2008 F250
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by redford
The frontal area of my trailer is small? 
It's taller than my truck (at least 7 1/2 feet), 8 1/2 feet wide and as aerodynamic as a brick! It's an enclosed 28 foot car hauler with an optional 6 1/2 foot ceiling (floor to roof).
Where do you guys come up with this stuff?
It's taller than my truck (at least 7 1/2 feet), 8 1/2 feet wide and as aerodynamic as a brick! It's an enclosed 28 foot car hauler with an optional 6 1/2 foot ceiling (floor to roof).
Where do you guys come up with this stuff?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by HorseyHauler
I agree, towing 2H GN with LQ (9K+) and though the trailer front has a narrowing nose (5 ft.) it is still almost eight feet wide and ten feet tall. The short bed on the truck helps with the handling on the highway and can still get 75 degress plus angle between truck and trailer. Also, makes a difference when the 1300 lb. butthead starts shifting his weight in the back. Have friends who haul four or more horses and just know they are coordinating their efforts. Hauling a live load is a different experience.
The 4.10 rear gives the extra power needed to overcome the wind.
The 4.10 rear gives the extra power needed to overcome the wind.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 236
Likes: 18
Good point about frontal area.
I have a pull type 8000 lb. Toyhauler that has a rather large frontal area. I have 3.73 gears in my V-10 powered SD that tows it well and it pulls hills fairly well and I was content to leave it alone until next year and then do more upgrades. And then I had to tow in a significant headwind for about 25 miles. After running in second gear for a large portion of that 25 mile stretch, I am now determed to install 4.30 gears before my next long trip.
I had a much smaller and lighter travel trailer when I bought my truck. Due to a fire in the refrigerator, it needed to go and I figured if I was getting a new trailer, I mght as well get a bigger one.
Point being you cannot predict the future, but you can plan for it by buying a bit more truck that you need, just in case...........
I have a pull type 8000 lb. Toyhauler that has a rather large frontal area. I have 3.73 gears in my V-10 powered SD that tows it well and it pulls hills fairly well and I was content to leave it alone until next year and then do more upgrades. And then I had to tow in a significant headwind for about 25 miles. After running in second gear for a large portion of that 25 mile stretch, I am now determed to install 4.30 gears before my next long trip.
I had a much smaller and lighter travel trailer when I bought my truck. Due to a fire in the refrigerator, it needed to go and I figured if I was getting a new trailer, I mght as well get a bigger one.
Point being you cannot predict the future, but you can plan for it by buying a bit more truck that you need, just in case...........
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
Longer wheelbase will always help with towing and you get used to driving it fast if you have ever owned a truck before and 4.10s will make your life easier any time you tow or meet with alot of hills
ESOF never let me down in 3 different trucks we have or to be honest on any of the plow trucks we had at my last company, but you do hear of problems with it.the only common issue is the hubs not locking, if this is an issue replacing with manual hubs is easy. i say the main issue is you never hear about when a plane lands safely
ESOF never let me down in 3 different trucks we have or to be honest on any of the plow trucks we had at my last company, but you do hear of problems with it.the only common issue is the hubs not locking, if this is an issue replacing with manual hubs is easy. i say the main issue is you never hear about when a plane lands safely
Last edited by capn kirk; Nov 10, 2007 at 12:49 AM.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
Originally Posted by STEELIE ADDICT
Thanks to all for the input. It will be my daily driver so the 5.4 is almost mandatory. I tow a large boat (6000-7000 lb.) infrequently and a small boat (800-1000 lb.) often.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by Monsta
Sounds like all you need is an F-150. I towed 7000lbs worth of horses and trailers w/the 3V 5.4L and 3.73's. Lighter truck makes better use of the engine. F-150's can be had for less dough, too.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 46
From: Kemmerer, Wyoming
Originally Posted by Monsta
Sounds like all you need is an F-150. I towed 7000lbs worth of horses and trailers w/the 3V 5.4L and 3.73's. Lighter truck makes better use of the engine. F-150's can be had for less dough, too.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by swann79
I just needed more payload capacity, and more oomph for the mountains, so I upgraded.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by alchymist
Thats' not frontal area --this is frontal area - top of cab comes only to the bottom logo.....
