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Experiences towing a TJ with an F150?

21K views 43 replies 32 participants last post by  rvator 
#1 ·
Weighing my options for a tow vehicle (again). Anyone towing with an F150?
 
#2 ·
If you are flat towing, I would think a 150 would be fine. If trailering, I would look for a 250 diesel.
 
#4 ·
If you're going to to tow a LOT I'd look to a diesel. The F150 should be fine but it will not have the torque a diesel produces. What elevation are you at and what trailer loaded weight?

Up until recently I towed with a Jeep Commander 5.7L Hemi. It did surprisingly well considering we're at. 7K feet and go up to 13,000K. It's a beast once you get below 6K feet, that little bit of extra oxygen makes a huge difference! I added air bags to rear axle, Primus IQ brake controller and a trailer with brakes on BOTH axles. If your trailer can tow 7K pounds it should be able to stop 7K pounds.

I recently bought a F350 Dually CC Long box to trailer with and there's no comparison!! A buddy tows with a Tundra and it seems on par with the Commander but with a better transmission.
 
#5 ·
If you have the choice, Bigger is Better.

But I flat tow or trailer my TJ with '06 F150 4x4 5.4 no problem. I believe the tow capacity is somewhere around 9000#
 
#7 ·
Bigger is always better, but I'm trying to budget myself. :)

The other reason I'm considering an F150 is because it would be my daily driver. I do a little over 40 miles round-trip (sometimes in heavy traffic).

I was loaned a Toyota Tundra to tow from Chicago to Moab and back again. It was very easy. Cruise control didn't work in the steep grades of Colorado. It was such a small fraction of the drive that I didn't really mind. Though I know there are differences in models that vary their power and capability, the Tundra is also a half-ton pickup.

Comparing the two, though, I much prefer the F150's layout over the Tundra. It just feels a lot more "open," which is a nice benefit for a driver that's almost six and a half feet tall.
 
#9 ·
Bigger is always better, but I'm trying to budget myself. :) The other reason I'm considering an F150 is because it would be my daily driver. I do a little over 40 miles round-trip (sometimes in heavy traffic). I was loaned a Toyota Tundra to tow from Chicago to Moab and back again. It was very easy. Cruise control didn't work in the steep grades of Colorado. It was such a small fraction of the drive that I didn't really mind. Though I know there are differences in models that vary their power and capability, the Tundra is also a half-ton pickup. Comparing the two, though, I much prefer the F150's layout over the Tundra. It just feels a lot more "open," which is a nice benefit for a driver that's almost six and a half feet tall.
The 2015/16 f150s would be perfect for heavy traffic. They have the auto engine on/off. What it does is when you press the brakes for a long period of time, it shuts the engine off to help with fuel economy. I love mine. Here's a pic of it.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Pickup truck Automotive tire
 
#10 ·
Towed a jeep xj on 44 and 9" with 38s on heavy metal trailer as well as a toyota truggy and I believe one of my tjs at one time all with a 2009 f150 single cab 4.6.

Was a complete TURD but I guess I got there and back. I now have a 2011 chevrolet silverado 5.3 and it is like night and day towing my tj. I love my Chevy!!

I have heard the new fords aren't as bad........
 
#19 · (Edited)
You do realize that 3500 lb limit includes the weight of the trailer itself? :doh2:


Anyway, my friends have a 2014 F150 that tows their Jeep fine on day trips. They use their monster 7.3 PS diesel when they bring their camper.
 
#21 ·
I tow a boat and trailed that weigh in close to 9,000 lbs. you definitely know it's back there, but it does fine for a half ton.

My truck is a 2009 with 140k miles and the 5.4 engine. The truck is as solid and strong as it was the day I drove it off the lot.
 

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#26 ·
A quick update: I found a 2011 F150 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew with Max Tow package. I finally brought it home about a month and a half ago.

I towed my TJ on a flat bed to various off-roading parks during Memorial Day weekend. It hauls like a champ. I'm really happy with it.

I've never owned a pickup truck before, so I'm figuring out all the great things I can do with it. I took my hard doors off and locked them up in the bed of the truck while hitting the trails. Very happy to have more storage space!

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Pickup truck Automotive tire
 
#27 ·
I have a 2500 diesel and it can pull almost anything but that doesn't make it legal. Do all your trailers have brakes? Remember a F150 or Tundra is a 1/2 ton pickup, not made to pull and stop a lot of weight. You have to be able to stop what ever your pulling. If you have an accident the lawyers will have a hay day if your overweight etc.. When you purchase a truck the dealerships will tell you anything to make a sale. Ask them to put what your towing etc.. in writing and they will say something else. Happens all time when people buy campers/5th wheels.
 
#29 ·
Towing and cargo are two different things. My neighbor has a 2014? f150, he said it was rated for 11,500lbs. I didn't believe him, but I looked into it and he was correct. Each state has different laws on how much you can tow before you need trailer brakes. It's generally as low as 3,000lbs. A 1/2 ton pickup is built to pull and stop a lot of weight.
 
#30 ·
has anyone weighted their jeep? took mine to the farm store and weighted it without any extra junk, just the jeep with an almost full tank of fuel. 1997 tj, no carpet just rubber mats, no lift, just oversize tires (265's) full soft top installed, jeep has A/C. pretty much stock. no driver, jeep weighted 3280 lbs.
 
#35 ·
My trailer has no brakes but my truck is able to sense a load on it so it adjusts the braking and accelerating accordingly they have an optional trailer brake system but with all the technology in this 2015, it's useless unless I'm well over the trucks limits! My f150 hauls this jeep like a champ. And since it's the 2.7l TT it still gets exceptional mpg. Roughly 20-22
 
#38 ·
Heres the rule for brakes in Louisiana.

LOUISIANA
A trailer or semitrailer that weighs at least 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to hold the towing vehicle and trailer or semitrailer.

These brakes must be designed so that the driver of the towing motor vehicle can apply the brakes from the towing vehicle itself and adequately stop both the towing vehicle and the trailer or semitrailer.

Every trailer or semitrailer manufactured after 1962 must be equipped with brakes upon all wheels.

Every trailer or semitrailer between 3,001 and 5,000 lbs. only requires brakes on 1 axle.
 
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