F150 3.5 Ecoboost

[Barry C]

Hey folks, I hope everyone is having a great camping season thus far. I need some input / thoughts
please. My current setup is a 2021 260RD GD reflection ( which we love ) and I tow it with a F250
diesel. My son is purchasing my truck and so I've been looking at the 3.5 Ecoboost. Now I know some
folks are going to say "Don't get a half ton truck" and I may not, I'm on the fence right now. I've done
my research and starting with year 2021 forward the 3.5 ecoboost with the 3:55 axle 4 door has a
towing capacity of 13,200 lbs - 400 horsepower - 500lb-ft torque - 3250 payload. This seems more than adequate to tow my camper which has a GVWR of 9495 and a hitch weight of 1325. I would be safe within the 20% reserve of the trucks capacity. Here's my deal, we start camping in April and camp once a month through November. That puts me roughly pulling my camper 16 times a year and it's generally withing 50 miles where we camp. Driving my F250 diesel as a daily truck is not the most comfortable and that's another reason I'm considering the F150. Several times over the past years I've been in situations needing diesel and as we know not every station has diesel and sometimes there not the easiest to get to with a camper on your back. Grand Design states the Reflection 150 Series is designed to be towed with a 1/2 ton truck. Folks be honest with me, I'm facing a tough decision and that's why I turn to you guys to give me your advise based on your experience and knowledge. Thanks in advance !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[llr2800]

Where did you find that 3250 payload? I doubt if even the HDPP version would have that and if so it would be very stripped. Most F150s are going to be under 2000 payload, some around 1400.

If you determine an HDPP version will work for you plan on a long search or ordering new. Even in HDPP you are probably realistically looking at 2500lbs payload.

What is the real pin weight on your trailer? While I like the F150 better then my prior 2500 I had to downsize campers to make it work.

 

[jproctor9]

2019 F150 SCREW Lariat FX4 3.5EB 6.5' bed and 1697 on the yellow sticker

Unless you order a HDPP (XLT trim or below) or a regular cab, I don't think you'll have enough payload. And if you do, you still may not like the feeling of towing that large.

Have you considered a gas F250?

For the record, we have a 2400BH and that's as large of a camper as I'd want for the truck that I have. YMMV

 

[Barry C]

I confirmed the payload and based on the truck configuration that I listed, Ford is showing a 3250 lb payload

How much weight can my F-150 carry in the bed?
1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs

The total weight a Ford F-150 can hold in its bed ranges from 1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs (640 kg to 1474 kg). Your truck's max capacity depends on various factors, including the engine, bed size, and drivetrain.Oct 12, 2022

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Just a mention: that yellow text is very hard to read on a white background. Plain ol' black is far easier to make out.

 

[llr2800]

I guess it is possible in stripped, standard cab, 8' bed 2WD XL HDPP. If this suites you then an F150 may be a good choice, you will probably need to special order the truck.

If you want more in a truck what are your realistic requirements? I have a fairly basic XLT super crew and I have 1800lbs payload and wouldn't consider a 5th wheel. People in the truck also comes out of the payload number.

 

[alias100]

I confirmed the payload and based on the truck configuration that I listed, Ford is showing a 3250 lb payload

How much weight can my F-150 carry in the bed?
1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs

The total weight a Ford F-150 can hold in its bed ranges from 1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs (640 kg to 1474 kg). Your truck's max capacity depends on various factors, including the engine, bed size, and drivetrain.Oct 12, 2022

I would triple check that payload. That is very high for a 1/2 ton, particularly a 4 door Crewcab version. Is the one you are looking at in stock so you can look at the sticker in the door?

 

[NB Canada]

Where did you get this 1325 hitch weight from?

Are you wanting a base reg cab 2wd?

I can’t imagine not using a 3/4 or 1 ton for that trailer

 

[Ynot4me2]

I guess it could be possible with the F150 HDPP but the ride (unloaded) won't be much different then your F250 diesel. I'd stay with the 3/4. Just my 2 cents

 

[Redapple63]

I think you need to recheck some of those numbers.

I have a 2019 srw diesel 1 ton with payload of about 3500. Cannot see a 1/2 ton with thy payload.

Understand you are not going far and you are uncomfortable with a stiff suspension for a daily driver, but agree with others that you should think about a 3/4 ton.

Bill

 

[Flip94ta]

You are being fooled by a very stupid website. Go to your local Ford dealer and ask to look at a couple trucks. Most F150’s are 1500-1700lbs. The most basic XL’s can get closer to 2000lbs with a regular cab, a limited crew cab may be as low as 1400lbs. The HDPP package is super rare AND special order, you won’t find any on a lot and that’s about the only way you could ever tow a 260RD. I also believe the HDPP was recently discontinued.

 

[BoredWeasel]

No possible way that 1/2 ton has a legit 3200 pound payload. I just checked the door tag on my 2500 and it was a max payload of 3546.

