3/4 Ton Truck

I like the look of those trucks but it seems like there's something off about that render.

 

I know you already bought a truck, but you have have to have a virtually zero option XLT to be over 1900 lbs of payload. Forget tailgate steps, moon roofs or running board. 2000 lbs is XL territory.

Yeah the 2015+ F150's do seem to have more issue, however, they are not sprung lighter than the older steel body trucks assuming the same options. They have the same axle weight ratings and same spring rates, at least in the rear. A 2018+ max tow is a 4050 lb RAWR and matches the spring rate of my 2014 max tow RAWR even though my 2014 is probably 700 lbs heavier.

I don't know what it is that makes them less stable though. I can hook up my 24', 5500 lb travel trailer to my 2011 Lexus GX that weighs the same as a current F150 crew cab, but has an almost 40" shorter wheelbase, and it handles it fine. I've taken it through some fairly nasty cross winds on I-80 in WY and it was solid.

 

Sounds perfect...it's too bad Mike Sweers and the bean counters at Toyota either can't or won't see it. They would rather have you in a Capstone than build a truck with true capability. I think the Tundra is a great 1500 truck and it's too bad they don't have an increased payload package or offer an HD option but it is what it is. Instead of trying to shoehorn the Tundra into something that it's not I've decided to go with a Ram HD. I need the increased payload and knowing that I'll be safely within GVWR is important to me.

 

I do think their are limits to where the GTDI's make sense and some where they don't. HD, constant load use, does not seem to be one of them. Although I do think that Toyota's attempt, with its massive cooling system, would do pretty well.

My mother-in-law has a E450 Class C motorhome with the new 7.3L Godzilla in it. It's detuned from the superduty, and only has a 6 speed instead of the 10 speed. I have driven it 500+ miles around Wyoming and I can tell you, that thing is no joke. Even at 7000' of elevation where its down 20% power and torque, it still feels very strong, basically like my Ecoboost. And she ALWAYS gets 10+ MPG moving that 14000 lb beast around. I almost never get 10mpg in my F150 towing a 5500 lb TT with a much lower profile. Conditions have to be perfect for me to see 10.

I think something like Ford's heavy duty payload package would be a better bet. Something that's still based on the 1/2 ton tundra, that rides well and gets good MPG, but maybe has a beefed up frame and axle. Honestly, they could already kinda make that by just using the iForce Max GVWR's on the regular i-force trucks. 7780 lbs GVWR on a SR or SR5 would result in a pretty decent payload since they only seem to be 7200-7300 now. They have the hardware, they are just fudging the numbers.

My current 2014 F150 has a 7700 lb GVWR but it weighs 6140 lbs empty with a full tank, so payload is only 1560. If my truck was 500-700 lbs lighter it would have a pretty stout payload. And it sounds like that is what the 3rd Gen Tundra is. steel body F150 running gear with a lighter weight body.

 

Not sure exactly which packages can get the heavy towing package but you can get up into the 3000 lb payload range with F150's. A typical XL and XLT will be at the 2000 lb but you add the heavy duty package and the GVWR goes up quite a bit

 

Yes if you special order a 2x4 RCLB with HDPP you can get 3000+ lbs.

A typical crew cab XLT 4x4 with HDPP has 2500lbs or less from the stickers I have seen. 2650 is the max. 157" crew cabs get 7150 lb GVWR without HDPP, HDPP is 7850, but with the added weight of the beefier axle, frame and springs, etc they only net about 500 lbs of added payload.

Non-HDPP trucks will only hit 2k if they are an XL with minimal options. Most of the XLT's I see are in the 1600-1800 lb range.

 

That’s is why I bought a f250 xl yesterday with enough payload for any travel trailer I will use

 

I briefly toyed with the idea of buying a tow monster like this and a big trailer and making the wife bring the kids in her Corolla when we go camping.

 

Yikes...$67k with all those miles.

SPP

 

At least it's CAD... But yeah, I could buy a new gas 3500 for about that price.

 

But its a manual so its 10x more awesome

 

Those of you that have Chevy/GMC 6.6 Gassers how are they holding up? Any Issues?

 

Pretty good on my end. For the gassers that are in our group, I would say I am probably the hardest on the truck. Although, @Rockanock is definitely catching up to me with his 2500. Like @ColoradoTJ said I did have a hard shift issue from 1st to 2nd on inclines at low speed. GM replaced the valve body no questions asked and no issues since.

