2015 F150 Eco vs Chevy 2500 opinions gasser only

[C4Ranch]

If the EB gets 5 MPG more than the 3/4 over 10 years and 150,000 miles per his current use, he would save over 2,500 gallons of fuel. That could be $10,000 so forget the resale value of the 3/4.

That's good math. Exactly why I'm struggling with this decision... Longevity of the new technology? 2.9k lbs extra towing capacity? possibly safer towing with more weight and bigger components?

I'm getting a little over 17mpg with my '99 Chevy 5.3L....

 

[C4Ranch]

If the EB gets 5 MPG more than the 3/4 over 10 years and 150,000 miles per his current use, he would save over 2,500 gallons of fuel. That could be $10,000 so forget the resale value of the 3/4.

something not included is that the 3/4 ton is actually cheaper than F150 so factor in time value money of $1k over 10yrs... But then you would also have to dote same with difference in cash outlay on fuel costs for every fill up.... If you wanted to complicate things

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thought about that. Are the towing specs out yet?

I'm hearing 14,000#

Chris

 

[orezok]

something not included is that the 3/4 ton is actually cheaper than F150 so factor in time value money of $1k over 10yrs... But then you would also have to dote same with difference in cash outlay on fuel costs for every fill up.... If you wanted to complicate things

True, but while time value of money remains relatively constant, fuel prices don't. Gas could be $6.00/gal in 5 years, who knows.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I don't see how he will ever get close this that much pin weight. He's saying the trailer he likes is only 4k lbs. worst case I'd say he'd be at 1500 lbs and that is he pulls way past the axles. My 25+5 GN weights 7500 lbs and doesn't have anything near that either

Brett

If he has a 14k trailer then he can have a total weight of 14k behind him. .25*14,000=3500lbs pin weight if you are using the 20-25% rule of thumb.

I would gross 33-35k with my dually and it handled fine. What kind of truck did you have that couldn't handle 12k? I put 9-10k on my 7500 lb trailer behind an f250 and it pulls great.

Brett

I actually had 18,000lbs behind a 2005 dodge ram 3500 SRW with a cummins. (sorry about the misquoted weight, I had to add up all my weights again) 12,800 for the tractor and 5400 for the trailer. I see you live in Texas, that's nice, guess you guys don't have any mountains to try and climb or make it down safely. I had hills that I was climbing at 35mph because the motor ran out of snot 325hp, 600+ftlbs. I had to be pretty careful where I put the machine on the trailer because the tongue weight was so much. There are a ton of stories about guys pushing 40k with a 1 ton dually going across the scales out west. It is a whole different ball game when you start talking some decent grades and stopping rather than driving across the plains.


I never had an accident with my truck, but I was white knuckle driving and that was no fun. I pull the same trailer and same tractor setup behind my international, and its like going for a stroll. I actually shift the tractor forward to get some more pin weight because the truck just eats it up having a 17k rear axle.

 

[rustyshakelford]

If he has a 14k trailer then he can have a total weight of 14k behind him. .25*14,000=3500lbs pin weight if you are using the 20-25% rule of thumb.

I don't use that formula. If I did and hauled a 20k lbs Dozer on my 7500 lb trailer, I'd have a hitch weight over 5k. That's what your international would like but a 3500 dually would get worn out quick. My GN is 20k, if I put 2500 on my truck that puts me over by 5k. I'm ok with that for where I drive.

If I actually had 18,000lbs behind a 2005 dodge ram 3500 SRW with a cummins. (sorry about the misquoted weight, I had to add up all my weights again) 12,800 for the tractor and 5400 for the trailer. I see you live in Texas, that's nice, guess you guys don't have any mountains to try and climb or make it down safely. I had hills that I was climbing at 35mph because the motor ran out of snot 325hp, 600+ftlbs. I had to be pretty careful where I put the machine on the trailer because the tongue weight was so much. There are a ton of stories about guys pushing 40k with a 1 ton dually going across the scales out west. It is a whole different ball game when you start talking some decent grades and stopping rather than driving across the plains. I never had an accident with my truck, but I was white knuckle driving and that was no fun. I pull the same trailer and same tractor setup behind my international, and its like going for a stroll. I actually shift the tractor forward to get some more pin weight because the truck just eats it up having a 17k rear axle.

