This past winter I purchased an ice house. The fish house weighs 4,600 lbs not loaded with gear. My older 2004 4.6 F150 pulls it down the road fine, but take off and get up and go or passing are not there. The question I have is do I go with a newer F150 or just go with a F250?

 

A newer F150 with the 2.7, 3.5 or 5.0 will pull that just fine. Pair them with a 23+ 10r80 and 3.73 gears, and you’ll barely know it’s back there when taking off.

The low down torque of the EBs is really helpful to get things moving.

4600# is nothing, but what is the actual weight with gear? Is it on a trailer or does it have its own wheels and axle?

 

The ice house has its own axle. I would imagine if I have my wheeler in back and with fishing gear it’s maybe 2,000 more lbs.

Is the 23+ 10r80 the tire rim? Sorry not to informed on truck talk.
thanks for the information.

 

so 6600 max, do you know what your tongue weight is?

For that kind of weight, you do need a weight distribution hitch for an F150.

10r80 is the 10 speed transmission. 2023 is the year it was largely fixed from prior issues.

 

Would something like this work?

 

yes that would work. You’d just need to get measurements and ensure the spring bar brackets have enough clearance on the A frame of the trailer.

There are lots of WDH, I personally use the Blue Ox Sway Pro, but you’d have to see what would work best for you.

 

A 2.7 Ranger would out power your current truck by a pretty big margin. The hitch design is also superior to the F150 so you wouldnt need a WDH.

The expedition has a higher capacity too.

I wouldnt waste my time with a WDH for something like that, its going to be a pain in the ***.

Search the other make 1/2 tons too. GM has had a lot of problems lately though. Toyota has fixed their bearing issue and running 5w-30 is advised (I own one).

 

Maybe it's easier to push it? Lol

 

thanks for the feedback

 

Post pics of what you are towing too. If its top heavy and like a sail etc some people may suggest a 3/4 ton.

But if it is really 6,000 and well balanced I would look at a Ranger and expedition too. Maybe even an Suv of other makes.

They stick these flimsy hitches on the 1/2 ton trucks I believe for insurance crash test ratings. I just change them out on our work trucks, safety first.