Truck to tow a boat

[TheHunt]

I am giving my Toyota Tacoma to my son in a few months. 

I am going to pick up a new truck.  It will be a crewcab and 4x4. 

Not sure a F150 or F250...   I like the F150 econoboost MPG... 

I am looking at a boat in the 20 - 23 foot size. 98 to 102 inch beam. 

[huntergreg]

here is something to read. I like the eco boost f-150 myself.


http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/04/consumer-reports-f-150-ecoboost-beats-v8-for-towing-not/

[Hunterman]

Outside of the boat,,what else are you planning on towing?? I like the F250 for all around working truck.

Hunterman(Tony)

[TheHunt]

For now that will be it. I was thinking the same thing as well.  But by the time I pay for a truck and a boat I am pretty much done spending money. 

[RB]

An empty (21-23 ft) boat with just a motor on it is different than when the boat is full of fuel, loaded with all your gear, and your buddies gear. Firm believer that heavier duty is always better when it come to hauling/towing 3/4 ton truck or better 

[bassquatch]

I have had all 3, an F-150, 250 and now a 350, all gas no diesels yet...

I towed my 17.5' aluminum bass boat and motorcycles regularly over the course of 135,000 miles in 5 years with my 1998 F-150 Super Cab 6' bed V-6 2WD and it did great! However it didn't have 4WD and I got stuck at a couple unimproved launch ramps...

I upgraded in 2002 to a new F-250 V10 4WD Super Cab with an 8' bed and LOVED that truck, towed the same boat effortlessly and had room to camp in the bed! I also ended up towing a 3 place horse trailer, an equipment trailer with a backhoe and a 4 place atv trailer fairly regularly over the course of 160,000 miles in 5 years! Lost that in a divorce...

I now have a 2005 F-350 Crew Cab V10 4WD with the 8' bed and canopy, it tows everything!!

If I was to summarize my experiences thus far:

F-150 towed fine and gas was $1.50-$1.80 per gallon.....went through brake pads fairly often and replaced rotors and calipers at 90k...truck was stock the entire time I owned it from new.

F-250 towed wonderfully with the longer wheelbase, gas prices were $1.80-$2.75 per gallon and I had exactly the same experience on brakes...exactly! Truck was lifted with 315 series tires from 30K to 160K miles....mistake.

F-350 towes awesome, LOVE the Crew Cab!! Has 75K miles on right now, was slightly lifted when I bought it and I have changed it back to stock. Gas prices were $3.25, but have climbed to $4.00 per gallon, ouch with a V10! The reason I stayed with a 3/4 or 1 ton was because I intend to get a camper and it is not a daily driver. I am experiencing the same wear on brakes.

If you are NOT looking to add a camper, and the only thing you will be towing is a boat of that size, and you do not regularly camp in the bed of your truck lol, I would absolutely run the F-150 Crew Cab and I would look into upgrading the brake calipers and rotors!! Go for the fuel economy!! Gas prices are not going down, ever, and if we start sh@# with Iran you can expect to see $7 a gallon in the next 3-6 years! I have been contimplating that change myself, but I am addicted to having an 8' bed and a camper has always been a dream of mine!

Great trucks regardless!! My 150 and 250 never needed anything but regular maintenance during the entire time I owned them!! Hope that  helps!

[Bofire]

  If you are going to tow very often, very far or other stuff at times I would go 3/4 ton. If you tow once ot twice a year for 100 miles or less I would look at the 1/2 ton.
Carl

[JohnVH]

this will be your only truck and a daily driver?

I used to have an F150, had an 8.5' camper in the bed and towed river sleds and enclosed trailers with it, heck, even a tractor on a car hauler a few times.  It was a GREAT truck. That said, I went diesel a couple years ago, and love it, better mileage, more power, better resale. Cummins.

[kckrawler]

If I were to do it all over again, I'd have waited until I could afford a 250 instead of buying a 150. It pulls my 17' sled just fine but I can already see myself out growing it's towing capacity...like a nice 36' toy hauler or a heavier boat...if you can swing it, go with the F250 

[Special T]

I'll second the statement that if it is short hauls a few times a year, or lots of really short hauls 20-30 miles or less go with the 150. If you plan on hauling very far very often then the 250. It has been my experience hauling heavy loads with trucks that the more overbuilt the longer they will last. Barkes being the most important factor. the boat you describe is right on the edge of a 150 capability. You won't affect wear or performance if this is not the main use of the truck. If this is your fishing boat and you plan on using it every weekend possable and goan drive very far, well you could still use the 150 but it will wear that bad boy down much faster. 

[Rick]

Its cheaper to buy enough truck the first time,than to realize a year from now you should have bought a bigger truck.

[huntnphool]

 I'd save a little money and buy pre owned, specifically looking for a 2000-2003 F-250/350 with a 7.3L Diesel. 

[TeacherMan]

I'd save a little money and buy pre owned, specifically looking for a 2000-2003 F-250/350 with a 7.3L Diesel. 

Next truck will be 2wd early 2000ish diesel, not my primary driver. Will pay cash for it, chip it and get 28-30mpg on the HWY with it. I hate my jeep payment, looking forward to it being done this summer. I can buy a lot of diesel for $550 a month.

[Woodchuck]

I'd save a little money and buy pre owned, specifically looking for a 2000-2003 F-250/350 with a 7.3L Diesel. 

I would bet a 2wd would be tough to find.

[TheHunt]

I had a 99 F350 diesel and that thing had power.  I plan on towing that boat to the cow, satsup, nooch, lewis, columbia, and throwing a cataraft in the back for some smaller water.  Of course hunting out of it as well.

