F150 towing a Imagine 260 RD - good idea?

**jdux999** · 12-05-2020, 03:09 PM

Hello All. New to the site and my first post. I'll be buying an Imagine 260 RD - 9900 lb GVWR with 1300 lb hitch weight. I'd like to get a Ford F250 but used ones are hard to find in my area. Any thoughts on towing with Ford F150, V8 liter

**Second Chance** · 12-05-2020, 03:16 PM

Perhaps, perhaps not. You didn't give us any of the weight information off the truck's door sticker. 1/2-ton trucks will max out on payload before you hit the "max tow" limit. Figure on 12 - 15% of the trailer's gross weight (not the empty tongue weight advertised) on the hitch. You can gather all the numbers and enter them here:

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-tt.shtml

My guess is that it's going to be too much trailer for the truck.

Rob

**Wicked ace** · 12-05-2020, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by jdux999

Hello All. New to the site and my first post. I'll be buying an Imagine 260 RD - 9900 lb GVWR with 1300 lb hitch weight. I'd like to get a Ford F250 but used ones are hard to find in my area. Any thoughts on towing with Ford F150, V8 liter

Only if it has the HDPP heavy payload option, they are hard to find as well. You would need payload north of 2000# to tow a 260 with just yourself and one other in the truck. An F150 without it isn't enough. See my signature below.

**Skiddy** · 12-05-2020, 09:03 PM

Wicked Ace has good advice. Look for at least a Superduty, F350 might even be better. The F150 V6 will out pull the F150 V8.

**Wicked ace** · 12-06-2020, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Skiddy

Wicked Ace has good advice. Look for at least a Superduty, F350 might even be better. The F150 V6 will out pull the F150 V8.

I'll add a few more thoughts to Skiddy's answer. I ordered my truck purposefully optioned as it is. I dealt with with a 3/4 ton Ford as one of the last trucks provided to me before I retired and hated it!This F150 does ride better although more firm than a non-HDPP optioned truck. I bought my trailer after the truck which I found was a lot more involved than I first thought. I knew I was going to be limited but I also found that if you truly care and crunch the numbers most 1/2 tow-able fifth wheels really aren't even with the payload I have. In the end, even with the greater payload available there were less than a half dozen trailers to consider. It also didn't help that as I was looking all manufacturers seemed to go through a generational revamp that realigned and bloated most of the contenders. All things considered engine preference is a personal choice, the Ford 3.5 Eco and 5L V8 are both capable. Where the 3.5Eco really stands out is pulling a load up inclines and maintaining speed having the low end torque it does.
I chose my truck pretty much on payload and tow capacity. If I would have gone with a 3/4 ton it most definitely would have been a Ram. Registration fee concerns aside a 1 ton truck is just a small jump dollar wise in cost with any of the big three. Ford has since made the new 7.3L gasser available which should be a prime consideration especially if you are thinking of a later upgrade or crossing mountains regularly.

**Grandesigner** · 12-06-2020, 08:59 AM

Good advice on the 7.3 godzilla...probably my next truck when the time comes. Looking forward to what the megazilla will be, lol

**BreakfastinAmerica** · 12-06-2020, 10:29 AM

It’s about the stopping......not the pulling.

Every truck can pull a.rail car.

**Wicked ace** · 12-07-2020, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by BreakfastinAmerica

It’s about the stopping......not the pulling.

Every truck can pull a.rail car.

I agree but the ability to handle the load is just as important. An FYI....the size of the brakes on a 2015-2020 F150 are larger than a 2005 Superduty.

**Second Chance** · 12-07-2020, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by BreakfastinAmerica

It’s about the stopping......not the pulling.

Every truck can pull a.rail car.

I used to say the same thing until an old-timer reminded me that that is what the trailer brakes are for. If you're depending on the tow vehicle brakes to stop the trailer, there's something wrong with the trailer.

Rob

**Tigger1** · 12-07-2020, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by jdux999

Hello All. New to the site and my first post. I'll be buying an Imagine 260 RD - 9900 lb GVWR with 1300 lb hitch weight. I'd like to get a Ford F250 but used ones are hard to find in my area. Any thoughts on towing with Ford F150, V8 liter

Here’s a review I found informative of a family that went from towing with an F-150 3.5EB to a used F-250 6.2 gas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHv-...ature=youtu.be

And their 7-month update
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6GJ...ature=youtu.be