School me on towing

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by m6-lt1

Are you saying the 1/2 tons I'm looking at only have 900-1000 lbs of payload because you don't trust their payload ratings? I'm seeing a little over 2k for Payload for a 2.7 and 3k for a 5.0. I understand 600-900 lbs has to be subtracted for tongue weight.



Yes, Uhaul has brakes built in. Good point about the overheating on the turbos. I was going to do more research on that because I wondered that myself. Dude every single time I think I found a good deal on a truck it's a damn 4x2 haha. This truck will be my daily so I need 4X4.



I'm planning on upgrading the trans cooler whether or not I get the tow package. The aftermarket is better at that I've read. The reason I am considering the 2.7 is it makes it's torque earlier than the 5.0 and over a wider range. I am looking a little bit south of me so I can hopefully avoid rot.



So the ecoturd that is a turd is the 3.5. That engine is absolute garbage. Brand new they cost the most but due to their reputation they are below the 5.0 and 2.7 resale wide. Sucks cause that engine makes a butt load of torque. You bring up a good point about turbo's maybe getting overworked while towing so I will look into that. I have read nothing but great things though when it comes to reliability for the 2.7. It rates higher than the 5.0 and that's a fairly reliable engine.

Thanks for the info on the uHual brakes not being up to par. I def did not know that.

Since I'm looking at a 10 year old truck, I'm seeing 2014ish silverados not being that good on the reliability scale. First year of the Gen V engine, AC issues AND transmission issues. The 5.0 in the F150 seems to be more stout than the LTX engines. The 6r80 is a great transmission which is surprising since all Ford transmissions before AND after the 6r80 are junk. Not sure how they managed to make a good transmission for once. 2015 silverados I believe have the 8 speed but I'm not touching those with a 10 foot pole. If my budget allowed for a 10 speed silverado 5.3 pre covid build I'd look at those but those are way out of budget for me. Post covid GM cars are having all kinds of lifter issues (more so than what we'd see before). This is actually why I am looking for a tow vehicle. I'm seeing one too many 1LE's blow up the past few years, all post covid builds. The 16-19's somehow seem to be still going strong. Was hoping they would sort it out by MY 23 but I've seen a few 23's blow up. Mine is a late build 23 so we'll see I hate to say it but it just seems like the quality control post pandemic has gone downhill,

ngl you guys recommending the 3/4 ton has kinda killed my dream of towing to the track as it will tremendously help with anxiety at the track. Lap times improve when you don't have to worry about driving your track car home

I just can't afford a 3/4 ton and nor do I want to daily a 3/4 ton. I do not have space to store a 20 year 3/4 ton. Whatever I buy has to be daily driven.

Only thing I'll point out that may have been missed are I'm only towing 1-3 times a year. While it would be nice to get a 3/4 ton I'm just not sure it's necessary for towing 1-3 times a year. The 900 mile tows will only be once a year (Road America 2025, Sebring 2026, Barber Motorsports Parker 2027, Road Atlanta 2028)

I can understand why you may not want to go to a 3/4 ton with that limited amount of use. When I suggested the 3/4 ton gasser that was also based on the premise of them using the 6.0 L96 LS engine and proven 6l90e. The HD trucks retained the LS stuff thru 2019 until the 6.6 gas engine was released in 2020, even then they kept the 6l90E until 2024 model way when they got the 10 speed ally. The uhual car haulers have surge hydraulic brakes, not electric. They suck to put it lightly. I wouldn’t rely on a half ton to stop them but that is just me.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by Capricio

What is your budget? I don't find maneuvering a 2500HD to be appreciably worse than a half ton. I haven't shopped but I don't think the gassers command the resale prices of diesels, and there are a lot of used fleet WTs there. A forward (because the hood is high) and reverse camera for parking make a huge difference.

Looking for something around 10 years old and 110 - 130k miles. Budget is around 11k. Before you laugh I have access to whole sale auctions so I am buying at whole sale. Just need a truck to show up that has the right engine and miles and I can buy right around that price as long as it’s a base model or close to a base model. Also don’t need it to be a crew cab. That is past my budget plus you lose some towing and payload. Do want a back seat but extended cab works for me.

