It doesnt get the press the other 3 engines do, but I really do believe the 3.7 is a damn fine truck motor. For someone who uses it like you do(reg cab truck, light to moderate payload and towing), it is a perfect motor. Plenty of grunt for that and great fuel economy to boot. I honestly believe in 10 years everyone will look back and think of the 3.7 as that great motor no one ever talked about. And, as has been pointed out by multiple publications, the 3.7 is better than many of the midrange V8 options other manufacturers offer. Just an all around great motor.

 

Yep, and if they offered it with a manual transmission I'd have one in my driveway.

 

I said you can get the HD package, didnt say he had one.

If numbers on paper are nothing than what else is there to go by? If you cant believe the numbers on paper then you cant believe the numbers for any vehicle. Fact is the numbers for the F150 are relatively close to the F250 gas, no sense in bumping up to a more expensive vehicle that will cost you more to operate that will only marginally provide better performance. If your going F250 get a real truck and get a diesel. Only being able to tow 1200lbs more and few extra pounds paylod does not warrant a f250 gasser.

 

Have you ever towed with an F250 compared to an F150? I loved my F150, but the difference is night and day. And my F250 only has 1999 lbs of payload capacity.

Also, the F350 and F250 are basically the same truck (save a few minor differences). Even though the F250 may only have a few hundred more pounds of payload, it is rated to tow that 24/7 and has more safety margin built in.

Not to mention, the F250 comes with load range E tires, which is another huge difference. I will take an F250 NEAR capacity over an F150 AT capacity any day of the week, and twice on Sunday!

 

Yes I have I owned a 2007 and 2008 F250 both diesels. I have towed 4-5k loads and a 9500k load with both trucks. The lower load is no difference at all, the heavier load is different but I would no way say its night and day. I got rid of the diesels because they werent providing anything signifcant that I needed. Now if I was towing that 9500lb boat or 10k 2-3 times a week and had thousands of pounds in the bed, you bet your butt I would be in a F250. But I sure wouldnt waste my time on the F250 gas.

Reality of the matter is most guys do not tow regularly its probably 10% of the time or less. And most guys tow 4-7000lbs, which well within the relm of any modern day 1/2 ton. Im guessing this guy has a 3-4k trailer and a 300lb quad, hes is fine. I agree with towing at capacity and I am close. Boat tongue is 600lbs wife and I weigh 300lbs. I have 1100lbs to play with pay load and around 1500lb towing to play with, but I fit into the average guy, I tow that boat 30mins maybe 10-12 times during the summer than that is it.

I have always thought if you go F350 your wasting your money, your better off saving your money and go F250 because they are almost identical and if you need the the power go F350 DRW or F450.

 

I have heard great things about the 6.2L gasser in the F250. It, coupled with the 6 speed tranny are pretty impressive, and tows extremely well. I considered going that route instead of my '08 diesel. My 8k lb (empty) fifth wheel is more than I would feel comfortable towing with a half ton, though, technically, the F150 would pull it.

I agree with that 100%, especially on the F2/350 comment.

Bottom line, for me, is that I feel much more comfortable with a heavier truck towing my fiver than I would with an F150, but I would be at the limits of the F150. I tow probably 10-15% of the time, but I want to be within my limits, with a little cushion during that time, especially with my wife and 3 kids on board. If I were towing 7500 or less (loaded), then I would probably be in an F150.

 

An 8k fifth wheel I think I would be in the same boat as you in getting a diesel. Reason being is the wind resistance and that thing will be a sail. Its good to research everything and know the numbers and know what you are actually doing. There are to many people that by 1/2 tons and will try to pull everything on gods green earth. Then you have folks that just get the big trucks because they think they need a big truck and its just not true.

 

It is down-right scary to see what some folks pull with a half-ton though. And it doesn't help that RV salesmen tell you "you've got a V8, you can pull anything on the lot". One told me that when we were buying our first trailer and I had a regular cab, short bed F150. I wanted to smack him, but I just told him he was full of it and walked away instead.