Towing 10.1K with either Toyota Tundra SR5 OR F150 which is better?

[tacticalturnip]

We're producing the best towing pickups ever, regardless of brand, and we're still having the same arguments that were had 20 years ago.

We ought to all drive 1-ton's.

 

[dduncan]

I've a 10.1K enclosed trailer I plan on towing for years. My 2002 F350 CC dually is getting long, both physically (22.2') and "in the tooth" (seats are aging, needs paintwork, etc.) and SWMBO has signed off getting a new vehicle.
Critical parameters to me (other than a good running truck) are a tighter turning diameter/radius (currently about 60') and tow capacity of 10.1K.
We are partial to Ford (only dealership that is "local") and our eldest recommended looking for a Tundra SR5.
So any recommendations?

Speaking of Toyota Trucks, they now built in Texas. See for yourself: Where Are the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma Pickup Trucks Built?

 

[tradosaurus]

^ A 2014 F150 is steel body, pre aluminum (started in 2015), so it damn sure weighs more than 4700 lbs. probably closer to 6000 depending on cab/bed/4x4 config. And the GVWR is probably just over 7000 lbs, the full 7800 "max payload" package is hard to get with a normal cab/options package.

My 157" wb (crew cab 6.5' bed) 2019 F150 on the other hand, is only ~5200 lbs with the aluminum body/bed. The Ford towing docs say I am rated to 10,700 with my 3.5 Ecoboost and the normal towing package (not max tow). But if you subtract the vehicle weight from the GCVWR, its nearly 11,000 lbs of towing capacity. Plenty for me.

BUT! As many others have mentioned, the most important thing to consider when towing heavy with a 1/2 ton truck, is the available PAYLOAD. If you want 10-12% of your bumper-pull trailer weight on the hitch, that is a majority of available payload for most 1/2 tons. Lots of guys buy a loaded up lariat, platinum, king ranch F150 and then are dissapointed to see they only have 1200-1400 lbs of payload. When being prudent with tongue weight, this means they cannot get anywhere close to full rated towing capacity if the truck is also loaded full of people and gear.

Payload Capacity is calculated by:
GVWR - Curb Weight - Tongue Weight.
For the 2014 F150 3.5L Eco:
8200-4764-400 = 3036 lbs payload capacity.

I assumed a 4000 lb trailer and thus tongue weight of 400 lbs. Heavier trailer = lower payload capacity.

 

[tradosaurus]

After reviewing how to calculate payload capacity and towing capacity it's obvious that truck mfg's give unrealistic numbers and that it's up to the consumer to figure out the real numbers.

Again if I'm towing consistently or heavy I would recommend a 3/4 or 1 ton with a V8. If towing consistently in hilly or mountainous terrain then diesel all the way.

 

[Dukeisok]

No experience with Toyota but f150 will certainly do it. Make sure to get both the Max tow and max payload package as payload is the main issue

 

[thecatsandi]

I've a 10.1K enclosed trailer I plan on towing for years. My 2002 F350 CC dually is getting long, both physically (22.2') and "in the tooth" (seats are aging, needs paintwork, etc.) and SWMBO has signed off getting a new vehicle.
Critical parameters to me (other than a good running truck) are a tighter turning diameter/radius (currently about 60') and tow capacity of 10.1K.
We are partial to Ford (only dealership that is "local") and our eldest recommended looking for a Tundra SR5.
So any recommendations?

YOu are really pushing the limit with a 1/2 ton pickup. If you want to safely tow 10K you need a 3/4 or heavier pickup.

 

[kyryder]

The Toyota is a good solid truck that should stay a good solid truck for a long time to come.

By the way, ignore the made-in-the-USA stuff. Toyota makes the Tunda in Texas.

301 Moved Permanently

Do the profits from the Texas built Toyota stay in the US? That's what I thought!

 

[kyryder]

Comments like this show why I don't take much of this seriously.

Toyota will run better, longer.

And even though the Toyota is assembled in Texas, the profits all go to Japan. Thank you for supporting Japan!

 

[Fields_mj]

I've a 10.1K enclosed trailer I plan on towing for years. My 2002 F350 CC dually is getting long, both physically (22.2') and "in the tooth" (seats are aging, needs paintwork, etc.) and SWMBO has signed off getting a new vehicle.
Critical parameters to me (other than a good running truck) are a tighter turning diameter/radius (currently about 60') and tow capacity of 10.1K.
We are partial to Ford (only dealership that is "local") and our eldest recommended looking for a Tundra SR5.
So any recommendations?

I haven't read all of the responses, and I'm sure this has already been said, but for hauling 10K, you're MUCH better off keeping the truck that you have. I'm assuming that you have the 7.3 psd. If so, they don't build a truck that reliable any more and haven't for well over a decade. If the frame and body are good, then fix what ever needs fixed and keep driving it, even if that means putting a new engine in it.

About 4 years ago my 2000 F350 developed an electrical problem. Turns out it was related to the tuner chip I had in it, so I pulled that and everything has been fine since. While I was trying to troubleshoot the problem, I contacted a ford dealership that I trusted. They (the 2nd generation was running the business at the time) literally grew up with my dad, and I did a fair amount of construction work for several of them (new roofs, remodels, pole buildings, ect) back in the 90s. Dad spent hundreds of thousands of dollars with them over the years, buying trucks for the local school corporation to plow snow and haul mowing equipment to the various properties (rural Indiana). I called up the sales manager, who's house I had roofed in '93 and asked the same question you are asking now. I was kicking around the idea of getting a used 1/2 ton that was newer and "more reliable". He asked me what I pulled. I told him I had a 6K lb travel trailer with load distribution and a heavy duty 6x16 equipment trailer with 5400 lb axles that I've been known to come close to maxing out. His response to me was that, despite what the advertisements say, for most applications ALL 1/2 ton trucks max out at 6,000 lbs of towing capacity. The exception to that is travel trailers because they normally have load distribution but even then it depended on WHERE you were hauling it. With all the right bells and whistles, and just the right configuration, and a reasonable amount of knowledge and experience, some modern 1/2 tons CAN tow up to 11K, but those trucks can't stop worth a crap. As far as reliability goes, his opinion was that even with 250K on the clock, and 20 years of rust on the body and frame, my old F350 was likely going to be more reliable than anything Ford has built since. These are the words of a car salesman who has been selling Ford trucks longer than I've been alive and I turned 48 earlier this year.

Do what you want, but when my truck finally rusts out to the point that I don't feel comfortable putting it on the road, I'll be looking for a late 80's/early 90's frame and body that are in good shape and then I'll have what I want built on that. I'll likely go with a 6BT under the hood since Cummins is still using a lot of those components in new engines today. Goal would be to keep a ZF5 behind it with split gears. My goal would be to minimize the electronics involved.

 

[Allen215]

I have owned 2 Toyota Tundra's when you check out the options that come standard on the Toyota and then add them to the Ford you will find the Toyota is cheaper than the Ford. The comment about the built in America is true, Toyota Tundra is the only truck with the most sourced USA parts. I have towed 12,000 lbs over 400 miles with my Tundra running 70 mph. 10 mpg towing 15 mpg empty. I have the 5.7 V-8. They tell me the 3.5 turbo V-6 will do the same only better mpg empty. I used to be die-heart General Motors till I tried my first Tundra. Reliability is number 1 with me. I am a Master Certified ASE mechanic for over 50 years working in the field.