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

[mikennh]

No ricer trucks for me. Buy built in America by UAW employees or ride a bicycle.

Deep in the heart of our leading-edge San Antonio manufacturing facility, you'll find 2,600 Toyota team members proudly building some of the toughest trucks on the road: Our full-size Tundra and compact Tacoma Pickup.5 The San Antonio plant is also our first plant to integrate production facilities for many of our suppliers on the same grounds, and some under the same roof. It's truly state-of-the-art. And the Lone Star State deserves nothing less.

 

[Chuck Brannaka]

I am a retired manager of 4 car dealerships with 7 manufactures which included Ford, Nissan and Toyota. I was the manager of all the service, parts and body shops. I went to a comparison shootout of Dodge, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet and Nissan before I retired. We raced these trucks against each other, not loaded, beds loaded, pulling 3500 lbs trailers and 10k trailers. The Toyota won every event hands down. We were all shocked. All trucks were V8s. The Tundra blew away everyone. We were all expecting different results. The Toyota has a true 3/4 ton suspension and rear end even though it is rated as a 1/2 ton truck. The reason they rated it thus is for insurance purposes, there is lower rates for 1/2 ton than 3/4. Also people purchase more 1/2 ton trucks. This is a hidden secret. I was in the car business for 30 years. There is not a better truck than a Toyota Tundra but the gas mileage is not as good as the other trucks, this is the only flaw. I would suggest only the 5.7 motor if you are going to tow. If you choose another truck do not get the 10 speed transmission. One of my Ford service manager friends told me the other day that his shop is full of the 10 speed transmissions, he told me not to buy the trucks with the 10 speed transmission. The 6 speed transmissions are great though. I would also suggest that if you want to buy the Toyota that from 2010 up are perfect trucks, if you can find one in great condition. It is easier to find a Toyota that is in great condition used because Toyota customer take care of their vehicles better than others. Also they are usually not used as roughly. Good luck.

 

[Grumpycat]

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

Toyota will run better, longer.

Toyota makes good car-trucks but not so much truck-trucks.

 

[Grumpycat]

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

And the engine in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

[Grumpycat]

We bought a 2023 RAM 1500 V6 for the wife. Nicest riding truck I ever drove.
Pulls pretty good and decent mileage.

when I looked at RAM the towing capacity was poor vs F-150.

When shopping for tow capacity one must download a couple PDFs from Ford and become a good student of the contents. Not all F-150's with HDPP and Max-Tow are capable of 10.1k or 13k towing.

 

[Grumpycat]

I use a 2014 F150 Ecoboost for loads under around 8,700 pounds. It does fine, just get hit with a MPG drop. Truck is rated for 10,500 hitch pull (with weight distributing hitch).

That is the number printed on the hitch receiver. That is not the tow rating for your truck. To get actual tow rating requires research and calculation. For some reason Ford won't say it outright, nobody does for their trucks either.

The 10.5k rating F-150 will be a single cab with HDPP package. Unless you have 7 bolt wheels you do not have HDPP.

 

[kenbgbill]

I tow a 6,300 pound travel trailer with a 2018 F150, 3.5l V6 over extended distances. Max load is a bit over 12,000. I get about 6.6-7 MPG at 65 MPH on interstate quality roads. While this half-ton works fine at this weight, I have friends that tow in the 8500-9000 pound range that tell a different story. They’ve both upgraded to an F250, one with diesel and one with gas.

Bottom line - you’re pushing the limits of a half-ton at your weight. I like to follow the 75% of max weight rule which you blow past. How often and how far you tow should help shape your decision. Starting and stopping are much different than moving and at that weight, a half-ton is pushed well beyond a long-term situation . This will greatly shorten the life of the truck and create potentially hazardous stopping conditions.

 

[tradosaurus]

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?

First I would stop using the term She Who Must Be Obeyed. I talk things over with my wife and if I believe we need to move forward with a decision I make the call.

