Help with potential purchase.

Hey all, I'll keep it as to the point as I can. have a cross country move coming up. 3000 miles each run x 2 or 3 times. Will be towing a 24' 3 axle enclosed cargo trailer. Current tow rig is a 99 F250 CC 4x4 V10. Truck weighs in at 7200lbs. Its a pig on gas and power IMO, and thinking time for a nice Tundra. Probably be a 2nd or maybe a 3rd gen. I assume a 4.6 is a bad idea compared to a 5.7? For those who tow with a 5.7, will a Tundra do the job OK power wise and its general tow capabilities being its a 1/2 ton?. Id guess Tundra mpg will be in the 10mpg range towing 8-9K lbs? Thanks for any opinions before we make a move.

 

I would go 3rd generation. I had a 2nd gen, 5.7. I loved the truck. That engine is the best ever made. Towed everything from a side by side to a boat. The 3rd generation power and gas efficiency makes it a no brainer. My pick would be to find a 2024 with low miles. You will save in the end on gas alone. My last haul in the 2nd gen from Dallas to Houston, 12 miles to the gallon. Same haul in the 3rd generation, 16.5. It adds up. Good luck with the search.

 

Never towed in a 2nd gen but maybe got 12 mpg on the freeway at max so I would think towing would have been brutal

 

I'd keep the current tow vehicle. I think you would be over the weight towing that trailer with the Tundra. You would be doing about 20k miles making that move. Once you make the move sell the Ford and then buy the Tundra. Before you tow on the the new Tundra you have to do like a 500 mile break in. Why put 20k towing miles on a new Tundra.
JMO, good luck with your decision.

 

2.5 gen with the 5.7. I tow a 5000lb 27' travel trailer and I get maybe 8.5-9 mpg towing, granted I do have 35s. I have airbags and weight distribution hitch which is overkill, but it rides better with the load on it than without. It's like driving on a cloud with the bags and towing.

 

Keep that v10 250 for the move. Then and only then grab an unmolested rust free 5.7 Tundra of your liking. Might check Penske for a box truck or even ABF to drop a pup trailer for you to load then they just haul it. Good luck!

 

Triple axle? That makes me think that trailer has too much tongue weight for any Tundra.

The 5.7 is naturally aspirated; it will not feel as effortless towing as a twin turbo V6. That said, power was never the 5.7’s issue. Tundras have low payload. Most 5.7 trucks are in the ~1300 lb range (unless you’re looking at a Platinum…those are down in the 1100s…). To me, Toyota didn’t really move the payload needle very much with the twin turbo trucks.

Will the twin turbo tow better and more comfortably? Yes.
Will the 5.7 tow the same load and probably last longer doing it? Also yes.

 

One can always supercharge or turbo and regear a 5.7 Tundra. If fuel is an issue, CNG is an option too. Plus there is a good selection of aftermarket suspension mods readily available. Just saying that after the move, you might want to revisit this subject and see where it goes.

 

Your opinions are pretty much what I was thinking and sounds pretty logical. I get about 13 empty on the ferd and 8-9 hauling that trailer. I just hope the thing doesn't blast another spark plug out in the middle of BFE. Thanks guys!!!!

 

Wonder if PODS will be cheaper and takes less effort? Gas alone would cost you $6k or more.

 

I was looking at the logistics of this move and wondering the same thing.

To be fair, I’ve justified purchasing a new vehicle in the past because some temporary need dictated it; and it worked out in the long run.

I don’t know if replacing the F250 with a Tundra makes economic sense in this case. OP might be better contracting movers or PODS.

 

I looked into a 40' sea container. 5K buys one but the haul across will kill us and the logistics of picking it up and dropping it off were a nightmare. PODS, Uhaul all were insanely expensive. It all is gonna be pretty costly in the end it seems.

 

The cheapest would be to use your old Ford if you are going to tow yourself.

 

Have you considered a moving sale and donations to reduce the loads?

 

U know it. Every time the wife steps out I load up the trash trailer and away it goes. Next it offloading some furniture. Sold the atv, the jeep is next and still trying to off the horse and goats. The dogs...no way, they come with us.