Do You Really Need a Heavy Duty Truck to Tow 9,000 lbs? Ford F-150 vs F-250 MPG Review
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#ford #f250 #f150
Wow. I am shocked, but very pleased. I just bought a '19 with the Coyote and can't believe there was only a half a mile per gallon difference. After driving a friend's 6.7L, I suspected that but you guys confirmed it. I only tow around 8K lbs so I am feeling pretty good now. When you factor in the cost difference of diesel fuel, the expensive services, DEF and the initial $10K difference... Wow... Thanks guys!!
These half tons have come a long way! I have to say, when my 03 7.3 was down I had to borrow my dad's 2018 ecoboost max trailer tow f150 for a 4 wheeling trip. Wow! is my reaction. It towed the 8500lbs like nothing. We have done several comparisons since then and yes the diesel got 11 mpg compared to 6.5-7 mpg ecoboost. One comment i would like to make though. Everybody talking braking power and ability from half tons, the brakes on my dad's f150 are soooooo much larger than my 03 7.3. Thats why a 2018 half ton has a higher tow rating than a 03 3/4 ton. Blows my mind, but a stock 18 ecoboost puts my 03 tuned 7.3 to shame.
The problem here , how far did u pull it brother? I didn't find those trucks to powerful! I also had a new RAM sport n it would pull 9 or 10 too but the truck felt like it was to lite n I got a old 1997 7.3 ford dually n she's pulling that like nothing n the truck doesn't bounce around on the road doing it!.. MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎅 ✌ after I bought this old girl looking like she was in a time capsule, I got rid of my RAM because of electronics issues N I DONT MISS IT EITHER!..
Poppycock
Next test use a travel trailer. A lot of people are looking at using a F150 to tow their family travel trailer with either the 3.5L or 2.7L Ecoboost. I'm sure you will have a lot more interest in that type of video.
How much can the 2.7 pull max?
I want you guys to strap 13,000 lbs on a EcoBoost rated at 13,200.
No kidding!!! That is the truck I own, 3.5L with the max tow package. Maybe not 13k, but the test in this video would be interesting.
Jeremy R nope. Handles it just fine. Would I rather be in af250? Yep, but my 3.5 handles that Much without issues
@@AnyManProjects 🤣🤣🤣
@@AnyManProjects Yup. Been towing with the family for 4 weeks with my 3.5EB SCREW and a 30ft bunkhouse at about 9200lbs. All the way from Alaska through BC, Washington, and Oregon through some narly passes and ZERO issues with power. Have my Equalizer WDH perfect set and 7.0 gain on the trailer breaks. Far exceeding my expectations on all performance(except 8.5 MPG which was expected).
Christopher Ori mine with the ten speed does so good. I've had 13k plus (for shorter trips) going and down grades and it does the job. I'm easy on it and wouldn't want to panic stop or anything but it does the job. Id rather have the super duty with the 6.7 but for the occasional heavy tow, my 2018 3.5 eco gets it done. No crazy revving, even up grades...just quiet power. Diesel guys always piss on gassers to justify spending all that extra cash or something? I know They're great if you actually need them, but most guys I know with them usually only tow 11k or less
I find Andre to be hilarious in a good way. By far the best reviewer on this channel.
Андрюха лучший.
TFL Truck, this one of the best pick truck series videos i ever seen. Thank you, this one is very helpful.
Next lets see the half ton v8 vs the 3/4 ton 6.2L gas engine.
Or the new 7.3 with a 10 speed
@@0347kali
That horse shit (or what ever shit you profer)
@@madbear3512 - What horseshit? Pretty sure I read something about the 7.3 coming back... If I remember correctly it identifies as a gasoline engine now.
@@duttydiesel8303
It horseshit that it the fact there even making a gas engine as a choice
It's horseshit that some owners like cheaper fuel and maintenance? You're an idiot.
To compare stability properly, the F150 should be a 6 1/2’ box, same as the F250. The longer the wheelbase the better the stability & the ride quality.
I wish you would pull travel trailers instead and see how they pull those big boxes down the road and up mountain roads.
I agree. I have no problem towing 12,000 lbs in my f250 using my dump trailer. But a 34' travel trailer intimidates me.
They're just selling a fantasy to the sleeping idiots who live the american dream
Totally agree. I know, a lot of folks MAY pull a horse trailer, but, let's see a travel trailer or 5th wheel trailer in acion; also, let's do some acceleration, reg driving, passing, etc. Oh, don't forget, let's see how d'hill driving (mtn roads!) results. Y'all Be Safe!
They literally just did. Lol
I have a F150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost and the problem is not power. It has plenty of it and more torque than the 6.2 gas F250 (my brother in law has one), however with a 15mph cross wind the trailer (30ft 8,000lb) feels like it is walking on you in the 1/2 ton where the 3/4 ton feels a lot more solid.
Would've loved to see more details on the towing setups with both as well as more comparison of driving impressions w/ the trailer in situations other than straight down the highway. I'm more concerned with being able to safely pull a 10k trailer with the F150 once in a while then the .5 mpg difference.
Thanks for the video, provides some good insight on the capabilities of F150 V8. I too would love to see travel trailers around 30ft 7k lbs tested. There are also alot of varables but I think you all did a good job putting the video out there. So there can be a general idea for people who are looking or needing a starting point for what they need and want.
You guys just produce really good quality videos! Thank you!
I notice one factor that’s never mentioned in all these tow tests and tow comparisons is the driver. I think the driver is the most important factor when towing these type of loads with any 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton pickup. The trucks capabilities become irrelevant if the driver is inexperienced or doesn’t have any common sense. All in all, I think the drivers abilities or experience and knowledge are an important factor.
What drivers knowledge does a person need for towing
Asking because I am curious and have never towed anything
@@TexasNationalist1836 realize that its a truck you don't need to almost ever floor it except for a few situations. choosing the right gear before a hill build up some speed before hand and be willing to take the hills at 40mph. I know my old truck gets the best economy at 62mph due to the rear end ratio and that's the speed I go, may not be practical for everyone but it works for me. ask around at some truck stops a lot of the older drivers are happy to share. books only get you so far experience is everything.
