I own a 07 F350 6.0 ltr and tow quite regularly Spring-Fall. for financial reasons am considering selling my truck and buying an 03 F150 Supercrew. I would be towing up to 6500lbs 2-3 times/week with this truck. I know the guy well who owns the truck and it has been taken care of with only 62K. Overall incl. all avg. expenses I will save close to $ 500.00./month and need to know if this truck can hold up to that much regular towing as it is will be towing close to the max. that it is rated for. It is rated for up to 7700 lbs. Don't want to be going through trannys constantly. Any input would be appreciated!

 

7700 really? Bumper hitches that I've seen that came factory with these trucks usually are only good for up to 5k. Do you know what the difference in mileage is going to be towing that weight versus what you'll get with your 6.0? If you haven't factored that in your equation, you may not actually be seeing that 500 particularly if your hauling 2-3 times a week with that much weight. How far are you going to be going for those trips in miles?

Half-tons are good for hauling things in the bed and for hauling up to 5k on a bumper hitch and while I've seen people put gooseneck hitches on those trucks, I wouldn't advise that at all.

The tranny behind the half-tons are really not a hard towing tranny and I would make sure that you have overdrive locked out any and every time your hauling that much weight and get a tranny temp gauge as well. Not many put those on half-ton trucks but with what your going to be doing with it, I would think it would warranty a gauge.

I wouldn't do it, there are more reasons then what I have mentioned here why I wouldn't do it, but one screw up with the tranny on that half-ton or stressing some part of that truck a little too much and your savings will be burned up in repair work.

 

In the long term the F150 will cost you more in repairs and fuel.

I wore out the wife's Expedition just pulling a 6,000 boat on the weekends.

If you are using it to make money and cannot afford down time for repairs then I would stick with the 6.0L, it may not be worth the savings in the long run.
Just my .02 cents.

 

Good point, if using that truck as a business truck, they should be able to expense some of the costs(rather fuel or repair) as cost of doing business. How much depends on how much NY allows, but that would add a little more savings to the pocketbook.

 

If you don't mind my asking, what exactly is it that your hauling?

 

Thank you all for the input. I love my 350 6.0, and don't want to sell it, but times are a little tough and figured if I had to make sacrifices, I would. Honestly, I figured it would be a bad idea. I have always felt that the diesel was the best to tow with. The longevity is there with the diesel and am really afraid of the tranny not holding up in the 150. the avg. towing ranges and it wouldn't be the only truck, however, i would expect it to tow on avg. 3 days/week and probably not more than 50-75 miles/day total.

My fear was that the repairs would eat into the svgs and it wouldn't be worth it. i still have a powertrain warranty on my truck for another 2.5 yrs. and even a few thousand left on the bumper to bumper, plus I have a moonroof and htd seats and I would miss those in the winter!

Thanks again!

 

I currently tow an enclosed trailer with 2 zero turns and other tools and equip. That is the total 6500lbs.

I tow a lot more with my F350 though. I tow skid steers and mini excavators from time to time and a dump trailer. All of which I already know I wouldn't be towing with an F150. That is where the 2nd truck would come in, 3/4 ton. Just do not want to put all of the work on that and that plows also. Won't use my 350 to plow, because it is a CC and isn't the best for tight areas plowing.

 

Another good reason why not to get rid of the 350. You can delegate "responsibilities" better with the two big boys then you could with the little one and 3/4 ton.

If you actually use these trucks, then trying to go down in size makes no sense really unless your are really up to the ole eyeballs in money issues.

What is entailed in your average(I assume variable) expenses? Fuel, maintance, what else? I can tell you one thing, your already looking at an older gasser(is it the 2v or 3v 5.4, I never could remember the switch date on those?) and this particular gasser doesn't have the stronger components that you really need to be towing hard with and when the crap hits the fan and your traveling on iffy conditions(be it rain, snow, high winds, whatever) it pays to have those beefier parts.

All in all, I think you'll find that the ~500 in savings might look good on paper, but in reality, it may not be all that much once you put it int practive or what you gave up wasn't worth the ~500 in savings.

 

stick with what u got

 

Some years ago I towed a 28 ft RV trailer. Started with a Chevy heavy half tonne and 350 gas motor, auto trans. I didn't like the feel of the trailer shoving the truck around and fuel, it sucked gas like a panzer division.
I went to an f250 1997 with the 7.3 and cut the fuel flow in half, no shoving the truck around and I could keep up on the highway no problem. My self I would tow with diesel.

Hope you are able to sort it all out.

 

I've got to agree with all of the above. The F-150 is a great truck and tows well lightly. The engine in that one is likely the 5.4 2 valve - 260 hp and 350 tq. Good engine but nothing like the 6.0. There are other things to consider in addition to the tranny. The truck is a lot lighter than yours and will not handle the loads as well period. It's not only towing and moving that weight, it's stopping it that becomes an issue as well. Your 350 has much more capable braking, a stronger frame, etc.

I've had F-150s and my 250 and I'll never go back to a half ton again. The F-150 might do fine for a while if you're on flat ground all of the time, but hit the hills with that weight behind you and you'll kick yourself for getting rid of your 350.

 

Thanks for your input. I'm sticking with my F350 and figured I would, but I needed additional input from others as backup due to a few people who thought I should downsize, incl. my husband.

I have had my F350 for almost 2.5 years and I haven't towed weekly with it. I have only towed a couple times this year, but will be starting a little more. Sping - Fall there are weeks I tow 3-4 days/week, but other weeks maybe only one day. I baby this truck and don't work it too hard because I would be devastated if it got a scratch in it! My husband does most of the work with his truck and I use mine when he is on other sites, and/or we need the use of both truck and trailers. He also has a Dodge and gets 5-6 mpg better than me towing or not.

I think the common concensus was that if I down sized, his truck would be doing 90% and my F150 would be more of a back up truck when his was down and only when I absolutely had to tow. Still think it would work out to almost weekly and still was concerned, because I have always believed towing was done best with diesels.

Oh and yes, I was also concerned about stopping and the weight of the truck and it being unstable with a load behind it. I love my tow haul in my 07 and hated the thought of giving that up and installing an aftermarket system. My husband has one in his truck and I can not stand it.

Thanks again for helping me keep my truck!

 

Would you explain that a little bit more, because that might actually be doing more harm to the truck then you realize. Some of the components don't like to be babied depending on how your doing it.

 

When I mean baby it, I just mean it is more my personal use vehicle than business. I tow with it, but not religiously the 3-4 days/week I mentioned. My husband's does all of the work. Some weeks I tow with my truck 4 or 5 days, but there are weeks I do not tow at all with it. During Spring - Fall that is. I only towed with it once this year in January because I had to pull an equipment trailer with skid steer. My truck pulls the heavier weight a little better than my husband's truck. If I really avg. out how much it tows during the busy seasons, it would probably be about twice/week, typically only 6000lbs.

 

This small amount of towing combined with financial stress during mid winter and early Spring months was the only reason any of us really questioned if it was absolutely necessary having an F350.