You are completely right on our different locations. I'd be hard pressed to pull what I do if we had hills. It's pretty flat down here and might get up to 400' above sea level. We took our 17k lb camper to silverton a few years ago and those passes made me nervous. Had a dodge dually at the time and the exhaust brake was needed and it would only want to pull 35-40. At home on the highway I can run 65-70 all day long at 33k. Again different terrain makes a huge difference. As for loading the trailer, I don't know why anyone would want so much on the truck. I like letting the trailer carry the load and put enough in the pin that it rides nice. Guess it's different strokes for different folks Brett

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I don't use that formula. If I did and hauled a 20k lbs Dozer on my 7500 lb trailer, I'd have a hitch weight over 5k. That's what your international would like but a 3500 dually would get worn out quick. My GN is 20k, if I put 2500 on my truck that puts me over by 5k. I'm ok with that for where I drive. You are completely right on our different locations. I'd be hard pressed to pull what I do if we had hills. It's pretty flat down here and might get up to 400' above sea level. We took our 17k lb camper to silverton a few years ago and those passes made me nervous. Had a dodge dually at the time and the exhaust brake was needed and it would only want to pull 35-40. At home on the highway I can run 65-70 all day long at 33k. Again different terrain makes a huge difference. As for loading the trailer, I don't know why anyone would want so much on the truck. I like letting the trailer carry the load and put enough in the pin that it rides nice. Guess it's different strokes for different folks Brett

Its not whether you want to use the formula or not. That's how a GN is setup to be pulled. 20%-25% should be pin weight. More of the weight should be on the towing vehicles axle. Having the correct weight distributions makes the whole unit function correctly. That weight translates into braking ability for the towing vehicle's rear axle. Right now, if you put all the weight over the axles of the trailer, it may ride like a dream, but you are asking for trouble in a panic stop. That trailer will push the rear end of the truck where it wants unless you are perfectly straight. If you get into a little curve, the rear tires of the truck do not have enough friction to counteract the trailer pushing them if they do not have enough weight. IF you want to assume your brakes are perfectly adjusted and function correctly 100% of the time then by all means, but I don't think that happens much in the world.

Thank you for commenting on the locations. It really does make a huge difference and why I don't like pushing a vehicle right to its stated capacity.


I'm really not trying to be a pain in the butt Brett, just trying to point out something that may not have been considered before.

 

[rustyshakelford]

If I used the dozer example from earlier with 5k pin weight, it would take a bunch of weight off my front end that does a large percentage of braking. To me that would be a bad situation. This was more pin weight than I liked. Had a heavy piece of concrete and my 1k box blade towards the neck. I need to run by the scales more often to check out axle weights. Got me curious what they really are



This weights about 18k. Added sweeps, screens and rake. 20k



This was a bad idea. Yes, I've had a few. Buddies truck went down. Needed to get wood off trailer. No trailer brakes. Think this was 2007. Weight ticket said the hardwood was 26,000 lbs. gross was 43k. The type of load where the weight police are justified and buses full of nuns should be genuinely scared. Air bags were 80 psi.



This is how I usually run around. Minus the BB and tractor pulled back to where the mx7 rests against the ramp support.



Brett

 

[TheGoose]

EB: I'm impressed with the horsepower, not impressed with the fuel mileage. I avg. 15-16 in a mostly small town rural environment. 18-19 on a decent road trip at interstate speeds. I'm not sure why you are comparing a 3/4 ton to a 1/2 ton. Why not go back with a 1/2 ton if that is what served you well?

 

[C4Ranch]

I'm on the bubble for towing needs between 1/2 and. 3/4.

The new fangled stuff is intreauging looks like it can do it on paper but I wonder about longevity. Surprised that a 3/4 is actually cheaper than F150 (with all the options). EB has best tow capacity in 1/2 ton I believe. Then I wonder how much more truck is a 3/4 vs 1/2 (components, oil cooler, suspension, etc). Then safety creeps in. Are GN's safer? The 3/4 ton has 6k+ payload.
Having the capability to pull 14k and able to haul my junk would hey be nice.