Second, when figuring Towing capacity, it refers to the maximum weight that a truck can tow after factoring in the weight of the truck and any cargo.

So my wife is 150 lbs, I'm 230 lbs, and add any other passengers you could easily have 1,000 lbs of with in the truck.

I would read this article thoroughly and figure out the ratings of each vehicle you are looking at vs the trailer you are towing.
Calculating your Trucks max towing capacity

Personally I have a F250 diesel so I rarely have to figure out what I can and cannot tow. If you are considering buying a new vehicle I would look at a diesel truck. Or find a diesel truck like mine that has the useless emissions crap deleted.

 

[Gord Baker]

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?

Stay with your present ride. The long wheelbase gives you better trailer control.
and you know what you have. Swap out the Seats and enjoy it.

 

[Doz]

Chevy duramax 3500 pulled from Michigan to Alaska no problem 29,100 #

 

[WinterDeere]

when I looked at RAM the towing capacity was poor vs F-150.

How so? If you buy a properly configured Ram 1500 (meaning my A8HP70 trans, 3.92 rear, 5.7L Hemi, 4x4), it's rated 10,150 lb. If you drop the 4x4, it goes to 10.3 - 10.4k, depending on bed configuration. What's the F150 rated?

 

[panamaguy]

If you want a tight turning radius you are not buying a Ford. They are the worst I have ever seen. 40 acres to turn this rig around will become your favorite song

 

[redmt]

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

Toyota will run better, longer.

That's a joke the toy trucks can't compare.

 

[Doz]

Chevy duramax 3500 pulled from Michigan to Alaska no problem 29,100 #

 

[Jrasband]

Toyota is obviously a better truck doesn't need much more explaining. I have a 2nd gen tacoma v6 prerunner with aftermarket bump stops and I have towed heavy loads many times and it is very capable. I am sure if you would have given me a same year ranger it would have cried dead by now.

 

[Deanes]

No ricer trucks for me. Buy built in America by UAW employees or ride a bicycle.

Hmm. Toyota Tundra made in southern Indiana - or Ford made in Mexico, Hmm...

 

[tradosaurus]

I have a 2014 F 150 with a 3.5 Ecoboost, it will two your 10,000 lbs trailer just fine and even better if you put LT E rated tires and add airbags to the rear axle. Those two alone will bring the truck to its full potential and beyond. I drug a 3 horse slant load heavy steel bumper pull trailer all over Southern Illinois and have since gone to a Corn Pro 3 horse gooseneck (16' floor) horse trailer. The truck handles this one, even being heavier, better than the bumper pull I used to have.

I've often drug equipment or dump trailers around in the 8-12,000 lbs range. I will continue to use my F 150 because I have it, it is well beyond paid for, it is in good shape with low miles and does the job fine, but my next truck will be a 3/4 or 1 ton. I wouldn't be shy of a 6.2 or 7.3 gas V8 for what you are going to do, they are both good engines and take alot of abuse.

Actually if you go through the numbers of your 2014 F150 3.5 Ecoboost:
GCVWR = 16,000 lbs
Curb Weight = 4764
Cargo = 500 lbs (assuming you have stuff in the bed of your truck)
Passengers = 500 lbs
Towing Capacity = (GCVWR-Curb Weight-Cargo-Passengers) 10,236 lbs.

You are at the limit of towing a 10,000 lb trailer assuming those numbers aren't higher and assuming you have heavy duty tow package.

Also your payload capacity (how much you could carry in your truck ) is 3,000 lbs.

 

[skipperbrown]

If you are going to tow 10,000# more than a couple of times a year, you need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, IMO. I don't care what the website advertising says, towing 10k with a 1/2k truck isn't going to be pleasant.

 

[deezler]

^ 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.

 

[Gator6x4]

Reading through this thread reaffirms my decision to get as far away as I can from a pickup truck towing a trailer on any highway, dual or four lane.