Found out a couple months ago that we are going to have a 4th kid, so I am using this as an excuse to get a truck. Front bench FTW! I'd want this to also serve as my tow vehicle, and I plan to get a 20' or 24' enclosed trailer for the Miata in the future. I think I've decided on what I want, but before I pull the trigger on anything I figured I'd open myself up to the MT.net brain trust.

The truck I'm thinking of going for is an F150 XLT SuperCrew, 6.5' bed, Max Tow, AND the Heavy Duty Payload Package. The combo of the Max Tow and the HDPP is not common, I'd need to order. The need for a truck isn't immediate, so I am okay with the wait knowing that it will be longer than usual given the factory shutdown. Why the unique combo? When I did the math on payload, considering tongue weight, 6 passengers, and random crap that 4 kids in a vehicle would need, the standard payload F150 would be marginal. The HDPP adds at least another 400 pounds of payload: enough to give me some headroom for not loading the trailer perfectly etc. The biggest downside (other than having to order) is that this limits the options I can have on the truck. Only thing I'd be giving up that I care about is heated seats, which can be added later.

Why not just get a SuperDuty? Fuel efficiency, primarily. A gas SD would be another $1,000 a year in fuel at current prices. Also, the purchase price would be higher as the incentives on SD trucks are lower to non-existent.

So, is there anything I'm missing in my thought pattern?

EDIT: Okay, you guys convinced me, 3/4 or 1 ton or bust!

 

Are you opposed to a diesel superduty? Not sure about your gas prices but diesel is roughly 40 cents cheaper than gas and i average 23hwy and 18city vs my 10 in a gas truck

Then towing/hauling with a diesel will be much better than any gas setup.

 

There are currently deals where Ford covers 3 months of payments and defers you making payments for 3 months.

Dealers are going to fight you to buy something in their inventory over ordering, especially with a nebulous factory production timeline.

If you wait until the last few days of NEXT month or the following one, after the virus has destroyed society and torpedoed their sales and the personal economies of many buyers, you will get the deal of a lifetime on anything in stock at the dealership.

 

Also, do you NEED a truck bed? Given all the kids, Consider a full size body on frame SUV

 

A 24ft enclosed is a good bit of trailer... unless you're shopping aluminum trailers, you're talking 4k lbs empty. Add a Miata, tools, tires, track stuff... 7k loaded is easy. Still well under the new 1/2 ton trucks' ratings, but add in hills and wind and a full cabin and I'd take a serious look at 3/4 ton trucks.

$1000 a year in fuel is like $85/month. Is the extra stability and capability (brakes and suspension) worth it? With your whole family loaded up? Only you can answer that.

Another factor that I rarely see discussed is fatigue. Towing with enough truck is easy and relaxed. Towing with too little truck is stressful and fatiguing. I'd rather arrive at the track fresh and ready to rock, and arrive home without being wiped out.

Buying a truck off a lot today might yield a great deal... lots of uncertainty for the future, but if the panic holds, the end of April could be an even better time to buy. If you hold out to order something, you probably won't see it until end of Summer at least.

YMMV.

 

Diesel is cheaper than gas by you?

On the east coast, diesel is same price as premium gas and 60 cents over regular gas. Thus negating most savings in diesel mpg vs gas

 

Thanks for the thoughts so far!

I did initially consider a BOF SUV like the Suburban or Expedition, but as Roda pointed out a 24' trailer is a pretty big load. The Expedition has the towing capacity to handle it per the spec sheet, but payload is again a concern. They are also significantly more expensive than pickups. If we are just going on a family trip (no trailer) then we have our minivan, and the open bed is useful for all sorts of things.

Waiting until next month is certainly an option, one that I'll probably take given the circumstances. I'm not anticipating any loss of income from the current economic upheaval, so I will still be in a good spot a month from now.

Re: diesel. Obviously there is a significant upcharge for the diesel engine. Diesel is also about $0.60/gallon more than gas around here. My commute is pretty short most days, which I've heard is murder on diesels on top of the existing maintenance nightmare that is the modern diesel emissions system. If I was going to be doing a ton of towing or hauling a fifth-wheel the equation might be different, but from what I've seen it sounds like gas is the best choice. Again though, I'm open to being convinced otherwise!

