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I own an 2006 F-250 Super Duty Super Cab, with a 5.4 V8, 4.10. It has the 12,5k Receiver, towing package, 9200 GVWR, and Tow/Haul feature. I'm looking to buy a Heartland Razor Toy Hauler that weighs in at 11,295lbs dry. I have 2 Suzuki ATVs that will be going in the "garage" (roughly 1,000 to 1,200 lbs). Any idea if this truck will tow the trailer ok using a 5th wheel?
I've seen alot of documentation that says the unit will haul up to 12,500 conventional, and according to the dealer where I purchased the truck (2 months ago) it should be able to haul 16,500. Seems a little high to me...
It may pull it (slowly) but you'll have a heck of a time stopping it, although the intergrated brake controller is %100 better than adding your own. You'll be way over the 12,500 lbs once you add water, propane, food, dishes, clothes, your toys etc., etc. Do you have an automatic? It's very hard on that as well. I wouldn't recommend going over the 12,500 limit. If you were planning on towing something that big you might have been better off with a 350, the towing capacity is higher. That's what made our decision when we bought our '05. It was a diesel as well. You can expect to get no mileage with a gas engine when towing. My V10 drops down to 5-7 mpg when towing a 5er. You may want to look into one of the lightweight aluminum framed models. Just my .02 .
It may pull it (slowly) but you'll have a heck of a time stopping it, although the intergrated brake controller is %100 better than adding your own. You'll be way over the 12,500 lbs once you add water, propane, food, dishes, clothes, your toys etc., etc. Do you have an automatic? It's very hard on that as well. I wouldn't recommend going over the 12,500 limit. If you were planning on towing something that big you might have been better off with a 350, the towing capacity is higher. That's what made our decision when we bought our '05. It was a diesel as well. You can expect to get no mileage with a gas engine when towing. My V10 drops down to 5-7 mpg when towing a 5er. You may want to look into one of the lightweight aluminum framed models. Just my .02 .
he has the same truck as a 350. same brakes, and towing capacity. the gvwr is differant for the 250-350, but the gcvwr is the same, so is the towing. 16,500 is not right for a 5.4L. i tow 10,000lbs with mine, you have 40hp more and an extra gear. it will do the 12,500 but i don't know if i would try the 15,000lbs. ford rates the 5.4 w/ 4.10 to tow 12,000lbs +/- depending on on setup, does not change for 5th wheel on the 5.4. 11,200lbs dry wieght plus 1200lbs for your toy then 500lbs for water, 100lbs for propane, clothes, and supplies (depends on your wife) can add up quickly. you are going to be pushing it. it will be slow but it will get you there. if are going to be going through montains then i would consider a bigger truck or a small trailer. if it is mostly flat you should be alright.
he has the same truck as a 350. same brakes, and towing capacity. the gvwr is differant for the 250-350, but the gcvwr is the same, so is the towing. 16,500 is not right for a 5.4L. i tow 10,000lbs with mine, you have 40hp more and an extra gear. it will do the 12,500 but i don't know if i would try the 15,000lbs. ford rates the 5.4 w/ 4.10 to tow 12,000lbs +/- depending on on setup, does not change for 5th wheel on the 5.4. 11,200lbs dry wieght plus 1200lbs for your toy then 500lbs for water, 100lbs for propane, clothes, and supplies (depends on your wife) can add up quickly. you are going to be pushing it. it will be slow but it will get you there. if are going to be going through montains then i would consider a bigger truck or a small trailer. if it is mostly flat you should be alright.
X2 here,
I have the V10 and last weekend I was loaded out at 15.5K and I felt. I tow a 7K trailer with a 2007 F250 5.4 and I Can say that I would never try that much weight with the 5.4. Of coarse I live in western Wa and we have LOTS of hills here.
My suggestion is bigger truck, engine swap or smaller trailer.
Thanks to all for the advice and such. I've decided that it would be a mistake to use the F-250 to tow this heavy of a trailer. There's another vehicle I'm considering buying for the job. It's a 2004 Ford F-350 DRW with a 6.0 Diesel engine. Any thoughts on using the 350 diesel for hauling the trailer?
Trailer is a Heartland Razor weighing 11,295lbs empty. Adding 2 Suzuki ATVs, water, luggage, etc.. The max GVWR on the trailer itself is 14,500 or so.
I'm sure it'll do it. If you could find the same truck in an 05 you'll like it even better... it will have larger brakes and 3k higher GCWR just to start. The capacities rated by Ford for the pre-2005 models max out around 15500, even in a diesel, due to their GCWR of 20k. The 2005+ models have a 23k rating.
that truck would do it, but the 2004 6.0l would be one of the years they had trouble. before you buy it make sure you get an oasis report on the truck. if it is clean then you should be good to go.
Make sure to get an oasis report before you buy a 6.0L you may even want to look back as far as a 7.3L (considerably more reliable). But you would also happy with an 05+ not only are the brakes bigger, but the coils in front will turn tighter and ride nicer. In any case if its a 6.0L get a oasis report. I think you are really trying to do too much with that 5.4l they are a great motor, just not strong enough to pull the kind of weight you are talking, esecially if you want to go into the mountains.
I wouldn't replace it if you like it, but I really liked the proportional braking, trailer brakes applied the same degree as you apply the truck brakes. I'm not sure mechanically how they work but there's no gain or lag adjustment needed with the intergrated controller, it works off the amount of truck brake you're applying. I was towing a 40' 5er and it was very smooth.
Also I don't know about the 2006 model but in 2005 the F350 had a greater towing capacity than the F250, where the 2004's and earlier didn't have any real difference. That's why we bought a new 2005 rather than a leftover 2004 F350 because that had essentially the same capacity as my 2000 F250 and we needed something bigger.
I agree that the 5.4 is too small to pull it, but an f250 shouldnt have a problem handling the weight. Its a 5 wheel setup. My father often pulls upward of 15,000lbs with hes f250, it is a diesel, but its the same frame, brakes, and everything as the original posters truck. And he never has a problem pulling it.
The only difference between a f250 and f350 is that the f250 has a softer more drivable suspension, designed for people who arnt constantly pulling heavy loads. A f350 has stiffer shocks that can handle the load better, but it makes it ride rough. Also the rear axel's may differ, but i dont know if they still do that any more.
I've asked that an oasis report be produced when I see the dealer tomorrow. I'd look for another truck however the dealer I bought the F-250 from 2 months ago has only this 04 F-350 available. I have to use this dealer again, because they are the ones that said the F-250 would work properly for the job. I intend to try and hold them to their word and only pay the difference in sale price between the 250 and 350. Anywhere else and they would treat the 250 as a trade-in and it would cost much more.
Either way, when I see the oasis report, what types of things am I looking for that would tell me it was or is a problem truck?
I agree that the 5.4 is too small to pull it, but an f250 shouldnt have a problem handling the weight. Its a 5 wheel setup. My father often pulls upward of 15,000lbs with hes f250, it is a diesel, but its the same frame, brakes, and everything as the original posters truck. And he never has a problem pulling it.
The only difference between a f250 and f350 is that the f250 has a softer more drivable suspension, designed for people who arnt constantly pulling heavy loads. A f350 has stiffer shocks that can handle the load better, but it makes it ride rough. Also the rear axel's may differ, but i dont know if they still do that any more.
I dont know if this helps
Good Luck
the only differance between a 350 and a 250 is the the 350 has a 4" spring block and the 250 has a 2" spring block. the springs are the same, the axles are the same, the brakes, frame, everything is the same.