a look at it and it hit me, why am I pulling around a dump trailer when I can just have a dump truck. Naturally the one at the dealership was almost 60k so im going to try to find a used one. Which means I can get my tundra again. Hahaha got you guys there.... always an F Series in our driveway! Have a great sunday.

Velosprout

Good luck in your search. Unfortunately, since these are work trucks, they often get beat to death before they are available used. We once bought a F600 dump once that had been purchased new by a landscape company. They loaded up the trees for the next day's job and soaked them with a hose to set overnight before going out to the morning jobsite. The wood floor of the bed could be replaced, but even the steel was rusting away. I might like to replace my '93 F150 with a one-ton dump for work around the farm and rental property. I'm watching the farm estate sales.