I think you will be hard pressed to get the truck under 6k pounds. I know they are preaching lighter weight. But, if history is any indication for weight savings in cars. They take it one place and add it somewhere else. Not that the 2017 won't be lighter. It might be pushing to be under on a supercab.

As for sand. That is something that can vary from beach to beach and even visit to visit. You might be fine, but with something as heavy as the superduty. I would not venture on the beach, outside of a hard packed surf, without 4x4.

I would say not FX4, and save a little from those skid plates.

Have you considered the the 5.0 in the 150? I agree with staying away from ecoboost for longevity, since we haven't see the long term results yet. But crew cab and 5.0 would put you at 5k pounds

 

How about a tow vehicle like an Explorer? You really wouldn't even be working it either.

It would be a lot more handy when not towing!

 

Illinois, City of Chicago, is very strict on the plate restrictions. If you have a truck plates or commercial plates you can not drive on any Drive (like Lake Shore Drive), Boulevard or express lanes. They will ticket you. A friend of mine got a ticket driving his Subaru Brat on Lake Shore Drive. The only thing the cop cared about was the truck plate. Worrying about BS tickets takes the fun out of a trip, it's best to find a legal way to roll.

 

An SUV would be a good way to get around this too. My Excursion has passenger plates on it.

I think towing a 3,300 lb trailer with an Explorer isn't such a good idea though.

 

Get what you want. If you have to pay to play and the playgrounds have restrictions, then that's the rules.

 

3500 lbs is the equivalent of pulling a smaller aluminum boat trailer, or 2 good size motor cycles and trailer, or 3 golf carts, i.e. As pointed out this is well within the limits of an explorer, ranger, and yes upper limits of a minivan.

I know that this is gonna be rough but a GMC Canyon diesel has almost as much towing capacity as some base full size trucks and gets waaaay better economy!

Get what you are happy with...but don't think for a minute that other lower options would not be very suitable choices.

 

I thought Ford did make a light duty version of F250 SD? it has the standard paddle mirrors of the F150 (or very similar)? am I thinking that is still too heavy of a truck? Im thinking of a truck like the pictured one below??

 

Yes, they made a light duty F250, but that's not it. That's a Super Duty with the standard paddle mirrors instead of the optional towing mirrors.

The light duty F250 was only made from '97-99, and was nothing more than an F150 with 7-lug wheels and a heavier GVWR. Was replaced by the 7700-lb payload option around 2000, and that grew to the 8,200 lb payload option in 2004 with the redesign. This lives on as the "Heavy Payload Package" on the '15+ F150s.

Here's a LD F250:

 

ah I see said the blind man...

 

I thought PA was messed up with dumb laws.

 

Curious as to what "dumb laws" you got there

 

CDL and trailers, ask 10 cops and get 10 different answers.
Just what comes to mind now

 

Yep 10 different answers and it seems they make up the fines in their car.

 

I like having combination plates on my f350 in Connecticut. I drive on all the NY parkways and not have any worry. I don't know why ny doesn't have this option.

If an explorer isn't an option why not a expedition. You can probabt get a year or 2 old one with a 5.4 and 6 speed for a very reasonable price that will handle your trailer just fine. It will get better mpg then a superduty and can be registered with passenger plates. Plus you can keep all your stuff locked up and dry while traveling

 

I'm from NY and always register my vehicles in NY due to military but state residence is NY. I can check my truck but it is a F350 Dually and I believe it has Commercial plates but all the Commercial legalities shouldn't apply to a pickup truck. When your using it for business practices like xr7gt390 posted then yes you would need to follow.

I'm going to shoot from the hip here and say when they refer to Commercial vehicle it is in fact weight related but also the use of the vehicle. So if it is a pleasure vehicle but falls in the weight category then I don't believe you need to abide by Commercial regulations. If that were the case then every time you pass a weigh station you would need to pull in if it says " ALL COMMERICIAL VEHICLES MUST ENTER".


What you should do is call DMV and speak to them so they can explain it to you and what regulations we pickup drivers need to follow with regards to Commercial plates registration. Again, I think it really just means weight classification and nothing more when it comes to pickups.


If you can afford the F250 and you feel that is what you want and will be happy with it then I say go for it. Personally, yes people here are correct in saying the F150 ECO will do you justice but I'm like you and I can afford a big *** truck so I bought one. I don't always use it for what it's built for but who cares. I get people asking me all the time why you drive such a big *** truck? I tell them because I wanted it, I pay the bills and it was my choice. Most just say fair enough but then others want to still continue in with gas prices!! That's for another topic...anyhow good luck!