F150 Heavy Duty Pkg?

[mikerat]

I am ordering a new 2021 F150 to replace mine.
Currently I have a 2019 F150 XLT with Max tow pkg and Heavy duty pkg
GVWR 7850#
Payload 2550#
My trailer is a 2019 Sunset Trail 253RB
Rated at 7510# Max w/ cargo
*Trailer loaded is usually 6600-7200#'s loaded
*Truck is usually 7200-7500#'s connected to loaded trailer

I would like to get out of the Heavy Duty pkg as it really limits the trim options on the F150 (Black door handles etc..) Would like to get color matched or chrome...

Question is if I go this route then the GVWR drops to 7000# (Based on 2020 models as I'm not sure what the 2021's will be yet) which would put me over on the truck GVWR. The truck would just lose one spring from not getting the heavy duty pkg and I could add that after.
I realize the "rated" capability would show me over but would I really notice anything towing / handling wise?

[travelin texans]

Check the door yellow/white tag for the payload of the new truck, not from brochures or websites, each truck is different depending on equipped options, typically more options = less payload.
Your rv will have a tongue weight of 950-1000lbs which will come off that trucks payload along with 100-125lbs for WDH & the weight of everyone/everything in/on the truck that didn't come from the factory.
If the newer truck has close to the same payload as your current truck you should be good til you upgrade to larger TT or 5th wheel.

[mikerat]

The payload and GVWR I listed are from the door sticker

[mark5w]

This Motor Trend article has all info on towing for 2021 F150

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021...payload-power/

[Lloyd]

That was an interesting article Mark.
Has anybody seen a 2021 half ton from any of the big yet?

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by mikerat

The payload and GVWR I listed are from the door sticker

Of the 2019 or the 2021?
I read that it was the '19 you currently have.

[markandkim]

I didn't think 150 and heavy duty could go together.

Why not a 250?

No ? about payload then.

[travelin texans]

That article list a F150 with a payload over 3k, but good luck finding THAT F150 on any lot. It's a single cab 8' bed 2 wheel drive V8 with the heavy duty tow package. When was the last time you saw any dealer that had a long bed single cab sitting out front, if it had the HD package it had to be special ordered, most likely will have rubber floor mats, manual transmission, crank up windows, if they one at all it was likely going to an oilfield or construction company, not the truck 99.9% of rvers would buy.

[Lloyd]

It's possible in today's world to order just about anything you want.
Buying off the lot is no longer necessary.

[mikerat]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Of the 2019 or the 2021?
I read that it was the '19 you currently have.

I misread your post. I was referring to the sticker on my current truck (2019) I'm just ordering the new one now so don't have any actual numbers.
In the end I decided not to mess with it and to order the HDPP again as I know it works well with what I have.

[dagst1]

Maybe this will shed some light on max payload and max tow.https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/09/...ayload-torque/

[travelin texans]

All the truck manufacturers would be doing the rv world a huge favor if they would quit publicizing the max tow weights, all this does is make finding a adequate tow vehicle for rv use even more confusing to 1st timers.
Also rv manufacturers should quit publishing "dry rv weights", this means ABSOLUTELY nothing to any rv user. Also drop the "1/2 to towable" sales gimmick as well, most of those RVs are beyond the pin/hitch weight of 1/2 trucks.
The newbie has a 1/2 truck that's rated at XXXXXlbs tow weight & the dry weight of that rv is XXXXlbs so their good to go, WRONG! Typically that truck with that ridiculous tow weight (you won't find at a dealer & wouldn't want if you did) won't have the payload to "carry" the weight of a rv weighing that much. A Ranger, Canyon or Colorado could "tow" that much, the difference is they aren't built, designed or equipped to "carry" that much weight & neither are most 1/2 ton trucks.
To arrive at these gigantic tow weights the manufacturers testing is with low profile trailers loaded with blocks directly over the axles which in NO WAY compares to towing RVs that the load can't be shifted around with the aerodynamics similar to one of the blocks on their test trailer.
It's just a "mines bigger" game between the truck manufacturers & a sales gimmick for the truck/rv salespeople to get folks into trouble towing beyond the ability of their equipment.

[dagst1]

The link in my post was to show the equipment that each package comes with.

