When comparing towing between F150's and F-250's...

What is more important, Chassis Weight or Payload?

I have heard that F150's don't have the payload needed to tow over 7500#'s and that an F-250 is better because of a chassis that is heavier.

With the newer F150's creeping into F-250 territory, is the payload or chassis weight the biggest differences? I have seen many F-250's with payloads between 2,000-2,200 lbs and now F-150 Screws going to have payloads between 2,000-2,300 lbs and weighing in near 6,500 lbs. (My last 2010 Supercrew FX4 F-150 weighed 6,300 lbs with gas and passenger.) Superdutys weigh in near 8,000-8,400 lbs (?).

Has the F-150's payload (between 1,200-1,800 lbs, if built just right) been the weak link? I know many are towing happily with the 8300 GVWR extended cabs and wondering if the 8300 GVWR SuperCrews will be so much better at towing than their 7700 GVWR brethen? The chassis will weigh near the same as previous F150's.

With putting more of the trailer weight on the chassis (payload) increase the F-150's towing prowess so much that anything under 10K towing, their will be no need to go up to an F-250? Or is the heavier chassis of F-250 so much better that the near identical payloads doesn't mean much?

Of course the F-350 with 3K+ payloads would trump both, but just comparing 150's and 250's with near 2,200 lbs of payloads?

Thanks to all the towing experts and poster for your answers. Probably won't go over a GVWR 8,500 lbs trailer just wondering how the increase of payload to the 2012 SuperCrews are going to make them compared to F250s. Thanks again.

 

Are you going to be towing a trailer or a fifth wheel?
Payload is weight on the truck which is what you would be dealing with with a fifth wheel and the GVWR would be a concern.
The towing of a conventional travel trailer will put less weight on the hitch, which is part of the GVWR.
The GCWR is the critical concern when towing a travel trailer.
I pulled a pop up trailer with a Ranger and exceeded the GCWR which was over 9000 lbs.
Look at the GCWR for different trucks.
There is a fair amount of math involved when loading and towing.

 

Sounds like you are going to be towing a smaller trailer that is hitch based under 10,000lbs. You can get away with using the F150 especially the newer models like ours which are great. However, from hauling long distances and my experience, a bigger truck can be better for stability and the larger chassis with wider wheel base does play a big role. We used to have a 2004 F150 haul a 24' Race Car trailer and now have upgraded to a 2011 F350 Dually for work. I can say, the stability of the larger chassis (and yes the dually is huge) has been a drastic improvement for stability and ease of long driving. Its trully the "its not even there" feeling. Compare your options and see which one works best for you. Oh and be careful posting about diesel vs. gas

Keith

 

I you are 8400 lb trailer or less. Then there is no need for an F250. Will it be better. In "some" conditions maybe. But if you dont tow most of the time, the F150 is a better choice.

 

I agree on width and wheelbase are important. But after looking at a F-250 SWB and an F-150 Supercrew 6.5ft bed, it looks like the wheelbase is 156.5 vs 156.2 in favor of the F-150 and width is 79.2 vs 79.9 in favor of the F-250 but overall pretty close. Seems like a push.

Do you think the heavier chassis or the extra payload (which may be closer than in any previous model year) was the biggest difference in the stability of ride? It seems that with F-150's most users try to get the tongue weight to be "just enough" to not exceed the RGVWR and that may put more weight on the trailer axles and cause the lack of stability and comfort compared to the F-250. Just a thought. Thanks for the responses.

My thoughts are that if a truck weighs 6,300 lbs and you have 1400lbs of payload from the trailer and 500 lbs of cargo in cab and bed (without exceeding the axle weights), then you have 8,200 pounds on the trucks axles and 7,100 lbs on the trailers which may increase stability in the F-150. Where in previous F-150s you would have a 1,000 lb tongue weight, 200 lbs in the cab and everything else in the trailer, to reduce total payload. There by having 7,500 lbs on the trucks axles and 7,800 lbs on the trailer axles, causing the instability of a GVWR 8,500lb trailer.

2012 F-150 GVWR 8200lbs:

6,300 lb truck + 1400 tongue wieght + 500 lb cargo = 8,200 on truck axles
8,500 GVWR trailer - 1400 tongue weight = 7,100 lb trailer

2010 F-150 GVWR 7700:
6,300 lb truck + 1000 tongue weight + 200 lb cargo = 7,500 on truck axles
8,500 GVWR trailer - 1000 tongue wieght + 300 lb cargo = 7,800 lb trailer

Seems the vehicle would weight more (on axles) and trailer less (on axles) and give much more stability in the new 2012 Supercrew HDP Package than in previous years. The newer truck would carry more of course but pull less weight. Same GCVWR. Thoughts? Thanks guys for all the responses.

Edit: Changed the 2012 GVWR to 8200, my bad.

 

Just a side question...How are the 2012's getting 600lbs more GVWR than the 2010's?

 

The SuperCrew 6.5ft bed trucks can now get the Heavy Duty Payload Package and Max Tow which raises the GVWR 600 lbs. So yes, if you get the HDP Package. I can't wait to see the RGVWR when it does come out. Anyone seen yet? They got new rear axles and 17in rims.

Edit: My bad it is 8200 GVWR. I'm off by a hundred pounds. So a 500 lb increase.

F-150 Heavy-Duty Payload Package (Option Code 627)
Increases GVWR to 8,200 pounds.
• LT245/75R17E BSW A/T tires (5)
• High-capacity 17" 7-lug steel wheels
• Heavy-duty shock absorbers
• Upgraded springs, radiator and auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• 9.75" gear set with 3.73 Limited Slip axle

 

Ya I was just wondering if the 2012 had stronger suspension or Just because it has the longer wheel base than my 2010 5.5 bed with Max Tow.

500lb is still impresive

You anwered my question while I was typing away...slowly I may add. Thanks for the info.

 

Your welcome. Yeah it is impressive. I sold my 2010 (don't need a truck for the next 18-24 months and figured I would go for the extra 500lbs of payload or buy a used 2008-2009 F-250 Diesel. It will be interesting to see how the extra payload will help with towing.

 

So basically a cheapo add a leaf spring, replacement shock and allegedly bigger coolers (which I doubt) plus a diff tire. Not really a difference here.