Downsizing from diesel Truck and GN to half ton and BP.......ideas for tow vehicle???

[NRB]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;7464438]
I get 15.3 mpg towing a 2 horse steel gooseneck with 17’3" horses. I got rid of the F250 Diesel when the warranty ran out. I’m now enjoying better mpg,cheaper fuel prices, and improved comfort.[/QUOTE]

What is your rear axel ratio Equibrit? it comes in 5 different ones… and what is the cab configuration? That effect tow capacity and mileage as well. the bigger the cab the less tow capacity and less mileage. so a standard cab would get better mileage than a crew cab

I drove the Ecoboost today, no clue what the rear axel ratio was. But it was a nice truck.

Comparing the F150 Crew cab with short bed to the F250 Supercab long bed.

weight is 5615 lbs to @6500lbs
wheelbase 158" to 145"
Width is same in both trucks
Tow capacity F250 with a 3.73 rear axel is 12,000lbs and the Econoboost in a 3.73 rear ratio is 11,200 lbs

I bet the econoboost can’t match my trucks gas mileage…but I don’t have the actual mileage figures per rear axel ratio for the F150’s

[NRB]

[QUOTE=Yamaha0219;7460188]
Not sure about some of the new F250s but anything used with a V8 or V10 I could almost guarantee you’ll be super low teens at best. I have an 05 F250 w/ V10, stock suspension and factory size wheels & tires (the tires are heavier than stock) and I drive as my daily driver getting 10mpg. I wouldn’t get rid of my truck because its paid off but if I did ever want to downsize for some better gas mileage, I would look at F150s…I think the newer motors get some pretty good mileage.[/QUOTE]

yeah the V10 is a beast. I drove one in 2003, had fast acceleration.

[NRB]

[QUOTE=tpup;7462935]
I love my GMC Sierra. :)[/QUOTE]

thanks Tpup, I’ll put the GMC on the list of trucks to look at…

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=tpup;7462935]
I love my GMC Sierra. I have the 4 door, shorter bed. Towing package. I have 2 kids 8 and 11 and it rocks. I’ve owned it almost 5 years now. It rides like an SUV and anyone who rides in it comments that it looks and feels like a luxury SUV inside. I have the leather package too.[/QUOTE]

I was previously unqualified to comment on this thread because I tow with a 1 ton 8.1 GMC, but I will just chime in and say that I also consistently get comments on the “fit and finish” of the interior of my GMC. They were one of the first companies to start moving away from that “trucky” interior.

Mine has the leather/power/heated package, and even my very anti-truck mother ooh’ed and ahh’ed over it.

Apart from that, my family has always owned Chevys/GMCs, both gas and diesel, regularly taking them to 250k+, and we’ve always been quite happy. I’m sure the half-tons are capable of what you need.

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=NRB;7466946]
What is your rear axel ratio Equibrit?[/QUOTE]

XLT 4x4 Supercab
145" wheelbase
Advancetrac and sway control
Tow package
Select shift 6 spd auto trans
3:55 LSD
All sorts of other “creature” comforts

[NRB]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;7467518]
XLT 4x4 Supercab
145" wheelbase
Advancetrac and sway control
Tow package
Select shift 6 spd auto trans
3:55 LSD
All sorts of other “creature” comforts[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Assuming that you have the 3.5L econoboost engine Your truck in the 2014 spec is rated to tow 9,700 lbs. (and I’m saying that without knowing what the tow package adds to your trucks capacities). but the super crew with that same wheelbase and axel is rated to tow only 7,500. A pretty impressive drop.

[NRB]

Can’t edit to say I looked at the wrong line. The super crew is rated to tow 9,600 not 7,500. That was a figure for the Limited version (must be a trim package that adds a lot of weight I guess?)

[Jim_in_PA]

Either way, you’d be fine with a modern 2h BP, even with DR with that setup.

[Equibrit]

With the max tow package tow weight is 11300 lbs with a 3.73 diff. (9700 with a 3.55) http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/towing/

Did I mention the jake brake ?

[flashwhitelock]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;7468514]
With the max tow package tow weight is 11300 lbs with a 3.73 diff. (9700 with a 3.55) http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/towing/

Did I mention the jake brake ?[/QUOTE]

Okay, I get the safety issue of the back seat for your truck but… it usually is not cheaper to ditch one vehicle to buy another similar, but newer pulling vehicle. What about the cost of having the back seat replaced? I did that for my jeep and it was relatively inexpensive vs the sales tax and costs of changing vehicles. Again it all depends on the math of all the new truck costs vs old fixed truck costs combined with the mileage cost. Good luck.

[Jim_in_PA]

flash’, I have the impression that the OP’s current truck doesn’t have a “full” backseat which you really need as the kids get older. I had a pickup a number of years ago like that…and it wasn’t comfortable in the back for humans.

[NRB]

[QUOTE=flashwhitelock;7469009]
What about the cost of having the back seat replaced? [/QUOTE]

It’s true I’m not looking for cheap I am looking for safety of my family.