Just my opinion: most buyers already have a certain model/floor-plan in mind when the hit the sales office. The last thing a sales person will do is try to sell them something smaller or tell them that they do not have a big enough tow vehicle for that camper. If they do then the costumer will just go down the road to the next dealer. And with the cost of trucks most simply can not afford a new truck just to pull there camper.

3/4 and 1 ton trucks ride like - well a truck where as 1/2 ton trucks ride like a car so people are reluctant to invest in a heavy truck that they do not like to drive everyday because of the ride.

Its all supply and demand. The dealers supply what the buyers demand.

As stated above this is just my opinion.

[markandkim]

1/2 tons are for bass boats, lawn tractors and snowmobiles.

Once you go HD, you never go back.

I ordered mine just the way I wanted it. Easily done these days.

You will never find what you want on the lot. Trust me.

Also, the texan made some very good points.

[660catman]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

All the truck manufacturers would be doing the rv world a huge favor if they would quit publicizing the max tow weights, all this does is make finding a adequate tow vehicle for rv use even more confusing to 1st timers.
Also rv manufacturers should quit publishing "dry rv weights", this means ABSOLUTELY nothing to any rv user. Also drop the "1/2 to towable" sales gimmick as well, most of those RVs are beyond the pin/hitch weight of 1/2 trucks.
The newbie has a 1/2 truck that's rated at XXXXXlbs tow weight & the dry weight of that rv is XXXXlbs so their good to go, WRONG! Typically that truck with that ridiculous tow weight (you won't find at a dealer & wouldn't want if you did) won't have the payload to "carry" the weight of a rv weighing that much. A Ranger, Canyon or Colorado could "tow" that much, the difference is they aren't built, designed or equipped to "carry" that much weight & neither are most 1/2 ton trucks.
To arrive at these gigantic tow weights the manufacturers testing is with low profile trailers loaded with blocks directly over the axles which in NO WAY compares to towing RVs that the load can't be shifted around with the aerodynamics similar to one of the blocks on their test trailer.
It's just a "mines bigger" game between the truck manufacturers & a sales gimmick for the truck/rv salespeople to get folks into trouble towing beyond the ability of their equipment.

So true ^^^^^
My 13 Silverado 1500 is rated for 9500 lbs. However, load truck to max GVW at 7000 lbs which doesn’t take much, I can haul only 8000 lbs due to GCVWR of 15000 lbs.
So in my mind the true tow capacity is
GCVWR - GVW = tow capacity. This of course is still with balanced weight in truck and not overloading rear axle.

[mark5w]

IMHO many are ignorant of the capabilities of what a 1/2 ton (an outdated rating) can tow. Here's a good article from Trailer Life.

https://www.trailerlife.com/towing/t...ct-or-fiction/

Now I know many still doubt what the article says, but that's your individual choice.

[660catman]

What some people will forget is all the accessories added to the truck after. Trucks payload numbers are based on what it weighs with factory options. Add a bed liner, HD rubber mudflaps, running boards and heavier LT rated tires and before you know it, you’ve added 200 lbs to the truck.
Never mind the weight of a truck cap!

[markandkim]

Originally Posted by mark5w

IMHO many are ignorant of the capabilities of what a 1/2 ton (an outdated rating) can tow. Here's a good article from Trailer Life.

https://www.trailerlife.com/towing/t...ct-or-fiction/

Now I know many still doubt what the article says, but that's your individual choice.

There is no such thing as a 1/2 ton towable 5th wheel. No way.

[dagst1]

The camper before the one i have now was a 28' 5th wheel with 1 slide and i pulled it with a 1/2 ton GMC sierra extended cab short bed. It pulled it just fine but the 3/4 i have now did a better job. Bigger motor, bigger brakes, lower gear ratio but it rides like a truck. A 1/2 ton truck is more than capable of pulling the CORRECT camper when PROPERLY equipped. Our current camper is 32' with 3 slides. The brochure said you could tow it with a 1/2 truck but COMMON SENSE will tell you with a advertised pin weight of 1700# empty it is not. My truck/trailer weighs average 17890# combined. The pin weight loaded is around 2300# average.

There are such things as 1/2 ton tow able 5th wheels with a PROPERLY EQUIPPED TRUCK. Our first 5th wheel was a 18' single axle Wilderness.

[Lloyd]

[QUOTE=mark5w;145589]IMHO many are ignorant of the capabilities of what a 1/2 ton (an outdated rating) can tow.



I already hear some echoes in the background Mark.