I like the idea of the bigger truck 20 mpg gas for a daily driver from puyallup to Bellevue four days a week.  Then fishing as many weekends I can.   

[WSU]

So your talking about a sled?  Super-V or something similar?  If so, those boats aren't all that heavy....

[Special T]

The Hunt, It sounds like you need your old truck back! 

[TeacherMan]

Spokane Craigslist yesterday 2001 143k F250 double cab diesel 2wd maroon $10,995. I bet I could get it for 9k cash. My cousin owns a dealership in Spokane. My plans next year are to go to the auction.

I'd save a little money and buy pre owned, specifically looking for a 2000-2003 F-250/350 with a 7.3L Diesel. 

I would bet a 2wd would be tough to find.

[TheHunt]

I require a 4x4 because of the places I go and the weather I drive in. 

[toothfangclaw]

Check this thread out and the ecoboost torture test and see if it peaks your intrest. The f150 ecoboost can tow over 11000 pounds, not tooo bad! http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=95766.0
Thoughts on 2012 F150 w/eco boost

[huntnphool]

One important factor to consider is breaking. Too many people get caught up in how much weight a vehicle can tow and never consider how much breaking it takes to stop when you are being pushed through a intersection by 5000 lbs. Then there are the guys that lift up their rigs to put 20"+ wheels, adding a ton of unsprung weight and never giving upgrading the size of their brake system a second thought.

Bottom line, most any truck, SUV will "tow" your boat, but a Toyota Tacoma will require a lot more breaking distance than a full size Ford, Dodge, GM etc. If safety is at all a concern, I would opt for the full size 250/350 over the 150 just for this reason, all things being equal I mean.

[Woodchuck]

  Well said.

[Rick]

Check this thread out and the ecoboost torture test and see if it peaks your intrest. The f150 ecoboost can tow over 11000 pounds, not tooo bad! http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=95766.0
Thoughts on 2012 F150 w/eco boost

What an F150 is rated to tow,and what it should tow are two different things. My 26' boat weighs about 8500lbs on the trailer. I tow it with a 2500HD Duramax. There is no way I'd consider towing it with an F150 of any kind.

[Special T]

I'd tow it with an 150... @ 25mph for about 5 miles! 

[cohoho]

I agree with Rob, it is really about the braking  aspect..  Braking safely that is at highway speeds..... A FJ can tow - they claim 5,000 lbs, like to see it stop that same 5,000 lbs without either rolling the vehicle or seriously swaying left or right.

[Special T]

You can tow at the max alowable and its not that hard. I've done it many times.. You just have to go slower than everyone else and leave a good buffer. Its always a bad idea to be in a hurry towing any weight.

[TheHunt]

I can add trailer breaks as well and the two package that adds additional springs etc..

I have made my mind up and will go with the 150 ecoboost

[Wanttohuntmore]

I've been towing a 7500lb toy hauler with my tundra, and it easily handles it.  It really impresses my dad who tows with a ram 2500 cummins.  That being said, I'd opt for a 250 or 350 next time around for piece of mind.

[shoot-em-dead]

I can add trailer breaks as well and the two package that adds additional springs etc..

I have made my mind up and will go with the 150 ecoboost

Be sure and give us an update after you get it set up- I'd like to hear another reveiw

[TheHunt]

I now need to build a spread sheet and start calling dealers.  Best price wins..

[jeepster]

Cummins.

nuff said

go dodge or go home.

[hunter105]

Got a 2008 f250 with built in brake controller, works better than ANY aftermarket brake controller.  Regardless of your preference of truck get one with the built in brake controller you will not regret it.  disappointed with my mileage, diesel, better than my 1996 f250 with 460 gas motor but would like more than 12mpg.

[goosegetter79]

This is all you'll need to tow anything

[Skillet]

I now need to build a spread sheet and start calling dealers.  Best price wins..

See if you can score an "X Plan" pricing pin.  That's how I bought my truck back in '07.  You have to make friends with a Ford factory employee (not a dealership employee) and they can give you one of their pins that Ford allows them every year.  It fixes the price of the truck at the "friends and family" price (a tough one to negotiate down to on your own, IMHO), and they cannot charge you the doc fee's or any of those other garbage add-ons.  All other rebates and financing offers still apply.  The only thing to negotiate is the trade value, if there is one.  Not something any dealer wants to see come in the door, so you won't make any friends there... but they still get to make a few bucks on the deal, so it's not like they are losing money by selling you your truck.  They just don't make nearly as much as they would had you not had the X plan pin.

[Curly]

I now need to build a spread sheet and start calling dealers.  Best price wins..

TheHunt, your inbox is full.  I was going to PM you about the price I was quoted by going thru CostcoAuto.com.  The dealer quoted $400 over invoice.  I can give more specifics if you clean out your inbox a little...

[Special T]

And the way to get the best trade in value is to get a quote in writing on the USED side of the lot. Then do a Costco purchase.    I bought a car throught the costco purchase program and it was pretty easy. 

[Curly]

And the way to get the best trade in value is to get a quote in writing on the USED side of the lot. Then do a Costco purchase.    I bought a car throught the costco purchase program and it was pretty easy. 

So, you're saying go to the dealer and ask about trading in your vehicle for a used one and get that trade-in price in writing?

[Special T]

No, what i said is go  look at the used cars and ask them what they would give you for trade in while your are "looking".   Trade in $ is a numbers game, usually higher when buying a used car. If i were to do it  i can think of a Shister dealer that has both a used lot and a new lot. They are next door to each other. I would not tell them anything other than i was looking to get a differnt vehicle for XYZ reason.