Unfortunately, this point needs to be reiterated darn near every year until people get the information that is accurate instead of what is being told to them at the RV lot or even at the truck dealers. Although this comparison bring set point to light, if you would have had a 9000 pound, 11 foot 2 in tall, 8 ft wide, 30 foot long RV the F150 would have shown even more deficiencies and the way it felt and handled. I talked till I'm blue in the face about this on TH-cam channels and still it seems that the point is lost on many. Great job guys as always!..
@@LucasLeCompteMusic wrong
People need to think about payload and all the shit they are going to pack
I traded my 2011 ram 2500 Cummins for a ‘17 F-150 eco boost to tow my 32’ travel trailer that weighed about 8000lbs loaded. Huge mistake. The ford had plenty of power but the trailer pushed the lightweight pickup all over the road, even with a finely tuned weight-distribution hitch. I felt truly unsafe while towing, and I didn’t want to gamble on my family’s (and my own) safety while road-tripping.
Just a few weeks ago, I ended the 1/2 ton experiment and traded back to 2017 ram 2500 Cummins. Its such a different experience. I can barely tell the camper is behind me.
It’s all about the trailer’s profile-is it a flatbed or a wind-sock? That’s, perhaps, the biggest consideration when choosing your vehicle.
John Askins Put two motorcycles in the bed of the truck to balance weight distribution, problem solved.
@@angelgjr1999 problem, makes the front still way to light. Lil half ton trucks especially with the lighter bodies are really not an ideal thing to tow heavier weights. That's the real only knock on them.
David Lusk Front end is too light? Are we talking about the same truck? F150s weight 6,000 pounds. It’s not light at all. You may need new tires or alignment fix.
@@angelgjr1999 6,000 vs 9,000 behind you. They push lil half tons all over the road. People think they are big trucks, but these things aren't meant to tow near that weight. Its great for show, but suicide for ling distance. That's why i bought my 2500 hd last year with 6.6. I can tow almost anything i want without even worrying about getting pushed all over the road.
David Lusk Get an SUV if you want better weight distribution then. But that’s a bit extreme. You should get a semi truck if you’re towing that much. 95% of drivers never tow anything above 3k pounds.
F-150 3.5L Stock tows 10,700lbs. Properly equipped it is 13,500 lbs. They also have Trailer Sway Control built in, and you can find the video with Mike Rowe testing all trucks, I would definitely check it out
Great question! Something I have wondered about many times. That 7000 to 9000 lbs capacity is a head scratcher as to a choice of tow vehicles.
Andre "Whoa 6 inches thats huge!", tell that to my wife D
Why does your wife think 6" is big or small?
@@everythingpnw really?
@@Superdutychase Really what? I'm just curious
Your wife has a D?
Travel Nurse: I have a 2016 Colorado 2.8L 4x4 Crew, tow Camplite 21RBS w/ Suzuki 750 King Quad in the bed that I tow to all my assignments, I average between 19-20mpg towing it, but if regen kicks in while towing my mpg will drop like a rock to around 10-12mpg before jumping back up. It's hard to show what diesel does towing in regards to MPG when it obviously went into regen while towing. I previously had a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi and would pull off 6-8mpg towing the same load...
How about something safety related, like braking distance with those loads.
They really need to test braking once. I have always wanted to know with light duty vs heavy duty who brakes better with a load.
@@jasonoliver3364 with trailer brakes on a tandem axle trailer, both trucks are completely fine. I tow a 6x12 with 7,000 lbs with my Tacoma and the trailer takes care of a ton of the braking for the truck. I don't feel unsafe at all even under emergency braking.
Properly set electric brakes on the trailer will do most of the braking. If your towing at max you need to drive defensively and keep braking distances in mind. If you drive it like your not towing your gonna have problems.
@@randythompson4006 100% accurate. thank you.
@@randythompson4006 : Unfortunately how you drive has little effect on the idiot that cuts you off then slams on his brakes...
You should have done some 65 to zero stop tests. That is far more important than whether the gas engine can pull a trailer up a hill. Another factor is whether or not you have the factory trailer brake package. It has proportional braking based upon the master cylinder pressure. That's the best option you can buy.
I’ve owned both trucks. Tow a trailer in the mountains. You will see the difference. The F150 felt like we were going to die. Love my F250 Diesel. Also I drive 65 MPH. My MPG is around 11 towing my 10,000 pound 5th wheel.
I pull a 9200 lb., 40ft. travel trailer, 780 tongue weight with my '20 F-150 with no issues whatsoever. Typical highway speed of 70 mph and she tracks along great. Only time it gets a little squirrly is when you get crosswinds at 30 mph+, but slowing down a bit corrects that issue.
That's a beast! 5.0 or EB?
EcoBoost. Great torque! Get about 18.2 mpg average w/o the trailer and drops to about 12.8 with the trailer. Don't get me wrong, I don't pull all over the country; but it gets me around the state just fine.
@@gerrymiller7401 good to know...planning on using my wife's Expedition to tow our 24' to Yellowstone next month....am kinda nervous, but we did it with the old 5.4 a few years ago and we averaged 10 mpg. Hoping the new one does better.
@@workct4102 I have no idea what the capacity is on an Expedition. I can pull 13,500 with my F-150 so obviously I'm well under that. I also have extended axle separation on my trailer which helps with load distribution and sway control. If the Expedition is 2019 or newer and has a towing mode it should be fine if your under your limits. Ford's 10 speed tranny with the additional cooling features with that tow mode makes a difference.
Great video highlighting the differences of these trucks. As someone in the market for a f150 and considering a f-250 I found this very insightful!
Add a hill in there and the difference between a half ton and a diesel pickup will become very obvious.
😁 you point is under the rug. Lol
yeppers gotta do 70mph up them there hills. dont give a shit about nutten but that speed limit.
Who do you think will be better?
