Towing with an F150

[Bamaman]

With a 303 trailer, you really need a F250 with the 7.3 Godzilla gas engine. If you were towing the trailer with a F150 Max Tow Pkg, you might get away with towing a 303 with LT tires and air bags on the rear. I wouldn't want to tow it often and very far in demanding terrain, however.

(I have a month old 2020 F150 Supercrew and a F250 diesel.)

[timosmith]

Don't forget the passengers are added to the payload capacity. I just traded my F-150 in for a 2020 GMC Denali 2500 with the 6.6L V8 in anticipation for towing the 303RLS. Payload is 3335 lbs so with 1725lb pin weight + 500lbs passengers and cargo + 150lbs for the hitch, I'm up to 2375 of payload which leaves me 960lbs to spare.

[Canyonlight]

@Cate&Rob tows a 303RLS with the previous version of the F150 but if I remember correctly he has the HDPP (heavy duty payload package) which is very different than the Max Trailer Tow package. Maybe he will chime in on this thread but I don't think you have enough payload to safely tow this trailer with your F150. I believe that even with the HDPP he needs to carefully load his trailer so he is not over payload.

Rob

Yes - the rare HDPP package which Rob has is pretty impressive. I do not recall all the details but key items like 8 lug wheels, LT 3200 lbs. or so rated tires, larger brakes, heavy drive train, heavy spring package, and much more created a payload of around 2400 lbs. as I recall. And yes, for their travels and loading they have been happy with the combination for going on 7 seasons. Rob, as a retired Engineer from the auto industry is very conscientious of the numbers for capacities, safety, etc.

Dan

[jmbopp]

What's the payload on a F250 Diesel? Might not be much more than your current F150.

[430Flyer]

Appears I would be much better off with the F250 and the 6.7L Diesel

Before you decide that you 'need' the diesel to pull the 303 take a hard look at the payload, towing capacity, Torque, & HP ratings and options for the F250. CC vs extended cab, short bed (along with a slider hitch) vs long bed. 4x4 vs 4x2. How many people you'll be carrying, etc. The diesel is an $8500 option & the engine weight cuts deeply into payload, not to mention the DEF and increased maintenance costs. The spec page on Ford's site has a ton of info for making an informed comparison.

The 250 I ordered has a payload of 3450 & the spring pack I added means I don't need airbags or spring enhancements with very little squat. 65 to 70 mph is very comfortable with 7.5 to 8 mpg. I have not taken the truck & 303 to CO yet, so I can't give any advice on higher altitude performance. I'm sure not going to win a race up Wolf Creek pass... but for the small time I plan on being there I can live with it. I may regret not going with the 7.3 & 10 sp trans, but we'll see. For now I'm happy with the 6.2 gasser & it was worth the wait to order what I wanted.

Good Luck

[MarkRizRV]

What's the payload on a F250 Diesel? Might not be much more than your current F150.

Good point, gas 250’s have more payload than diesel 250, unless go with a higher than 10,000 GVWR on the newer models, then it will be closer to the gas version. But don’t assume the 250 diesel has more payload than the f150, you have to check the sticker.
Mark

[jmbopp]

Good point, gas 250’s have more payload than diesel 250, unless go with a higher than 10,000 GVWR on the newer models, then it will be closer to the gas version. But don’t assume the 250 diesel has more payload than the f150, you have to check the sticker.
Mark

That's why many people make the jump to a F350 if going Diesel.

[larry0071]

On the F-150, HARD NO.
On the diesel 2500/F250.... Soft no. You'll break the payload rating big time. You can decide if you want to be overloaded and outside of the manufacturers specs or not. I personally know plenty of guys with diesel 3/4 tons who do not give 2 craps about payload stickers or axle ratings. If they need to tow, they hook and go.
On the gas 2500/F250.... Very likely would be totally within specs on a new one optioned correctly, but you'll be tight to your engineering limits as shown on the stickers.
Diesel or gas single rear wheel 3500/F350... you can rest assured that your going to have your bases covered and you can pack your lead ball collection along as well.
Dually.... Pack and stack with wild abandon. You've got this!

[timosmith]

you also have to add passengers, hitch, baggage, etc. You will be way over your payload capacity and your truck will squat big time. I was just in the same dilemma...had a 2018 F-150 and towed a trailer with a hitch weight of 800 pounds and squatted 4". It was scary. Solved the problem by buying a 2020 GMC Denali 2500HD 6.6L Gas. Now fully loaded with wife and dogs, still have 1100 pounds of payload capacity to spare.

[Wicked ace]

My question is can I safely tow a Reflection 303RLS with an F150XL 4x4 Supercab (6' 8" bed) the 3.5 EcoBoost turbo engine; Automatic 10 spd tranny; 3.55 Electronic lock RR axle; 7050# GVWR package and the "Max Trailer Tow" package? We have plenty of prior towing experiance, but i had a F350 I sold 3 years ago and the salesman today (yikes?) tell me this vehicle will handle it. All the Trailer Life numbers say this truck can handle it, (puts me right at the GVWR limit) however my wife and I want to be safe also. Thoughts?

This 260Rd is about as big as I would go with my truck and it has lots more built in to handle it than yours. No as an answer is a no brainer.