 

Didn't realize you also had a minivan in the fleet. in that case a pickup makes perfect sense as long as it wont be the primary kid hauler.

 

Yeah, probably should have mentioned that. Still want 6 seating positions for when the van is in the shop, or if we go to a longer-distance track day as a family. Suppose we could take two vehicles in that case too, but rather plan for a full load and not need it than get in a situation where we would be overloaded.

 

Ford trucks with Max Tow and HDDP had 7 lug wheels/hubs at one time. I don't know if the new ones are like this.
Brake and wheel parts are significantly more expensive and you have fewer choices in aftermarket.
May not matter to you. Just something I noticed in my repair business.

 

In your position, I would be taking a hard look at an F250 with the new 7.3 gas engine.

 

Don't tempt me!

If they made a plug-in hybrid SuperDuty so my commute gas usage wouldn't suck, that would pretty much be ideal. My wants/need are on the high end of the 1/2-ton, but the mileage penalty associated with the HD trucks gives me pause. Gas is cheap now, but who knows what it will be in the future. I remember when gas shot up to nearly $5/gallon and 20 year old Geo Metros were selling for $10k, good times.

 

Many companies have switched away from diesels for work trucks because of ten years of emissions systems experience (read expensive problems) in diesels. Loaded fuel economy hit is often offset by the cost difference in engines plus expensive repairs.

 

Gas here is $1.28 lol.
I have friends that are high on the chain at the ford truck plant. They're still scheduled to head back to work on the 13th. I'd still wait.
Also, the new Ford 7.3l gasser is a BEAST.

Now i'd have to say that i wouldn't even be worried tugging 7k with a 5.3 or an ecoboost if it has the 10 speed. That transmission is a game changer.

Also, you'll see a hybrid & electric pickup before long.

 

Do you still have emissions in Oregon? I know here in WA we just got rid of all emissions this year?

 

You will regret buying a 1/2 ton truck to tow a 24ft enclosed trailer.

 

Bro, no judgement, I get it... but appears as though you've made up your mind and are looking for validation. You will regret buying an F-150 for this application.

HINT: The literal bottom *** end of the oil industry just fell off after a decent 4yr run. When I say "THE BOTTOM", I'm talking about guys who were multi-millionaires a month ago trying to figure out how to feed their kids. Futures were looking good and people were starting to make ******* amounts of cash again after the 2015 ****-show. The coronavirus just fucked everything up, and lots of bubbas just went ****-up broke as **** overnight.

Their loss, however... look for a massive selloff of later-model diesel pickups in TX/NM/OK in the coming months. Nothing wrong with a 6.7 Powerstroke... 2015 or later King Ranch would be an alpha-bro move.

Personally, after spending the past 2 years here on Kauai with a neighbor with a flatbed, I'm sold. No more regular-bed trucks for this guy. A custom wood and steel flatbed with removable rails and plenty of tiedowns is the way to go. Sooooo much more user friendly and way less give-a-**** about how you treat it.

 

Well, you guys (and others) convinced me. I'll start searching for a SuperDuty.

It will be interesting to see what Ford does for Q2 incentives: on one hand sales are way down. On the other, they aren't building anything either. Haven't heard whether the automakers are making any adjustments to their floor plan financing to assist dealers, might have some desperate dealers in a few weeks.

 

Dont know if your sold on fords but I really enjoy my diesel ram 2500

 

not to sound like a broken record, but to agree with those above..

IF mind is set on that type of payload and towing capacity needed with a trailer that size, I'd be heading down the SD path and not looking back. The 6.7 SD is a fantastic truck. Pay to play like anything else, and while towing with a SD you will have zero regrets about your decision. Money you spend up front for the diesel, you will get back when it comes to resale.

IF willing to go down to a smaller trailer, I'd consider a half ton. This is the bucket I fall into currently. I tow so infrequently, maybe 3-4 times per year, and when I do its a small open trailer for the miata usually. The upfront cost, maintenance, and fuel savings over the diesel option has led me to be really happy with my 2018 Silverado 1500 so far. If I ever get to the point where towing more frequently or heavier becomes a thing, I'd be trading in for a diesel without question.