I am thinking of ordering my F 150 with the upgraded 18 inch LT tires. I know they vary but what are the common LT tires they fit from the factory. Do they effect the ride and MPG do any great degree. I will be towing and using the truck on rural gravel roads and P tires don't seem to stand up as well. I will towing less then 10 percent of the time.

My other option would be to order the HDPP (along with the MTTP) package but I am concerned about the effects of MPG with the 3.73 rear axle, anyone have any idea how much of a hit this axle will have on MPG?

Thanks for the help.

 

I bought a new 2017 with the max tow package last November. The sales person was misinformed about what my truck could tow weight wise as well as there fleet manager and also the Ford rep I called on the phone. Ford IMO misrepresents all the tow numbers in the F150 line!

I have retired and me and my wife bought our truck specifically for towing a 5th wheel. We will only be towing now and then and wanted to keep the good gas mileage for the other 95% of our driving since this truck is our only vehicle.

I now have a 28' 5th wheel that is at the max capability legal wise of what my truck can tow at 8000lbs loaded. Its the lightest 5th wheel we could find. I would highly recommend getting the HDPP now and not worry about the 3.73 gas mileage. You will still be winning verses any 3/4 ton.

With what I know now I would have done that in a NY second. I would have increased my GVWR from 7000 to 7850. I would have increased my RGAWR from 3800 to 4800. I would have increased my Payload from 1620 to the low 2000's. That would have given me a nice cushion rather than being right on the edge. Learn from my mistakes........

Also I have 20" Goodyear P rated tires. 275/55R20 I would have loved to have LT tires with a stiffer sidewall for towing to help eliminate some sway issues I currently have. I cant believe Ford doesnt sell these trucks with them all having them!

 

Thanks Jim We are in much the same situation as you, but our bumper pull trailer is smaller at 6500 GVWR about 5500 pounds when we tow it. You are right the sales people for what ever reason really do not recommend the HDPP as much as they should.

I would grab the HDPP in a minute as well but I sure wish it came with the 3.55 rear end.

 

With regards to comments about the 3.73 gear and LT all terrain tires that come with the HDPP and the potential impact on MPG... it might not be as bad as you think.

I have a 2018 HDPP (see sig for details). I bought at the end of Nov 2017 and have just over 3,000 miles on it (so all winter driving). My lifetime average is 18.1 MPG (on computer). That is mostly commuting to work and soccer events on country roads. But it also includes some towing, some highway and some city. My average commute is 15 miles with 12 stops. Given it is winter, my commute is almost over by the time the transmission is warm. Engine warms in just a few miles.

On my only trip of any length (370 miles trip with 1,200 pounds in the truck, Eastern PA to Lake Placid NY - so not flat) I averaged 20.6MPG with cruise control set at 70-MPH (where possible).

Might not be the best MPG, but it's not horrible either. The 3.73's don't hurt MPG as much with the 10-speed due to the extra overdrive gear compared to the 6-speed. Top gear in a 10-speed truck with 3.73 yields the same RPM as top gear in a 6-speed truck with ~3.41 rear (so better for cruising than a 6-speed with 3.55 gears)

 

Switched to the LT (load range E) tires shortly after getting the new 2017 F150 as one of the standard P-rated tires that came with the F150 failed due to ply separation. I live in a rural area with a lot of dirt & gravel roads and learned long ago that the P-rated tires just do not stand up on these roads. Am thinking that the LT tires are about 8 lbs heavier than the OEM tires and that there probably is a decrease in gas mileage. In towing a travel trailer that weighs about 5200# loaded I notice that the F150 is more stable with the LT tires. I have the Max Tow Package, 3.55 gearing, 3.5 EcoBoost, and have never found it lacks for power in towing. I seem to average on the high side of 19 mpg not towing and 10 mpg towing. My towing experience with different Chevy & Ford half tons has been that they all get about 10 mpg.