Jared Jeffcott if a downgrade is that treacherous, I think you have to be more concerned about runaway trucks, because the brakes on a 1/2 ton are more than adequate to slow that weight down.
Remember, the trailer has brakes also.
@@hdpptowing5736
I think that it should be a law requiring all trailers weighing more 4,000 lbs, must have e-brakes on them. There are a lot of idiots out there who shouldn't be driving let alone towing a heavy trailer. Lol
15:00 "That's a beautiful watch" - My eyes!
Love your videos, but I see one problem that you will never know about unless you have a tuner. If the F250 went into “Regen” during the MPG loop it will drop the MPG significantly. I’m talking 5 or more mpg for the full time it’s in “Regen” mode.
I have a 2019 F250 Powerstroke, and I wish Ford would have but some sort of notification or gauge showing how full the DPF filter is and when it’s going into Regen mode. I purchased an Edge CTS2 Diesel tuner (emissions tune) and now I know how full the DPF filter is and when Regen mode has commenced.
As always, great video!
I agree. I own a F250 2016 and my biggest complaint is not knowing when it’s done with regen as well as not knowing how full the filter is. A manual regen ability would be nice as well so I can pick when it cycles, not 3 blocks before I get home.😒
I did a mpg loop with my 2007 F150, 5.4, 3.73 verse my 2019 f250 fx4 6.2 gas, 4.10. Used my 16 foot enclosed trailer with my chevy spark and a tool box in it. About 5000lbs. After 80+ miles identical route, same day, there was 50 cents difference at the pump. However, while the F150 didn't struggle with the load the F250 definately handled it much better. The wind, the uphills (4speed vs 6 speed trans), the general driving was just much more confident in the heavier truck. The F150 is rated up to 9400lbs and the F250 is 15k if I remember right. My F150 is a considerable softer ride even though I have load range E tires on it.
You mean 4.30 in the 250?
Rear axle makes a big difference in the 150: 3.73 bumps the tow rating to 11,600 lbs.
Don't forget that diesel is currently 31% higher than gas and you need to add another 2% for DEF. Based on prices Yesterday at the pilot in Port St. Lucie FL. My more efficient 3.5L twin turbo (compared to the 5.0L) will cost less when towing 15,000lbs and way less when empty. My 4x4 3.55 3.5L gas gets 12% better mileage at 70mph than my 2wd 3.31 6.7L diesel did.
To save you the hassle of these two youhoos rambling on.....
250 Diesel, 8.9 mpg
150 Gas, 8.4 mpg
Party pooper. Lol
@6XChamps You have a 6.2, a much heavier truck, and a 6 speed versus the lighter F150 with the 5.0, and 10 speed transmission.
Lol. Thanks. You're just the comment I was looking for
@6XChamps the cost of 1 mpg is well worth the $10,000 savings for the diesel
Plz what kind of galon ?
(US galon or normal galon)
Mr Truck and Andre videos are the best TFL content still years later
Pulled a 10k fifth wheel with a 3.5 ecoboost F150 through the mountains of WV and MD with no problem and managed 9 mpg smooth as oil
The truth. I just towed 2,000 miles with my 2015 F150 Ecoboost Platinum 4x4, man, talk about power! Smooth alright. And same, 9 - 10 mpg.
The mountains of WV and MD; I didn't know that there were mountains in WV and MD, but I live in CO, so if it's less than 10,000', it's not a mountain!
@@wasichuwacanta7010 WV has some pretty steep grades just because it's not a mile or two above sea level doesn't make it any less of a mountain grade.
@@brandonmoore9440 I have towed throughout the states.... I70 in the Rockies has been the hardest to tow up... Anything else feels like hills... Its funny though in every state that has a pass locals will always say its so steep and hard to tow up be careful haha.. When it was all new to me I believed it every time... Not anymore... I would always tow the "crazy pass/grades" and always wonder if it was still ahead of me. They are so short and at lower altitude the truck is breathing very well... The Rockies choke up the truck so even on the shorter grades you're feeling a bit short on power.
@@brandonmoore9440 True, it might be a mountain GRADE, but it ain't no mountain!
This was a really cool test. Yes theres other variables like 30ft campers or goose necks but that wasnt the test. It was a 9k lb horse trailer and this just proved that for some people you dont have to overcompensate on a truck when modern 1/2 tons do the job just fine. Lets not forget a 1/2 mpg could be from more wind, slightly heavier throttle response etc. Good job tfl on this one 👍
Good test. 1/2 tons are pretty impressive nowadays. Athough I love the coyote engine I would like to see this same test done with the 3.5 ecoboost since it's the most powerful engine available in the 150.
Agree
This was a good start on comparing the F150 and 250 towing. You really need to take this to the next step by doing some hills for pulling "and" braking performance comparisons. Then go out on a windy day, and also a busy day with semi's passing you. If you drive 60 mph in a 70 mph zone they will be buzzing by you the whole trip and you'll find out how each truck handles side forces and sway. Also consider the RV tower who's driving 1,000 or more miles on a single trip with a variety of conditions.
Many other things to look at besides mileage. Like trans temp, braking, wear on parts. I have pulled 9000 with a 1/2 ton with cross winds and it is not fun. With 3/4 no problem.
I took the point to be if you rarely pull that much weight, or for shorter distances, the 150/Coyote was more than adequate. Agree fully that if you are doing long hauls with a long, heavy trailer, the bigger diesel truck is the way to go. Overkill though for what is primarily a daily driver with a smidgen of towing thrown in.
@@timclaus8313 You don't need a Diesel and you'll have more payload without it.
Nice effort TFL. No wind or grade and a well balanced load are a lot different than hauling my 37.5 ft TT. My 1200 lb tongue weight would put that f150's rear on the ground and nose in the air wd hitch or not plus eating most the payload. But this proves f150 can get it done well if set up right.
Should have done a gas 150 vs gas 250, then do diesel 150 vs diesel 250, gas 150 vs diesel 250 are way different leagues
Instead of dropping $50k on a new f-150 buy a used Diesel and it will serve you better 👍
They only test the trucks they're given you dope.