I have 40K miles in 1 yr and 3 months. I would say 40% of those miles I am towing heavy >12k Lbs. Truck has been a work horse. It's still not diesel comparable, but a strong gas option. I do really like this truck. And for reference I am getting 14.1MPG over the 40k miles with 34" Falken's

 

That is good to hear and I like GM's customer service they are better than others out there and glad they took care of that issue you had. Thanks for the response from what I heard they have been very solid and glad to hear from someone who tows with it to confirm how solid it is. 14 mpgs is not bad with those tires at all. What would you say your towing mpg was?

 

Towing MPG seems to always be 8-8.5. It's weird, if I tow our light boat I get 8.5. If I tow my tractor and trailer ~12K I get 8. I live in upstate ny with rolling hills and a lot of the towing I do is backroads.

If you do get this truck, I would suggest the 1ton and don't get Falken tires. My payload is just shy for 4300lbs.

 

They are amazing tires. Not trying to sound like the normal Falken fanboy, but they are a great tire. Grip is fantastic, price was on point, and the looks of them truly make the truck. I would like just a slightly lighter setup. Each tire is 61lbs compared to the 52lbs stock Michelin's. Sometimes you can feel it when towing. But I have about 30-40k more miles to go on these bad boys so they could change my mind

 

53lbs in similar size. I think with your diesel with the tuner you will be fine. MPG isn't really an issue either. I was getting 15.1 on stock and now 14.1 with the larger heavier tire. I think if GM put a 4.10 in the truck it wouldn't be an issue with the gasser.

If I had the diesel I would get this tire every time.

 

8-8.5 on backroads is not bad at all probably be around 10 if it was mostly Interstate like I do. I only need about 2k payload and around 8k capacity for towing due to recent changes. The 2500 is more than enough to handle what I need and I built the custom trim for a Chevy 2500 with what I wanted/needed with power lumbar driver seat for my bad back and leg and it came to 49-50k and it included all the towing goodies minus the gooseneck and fifth wheel I don't need that. You mentioned 3500 is the price difference not that much more? My wife would want to know if the unloaded ride quality is much different she worries about my back lol. I personally want it to handle my towing and hauling needs first.

 

Agreed having a tire that performs well in all situations is reassuring. People rave about the Toyo's. I landed on falkens because of the price. I think installed I got them for $303/ea. I think comparable Toyo's or Nitto's were $425+ Prices might have changed now. That was in Feb when tires soared

 

Difference between 2500 and 3500 was $850 after incentives. I think normally it is $1500. The ride quality is essentially identical. The only difference in the rear of the truck is the overload springs and a reinforced axle pumpkin. The independent front suspension is so smooth compared to other HD's. If you were snowplowing I would tell you to get a Ford or Ram. But the truck ride is more stiff than the tundra, but you don't get the bed hop like the tundra. It's hard to explain, you feel more of the bumps and holes than a half ton but it doesn't jerk you around like older HD's. If that makes sense.

I daily drive my truck anywhere from 50-100miles. Even if my towing needs changed I don't think I will ever go back to a half ton. The stability when towing is night and day. People that say there isn't a big difference are just wrong. I did a write up in our group chat where I compared the exact same trailer with my 2019 Tundra and my 2021 GMC 3500. It wasn't a close comparison

 

Oh wow the Falken's spiked! Yeah in that case you can almost flip a coin

 

Thanks for letting me know. I will definitely look into it when the time comes to purchase my Chevy HD. I currently have access to a Ram 2500 that a family friend lets me use to tow things cause I sold my Tundra and it rides similarly as you described with your truck and that isn't an issue as long as lumbar seating is there. I recently drove a 2500 Chevy though and it rode good and felt very solid good to know the 3500 is very similar. I also 100% agree the 2500s have great stability towing compared to the Tundra. Not saying mine was bad when I had it because it was an awesome truck and I put it above the other half tons but the 2500s are just night and day more stable so you get 100% agreement out of me on that too.

 

These are beasts in the snow. I had to plow through 2’ of snow on my property last winter to help the Amish guy. I think I told you how the tires chewed right through it

 

Exactly not saying half tons are bad at towing. But HDs are designed to tow. It’s like varsity and JV levels. Both can play the sport, varsity is just better