Wanted your guys thoughts on the following situation.

I own a jayco octane 222 travel trailer. Dry weight is listed at 5600lbs and gvwr is 8k. I’m not sure my real wet weight but I don’t think I’m over 7500 tops.

my current tow rig is a 2016 ram 2500 Cummins. Payload is just over 2k. I’m sick of always being stressed about the diesel and what could go wrong (nothing really has but I’m always worried) and would like a half ton if possible for the better off road ride.

Looking into a 2019 3.5 eco with max tow with 1800lbs payload.

Anyone have any input or experience on how the f150 may handle a 7500-8k trailer? I do live in salt lake so at elevation and pulling in the mountains. I usually only two a handful times of years

thanks in advance!

 

It will pull it, but you’ll be able to tell you’re pulling it. Might also require more fine tuning of weight management in both the TT and truck, if you put stuff in the truck.

 

You will be just above the sweet spot.

Important note: Don't get overzealous and decide that you should upsize the RV to use the F150 for.
Yes, the truck will be suitable for what you have however if you have a larger RV in the future, maybe reconsider.

 

I pulled 8300-8500 lb TT (9500 lb GVWR) with my '19 3.5 XLT max tow with 1873 lbs of payload. LT tires and Bilsteins on the rear. In Arizona, so pulling grades as well.

You do have about 7' less in overall trailer length at 26' vs. my 33'. I didn't hate the tow, but since we tow from AZ to OH every year, went to a 1-ton after about 6 months of trial towing here in AZ.

I think properly loaded, with a good hitch that's set up correctly, you should be ok. At 33', I had a lot more tail to wag my dog than you do.

Personally, I'd be all over towing that rig with your 3/4 diesel - even though it's a RAM...lol. That should be a rock solid combination, even with the payload hit you take with the heavy diesel engine.

 

The ram does pull this trailer amazingly well, I just don’t love the stress of owning a diesel (warranted or not).

 

Never owned a diesel so can't speak to the stress you feel, but should mention my hesitation in keeping the F150 was also due to stress. My stress was that I did not like the way the rig felt when traveling down grades. I had a short WB, 5'5" bed and sometimes my 8400 lb trailer felt like it was 'the boss'. Not necessarily 'white knuckling', but not comfortable. Since we were newly retired and inexperienced and planned on 5-7K a year towing - with a lot of that in the SW - we made the decision to go bigger.

I do miss the nicer ride and parking ease of the F150, but for towing, there's no comparison with the F350.

Since your plan is a few tows a year, this may not be an issue for you.

 

I went from an F150 with 1900 payload to an F250. In part I wanted a crew cab, but I also knew I was at my limits with our 26ft 6,500-7,000 trailer. I have a 6.2l F250 with heaps of payload and while I know the trailer is there, I certainly don’t always feel it.

 

I went from F250 to F150.

Simply put, if you want a tow vehicle you want F250 class.

But, damn how I like the F150 as a daily driver. I make towing my TT "work", where I didn't even know what payload was with the F250.

I am about to head out on my annual desert trip, 40 pounds under gvwr...and gawd that took a lot of work.

 

IF the stress of diesel problems bother you that much, consider a Superduty gas. Or even a GM HD gas. While they are slower up grades, it doesnt get more reliable than either of those two, and I would put the Ford superduty above the GM HD these days, but really only because he SD is a slightly better built truck as far as the front end is concerned. But when it comes to towing, that isnt much of a concern.

Now for your towing needs, you are still within the capability of the best equipped F150. But if you tow it very frequently, I would just go for the Ford Superduty gas.

 

Thanks everyone, sounds like I should just keep my current beast. I will keep my eyes peeled for a nice gas 3/4 ton (hard find that’s not an obvious work truck). I have a daily commuter so the truck really only gets used for truck things and to get it out every few weeks.

thanks so much! This helped for sure!