Your thoughts on this brand new truck?

[SoulRaven]

Your thoughts on this brand new truck?

2014 Ford F150 XL 2wd painted white reg cab 8 foot box V6 6-speed auto 19 mpg epa sticker air cond tilt wheel rear step bumper trailer tow package w/ class 3 frame mount hitch 3.73 limited slip axle $27K sticker price 6750 gvw

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

2wd? whats the point lol

 

[SoulRaven]

2wd? whats the point lol

I don't plan on ever driving on ice or snow in the future and don't need the extra 500 lbs of 4wd hardware that's the point!

It's going to tow a 3000 pound 2007 Sunline Que travel trailer

 

[LeeRevell]

Will your current truck camper fit the back of the F150? Do you intend to anchor yourself to monthly payments for a couple/few years?

 

[SoulRaven]

I am not going to use the cap from my old beast. New truck will get a new alum tool box as deep as the bed with a 5hp 2200 watt gasoline generator I have in stock.

No payments I have cash. All new 2015 alum bodies are on the lot this is steel body leftover. If I can get it for $22k going to have to make a decision.

Retiring and going full time pulling a to be purchased 2007 Sunline Que.

I paid $10K for my 1992 Chevy brand new and it's still worth $1500 as a beater work truck with only 140k miles.

 

[Bdog1]

Less truck more travel....

 

[akrvbob]

I like to buy too much truck, not too little truck. I'd be concerned about the low GVWR and too small an engine for the trailer.

I'm sure it's within Ford's tow rating but I think those are very optimistic. If you are only going to tow very periodically no problem, if you are going to full-time I'd be concerned.

Of course my perceptions are colored by the big mountains we have out west, you'll be crawling up them. If you are going to be strictly east coast then it might be okay. The high point of Florida is 300 feet, it can probably climb that hill
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

– 3.7L 4V DOHC V6 and Flex Fuel capability delivers 302 hp and 278 lb.-ft. of torque

Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight – Automatic Transmission

3.73 axle 6,700 lbs GCWR 11,700 lbs

 

[masterplumber]

What Bob said. I burned up a transmission on the only 1/2 ton I ever owned towing a 5000 lb trailer in Colorado. the truck was rated to tow 6000 lbs and I was not pushing it. However , if it will work for you, $22k is about the right price. I've bought a lot of trucks over the years for work, and I once had an honest and open sales person I dealt with. He told me 18% of msrp is fleet price, and once in a while you can get 20% off at the end of the year, especially if they updated the model significantly.

 

[cyndi]

I don't think I could ever own a truck with a regular cab, again. there's just not enough room.

 

[SoulRaven]

Ford F-150 XL Long Bed Regular Cab Pickup Packages

Trailer Tow Pkg, Class IV - $375
Trailer towing preparation includes: trailer hitch IV; Heavy duty suspension; Heavy duty battery; Heavy duty engine cooling system; Auxiliary transmission cooler; 7-Pin trailer wiring harness; Transmission: automatic with manual mode

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My travels are going to take me up and down I-95 on an annual basis. While in the western Pocono’s for six months the trailer is going to sit in a seasonal campground with a three point hookup and there will be no towing at all.

If I go to the shore in the summer I will be taking camping gear=screen room tent cots Coleman stove lantern etc and the trailer is going to be left behind.

At 8:30 AM in SW Fla the temp is 57, humidity is 97% with a high of 80 degrees at 2pm with an overnight low tonight of 64.

Photos of the RTR show folks wearing coats in the middle of the day huddling together like emperor penguins fighting off the wind and cold due to lack of humidity so why would I ever what to leave the East Coast?

 

[jimindenver]

Go west young man. 97% humidity? OMG I think I would die. lol

We got our 04 Heritage F 150 4x4 for $15000 out the door because the released the new body style a year earlier than planned. It's not much of a tow vehicle but man is it fun in 3 feet of snow or on the 4x4 trails. Outside of basic maintenance it has only needed a set of tires. I hope you have as much luck with yours.

 

[SoulRaven]

I almost bought an 04 Heritage F150 2wd V6 auto 8 foot box for $12k and still regret not pulling the trigger.

 

[LeeRevell]

Of course my perceptions are colored by the big mountains we have out west, you'll be crawling up them. If you are going to be strictly east coast then it might be okay. The high point of Florida is 300 feet, it can probably climb that hill
Bob

Google says:
"Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest point in peninsular Florida at 312 feet (95 meters) above sea level. It is in Lake County, near the town of Clermont. This compares to 345 feet (105 meters) above sea level for the highest point in the entire state, Britton Hill, located in the Florida Panhandle."

North Florida is rather hilly, which can surprise out-of-staters. We are flat only on the coastal areas. And palm trees are NOT native here.

 

[highdesertranger]

be weary of what the manufacturers quote for gvwr, tow capacities, and hp ratings. highdesertranger

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for dependability 1/2 tons should only be used for the lightest towing chores. highdesertranger

 

[idn88]

Nothing wrong with a new truck, and nothing wrong with 2wd either. Having said that, I think I agree with the others on the V6. Nonetheless, if you do it have the dealer add a really good trans cooler (so its covered under warranty), and take it light on the peddle - youll likely be OK.

 

[cdiggy]

Usually when I push the limits of my machinery I am disappointed by a failure so I always go for overkill to prevent the big let down. Just my two cents.

 

[keithej2]

I have 2013 with the 5.0 but the 3.7 is more than enough for a 3000 lb trailer. My old 2006 with the v6 (a lot less motor and 4 speed) hauled a trailer that size easy. A little slow in the mountains but you won't know it's back there on the flat. The newer F150s are a lot more truck than they used to be.

The trans temp gauge is pretty accurate but you won't overheat heat unless you tow a much larger trailer.

You may be able to get that truck for 19 or 20k. That's what the work trucks are going for around here. Look around at some other dealers if they won't go down to 20.

Good luck with your truck shopping and retirement plans. I envy you. I have to work 9 more years before I can retire.

Oh, I really love my F150. Hope you enjoy whatever you end up getting.

 

[akrvbob]

Keithej2 makes a good point, the new F150s are much better than the old ones and the main reason is the transmission. With a 6 speed the smaller engine can stay in the power band where our old 351s and 302s couldn't. They made power but couldn't get it to the ground because of the 3-speed tranny.

If that has the 6 speed, it might be fine with trailering.
Bob

 

[jimindenver]

There is a big difference between towing with my 03 Expy with a 4 speed and the 07 with a 5 speed. A 6 speed would be even better.

One thing I didn't notice on the tow package was the rear end gears. Usually with a tow package you get a better ratio.