@@greco2189 diesel are really meant for your heavy loads something you need in case you have something really important to haul or travel.
Gas trucks are really your life truck, They cost a little bit better in money wise. They are useful for your daily chores around yard work or Man stuff. Or your fun activities with the wife. Diesels get better gas mileage because of the way they're designed. However pick up truck diesels are built to be fuel power hogs.
Only company that's allowed us to have 4 cylinder diesels in usa market Which are designed to get excellent mileage 30-70mpg Is the Volkswagen Jetta.
They're not built to be powerhouses mainly mileage. Meanwhile Europe is laughing at us while they get over at least a 80mpg
@@greco2189 80MPG....all like "am I a joke to you?" 😂
@@greco2189 Quite a few actually
My wife and I both have Ram pickups. My wife used to have a 1500. But traded in for a 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins. My Ecodiesel pulls trailer nice. But my wife loves how the VGT engine works on the Cummins.
We rarely tow trailers. But do go down very steep grades frequently.
Great video. But if pulling a longer camper at that weight, you might get more sway. We had a 150 pulling out 8500 pound 30 ft camper. Good power, but was unsafe on the road. The 250 gas handles it like a dream!
In my opinion, this is why the half ton diesel pickups won't sell nearly as well as a regular gas pickup in the US. You pay a hefty premium for a Diesel engine, then spend more for fuel and DEF, don't forget those expensive fuel filters that have to be changed every 15k miles, and oh did I mention the oil changes cost about three times more? By the time it's all said and done, a half ton diesel pickup just doesn't make financial sense for the average pickup truck buyer in the US. The slight efficiency gain with fuel economy won't pay off.
You can thank the EPA for the poor performance of the Diesel engines. It used to be that a Diesel engine was far more fuel efficient and the fuel was much, much cheaper.
Pop Corn yea remember diesel was definitely cheaper
Pop Corn it was a by product of gas production when we had real gas especially the dpf bullshit
What esp. kills the mpg on modern diesels is the freaking regens. Its almost like having a sizable fuel leak while trying to get something resembling fuel efficiency.
If my Powerstroke smoked and stank like they used to I wouldn't own it.
Interesting... however, there is a third option, that being a SuperDuty with the gasser engine. Save the $10,000+ upcharge for the diesel engine (and associated maintenance costs) and see how the 6.2L gas powerplant performs. I have a 2015 SuperDuty with the 6.2L pulling an 8,500 lb. equipment trailer and for occasional towing I couldn't be happier. I think the additional safety margin the heavier truck provides is well worth the difference compared to the F-150.
I love seeing the payload stickers :)
I would also like to see y'all tow some campers.
A 9000lb horse trailer is cool, but how do these trucks handle a 9000lb camper that's 30ft+ long.
Exactly! Around 26+ft and the wind will blow the trailer around and really push a half ton truck around!
Not only that but the frontal wind load of them is a kucb bigger deal than the weight.
I'm used to it. I pull a 53 trailer with a 379 peterbilt:/
@@ur2ez2011
But that totally different truck that not even comparable
For a 9,000lbs, 30 plus ft travel trailer, you need the HDPP half ton F-150 minimum, much more stout than the Max Tow.
I had a 2017 Ford F-250 and it pulled our 15,000 pound trailer (camper). But I just bought a 2020 F-350 and just stuck an 8 inch lift and hostile 40's. It is awesome!! Gonna tow that trailer next week.
I wish you would have done the gas f250 v the ecoboost f150. I think this is a more likely cross-shop for weekend warrior towing duty.
The eco boost is already more thirsty then the V8, but f250 has vs 150 would be interesting
Exactly. They've proven over and over the EB is superior.
I wanna see diesel f150 vs gas f250
I agree joe. Ecoboost vs 6.2L Super duty. I wanna see that.
F150 with 3.5 Ecoboost with the MAX tow trailer package vs F250 gasser pulling 9000 lb travel trailers would be a better test. Very few horse trailers on the road.
I have a 2017 3.5 EcoBoost, 355 rear end. 10 speed tranny. I tow a 10000lb 30' rv trailer. It absolutely rocks. The power is great 375hp/470 lb/ft of torque. The right setup is key. Weight distribution hitch. Sway bar, set my trailer brake gain at 8 and it stops just fine. Handles great. I love it.
Bought a 19 f350 with a gas motor because I knew I wasn't going to be towing all the time. You can feel our steel 3 horse trailer behind it. But for 10k and the headaches that come with diesels now days I'm fine with it.
Nice, I got the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 HD with the 6.0l gas engine and I tow my 34' Fifth wheel at about 12-13k pounds, I think it handles it just fine.
@@dedalliance1 I'm in the market for a new truck. I've driven diesel 2500 for years but with all the emission crap on the diesels I've considered a gas burner. What kind on mpg do you get empty and loaded? Thanks
@@w.j.guidry8459 So my truck's the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 HD 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed SLE 6.0L gas with 4.10 gears in the rear end everything's stock in it as far as performance or tire mods.
So for empty highway driving over the 14k miles I've had the truck it usually stays between 11 to 13 MPG but I will say I've driven mostly in Washington State, Montana, and Colorado and the roads between those states. So anytime in Colorado and Montana I'm running 4 to 6k+ feet above sea level. Also, the speed limits in these areas are usually 70 to 80 MPH, and I like to cruise at 85 or so if traffic allows for it. I also run the cheapest gas at the pump that I can get, if that makes a difference to you. If you were going to do 60 or 65 at sea level with minimal hills you could probably push 14 mpg. That being said one time I was driving west of salt lake city by the salt flats and the winds were about I would say 40 to 60 MPH coming at me at about 1 to 2 o'clock and trying to maintain 80 mph I was getting 6 mpg, I actually stopped and gave gas to another GMC that ran out of fuel, so I know it wasn't just me, the wind was terrible.
