I wonder why? I have an '08 F-150, 5.4L. 3.55's, 4x4, xtracab and it tows just fine. I don't think I've towed more than max spec and it seemed to have enough power. 10-11 MPG while towing but, that didn't suprise me at all. I definitely don't try for high speed or quick starts off the line, just need the power to merge and keep with traffic, which it does OK.
F250 superduty
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crashz
Veteran Member
I'm not sure about the newest 1/2tons, but I'll tell you that power in my 2004 GMC 1500 with 5.3L, auto, and 3.73 gears is not a problem. It pulls very well. Pushes snow like a bear!
But hook 5000lbs to it and the engine is not your worry. The brakes absolutely suck when they are their best. The light chassis give you a tail wagging the dog feeling. My trailer with tractor (5000lbs at most) seems to push the truck through corners and down hills. The only way to stop it is to activate the trailer brakes. I made the mistake of hauling an enclosed trailer full of hand tools one day (GTWR of approx 3000lbs) without brakes. It was a harrowing experience. Both trailer and truck swayed and rolled this way and that.
So in my mind, the new engines will all do an acceptable job of applying the power. But for loads of 5000 lbs or more, I think the heavier truck chassis is needed. Maybe the Ford and dodge 1/2 tons are heavier. but my next truck will be a gasser, V8, 3/4 or 1 ton truck.
But hook 5000lbs to it and the engine is not your worry. The brakes absolutely suck when they are their best. The light chassis give you a tail wagging the dog feeling. My trailer with tractor (5000lbs at most) seems to push the truck through corners and down hills. The only way to stop it is to activate the trailer brakes. I made the mistake of hauling an enclosed trailer full of hand tools one day (GTWR of approx 3000lbs) without brakes. It was a harrowing experience. Both trailer and truck swayed and rolled this way and that.
So in my mind, the new engines will all do an acceptable job of applying the power. But for loads of 5000 lbs or more, I think the heavier truck chassis is needed. Maybe the Ford and dodge 1/2 tons are heavier. but my next truck will be a gasser, V8, 3/4 or 1 ton truck.
I had a 2000 1500 with the 5.3 and tow package. It probably towed 15,000 miles with a 23.5' cuddy cruiser or a 10k trailer with tractor behind. Both trailers had (and have) excellent brakes. In fact, the boat trailer with surge brakes allowed the truck to stop FASTER than the bare truck alone. Proper weight balance of the load with 10% tongue weight and there was never any tail wagging my dog. However.... the weak as a 3 times used tea bag rear suspension did allow the back to pogo-stick around when going over rough roads. Going to a 2500 solved that issue.
AND.... I agree completely that with the current costs of purchasing a diesel / auto tranny being around 10-11,000 premium and the price of diesel going up and the total dog dropping quality of the DPF's, Urea injection and whatnot emissions controls --> I would not buy a new diesel truck. The 30% better fuel economy loaded does not compute financially with the 10-30% higher fuel cost, higher maintenance costs, winter fuel issues and initial purchase price. (Even though I really do like the current diesel engine!!)
Then again, with the current crop of politicians, my next vehicle may have 2 wheels and a basket between the handle bars...
jb
RollingsFarms
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i'm glad i'm not alone in thinking the brakes on the 04 silverado/sierra 1/2 tons suck! no wonder they only had these crappy disk brakes for a year and went back to drum. it's like putting your foot in butter when you go to stop! i have no other complaints about my 04 Silverado Z71(other then minor picky stuff) but i will never own another truck with crappy disk brakes like this. i dunno if it's the ABS, or what it is. i mean, when you can feel an unloaded 6x12 trailer pushing you as you (attempt) to come to a stop, then you know your brakes suck. it's been like this for 5 years, so i'm kinda used to it but far from happy with it. if the 1/2 tons are this bad when i decide to buy, that alone will step me up to a 3/4 gasser. theres no sense in brakes being like this.
i have no other complaints about my 04 Silverado Z71(other then minor picky stuff) but i will never own another truck with crappy disk brakes like this. i dunno if it's the ABS, or what it is. i mean, when you can feel an unloaded 6x12 trailer pushing you as you (attempt) to come to a stop, then you know your brakes suck. it's been like this for 5 years, so i'm kinda used to it but far from happy with it. if the 1/2 tons are this bad when i decide to buy, that alone will step me up to a 3/4 gasser. theres no sense in brakes being like this.Patches
Veteran Member
The brakes on my '07 Tundra are as good as I've seen on a half ton pick-up.The rear suspension leaves something to be desired, but the power is awesome, and the six speed auto has been faultless. The thing tows like a bear, for a hlf ton, and fuel mileage is more than acceptable;19-20 on the highway empty(spring/summer/fall) 12 to 13.5 towing, as long as you keep your throttle foot off the floor.I've put 25,000 on the truck and my only complaint was a rusting rear bumper(replaced under warranty).I've no idea what the long term results will be like, but I'm likeing what I've seen so far
pitt_md
Veteran Member
I can pull my two horse slant load trailer with my 2002 F150 4X4 with auto but when the horses move around a little going down the road its not a good feeling. Maybe the new F150's with built in sway control system can deal with it better than the 02 models. The new Super Duty F250 4X4 with 6.4 feels very stable on the short test run I made. It also acts like there is nothing behind it when pulling 7000+ lbs.
You stated my point much more eloquently than I did. This what I meant to say. I'm sorry to all who thought I was just being a jerk, I just was having trouble verbalizing my thoughts.
I weigh and balance the tongue load on my trailer every time I load it and adjust the load distributing hitch each each time as well.
It gives me white knuckles when I see small vehicles towing unpredictable/unbalanced loads with the back of the truck dragging and the electric going through a 4-7 pin adapter eliminating the trailer brakes. American vehicles are known around the world to have pathetic brakes compared to foreign models already, and seeing bad towing decisions makes me quick to snap at people when I think they are perpetuating those decisions.
Doug
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Shouldn't everyone towing 5,000lbs always activate their trailer brakes in a 1/2 ton?
I would think if you put 5,000lbs in the bed of your truck (like towing 5K lbs without trailer brakes) it would cause exagerrated stopping distances as well.
Could be the way you're loading your trailer, too. Not saying you don't know what you're doing, but maybe you're loaded too far to the back of the trailer.
JohnDeere4300
Veteran Member
Builder,
If i am pulling my trailer empty to go get something at lowes_etc. i still use my trailer brakes, i just adjust the controller so they won't lock up.
crashz
Veteran Member
What I meant was that to stop the trailer from pogo-ing the truck, the trailer brakes help slow the trailer and stabilize the truck. They have to be manually activated without the truck brakes to be effective.
But you bring up an excellent point! I've had a lot of trouble getting the proper weight distribution. The rear suspension is very weak on these trucks, so 500 lbs on the hitch sends the back end to the ground and the front end pointing to the sky. The P metric tires get all sqwishy and the load handles OK, but still has that forward / backwards type of pushing. Maybe it comes down to the fact that I don't have a weight distributing hitch.