My truck is a super cab, There is no back seat, there is the bench, and cushion up the back wall, but no head rests. There is no room to put in a seat. The child safety seat and the infant safety seat are both actually too long to fit on the short depth bench seat. They hang off by several inches.

My child (or any adult short enough to sit on that bench) has her head up against the glass. If I take her out of her Britax Frontier 90 seat. I can not get her baby brothers rear facing infant seat in the center with that Frontier on the bench. SO if I take the Frontier out and put my daughter into a backless booster her head is on the glass of the rear window. If we get rear ended or in a wreck her head gets smashed onto the rear window as there is nothing there to protect her. Nevermind there is not way to anchor the tether on the rear facing infant seat anyway…

So because I can not put my children into the truck I can not drive the truck, it does not get driven. No point in keeping it if I can’t use it.

Trust me it pains me to get rid of this truck. It’s got the 7.3 diesel which is just awesome. But I need 4 full sized seats, not 2.

I saw the Toyota Tundra Crew cab and behind the full seats in the rear there was actual SPACE between the rear glass and the head rest of that rear seat. Wow.

[NRB]

[QUOTE=Jim_in_PA;7468505]
Either way, you’d be fine with a modern 2h BP, even with DR with that setup.[/QUOTE]

woot, that’s what I was beginning to think as well.

If I sell truck and trailer, I’ll easily be able to pick up a used BP for less than what I’ll get for the GN. True I’ll be spending $$ on the new vehicle. But I was prepared for that anyway.

[Jim_in_PA]

I think you will be totally fine with what you are considering…and it will work for both your family and for your horses. What you are proposing is “beefier” than what I haul with and I’m perfectly comfortable with my rig for what I ask of it.

[TimelyImpulse]

I bought a 2007 F150 super crew last year. It has the 5.4V8 engine and a 3.73 rear end. Tow capacity is around 9700 lbs, but i calculated weights and deducted a couple thousand pounds in my planning for top capacity due to 4x4 and a cap, bigger rims, etc. to be comfortable. Even at 7700 tow capacity, my old Shoop steel trailer, loaded to the gills with household goods and driven 750 miles, was towed just fine. No scary moments, no sway, no trouble cruising at 70 mph. I’ve also hauled my horses all over Virginia hunt country with it, and no problems at all-- even going through the hills in Warrenton.

. I’d had an old f250 that died, had replaced it with a newer f250 that ended up being returned due to the death wobble issue, and our circumstances changed and I wasn’t going to be hauling 3-5 times a week, so went for creature comforts and got the F150 Lariat. It’s nice, nice, nice. It’s my daily driver so gas mileage is good, and the kids, dogs and everything else fits comfortably in the truck. Also has the nice comfy back seats with full headrest. the glass alone in the old truck always scared me too. The truck has become our preferred travel vehicle, as it really doesn’t feel like the 250. And it hauls great-- has the upgraded tow package.

I just bought a new trailer-- and will pick it up Weds. It’s a Homesteader Stallion 2h with dressing room, weighs 3400 (less than my steel Shoop). I’m 100% confident in my truck/trailer combo. A 250 would be overkill for what I need. And yes, it does stop-- I did a few test runs before I bought the truck. I hooked up the trailer, did not connect the trailer brake and took it for a test run. 70 mph to a full stop was accomplished with ease- and no sway or jack knifing. Rolly hills were no problem, and when I stomped it to get on the highway, it got going.

[Prime_Time_Rider]

I towed my 2 horse bumper pull with dressing room Sundowner with a Chevy Tahoe with a towing package for 3 or 4 years. It was a great vehicle to take on long trips and got OK gas mileage.

[JJARAB]

OP, my curiosity is getting the better of me. What year is your 7.3?

[NRB]

[QUOTE=JJARAB;7473701]
OP, my curiosity is getting the better of me. What year is your 7.3?[/QUOTE]

It is 2003, the same year they put out the 6L. So they did the 7.3 in the first part of the year, then introduced the 6L in the second half of the year.

[saratoga]

It sounds like you would be fine with a half ton truck or SUV. I downgraded about a year and a half ago from a dually to a Silverado 1500 and I am very pleased with my decision. It pulls my 3 horse BP just fine and stops fine too. It is my only vehicle and so much easier to drive every day and goes thru less gas than my one ton, not to mention cost at least $10k less. I have a friend with a Nissan Titan and a similar trailer…she has had her truck for about 4 years now and loves it.
I have friends with big trucks who think you shouldn’t tow with a half ton…one of them rode with me and commented on how nice my truck performed as we were driving , but then later in the day made some comment about how she would only tow with a 3/4 or 1 ton LOL. But for me, I think I will stick with smaller vehicles unless I get a GN trailer.

[NRB]

Saratoga today’s half tons are a different creature than the ones from 10 years ago. Or maybe I’ve not been paying attention. The new 2014 half tons I look at are rated to tow 11,000 lbs and their curb weight is over 5700lbs. my 3/4 ton diesel by comparison is rated to tow 12,000 and curb weight is @ 6500 lbs.