As far as towing goes, I did tow my sisters 3 horse gooseneck trailer about 200 miles round trip, some city some highway, no more than 75 mph on the highway though, and we had 2 horses in it but only for about 30 minutes going from one barn to another barn (she transports horses for money to various places) and so with the horses you're probably talking a 8 to 9k pound trailer, without the horses around 6 to 7k pounds, and I averaged 9 mpg according to the computer (Which is usually within .5 mpg accurate) and this was in the Denver Colorado area, so exactly a mile above see level, give or take. And with my 34' fifth wheel camper going from Butte Montana to Billings Montana with a couple passes in between, I was testing the best fuel mileage I could get so doing 65 mph (A lot slower up the hills, the engine screams if you try going 60 mph up a pass so I had to just stick around 3-4k rpms and try to maintain speed, I think I ended up going 25-30 mph by the time I reached the top, lol) Anyway, 3 hour trip and I checked it at the pump I got 8 mpg, which the pass I climbed was 6,500 feet above sea level, everywhere else was probably 4 to 5k feet. But then another time, I was going from Colorado to Montana in a hurry pulling my camper, I got a job offer and they said be there the next morning and I didn't leave until 4:30 PM on a 9 hour drive. And I'm not condoning this to anyone out there, but I was pushing that truck and trailer to 85 mph or better anytime I could just because I needed to make a decent time. So roughly a 500 mile trip on every tank of gas I was averaging right at about 4 mpg according to the computer. So if you're used to diesels and being able to go fast up hill or on any terrain really and you try to push a gas truck like that your fuel mileage is going to be complete garbage, they just don't have that torque until you get to 4k rpms or better and even at that it's still half the torque of a diesel.
Before I got my trailer I had about 12,500 miles on the truck and the biggest load I had on it was my small 1,000 pound pop up truck camper, but it wasn't on there a whole lot, maybe 500 to 1,000 of those miles. So I left one of my trip meters as is when I bought it from the dealership with 18 miles on it, and at that time of roughly 12,500 miles it was averaging 10.6 mpg. As of now at 14,000 miles towing my camper around (I live in it full time so I have to move it every so often going to a dump station or from this place to that place) and my computer is now averaging 9.6 mpg over 14k miles. Which isn't great by any means, especially with the price of fuel, but it's really not bad for a 7k pound truck running from a gas engine, one of the biggest gas trucks you can buy. And I'm not flooring it at every light like I used to with my old truck, but if I need to get up to speed on the on ramp I will, so I will say it's probably driven about average and I try to limit my idling time.
I just realized this is really long. Long story short, 9.5-10.5 mpg average over the life of the vehicle, I'd expect 7 to 9 mpg towing any sized trailer at a reasonable speed. Anything over 80 mph towing or over large passe you'll drop to 3.5 to 5 mpg. Empty highway is 11 to 13, empty city is 10 to 11. It's a pretty stable engine in the fact that it wont vary too much if you don't push it and under normal circumstances.
Once I get the money I want to upgrade the exhaust and the air intake to see if that helps with fuel mileage, but as of now the truck is stock. Hopefully that helps.
@@dedalliance1 my truck is about the same I've got 8k miles on it and the computer says 12.8ish mpg and that is mostly city driving around salt lake city on cheap gas. I was going to buy a Chevy but gm doesn't give you shit for options on building a truck other than the way they want it... I want to do the same and see if an intake and exhaust will help, but damn it's hard finding aftermarket parts for a gas motor now days. Get a diesel 1000+ different companies gas you get like maybe 5. 😡
@@dedalliance1 thanks for the information this helps. I live in Louisiana so no elevation changes to speak of to hurt mileage just heat and humidity. We have a 27ft travel trailer weighing about 6k. Down hear I get 10 to 12 at 65 to 70. I've gone as far north as Ohio and would get 13 at 65. Towing My tractor and trailer I get 10 to 11. Loaded it's anywhere from 9000 to 11000 pounds depending on what Implements I bring. My day to day driving around town I get 17 and 20 to 21 on the hiway. Diesel here is thirty to forty cents a gallon more than regular gas. I do have a ton of modifications to this truck, air intake, exhaust, cat delete, programming and so on. I have run into 1 person down here with a gas 2500 and he said he got 10mpg. Didn't matter in town or hiway, but he didn't tow anything. Thanks for the information
Good to see the column shifter in the super duty. My 2018 f150 has one and i havent had a column shifter in about a decade. Didnt realize just how much i missed it til i bought it. Thats where the shifter should be in a truck, none of this motorized shifter that hides itself bs! Column shifter and middle seat/arm wrest all the way!
I towed a 9000 lbs, 30ft travel trailer all over the country (using E2 equalizer anti-sway w/weight distribution hitch) nearly 60,000 miles with a 2012 f-150 ecoboost with the max tow package. Never a single mechanical issue with it.
How many times did you panic stop going down hill at 60mph in a cross wind.
Ed Mikula not once. If the weight is distributed properly the sway is greatly minimized.
I come from a f150 and have now purchased a f250 towing a 8k lb camper long distances. Both my trucks are gas , in my experience what pushed me to a f250 is the fact that we often ended up overloading the truck by taking all of the family’s toys. We are so much happier with the f250 as I can load the canoes and the generator without even thinking about how much weight I’m putting on the truck
I agree with others, part of the towing dynamic is how a truck handles the wind on a 30-35' travel trailer, especially a strong cross wind. I to a 35' 8000# TT with as Tundra, would love to see the difference of a 3/4 ton truck, all things being equal.