Think of it this way. The air moves up to go over your cab. As it comes back down you have this trailer to fill the low pressure void. Air continues upward to go over the trailer. It'd be somewhat like drafting in NASCAR.
Now, on mine, the air moves up to go over the cab, there's nothing behind the cab to fill the void so the air moves back down, then meets the front of the trailer where it has to move up or sideways.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
My TT (not fith wheel) front is over 10' high by 8' wide, quite a bit higher than yours. Believe me that makes a big difference. My TT weighs 6500 pounds and pulls pretty hard. I have pulled flat beds that weigh 10,000 that don't pull as hard, but whatever.
Last edited by msalyer; Nov 10, 2007 at 09:15 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS
I was thinking along the same lines as Steelie Addict. The heaviest thing i'll be towing is a 33 ft fiver which weights 11-12k on occasion but usually it would empty or towing a trailer no more than 5-6k. I've pulled the fiver with a 5.4 2v with 3.55's and it was able to maintain 60-65 even on steep hills.
My only worry is what tranny? I usually abide by the rule of small engines but with manual, automatics are usually dogs with the smallest engine in the line-up. My wife is against the idea of having a manual in my next truck though. I've driven a V10 2v with the 5r100 and it was awesome.
But after adding the extra weight of a extended cab and 4x4 how much of a dog would the auto be? The rearend would be 4.11's. The model would be a XL so not alot of added weight from accessories. 5r100 might of closed the gap between auto and manual is my thought. I might get lucky though and the F-Series would be easier to drive than my 5spd Ranger, she hates that thing.
My only worry is what tranny? I usually abide by the rule of small engines but with manual, automatics are usually dogs with the smallest engine in the line-up. My wife is against the idea of having a manual in my next truck though. I've driven a V10 2v with the 5r100 and it was awesome.
But after adding the extra weight of a extended cab and 4x4 how much of a dog would the auto be? The rearend would be 4.11's. The model would be a XL so not alot of added weight from accessories. 5r100 might of closed the gap between auto and manual is my thought. I might get lucky though and the F-Series would be easier to drive than my 5spd Ranger, she hates that thing.
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by redford
Your comparing apples and oranges. Even though your trailer sticks up more, 5th wheel towing brings it much closer to the cab, which helps a lot. You can't directly compare the frontal area of a 5th wheel trailer and the frontal area of a conventional trailer.
Think of it this way. The air moves up to go over your cab. As it comes back down you have this trailer to fill the low pressure void. Air continues upward to go over the trailer. It'd be somewhat like drafting in NASCAR.
Now, on mine, the air moves up to go over the cab, there's nothing behind the cab to fill the void so the air moves back down, then meets the front of the trailer where it has to move up or sideways.
Think of it this way. The air moves up to go over your cab. As it comes back down you have this trailer to fill the low pressure void. Air continues upward to go over the trailer. It'd be somewhat like drafting in NASCAR.
Now, on mine, the air moves up to go over the cab, there's nothing behind the cab to fill the void so the air moves back down, then meets the front of the trailer where it has to move up or sideways.
In the meantime heres some info on trailering & saving fuel I found interesting: http://www.landlinemag.com/Archives/2006/May2006/bottom_line/more_miles_less_fuel.htm
Last edited by alchymist; Nov 11, 2007 at 07:16 AM.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
To answer the question of terrain, I live in an area where there are a lot of hills and also some mountain passes. I don’t tow over the passes very often, but I do on occasion. I feel more confident with the tranny in the Super Duty also. It looks like the F150 extended cab is only about 200 lbs. lighter than the F250 regular cab. I can’t imagine that making a huge difference in mileage. The cab extension is what I am giving up by going to the Super Duty. I am trying to keep cost down a little. The other aspect of the situation is that I really like the Super Duty better.
