Hey Gang,

Starting to debate my strategy for my next F series pickup order. Yes, I say strategy b/c these damned things have gone up so much since the last time I purchased, I need to make sure I get it right this time.

So, here's my quandary. I'm purchasing another to tow a travel trailer. 26'-28', 7k-8k max loaded. Likely under those numbers as I won't be loading any of them to max, but those are the GVWR of the trailers I'd be looking at. The trailers I'm leaning towards are 26' in length and have a max 7k GVWR, so figure maybe 6500 or so rolling. I already know I'l be buying a 3P ProPride hitch; I'm not screwing around.

Now, the layup answer would be buy a F250. Sure, that would do it and we could call it done. But - if I bought a F250 it'd be the third vehicle in the family b/c I'm not using a HD 3/4 ton as my daily driver. So it'll sit on the driveway and assume weekend duties screwing around and waiting for the few times a year I could go RV'ing. Seems like a waste, plus I'm reading the Godzilla is having some teething issues (maybe they'd be resolved by the time I order, but then again the Coyote oil consumption issues persisted way after introduction).

So I start to wonder if I spec'd a F150 right, maybe I could make it work? I'm thinking XLT w/ the 302a, Super-Cab with regular size box, 3.5 EB. I'm thinking EB b/c, aside from the performance of the engine, it seems to have most of the bugs worked out; the 5.0's still seem to burn oil if you're unlucky? I'd want to put LT tires on it, but to order a F150 with LT tires I have to buy the FX4 package.

Which I completely do not need, but it's a pre-req apparently. I'd rather have the truck come from the factory w/ LT tires so I can get the correct door placard telling me how much to air them up at, etc. Takes all the guesswork and chart lookups out of the picture if I can just inflate per the door jamb.

So - would the FX4 package somehow ruin the tow experience? Are those off-road shocks garbage, especially for towing? I'd hate to order another truck, wait all the time and spend all that money, to have it not work out. My DW will be looking to divorce me at that point.

Weighing my options here - appreciate the feedback.

 

IMHO, 6500-7000 is a good tow weight for an F150. Get one with max tow, in an XLT trim level and you should have plenty of payload for that weight trailer plus people and gear. My point being, that while the LT tires would be great to have, not sure they are a necessity.

However, if you don't want/need the FX4 package but do want the LT tires, just buy them right after delivery and sell the OEM tires for a few hundred bucks. That's what I did when I had my F150 and wanted to upgrade to LTs. Disclaimer: I was pulling closer to 8500 lbs. I bought the same size tires and the tire shop had no issue installing them and airing them up to the max cold inflation pressure listed on the sidewall.

 

Sorry, definitely would order it with Max Tow. Would never order without it !

 

Supercab is the way to go if you're not hauling 4 people.
I have one in the Lariat trim 4x4 max tow and have 1903 payload.
I tow a 28' coupler to bumper trailer at a GWR of 7700, empty weight of 5400lbs, and like you mentioned never get close to loading it that heavy. I think mine at the heaviest CAT scaled at 6600lbs.
Towed without any issues using the P tires and an equalizer 4 pt.

Safe travels.

 

Great feedback - TY !

 

I tow a travel trailer so I found a 3.5 PB with no FX4 and standard tow package instead of max tow. Reason being I wanted payload not tow capacity (I’m only towing about 6k lbs so going from 9-10K to 11-12k wasn’t going to matter).

I wanted lots of options though so that was already going to chip away at my payload. I agree with what others have said, the Supercab XLT/Lariat is probably ideal whichever powertrain you choose.

The key when you’re looking at price sheets is to look for the GVWR and look for 7k lbs or greater.

 

The online configurator, at least as of today, doesn't allow you to build out a F150 Supercab in Lariat trim. That makes the decision tree easier to navigate.

 

My 2015 302a optioned with trailer tow, FX4, 36 gallon tank, tailgate step and LT tires has 1721 payload. The new trucks I've seen in that package group are coming in with more payload. Eliminating crew also drop a few hundred pounds, so you should be good.

Unles this has changed, you should be able to option LT tires. Not that I would, as I prefer a different brand, but that may still be an option.

The oem skids aren't for rock-crawling, but they work for what they are. I've been cutting up some tops left by the logging company and have had branches jam above the fuel tank twice now. None have gotten past the front plate or the one I put under the transmission, and I'm going to make one for under the transfer case to stop that problem. This is how most of us get into situations where we actually need the plates, and the thin(ner than aftermarket) oem plates are just fine for this.

The oem shocks aren't up to towing heavier trailers, ANY of them. That's the consensus of most, at any rate.

 

So regardless I'll want to swap out the shocks for Bilsteins. I kind of figured that.

The only reason I'd go for the FX4 package is to get the factory LT tires (additional option); there isn't anything in the package that I'd really need or want.

 

I wonder if its the 275/65/18 wranglers in P vs C in the FX4.

The price increase is because you have to opt to the chrome package or sport package to get that tire. You can get the same size tire in the lower rating on the FX4 on the basic silver 18 inch wheel, also just with regular 4x4.

See what the psi and rear gawr settings are between the models.