You're buying a new truck, what you gotta have?

[Crusarius]

onthe tow rating end of things. I have the max tow package on my 2015 f-150. its rated to tow 13000 lbs. I have had a 14' equipment trailer with a 3.5 ton excavator on it. which I am guessing weighs about 10k total. going up the hills it pulled amazing. I couldn't believe with the 3.5 ecoboost how it pulled like it wasn't an issue. on the flats and going down hill takes me to my next sentence.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD!!!

going downhill was downright scary having a 6000lb truck being pushed by 10k worth of equipment. Yes, I had trailer brakes and everything but it sure as a white knuckle scary ride.

Then going up my driveway involved 4lo with the rear diff locked and scratching all the way.

[chevytaHOE5674]

Sounds like you need to move the load on the trailer or change things up with a WD hitch or something.

I routinely haul 20k behind a 6,900lbs F250 and have never been scared or white knuckled.

Most 3/4 ton trucks weight 1,500-2,000lbs more than their half ton counterparts but are often rated to tow double what a 1/2ton will.

[Roundhouse]

Just had my 2nd F 150 taken off the road, failed inspection, could
poke holes through the rusted out frame. Seen it coming but was hoping to get
another year out of it.
So was ready to downsize anyway. Just don't need a big truck anymore.
Found a 2013 Tacoma SR5 auto. with 14K miles on it. Like new, nice truck, Like.
Gas mileage 21-22 mpg, Like that too.

Nice find, I've been in my 2013 Tacoma SR5 auto for exactly nine years now. Has a little over 100K miles I've put on it and I intend to run it as long as possible. 4x4 V6 crew cab with the tow package rated at 6500 lbs. I pull an empty or lightly loaded skid steer trailer with it regularly but never max out the tow rating. I keep a '95 F350 dually crew cab around for hauling machinery and large loads, part of keeping the Tacoma nice for as long as possible. I dread the day I need to shop again, hoping there are some technological leaps by then.

[jimbarry]

... way too much media technology on this truck. ... changing the radio station requires me to look at Display instead of just reaching over and hitting a button on the radio.

^^This right here.^^

[nativewolf]

We like how simple the basic f150 lightning is, funny for an Ev but the cruise control is just that.  Has the backup camera like everything nowadays.  Cabin super clean, light seats but not cloth, what the Tesla's use instead of leather.  When the back seat folds up you can clean it with backpack blower.  I should have bought the custom transfer tank from ford - my TS one is a make do.  

Got knobs for radio and ac/heat or you can use screen and hook up apple car play.  

Fancy vehicle for us but much better cab than the old 2008 f350.  I think the gas version is much the same.   Charger finally in so I don't think we buy electricity again except overnight at the house- 0.09/kWh -$10 for full range of 230.  Not driving much this year is the plan- just stay home and work.

[customsawyer]

My newest truck is a 2017 F250. One of my frustrations I have with it is after I hook up a trailer. I feel like I have to play 20 questions with the truck. It's going on about blind spots and this and that. I'm about to scream at it that I just need to haul the tractor to do some work not sit in the yard pushing buttons on my steering wheel. Sorry rant over.

[teakwood]

I never got the 1/2, 3/4 and 1to truck types  your guys always talk about. can anyone explain to me? what does the 3/4to stand for? loading capacity? that would be rather low

[Tom K]

It's pretty antiquated terminology that really doesn't mean a whole lot anymore other than a basic class.

Newer 1/2 ton's have a GVW (gross vehicle weight rating) of around 7-8,000 lbs which puts there payload capacity in the 1500-2000 lb range and a towing capacity of 7-13,000 lbs depending how its equipped.

A 3/4 ton has a GVW around 10-11,000 lbs, payload around 3,000 lbs and a towing capacity between 10-18,000 lbs. (a single wheel one ton will be similar but slightly more)

A 1 ton dual wheel would probably have a GVW closer to 13-14,000, payload 4-5,000 lbs, and towing 13-26,000 lbs 

I did not look any specs up so I may be off a little, but it gives you a rough range. The big difference in towing capacity for the larger trucks in mainly gas vs diesel motors. 

[Otis1]

I have not read through this entire thread, so I apologize if this has been mentioned already. 

I think the best upgrade I've done on my truck is a heavy duty front bumper/ grill guard with a receiver hitch, combined with a warn 10,000 lb winch on a cradle/ carrier (other brands have similar configurations). I can put the winch on the front or back of the truck. And I keep it under my topper, so it is out of the weather.

One thing that always bothered me about front mounted winches is that if I get stuck, I rarely want to keep going in that direction. 

I also have rear helper springs, I was told that sometimes the airbags get moisture in them and pop a hole from freezing.