 

[sande005]

Ford buries their payload capacities VERY deeply. I did find this note about the 3250 payload: "Max towing of 14,000 lbs. available on SuperCab 8' box 4x2 and SuperCrew® 4x2 configurations with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and Max Trailer Tow Package (not shown). Max towing varies based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories and number of passengers." The HDPP is not listed as an available package (at least for my truck) anymore. But there are a lot of notes buried in other add-on packages where it seems it might still be an option or have been incorporated in some configuration/option packages. So 3250 does appear to be true, with the right configuration, whether it is called a HDPP or not. Shop very carefully, even dealers have no clue when special ordering....

All that said - I pretty much have a very old version of the truck the OP was looking at. For his noted use, it will be just fine. My payload is 2166 with the steel body and 6.5 bed. No issue with the 950TW trailer I tow. And before anyone brings it up, stopping is excellent too, even on that one long trip where I didn't know I didn't have trailer brakes operating! Ride is not the greatest when loaded up with the trailer, but manageable. With my old 5th, I got 10.5 mpg over many 1,000's of miles. With the 2670MK, only about 8. I blame air dropping over the cab to the bed, and then hitting the front of the trailer, rather than going up and over as it did with the 5th. For the 5th, it was a great tower. For the TT, ride is not as great and a "bigger truck" may "feel" better. But we still do 2-3000 miles per year, with no issues. I'd say for his stated use, he'll be happy. If he is thinking about someday long trips, consider bigger. But that is always a balance considering all the other uses. I just wouldn't want to deal with daily driving (and parking) a SuperCrew with an 8' box.....

 

[llr2800]

I missed that pin weight of 1325. Is that actual as verified on a scale? Or brochure weight?

I though 5th wheels were always 20+% which would put it over 2000lbs.

If it is actual and you shop carefully you may be ok. Especially for the distances you are talking about. I understand not liking the ride of the 3/4, we didn't either so downsized the truck hoping it would be ok, then downsized the TT when we realized it was not safe.

5th wheels should be more stable towing and probably most people that use there truck overload it at times and a modest overload occasionally is not going to hurt the truck.

While I wouldn't recommend it, if I was in the situation you describe I would try it with my truck with 1800lbs payload, LWB and airbags to even it out some.

 

[Keebler]

I'd want to see the payload number on the physical sticker on the truck; not on a website. If Ford is getting that high a payload on a 150; kudos to them and I could see your desire to take that path.

 

[4WHEELNH]

I have your trailer and tow it with a Ram 1500 etorque Hemi and it does just fine with Timken bump stop helpers.
Everyone forgets that a 2500 or above does not have the crash protection of a 1500. Driving a 2500 is not as safe as driving a 1500!
Just my opinion.

 

[opandy]

Ive been towing my 22RBE which I weighed at the cat scales 6600lb. My 2018 F150 3.5 tows better then my 2001 F350 diesel.

 

[melindae]

We towed our Imagine 3100RD, 9k ish, pounds with our f150 ecoboost. It worked and we loved that truck. BUT, it was not easy. There were a lot of white knuckles and swear words. It's an amazing truck, but it lacks the stiffness, weight and capacity of a superduty. We got a f250 6.7 when we got our Momentum 25g and we feel much safer now. Loved the f150, but found there was a big difference between CAN and COMFORTABLE.

 

[Ranchertx]

You are being fooled by a very stupid website. Go to your local Ford dealer and ask to look at a couple trucks. Most F150’s are 1500-1700lbs. The most basic XL’s can get closer to 2000lbs with a regular cab, a limited crew cab may be as low as 1400lbs. The HDPP package is super rare AND special order, you won’t find any on a lot and that’s about the only way you could ever tow a 260RD. I also believe the HDPP was recently discontinued.

I am curious where you get your bad info?
The Trucks have a 7,000 gvw and weigh around 4,000 lbs.

 

[Stealth13777]

I confirmed the payload and based on the truck configuration that I listed, Ford is showing a 3250 lb payload

How much weight can my F-150 carry in the bed?
1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs

The total weight a Ford F-150 can hold in its bed ranges from 1,410 lbs to 3,250 lbs (640 kg to 1474 kg). Your truck's max capacity depends on various factors, including the engine, bed size, and drivetrain.Oct 12, 2022

It doesn’t actually have that payload, because you stated 4 door. Your hitch weight is also not 1325 unless you have added nothing but a single pair of shoes to the trailer for traveling (which I suppose is possible but extremely unlikely.)

Others have said it in multiple ways. You’ll end up with a truck that might, but might not, get to 2k in payload, with a trailer that might, but might not, be under 2k in tongue weight. You’ll have plenty of power but not enough truck.

If you wanted to truly learn how F150s can be specd out, in detail, and then specifically special order one for your trailer, it might be possible. But you’d have to figure it out yourself because the dealers don’t know, and the website gives you ‘max possible’ numbers that are not realistic.

I would look at gas F250s. They are likely to be more reliable with less maintenance anyway - and I see you kept your current truck awhile. The newer 7.3 is close to a match for the old 6.0 if you haven’t tuned. You could also consider other brands if the ride is important as Rams can be optioned with coil springs or rear air, and Chevys have an independent front suspension. Whether this makes them ride any better I can’t personally attest to.