Getting ready to buy either a 2016 F150 or F250. It will be my regular driver (we do have a 2014 Taurus also). I also will tow a 24' car hauler which when loaded weighs about 8000 lbs. We are also buying a new travel trailer, which will be about 29' and weigh about 7500 lbs fully loaded. I have been pulling the car hauler with my 2007 Navigator. I've decided to trade the Navi on a new truck. Even though the Navi is rated to tow 9000 lbs it has a payload of only 1580 lbs. I would like to have a truck
Which has a higher payload.

So I was all ready to get a new 2016 F150 with the max tow and HD payload. A crew cab with 6.5' bed and 3.5 EB has a payload of over 2600 lbs when equipped with HD Payload option. When I went on the Ford site to build one I ran into problems. I want a Lariat and it seems that if you select the HD Payload it severely limits the options you can order. What gives with that? Is it because all the options add weight?

 

No idea why you can't get a heavy payload package in most Lariat configurations. Best guess is that they ride significantly rougher than the regular payload options, and most looking at a Lariat truck want a nice ride. Just a wild guess though.

My crew cab XLT truck has 1,830 lbs of payload, which is plenty for me. I wouldn't want the rougher ride that comes with the HD payload package, but I'm not afraid to exceed GVWR if the need arises. I'm mainly concerned with staying under axle weight ratings. I'm sure the Internet Weight Police will be coming for me shortly.

 

My guess is they want you to pop for an F250 if you want payload and options. The Max Tow package on a F150 can handle a lot.

 

Actually, my understanding is the Max Tow Package does nothing to increase payload capacity. It's not the "rated" amount that is the problem since the F150 with max tow can handle close to 12,000 lbs. It's usually the payload - here's my issue-

My trailer tongue weight is right at 800#. Add another 100 for the WD hitch. Add three adult passengers at least 150 per, that's another 450. Add maybe 100 lbs luggage, that's probably light. Now we are up to 1450 payload. My Navi only exceeds that by 100#. That's doesn't give hardly any room for extra stuff, or maybe a kid or two.

According to Ford, the 2016 crew cab with 6 1/2 bed and 3.5 EB has a payload capacity of 2060. That's better than my Navi, but honestly not that much. See link below-

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/spe...tions/payload/

 

Anyone have any experience with how much rougher the ride is with the HD payload package? I guess I wouldn't expect it to be that much different.

 

Nobody here has one or has seen one of the 2015/16 HD payload models. Ford keeps pushing production back.

 

It's available on the build and price site but that doesn't mean much.

On the 09'-14' models, the max tow option increased your GVWR from the standard 7200 pound package to the 7700 pound package. As you add options, you add weight which lowers the payload. Then you have to be careful with wheel selection. The 20's look great and fill the wheel wells real nice but don't carry the same work rating as the 17's and 18's.

 

Fixed it for ya Tim.

Max Tow increased GVWR to 7,650 for EcoBoost models, and 7,700 for 6.2L trucks. True HD payload trucks got 7-lug wheels and 8,200 lb GVWR.

 

Well that's crappy. Since I'm looking for a 16 model off the lot I guess I'll forget the HD Payload option.

Now I'm back at looking at an F 250. Really wanted the Ecoboost!

 

Take my advice for what it's worth...

But as a guy who's owned two Super Duties in the past, and towed as much as 15,000 lbs behind his F150s, there's absolutely NO WAY I would consider a Super Duty for your kind of use.

The biggest handicap your current Expy has when it comes to towing is its short wheelbase. If your Expy is a regular-length model it has a 119" wheelbase, which is identical to a Toyota Sienna minivan. Wheelbase acts as the length of the lever that your vehicle uses to control trailer sway, and short wheelbase means the truck has a much harder time controlling a wayward trailer. If the tail is wagging the dog, it's not because of your available payload, but your short wheelbase.

Read HERE for my experience pulling a 15,000 lb trailer loaded with gravel, and you can also read some Super Duty owners' thoughts who also drove my truck that day. I don't recommend doing this on a regular basis, but I think it well illustrates the chassis' capability to pull heavy things around. If you were pulling 10K regularly I would recommend a Super Duty, but for seasonal use pulling a camper at 8,000 lbs it's overkill IMHO. A 6.2L Super Duty will feel like a dog compared to an EcoBoost F150, and it will ride like a grain wagon in comparison.

A crew cab F150 will have the power and wheelbase to do a much better job handling your camper than your current Expy, and you don't have to make the sacrifices that come with the heavier chassis that you just don't need. Buy whichever truck that makes you happy, but I've owned and pulled heavy with both, and you can see where I put my money this last go around.

 

Tom. I have to ask. I saw your video. Weren't you concerned about blowing a engine or tranny on a new truck?

 

That's why we were watching temperatures so closely.

In a general sense, the powertrains are designed to operate at rated output without hurting themselves, and they will de-rate before they will be damaged. The factory gauges barely moved to the right of center even though the engine was getting warm, and the run was less than a couple minutes long.

I've never tuned my truck because I believe in the engineering and safegaurds behind the factory tune. There's no chance I would have done that pull with a tune.

 

As long as mpg's don't matter. You will be giving up at least 5 if not more going to the 6.2 over the EB for daily driving. The EB makes better power too. I miss mine and if it wasn't for the equip I rent for work, I would still have one.
There is a question posted to the Ford Engineers about the axle differences between the regular and HD option, and we're still waiting for the Ford answer. I know tires and stiffer springs are a part of the package too. If you're wanting a HD F150 EB as I did, I added helper springs(timbrens) and 10ply E rated tires.

 

I guess that was misleading, what I meant was the Max Tow F150 can handle a heavy trailer fairly well. The Max Tow mirrors are a nice option to have with enclosed trailers, you'll want that option for sure. As stated above an F150 with a trailer tow package can handle the trailer weight fairly well, much better than a SUV. We've towed with a Conversion Van, an Explorer, a Chrysler Aspen and a Denali, I always come back to the pickup truck.
I have both an F150 and F250. On my daily drive the F150 gets anywhere from 4 to 5 MPGs better. When towing both trucks are about the same. The EB F150 feels like it will outpull the F250. The F250 is very stable and does a better job of handling tongue load.
In 2008 I wanted the HD F150. Lucky for me I was able to test drive a 2WD regular cab version & compare that to an F250. The ride was similar, maybe worse in the F150. The F150 was about as plain a truck as you could get & the F250 was an XLT, so not a great comparison.
If you are thinking you will be hauling a big pile of wood or an ATV or Golf Cart in the bed you might be happier with the F250 otherwise I would get the F150 Max Tow truck. It is a very capable vehicle.

 

Tom,RainDesert and Xr7gt390-

You guys opinions are a HUGE help. Tom- I hadn't thought so much about the shorter wheelbase on my Navi, but you make a very valid point. You've all pretty much convinced me to go with the EB F150. The last F150 I owned was a 2004 5.4 and really liked it. For other reasons I sold it and bought the Navi. Now it looks like I'll go back to the F150.

Regarding payload capacity I really have no plans to carry much weight in the bed, I just liked the idea of extra capacity. I'd like to get a new one that has a payload closer to 2000 lbs though. Problem is it's hard to know what that number is without looking at the actual truck itself, since the payload changes so much with options, tire size, etc.

Can anyone post their trucks payloads and what options they have? I'm thinking I may want to stay away from 20" tires, as an example?