HI everyone, Jim here. In southern AZ by way of Washginton, Hawaii and many other places.

I have finally decided to buy my first F-150. I was just going to have it built to my specs and be done with it. Pretty much a Lariat with every conceivable option on it, in lightening blue.

I have been excited about the idea of getting a Lance 650 camper and putting it on the back of the F150 and then towing my little aluminum fishing boat (10 feet or so with 6 horsepower motor).

Just as I was about the press the "buy" button (figuratively) I realized... wait, the specs they sent me with the F150 outfitted the way I wanted has a max payload of 2030 pounds. The lance camper, wet with a little bit of my gear in it weighs 2000 pounds. I weigh 230 so I'm screwed. Then I set about trying to configure "max payload" or "max towing" with what I wanted with the 3.5 L ecoboost but could never get the payload where I wanted. Needed the 3.73 gearing (I think) and could never manage that using fords online tool (which isn't a huge amount of help).

So after days of this and talking to the local ford guy who wasn't able to get me what I wanted, I said, well, I'll change priorities here, I'll get the F-150 diesel and give up the idea of a camper on back and a little boat behind and be happy pulling a trailer with the F-150 diesel and getting better mileage than I would with the gas 3.5 Ecoboost.

So then I tried to build and buy the Diesel. That didn't work, it's not available to build online and the local salesman couldn't tell me, even estimate, when my truck would get built and get here. I said "hey as long as it's here by mid-summer I'm happy." But he couldn't commit to that.

So I'm stuck. My two choices at the moment are:

• F150 3.5 Ecoboost (or maybe 2.7) with 2030# payload which means I have to get a canvas camper or something less than the Lance 650 that I think I want.
• F150 Diesel and still get lousy payload but would otherwise with really being happy with mileage under load. I have a Nissan xterra which I absolutely love love love. Pulls my 6000 pound travel trailer like it was nothing... except I get 8.9 miles to the gallon. Ugh.

I don't need to tow anything bigger than 6000 pounds but I want to get decent mileage, if I can, while doing it. I looked at the F250 Superduty diesel and test drove it a couple times but I also want this vehicle for daily use and it seems a bit much for that. I already have a ford escape and Nissan Xterra.

So I figured I'd reach out to this grounp and introduce myself and ask for pointers in the right direction? Such as is there a really good online shopping tool I can use to spec out exactly what I want? Ford's tool doesn't do it for me. Does anyone have any reliable info about the arrival of the F150 Diesel? How can I easily get 2500# plus payload with an F150 4x4 with a lot of options (Lariat plus FX4 plus pretty much everything).

I know it's a lot of questions but just putting it out there. I'm going to Overland Expo here in AZ in May so if I can't figure anything out may put things off till then. I really just want a good truck/camper combination for myself and one friend, where I can pull a little fishing boat.

Thanks
Jim

 

Welcome, Jim, to the forum. Glad to have you join. There is lots of great information here and great guys, they should be able to help with your decision. I don't do any towing, but lots of guys do.

 

Hi Jim, I'm also new to the forum and looking to buy my first truck. I've brought up some topics about helping to get my F-150 and the the responses are better than I thought. I live in Florida and most people have boats and big trailers and its impressive for the Newer F-150s to hall bigger an bulkier loads while having even more in the beds like ATVs and Golf carts and preform outstandingly. Good luck on your search. In my personal opinion I'd get A F-150 XLT 3.5 EcoBoost it has more power and options. But thats just me. Happy hunting.