Another great review by the TFL and Mr Truck! I am coming to the video late, but this review seems like an MPG only review, without the tortuous Ike Challenge. Did you guys mention what your actual payload was with the hitch weight and driver and passenger? My guess for a 9,000 lb trailer with 15% to the tongue = 1,350 lbs + about 400 lbs for Andre and Mr Truck, so your actual cargo/payload for this review was about 1,750 lbs, which exceeds the F150's published payload which was less than 1,700 lbs. Campers often put toppers at 200 lbs over the bed and carry alot of weight in camping supplies like: generator, BBQ, camp chairs, firewood, tools, etc. Now address the Gross Rear Axle Weight. Most F150's rear axle rating I have seen are around 3,800 lbs. Not sure why the F150 did not have the Heavy Duty Payload Package, which can provide around 2,000 lbs of payload? Plus, when ordering the F150 you can include the 36 gallon tank. Those towing mirrors on the F150 are hard to find on a dealers lot. All the F150 owners I have met in our 20,000+ miles towing our Airstream, have special ordered those mirrors, which are so much nicer than clip on tow mirrors. Plus consider the sidewall squat on F150 factory supplied tires. We switched to E rated to eliminate the sidewall squat and eventually from an 2009 F150, supercab, 4.6L 2WD. 5'5" bed with topper to a 2019 F250, due to the limited payload and rear axle rating (CAT scales confirmed we were over max by 400 lbs) AND the "push" from semi's going by our rig which was traveling at about 65MPH. F250 6.2L (3,500+ payload) gets about the same MPG towing and about 4MPG less in town driving. We love the 34 gallon tank in the F250, which makes it easier to reach Buc'cees gas stations! F150's have a nicer ride and easier around town driving experience, but I would need to test them with my trailer and WD hitch to determine if those big old semi's are going to push us around!
Good comparison. A better comparison would have been a 6.2L gas F-250 vs. the 5.0L gas F-150.
I would have liked the gas F-250 also as the step to diesel once reaching the F-250 is another level IMO.
A gas 7.3 is on the list for this fall.
Yes and comparable rear differential gearing when testing the different motors/ trucks
Excellent thank you so much for this, I was breaking my head with these decision, I'm feeling more confident buying the F-150 now!
🧐
I own 2016 f250 Diesel and 2017 f150 5.0. I tow slightly more weight and get around 11 mpg with the diesel. Only towed a couple of times with the 150 and was around 8mpg way less weight than you guys. Do have to say breaking and handling way above the 150 in the 250!
I do love both my trucks for much different reasons.
Fun video! 😎
Thank you, because I was wondering about this very issue as my 27ft (31ft with tow lip) new 2021 travel trailer is scheduled to be delivered end of this month. My truck is 2019 F150 Lariat 2.7L V6, FX4 with tow package and we did get a heavy duty WD hitch to go with the new trailer which has almost 7600lbs grouse weight. I feel better now. Thank you again. Of course I will be driving slow, and take my time.
You guys should do a drag race with the same weight trailers attached! We all know based on previous videos how close these trucks are to 60mph side by side EMPTY, but how close will they actually be with 9k lb trailers behind them!?? 👍🏻👍🏻
And y'all didn't compare fuel cost of diesel compared to 87 octane, which would've made the point even moreso. It's part of the reason I sold my older 3/4 ton diesel for a new 1/2 ton. Another interesting video, fellas. Thanks!
love your vids and not to be picky the f250 shoulda been the 6.2 gas engine to make a better comparison i understand its hard to get specific trucks to do these tests tho
Thank you so much for doing these tests. It sure makes is so much easier to select the correct truck to pull my new RV. Awesome :)
I'm amazed at how bad these 6.7 diesel trucks are on fuel. They're barely edging out the gas trucks even towing as seen here. It seems like the older trucks with diesels are much better in spite of all this tech.
Just delete your egr and dpf. I tow 14,000#'s every other day with my 6.7, up and down Ozarks hills at freeway speeds, and never get below 14mpg.
That's because the government wrecks them with EPA B.S. You can get much better mileage out of the diesel with some aftermarket work.
@@hannibalsmith1194 admittedly I'm no expert on pollution statistics and whatnot, but it seems to me that the government has an unreasonable phobia of diesels. Much more efficient, and can do much more work in the same amount of fuel, but "it's smelly, Smokey, loud and scary! Needs to be regulated to death!" Lol
The more HP and torque you use costs more fuel. The older diesels were more fuel efficient because they weren't tuned for higher numbers just for bragging rights. But they got the job done and ran for a long long time.
Also; these guys are in the Rocky mountains near Denver, Co. from 4000 ft elevation up to just under 12,000 ft elevation. Fuel economy is not going to be as good as if driving the flat roads of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, etc.
Here in the Texas panhandle pulling 9,000 + and getting >14mpg in my 2020 F250 6.7 PS.
Great to see Andre and Mr. Truck back at it !
You should do a similar test with Chevy and dodge 1500 vs 2500
Raptor867 I recently towed a 3500 lb camper with a 2.8L Colorado from the shores of the Cheasapeake Bay to the peak of Mt Rodgers. Whether in traffic or traveling downhill, I felt in complete control of my pickup and trailer.
I have a gas F150 and my son has a diesel F250. I tow a race car trailer about 7500 lbs, and the 150 tows it fine, of course the F250 pulls it better but frankly I hate the ride. And empty it's really bad, my son calls my truck a baby truck but overall for the 10 times I tow a year the F150 is a better overall package. The fuel I would save with a diesel would never pay for the added cost and the chiropractor bills for my back.
I literally asked myself this question when cross shopping an ecoboost vs power stroke. Is the $9k worth it? I’m a proud owner of a twin turbo Ranch. Not worth it for me and it will never pay off.
I would really prefer to see you test with [1] a rv travel trailer with 9000 lbs and [2] and comparing a 3.5 ecoboost in that kind of review! That's more like the real world scenario, but a good job anyway.
I'd like to also see a similar test comparing a 2500HD SIlverado gas truck to a Silverado 1500 3.0L Duramax (once the 3.0L is available)
This might be dumb lol, but I love the new music you guys played for this video!
"Do You Really Need a Heavy Duty Truck to Tow 9,000 lbs? "
Yes, you do.
No, you don’t.
This is an excellent review. I have been looking for a video like this. I tow a 5200 lbs dry TT with an '12 F-150 5.0 with HD tow it is rated at 7800 lbs. Power is not a problem but even with load level/sway control I do feel a bit of the tail wagging the dog on a windy day. Curious of how much different the same trailer would feel on a F-250. If were shopping for an F-250 and not needing the extra torque of the diesel I would go with gas for cheaper, easier fuel access and I believe less expensive engine maintenance. Thanks for creating this!
