Let's see your Tow rigs with your boat!

[MnLakeBum]

I use my wife’s diesel Range Rover for towing but we normally tow just once in the spring and once in the fall less than 10 miles back and forth to winter storage. The engine is a Ford Lion 3.0 diesel that was offered on their F150 until a couple of years ago. It’s certainly not a conventional tow vehicle but my wife didn’t want me buying a full size truck as my daily driver is a full size Bronco that doubles as a hunting/off road vehicle. The Rover has a tow mode that includes trailer sway assist and a self leveling air suspension. The longest trip I’ve done with it was towing our 24’ Boston Whaler the 1900 miles back from Florida to Minnesota last spring and we had zero issues other than having to stop early one day because of a massive snow/ice storm.

It’s funny how different angles and zoom/telephoto will distort perspective when taking photos with the iPhone.

[MisterMR]

In the short time that I've had this combo, I've been impressed by how well the F-150 with 3.6L EcoBoost handles the 7,500+ lbs.

Having said that, I am considering adding a RoadActive Suspension kit for the additional confidence.

PXL_20240624_025546998.jpg

[Tuscany]

Small SUVs may generate enough power to go from point A, and get the boat to point B.
Engine torque isn't at the top of my list, it's brake power in an emergency stop. So SUVs, do not underestimate the need to no run up on the vehicle in front of you because you don't have the brakes of a HD truck.

[bruceb58]

In the short time that I've had this combo, I've been impressed by how well the F-150 with 3.6L EcoBoost handles the 7,500+ lbs.

Having said that, I am considering adding a RoadActive Suspension kit for the additional confidence.

PXL_20240624_025546998.jpg

What's your tongue weight? With my R5, it was 600# with boat empty, which is over the 500# rating of the hitch so I ended up using a WDH.

[jhnmdahl]

I use my wife’s diesel Range Rover for towing but we normally tow just once in the spring and once in the fall less than 10 miles back and forth to winter storage. The engine is a Ford Lion 3.0 diesel that was offered on their F150 until a couple of years ago. It’s certainly not a conventional tow vehicle ...

When we were looking, it was pretty clear that a few SUVs like the Range Rover and a Touareg are built to tow and could tow right with the half-ton trucks. Our 3L diesel Touareg is now unfortunately discontinued, but still pulls the boat well and does ok with the RV now that we've added a brake controller to the factory wiring harness. Next vehicle may be a truck, simply because SUVs tend to be declining instead of increasing in tow capability, and the RV is a fair bit heavier than the boat. Ram makes a nice inline 6 diesel in the 2500....

[MnLakeBum]

I use my wife’s diesel Range Rover for towing but we normally tow just once in the spring and once in the fall less than 10 miles back and forth to winter storage. The engine is a Ford Lion 3.0 diesel that was offered on their F150 until a couple of years ago. It’s certainly not a conventional tow vehicle ...

When we were looking, it was pretty clear that a few SUVs like the Range Rover and a Touareg are built to tow and could tow right with the half-ton trucks. Our 3L diesel Touareg is now unfortunately discontinued, but still pulls the boat well and does ok with the RV now that we've added a brake controller to the factory wiring harness. Next vehicle may be a truck, simply because SUVs tend to be declining instead of increasing in tow capability, and the RV is a fair bit heavier than the boat. Ram makes a nice inline 6 diesel in the 2500....

My buddy has owned Chevy trucks for decades but bought the Ram 2500 diesel last year and loves it as his tow vehicle. It’s amazing how much luxury and comfort the new trucks offer and in his eyes, the Ram was a better value than anything from Ford or Chevy.

[Tuscany]

Ram trucks are always cheaper to buy, and for good reason. No one wants them simply because they can’t hold a quality candle to a GM/Super Duty, or compete with the 1,200 torque Ford Powerstroke.. Then to finish it off, their resale is consistently in the toilet.
There are huge backlogs of Ram trucks on the lots..approximately a 250 day supply, while Ford orders are still taking 4-6 months to delivery.

[jhnmdahl]

Man, it must be different in the Midwest. Ram pickups are generally seen as more reliable than Chevy/GM vehicles, and as a step up from Ford. The hold their value well enough that finding a good 3-5 year old Ram at any substantial discount to new pricing is difficult, so they continue to sell a lot of new trucks. A Ram 2500 Laramie with the I6 diesel starts at about $75k with no options, and a used one is basically nonexistent - people keep them or sell them for maybe $10-15k discount after 305 years.

Edit - It's not the Midwest. New York's own Consumer Reports generally agrees, ranking the Ram with 71 points, the F150 with 64, and the GMC Sierra with 56 (with the F150 and Sierra sharing a "poor" reliability rating and Ram 1500 being "average").