I’ll be honest I haven’t even looked at 2500 series truck prices. Just assumed they are more.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

I can understand why you may not want to go to a 3/4 ton with that limited amount of use. When I suggested the 3/4 ton gasser that was also based on the premise of them using the 6.0 L96 LS engine and proven 6l90e. The HD trucks retained the LS stuff thru 2019 until the 6.6 gas engine was released in 2020, even then they kept the 6l90E until 2024 model way when they got the 10 speed ally. The uhual car haulers have surge hydraulic brakes, not electric. They suck to put it lightly. I wouldn’t rely on a half ton to stop them but that is just me.

Thanks for the info on the trucks. That’s good that they kept LS based engines. That being said I think the 6.6 doesn’t have afm if I’m not mistaken so I like that engine too. 6l90 I agree is a beast but I think the 10 speeds that GM uses (ford one only works in the Mustang) are pretty badass as well.

I’ll see what kind of brakes the Penske trailers use. Hopefully they aren’t surge hydraulic and hopefully an SS 1LE can fit without too much hassle. They BARELY fit on the uhual trailer.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

The 6.6 doesn’t have afm that is correct and it is a bad ass engine I had one for a while. The 10 speeds that the new GM hd trucks use is an Allison built unit which is obviously different from the ford/gm co project that all of their other rwd/4wd vehicles share.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

The 6.6 doesn’t have afm that is correct and it is a bad ass engine I had one for a while. The 10 speeds that the new GM hd trucks use is an Allison built unit which is obviously different from the ford/gm co project that all of their other rwd/4wd vehicles share.

Got it. Did not realize the 10 speeds were different in the HD trucks. I still like the GM 10 speed in the light duty trucks better than the Ford 10 speed. Had a line on a 2019 f150 with a little higher miles than I was looking for but since it was a 2019 I was going to get it. Then all of a sudden I remembered it had the Ford 10 speed and passed.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

It’s funny how it works, it’s the same basic transmission between the ford and the GM stuff but they use their own programming and minor changes between the two manufacturers but it does seem to make all the difference. It’s a head scratcher for sure. Good luck in your hunt, when the right one comes along you will know it!

[Capricio]

A torture test review of the L96/6L90 combo:

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

I did this one time… more weight than that I’d bet the service bed was full of tools, 2 30 gallon oil tanks, air compressor, etc. That’s the same basic truck but long bed instead. Truck had rear helper air bags on it with 100LBS of air in them. We only took it about 5 miles to another shop the company owned.

[FarmerFran]

While I agree that a HD will tow better, what you are towing will be fine ion a 150/1500. Just tow smart.

Here is my 2017 RAM 1500, 1000s of miles with no issues.

[m6-lt1]

Thanks everyone. Learned a lot. Think the consensus is get a good class iv hitch/WD hitch and make sure I don’t go over my payload capacity along with rear axel weight. Since I am towing 1-3 times a year I should be fine with a f150 5.0 and possibly the 2.7 if I don’t see it have overheating issues. Also have to figure out what kind of brakes whatever trailer I use has. I understand I have to lower my speeds and keep distance between cars.

[FarmerFran]

Wonder what is different between the truck and car 10 speed, the 10 speed in my car is fantastic.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by FarmerFran

Wonder what is different between the truck and car 10 speed, the 10 speed in my car is fantastic.

Programming… they are the same transmission in both the fords and chevys, speaking for the 1/2 ton stuff. The HD trucks are not the same as each other or the half tons.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Programming… they are the same transmission in both the fords and chevys, speaking for the 1/2 ton stuff. The HD trucks are not the same as each other or the half tons.

I thought there are some more slight differences? I have heard Ford guys say GM got the “good” 10 speed. I see the 10 speed works well in GM 1/2 tons but not Ford 1/2 tons.

[FarmerFran]

The 10 speed in the 2024 Mustang is pretty darn good. Is the "bad" 10 speed in the F150 based on a turbo engine or the 5.0, i wonder if that makes a difference