Went from a Tundra to a 2500 Ram , towing a 7000 lb travel trailer. Significant difference /improvement in ride quality and ability to maintain speed on climbs and in traffic . Tundra had to shift a lot. Ram just stays in 5th gear even on long mountain passes and really doesn’t work hard. When I would get passed by a truck, I could feel the trailer getting pulled and would have to correct a lot. 6 hours in the tundra I was a bit worn out. , now much less fatigue , it’s a lot different, well worth it.
Why you guys stopped doing MPG loops with empty trucks because that was very helpful to us? Not everyone is going tow with their truck 24 hours.
True, but I rarely drive my truck without a trailer. If I don’t need the trailer, I’m probably going to ride one of my motorcycles instead.
Pretty sure if you go back throughout the year you'll find empty fuel loop videos on these trucks.
Why buy a truck if you aren’t towing/hauling?
TeensierPython - I didn’t not say that they should not do videos while they are towing. Absolutely, I want to see it in both results with towing and without. However, everyone is different than others. For example, I have 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and I have not towed with yet since I bought it.
@@TeensierPython probably 90% of the trucks around me never pull a trailer or even load more than 100lbs in the bed. Sad very sad.
Yes been down that road with a 7300lb 900lb tongue weight traveler trailer and properly equipped half ton with 10,300 tow rating After one season traded to a 3/4 ton truck
This is why Ford is making the 7.3 gasser. It’ll likely be a great inbetweener if a “1/2 ton” is too little of a vehicle but a “3/4” ton” diesel may be too much.
I think the 7.3 is still going to be 3/4 ton territory. The F250 with the 6.2 would have handled this fine. The 7.3 is being introduced because there needs to be a middle ground between the gas and diesel as the diesel capacities are realistically getting ridiculous for pick ups
@@Dirtkid98505 true, I didnt mean to insinuate it would be put into the 150, but like the 6.2 it'll be on the slightly lower end of the heavy duty spectrum. If we go by Ford's word that it was designed for good power and fuel economy, on a test like this it may have really shined above either of these trucks (taking into account price of course).
I'm not a Ford fan, but the 7.3 really is a masterpiece. It was designed more for commercial/fleet customers. Diesels have become prohibitively expensive on fleet scale (where Ford makes most of it's truck sales). They cost more to run due to rising diesel fuel costs, general maintenance, etc. and don't last nearly as long due to emissions restrictions. This makes the 7.3 a great option.
Yes! The V10 is a great engine.
IMO, 7.3L isn't directly in between the 1/2 gas and the 3/4 diesel, it's actually going to be a true alternative to the diesels for people that absolutely tow more than a 1/2 ton can handle but who aren't interested in paying $9,000 for a diesel option. The, 6.2L F250 is, I think, the actual middle ground between between your typical F150 and a diesel F250.
Our 18 f250 6.7 is a beast it will tow anything with ease.I have had many 1500 trucks and none tow like the f250 just pure confidence and control and power is unmatched.The gas motors will be at 3000-4000 on hills and headwinds and the 6.7 is still barely touching the gas pedal.It’s a world of difference!
I think all the emissions are choking Diesels half to death. Back in the good ole days they had a clear MPG advantage, especially towing.
Never thought about that. You prolly right
Most probably the most informative channel for those looking to buy and compare trucks for their specific requirements.. Well done gents.
Now blow both tires on the same side of the trailer doing 70 MPH. See which truck handles that better.
Hil Palmer if you buy quality tires and keep an eye on your tire pressures, what are the odds of that happening?
@@sniperdoug1969 Just saying... Something can happen to the trailer. My brother and his entire family was hauling a load of wood in a trailer and a weld broke lose on one side. Trailer yanked back and forth until it flipped. If he didn't have a 1-ton with the 7.3L diesel in it he more than likely would have been in the ditch. But with the weight of the truck being closer to the weight of the load he was able to keep it on the road. He needed to change his shorts!
@@sargenthp well who is at fault there? Seems like your idiot brother is.
Over the past nearly 50 years I have towed trailers weighing from a couple of thousand pounds up through 14-15,000 pounds! It is true that there are gas powered pickups that have the power and heft to do the job. However, from experience, if one does as much towing as I have one learns gas engines do not hold up like a well designed and built diesel engine! The first thing to go on a gas engine is usually the valves. My last gas big block needed a valve job at about 38,000 miles! My current diesel powered Ram has passed the 285,000 mile mark, no such problems! This is one of the 2 reasons big rigs are diesel! The other is diesels are about 40% more fuel efficient than a comparable gas engine! Now, if one tows any weight on a seldom basis, a gas powered pickup probably will do fine.
Oh no, you can't tow that trailer with a F-150, JD from BTBRV says no.......LOL he is gonna have a fit watching you guys. Keep up the great work fellas.
lol, JD is correct. TFL Just tested MPG numbers. JD doesn't ever mention MPG, it's all about payload, grunt (try taking both these trucks up the IKE), and safety/stability. The F250 is hauling that load without problems, the F150 is maxed out and you will "white knuckle" sooner rather than later.
Tflt
I love tflt. I'm always waiting for new videos to watch. Very well done. An abundance of information. Great bunch of guys. Ty
My personal motto...overkill my friends...always. For power, brakes, sway and over all safety
Totally agree. I flinch every time I see someone in a half ton towing a huge fifth wheel RV.
Obviously a 3/4 ton is the preferred truck but its not phesible for alot of people. For an occasional tow 1/2 tons do just fine. Just keep your distance and dont be an idiot. If your tailgating with a 30ft camper you'd likely crash in either truck.