[bruceb58]

All 3 domestic brands have their issues. The Ford F-150 I had has potential transmission issues and cam phaser problems although they have fixed those by 2023 model.

I picked the GMC for my 3/4T replacement for my Ford because both the RAM and the Ford have solid front axles. After owning a solid front axle truck in the early 90's I swore I would never buy one of those again.

You definitely don't want to buy one of the new Tundras until they fix what is eating up the main bearings in the new V6 engines. They also have horrible payloads.

[jhnmdahl]

Bruce, I remember a friend's F150 (which was for decades the most common truck around here) that had to have serious engine work done because that particular engine had a problem with breaking spark plugs off when you tried to remove them. It seems like whatever brand or model you pick, there's always something that is a "known problem." Toyota tries to systemically avoid this by advancing technology slowly and incrementally building on proven systems, but it obviously isn't working great with their truck line.

I wish someone made a not-so-fancy half ton that wasn't ungodly large, with a good diesel engine that can tow an RV or trailer well (10,000 lbs?). The Cummins I-6 seems like a decent enough engine, but you have to move to the 2500 to get it and spend $70k+ not to get cloth seats. Unfortunately my idea of "make a more capable but less profitable truck" isn't a business model likely to be adopted soon...

[bruceb58]

Yeo..those 5.4L engines had issues with spark plus. Of course all you have to do is replace them more often. I had a 2004 F-150 and just made sure I replaced them at 40K mile intervals and there was no issue.

personally, I would never buy a diesel engine with today's emission equipment. That's why I bought a gas engine for my 3/4T GMC.

My travel trailer is 6500#. Even that put me over my payload on my 1/2T. I would never tow a travel trailer over 7K with a 1/2T

[Tuscany]

Bruce, I own both a Ford Super Duty and a GMC 2500HD.
The IFS sounds good, feels good for a very short time. As with all archaic torsion bar suspensions, age is not their friend. they get very stiff over time. My 2500 now rides like a dump truck. Yes it’s a lighter gas engine which is a disadvantage, but IMO, I’ll take Ford’s long coil front suspension any day.


https://tfltruck.com/2024/07/ford-f-ser ... es-report/

[bruceb58]

Bruce, I own both a Ford Super Duty and a GMC 2500HD.
The IFS sounds good, feels good for a very short time. As with all archaic torsion bar suspensions, age is not their friend. they get very stiff over time. My 2500 now rides like a dump truck. Yes it’s a lighter gas engine which is a disadvantage, but IMO, I’ll take Ford’s long coil front suspension any day.


https://tfltruck.com/2024/07/ford-f-ser ... es-report/

Kinda curious why a torsion bar suspension would get stiffer. It's just a steel bar.

I sure like how my new truck rides! And yes, I test drove the F250.

Looks like the Ford is a long bed?

[Tuscany]

As the steel torsion bar twists and turns millions of times, it will stiffen. Kenworth used to offer a torsion bar rear suspension in the 80s. Rode great to begin with, then... Seems the same with the GM.
The live front axle makes one think that left affects the right, which it may somewhat, but the suspension is now super smooth with long coils to where the crossover is irrelevant. Ford also uses a 6 foot long leaf spring in the rear which is key, and offers a great ride, especially on the highway. Incredible while towing.

Also, with that suspension, keep an eye on those CV boots also.

The Ford is a short box.

[Tuscany]

personally, I would never buy a diesel engine with today's emission equipment. That's why I bought a gas engine for my 3/4T GMC.

Today’s diesels?
Why waste a good truck on a gas engine? It’s like putt(ng a four banger in a Shelby Mustang.
You don’t know what you are missing. I’ll never own a gasser again unless it’s for snow plowing when a cheap truck will do.
You seriously must experience the shear passing power at interstate speed. My truck feels like it weighs 500 lbs, and it will take a V-8 sports car to out muscle a modern diesel at 70 mph+.
Go test drive a 6.7L Powerstroke HO. 1,200 lbs of torque at 1,650 RPM, and 22-24 mpg.
Towing is a joke. The max torque sweet spot is a cruising speed 1,650 RPM instead of a gassers high spinning4,500 RPM. Again, it’ll take something very special to hang with its effortless towing acceleration.

So what has changed in todays diesels?
Emissions equipment was a serious issue back between 2008 and 2010 when the only treatment solution was 100% in cylinder engine killing EGR. Failures, horror stories ofEGR valve annd manifold gunned up, and breakdowns all true unless the owner was well read and spent about $3,500 by deleted the EGR/DPF combo. My deleted 2008 6.4L Navistar/Ford F-350 dynoed at 1,158 rear wheel torque with a KEM tuner and 5” turbo back…and 22 mpg, up from 10.
Today, all of that crap is in the past. EGR has been reduced for needed cylinder cooling, and the main solution to eliminate Nox is after treatment SCR technology which is worlds apart from the past.