Gladehound

Yep.

J15

While the HDPP undoubtedly improves the capacity of an F-150, it’s still a rather superficial change in comparison to moving up to a super duty. You get stiffer springs, an extra cooler, heavier tires, and a bigger differential. None of those address the inherent problem with using the half ton for a trailer that big. It simply doesn’t have enough mass to cope well with a big trailer transferring forces from the wind or the road. To quote somebody else that put it nicely: “you need more *** in front of that trailer”

You’re absolutely right that the 6.7 may be overkill. That’s the whole point. You want a truck that feels so planted that you need to look in the mirror to remember you’re pulling a trailer. In that sense, the super duty is in a class of its own. I routinely pulled heavy trailers while working as a trailer engineer. I started with a half ton, realized how mismatched it is for heavy loads, and traded up to a super duty. Upgrading the suspension, tires, etc helps but it’s still not the same as using a truck designed to do the job you’re doing. The first time I pulled that same trailer with the super duty, I was in disbelief at the difference in power and stability. The F-150 isn’t designed to pull big heavy trailers as its primary function. It’s meant to be a utilitarian vehicle with creature comforts that pulls light to medium loads and occasionally moves something more substantial to avoid the need for a bigger truck. For that reason, it will always be secondary to a super duty when you want to go heavy. Can the F-150 do it without crashing or breaking down? Probably. Does that mean it’s the right truck for the job? Absolutely not.

mhamershock

Edit: With the HDPP you also get .10" thicker frame steel. That's not superficial.

But we're not talking big heavy trailers here. His max load is 8000 lbs. That's not heavy. Hell, it's only 1000 lbs of tongue weight or so. If he wanted to tow 10,000 that's a different story. I've towed the same 29' 8000lb trailer with a Ram 2500, a F150 HDPP, and a standard F150 Max Tow screw. The standard 150 sucked - it's not enough truck. The only significant difference between the Cummins and the HDPP was the engine braking on the Cummins is way superior. I actually prefer the HDPP as it is quieter and a better riding truck. Stability is a wash. Stopping was a wash. Power is a wash (at least the way I tow). I've never had an emergency situation with either so can't comment there.

And I find the overkill of the 6.7, while great for towing, sucks during daily duty, which is where I spend 80%+ of my time. Damn things are huge and costly.

Mike

blueoval28

My travel trailer is GVWR is 7000. Dry tongue weight is 710. 40 gal of fresh water if filled that goes up. My enclosed car hauler is an all aluminum featherlight. Really nice pulling trailer. 28 footer and it's GVWR is 10000 but I'm never loaded that much. I'm probably closer to 800lbs tongue weight. If a race weekend I may be pushing 8000lbs. Just depends if I load generator and golf cart. That said both trailers bottom up the truck without the weight distribution hitch. I also have airbags. Both trailers are pushing 30ft in total length. Like others have said with wind or a passing semi it really moves the F150. That is where I could see benefiting the most moving up to a SD.

mhamershock

My tongue weight is usually around 1000 on my toy hauler. It drops the rear by 3" w/o the WDH, and just less than 2" with WDH. I could tow it w/o WDH but the ride would suffer.

If you were closer we'd hook that car hauler up to my HDPP and go tow it around. With a decent trunion bar style WDH that trailer won't move around at all. Love to show you what this truck can do. But I'm not driving to Iowa.

Mike

blueoval28

Come on Mike I'll grill ya a killer steak! Ha! I would be interested in comparing as well.

budgreen

I have a couple 6.7's at work and they are amazing engines. It has almost double the torque of the 3.5 if that helps you decide.

Gladehound

And it needs it because it can't turn RPM like a gasser. Don't get me wrong, the 6.7 is very impressive. I've driven several. But the fact remains that despite nearly double the torque, the 6.7 only has 440hp to the 3.5EB's 375hp. The 6.7 has a less efficient transmission and wider gaps between gears. The real world difference in power put to the ground (or torque available at the wheels at a given speed) isn't nearly as big as the crank torque numbers may lead one to believe.

I also find it interesting that despite the high torque numbers at low RPMs, the 3.5EB feels much livelier than the 6.7L. This is probably because the turbos spool up much quicker.

My old modified 7.3PSD would make about 800 ft pounds of torque at 1,400 RPM. But it didn't tow as effortlessly as my 3.5EB. Both have the same rears (3.73) and the 7.3L was a 6-speed manual. The 3.5EB probably needs 2,500 RPM to put down the same power as the modified 7.3 at 1,400 RPM, but the 3.5EB at 2,500 RPM is way less drama (smooth / quiet) than a 7.3 at 1,400 RPM.

I'm not saying that the 3.5EB is the 6.7L's equal for towing. I am saying it isn't that far behind. Either seem to pull anything you hook to them without any drama. And given that we're only talking about 8,000 pounds, you won't find a hill that you can't hold the speed limit on with either one.

Finlay150

This shouldn’t even be a question. Get the 6.7L if you’re going to be towing 7-8k lbs regularly.

cheef

Great conversation guys. To the OP I'd like to know how many miles you drive per year and how many of those are you actually hooked up? If I was driving 20000 miles per year but only 3000 miles were spent towing 8k or less I'd have a tough time justifying a SD on my budget. Unlimited budget I'd have two trucks