Bill Waterhouse not mines, I'll take safe and stable, and the HDPP 1/2 ton tows and handling all the trailer I would want...37 ft, 8,400 dry, three slides. 😊
You have a little dick
@@hurricane8634 little dick and nice toys ... What's the problem ? Lol
I think my F-150 would do better than the one tested. It's a 2015 F150 XL 3.5L EB w/ HD tow package, 4X4, HD sway arms, HD leaf springs.. More like a work truck. Payload is over 2,000 lbs. I think that FX4 package actually tows less. I get 8 - 10 mpg when towing a 30ft. TT that weighs about 7,500 when loaded with all our stuff. If I get the wind behind me, or if I'm following a semi, it gets better.
All F150's are not the same.
Plus the extra maintenance costs for diesel at this level are not so wonderful...
Unloaded the diesel is like 15mpg at absolute best. Every mile on that truck will cost more for absolute certain, but it's safer, less stress/driver fatigue, and you could set the cruise control up the ike gauntlet in the 250 and maintain speed. That little gasser is running on borrowed time doing that every day. Industrial vs casual.
There are a few things you need to think about. First is tung weight on a bumper pull trailer. Tung weight will lift the front end reducing front traction and steering ability. The next thing is not if it will pull that weight, but how well it will stop all that weight. If your towing 9K with a 3K truck and you need to stop in a hurry, what do you think is going to happen? That's right, it's gonna push you. Stopping ability and safety is more important then pulling power. You can take your time getting up to speed, however stopping distance is almost always limited.
You need to review stopping ability with towing the max amount per the trucks maximum towing ratings.
20 years ago most people bought gas engine 250s or 2500s, now you “need” a diesel???? For what? My dad towed a big trailer with a Plymouth Satellite station wagon, 3 on the tree. Wasn’t fast but got it done.. Has everyone gone bat shit mad?
diesel wasnt available until 94, what were they suppose to use?
@@harleyhawk7959 A big block gas engine idiot
That IS a nice watch. Good to see Mr. Truck again. Where have you been?
Now if you need to up the payload a bit, I think the F250 6.2 V8 gas really shines.
On flat ground at highway speed, it's not the trailer's weight that hurts the mpg, but rather the aero drag.
I got 12mpg towing a boxy, flat front, 3,600# 6x12 cargo trailer across Florida with my '15 5.0 truck at 70mph.
And I got 18mpg towing a U-Haul car dolly with a 3,200# Nissan Altima on it at the same speed in the same place.
Even with the enclosed trailer completely empty (~1,200#), I was still lucky to see 13mpg.
Definitely agree with what some say, if you tow near 10,000lbs often go for a bigger truck. It's goin to drive better and safer with the heavy load, but they should have done diesel vs diesel.
They test with the trucks they're given. Duh.
The thing is, that while the test is interesting, no one buying an 8000 lb. travel trailer is going to be driving on flat roads all the time. If they want to take it anywhere, they're going to have to manage hills, mountains, winds, passing, and other obstacles. MPGs, while a consideration, is only a small part of the issue.
Thanks for another great video, I really enjoy your channel. I had this exact debate lately (10,000lbs trailer), ended up with the 2019 F250 diesel, not because I needed it in the end, but because I wanted it and I could!
How about going up and down hills loaded? The diesel would definitely outperform the 5.0. And im not even a 6.7 fan lol.
I'm not a fan of the new Ford trucks, their 6.7s you cant even work on them yourselves, that's why I went with a cummins
I get 9 mpg on a 2005 ram 1500 hemi towing 10000 every single day.
Keep crying.
mtrujillo1973 ford fanboy is mad
@@JTW221 hows the cummins? I been interested in a new one just wondering if there are anything you dont like?
With the max tow package you can get quite a bit more than 9k lb towing capacity on the F150. It steps you up to the 3.5L and 3.73 rear end.
I started watching this because I thought you would be comparing the 6.2l Gas HD vs the 5.0l half ton. I think that would have been a better comparison especially on the price and fuel mileage sides
Ya definitely
Best I've done with my 2017 superduty 6.2 was 9 mpg pulling 10,000 lb fifthwheel. I had a 2012 powerstroke and the best mpg with same fifthwheel was 12
They can only do what Ford gives them.
@@OpenAirAdventure what is your mpg unloaded?
@@alextrainor2552 14 city 17 highway with the 6.2 , I dont have those numbers for the powerstroke because it was two years ago.
Great video guys, they are just fun to watch even though I have no intention of spending the insane money a new truck cost now days.
You don't NEED a HD to tow those loads, but you also have to think about longevity and comfort. For instance, I've maxed out my 4Runner towing a few times; it doesn't break down, but it's not very fun either. If I had to tow over 9-10,000 lbs regularly I'd probably think about a HD, they don't cost that much more any way.
Cars And Zebras all depends on how often you do it,once a year,I personally don’t think you need a diesel,I’ve been running my 5.0 f150 loaded back and forth to Wisconsin to move and while it would be nice the few times I’ve been loaded really heavy it makes no sense for rest of the time to deal with a diesel.
@@mitchvus - I hear what you're saying, but I'm not taking about a diesel. I just mean a heavy duty, can be a gas engine, just for better longevity if you tow larger loads frequently.
It would’ve been kinda cool if the got the diesel F150 to make it even closer of a comparison. There is a large difference between gas and diesel. Still great video!👍🏻
I agree with the others. TEST BRAKING!!!
*TEST EMERGENCY BRAKING
I didn't think that would read as, "test it as if driving miss daisy".@@mattbrew11
I have 500,000 miles on my F150 towing 11,000 lbs the entire time. Duo servo hydraulic brakes on the trailer. Stopping is easy. Keeping the brakes cool on a 10 mi 6% downgrade is another matter. Diesel with engine braking is nice.
I do understand your objective here. And deciding on a big 3/4 ton or 1 ton diesel pickup versus a little 1/2 ton gas pickup is real world. It is a really big jump as far as capability, across the board. To me, if the manufacturers can nail down reliability issues, right in the middle of these two types of pickups is the diesel 1/2 ton pickup. I really wish that segment would be more and more refined like the 3/4 ton/1 ton segment has. Also, on another note, I was surprised and disappointed at the poor mpg of the F250 Powersmoke in this test.