We're going to get an Airstream travel trailer ("bumper pull") and a diesel pickup to tow it. Our price range is pretty much 2013 and older. I've been told that the 2011 diesel has a plastic oil pan and troublesome ceramic bearings in the turbo. The plastic oil pan was replaced in 2012, but my "source" didn't know about the bearings.

The "rest of the story": We're full-time RV'ers, so the truck will be our daily driver as well as the tow vehicle. We're looking at 4WD, 4-door trucks in the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims with automatic transmission.

First question: are we looking at the right trucks?

Second question: How accurate is what I've been told?

Third question: How much of a problem are the two things mentioned?

Fourth question: What else should I be looking at?

 

The biggest key to your last question is the size and weight of the camper.

2011 also had valve issues.

All 250/350's of this generation are automatic, so that shouldn't be hard to find.

 

Delete... double post

 

Gross vehicle weight rating for the Airstream is 9800 pounds. 1000 pounds of that weight will be carried on the tongue. In addition, of course, there is the hitch assembly weight, which is somewhere around 100 pounds.

I actually had a sales person try to tell me that an F150 EcoBoost could handle that trailer just fine. Yeah, right!

Any great difference between an F250 and a similar F350? Prices are nearly identical, at least as far as I can see.

 

4x4 lowers its towing ability
upper end trim levels lower the towing ability.

Pass on the 2011 Diesel... 2012 or newer.
Long bed or short bed?

get true trailer weight.. tag numbers can and are wrong.. my coachmen is under by 800 pounds. tag states 7,500 but scaled at 8,300 Empty.

depending on the truck. the trailer will be AT or over towing of truck.

and you still need to add people weight, fuel weight, cargo weight, trailer add in weight.. clothes and food. "Water".... it all adds up.

 

When you're approaching the 1k tongue weight, hitch selection is very important. The weight likely doesn't include propane or batteries which will add to it. A lot of airstream owners like the Propride or Hensley hitches but they are expensive and heavy. Take a look at the hitch weight rating for the trucks. When I did, my recollection was that the F350 was 100 lbs more, or 1350 vs 1250. The F350 will generally also have more payload capacity for stuff, so a F350 KR should be rated higher than a F250 KR with the same cab and bed configuration.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

The Ecoboost F150 could handle the trailer weight, just not the tongue weight. They are rated over 11,000 lb and guys have towed beyond that with them and been very impressed with the power & stability.

That said if you will be towing a lot the diesel will serve you well. The 6.7s are amazing motors.

If you don't want to pay the crazy high 6.7 prices, don't be afraid of the 6.0. Due to the reputation, they are very reasonably priced. You'll want to go thru it, but once all the known issues are fixed they are very reliable. 05-07 are the preferred years.

Stay away from the 08-10 6.4L.

There are also diesel specific forums on here where you can get more detailed information on each engine.

 

2011^ 6.2 gas. Not saying it's the better option in this situation, but it's well within its capabilities. I wouldn't just pass by the right truck on the lot because it's gas. No one can argue it's the cheaper and more reliable choice. There's plenty of people on here towing that much and a lot more with the 6.2. I averaged 9.5 mpg pulling 8500lbs 1600 miles(30' bumper pull and golf cart in the bed). There is a 6.2 section here for more research. Diesel definitely pulls better, and gets a little better mileage, but lots of benefits to a gas motor.

 

Hi kbOzke
We fulltime in an 8000ib Airstream and find the 6.2 CCLB with 3.73 gears and 35" tyres a perfect match - gut feeling is that it tows just as well as our previous 6.4 diesel that we had for 8 years.