Class A Diesel Towing Ford F150

champ_49 · October 25, 2016

Considering towing a Ford F150 behind a Class A Diesel. Anyone doing it and if so what are the pro's and con's of doing so? Also the Coach will be in the 35' to 40' range

Kirk W · October 25, 2016

Is it a manual transmission? If so it should not be a problem. I never towed a diesel but we did tow a Ranger manual transmission for several years without any problems.

BlueLghtning · October 25, 2016

I think he meant the coach was Diesel, not the truck. Ford doesn't make a F150 Diesel.

From what I'm reading, if it's 4x4, the F150 can be flat towed just fine after certain years and I would guess most are auto in this config. Looking online, it appears around 2012 the F150 was updated to be flat towed. I haven't looked into that extensively though. - http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/ford-f150-4x4-now-flat-towable-112404.html

Found this on getting the electronic 4x4 transfer case into N. I would imagine before this, you couldn't put the electronic transfer case into N which is why they couldn't be flat towed - http://community.fmca.com/topic/3545-towing-ford-f-150-four-wheels-down/

I'm guessing the OP is looking more for opinions about carrying a F150 which is a larger toad behind a Diesel Class A and how well it works. I see lots of references out there, so appears quite a few are doing it.

champ_49 · October 25, 2016

Kirk and BlueLghting

I am considering purchasing a Class A diesel and want to tow my 2012 Ford F-150 all wheels down. With purchasing the motorhome I need a toad to haul and I have the Ford. I question one thing. It will be heavier than most toads and don't know if a diesel will handle it or not with the 35 - 40 ft motorhome. Don't want to run into trouble, but also don't want to purchase a car also.

So this is speculation, not something that I have done yet. I have a 40' Bighorn 5th wheel that's hauled by a 2000 Ford F-350 dually 7.3 diesel now. Both are in excellent condition and it hauls very well. Would like to go to class A once again I'm thinking. In the looking stage right now.

BlueLghtning · October 26, 2016

I can't really help you if the Class A can handle a F150 toad, but I think being a Diesel and the size you are looking at shouldn't be too bad. I would guess the first place to start is the towing capabilities of the coaches you are looking at and how much of that the F150 is going to take up. Maybe also the different HP/Torque available from the Diesel engines that you might find in these coaches. From the searches I did earlier, an F150 or other 1/2 ton trucks as a toad aren't totally out of the question it appears.

Hopefully someone with experience towing 1/2 ton trucks can chime in and let you know their experience.

lenp · October 26, 2016

I tow a 2012 F150 4x4 behind my 40' pusher. 2012 WAS the year Ford introduced the transfer case that could be placed in neutral. I had a 2011 and considered a drive line disconnect but got a great deal on a left over 2012 so went that way. The motorhome has a tow rating of 10,000# and easily handles to truck even in VERY hilly terrain. Average around 7.5mpg.

The key is 2012 or newer 4x4. You did not say in your posts if your is a 4x4 or a 4x2. A 4x2 auto "could" be towed with a drive shaft disconnect. A 4x2 stick "should" be capable of being towed but recommend more research.

I would not recommend towing a F150 with anything less than 370-400 HP. And make sure the coach has at least 7-8000 tow rating (your F150 curb weight is likely 6000+ empty).

Good luck,

Lenp

Smitty77_7 · October 26, 2016

It's all about weight. Even a 370-400HP Diesel Pusher, could be taxed with the added weight of the 2012 F150 - IF the coach itself is a heavier unit. A 40' non tag with 400HP, would probably be fine. A 40' with tag, and thus another 2500-3000lbs, would not handle the extra weight as easily. Same thing can be said when comparing the weight of a 40' with the Freightliner and or Spartan chassis, to those that are built on a specialty chassis (Dynamax for County Coach; Roadmaster for Monaco (Upper end Monaco.) Foretravel also has their own chassis too.), these chassis usually also add more weight due components used and metal used. So that makes those 40' coaches heavier too...

I mentioned on another board, I believe to this question, that I'm considering the Aluminum F150 (I tease my buddy, that he helped build it for me, from all the Coors Lights he drinks:)!). That weight savings is signifiant. Making the F150 very close to the weight, and in some trims less then a Jeep Grand Cherokee, or even the Ford Explorer.

And finally. OK, so you pull the 2012 F150 behind a DP that is not ideally powered to handle the combined weight. So you go up hills a bit slower, and that would be OK. I feel it is more important on the down hills, or driving in traffic, having adequate braking capacity to handle the extra weight. Having a true Jake Compression Brake, even in the mid size Cummins 8.9 ISL, will give you better stopping capacity then an exhaust brake. Many 40' DP's came with the ISC (No longer being built.), and even some with the ISB 6.7, many have ISL's - but with Exhaust Brakes vs Compression Brakes. Exhaust Braking is better then no brake assist, but Compression Braking provide and added safety edge.

So, yes to the 2012 F150 as a toad. Even more so, with the right DP:)!

Best,

Smitty

Barbaraok · October 26, 2016

Need to look at the "Combined" (GCWR) for the coach and the hitch rating. Our coach has a 10,000 lb rated hitch and corresponding Combined weight rating of 10,000 over the gross vehicle weight . My question is what type of supplemental braking system are you going to add to the truck?

Barb

champ_49 · October 28, 2016

Okay, so it appears its a doable thing. Yes I understand all the weight things you are talking about as I was a fulltimer with a 40' 5th wheel and understand all to well about the weight. I will be putting a braking system in the truck if I decide to do this for sure. Not even sure that the truck is the way I want to go. The engine will be at least 400HP and hopefully an Allison transmission. I haven't found the rig I want yet as I'm just starting to put the numbers together on where to go from here. It will be a used coach with low mileage and one of the better brands. Looking at Tiffin, and Winnebago mostly, 2006 and up. Some slides, and that has been taken very good care of.

Thank you for all your input.

Dave

Retiredin1993 · November 3, 2016

Dave, I just set up my 2016 F150 to tow. Towed it from FL to Kentucky and back to FL and had no problems. Mine is a 2WD with a driveshaft disconnect, that also worked as advertised.

Jimalberta · November 4, 2016

I am towing a GMC 1500 ext cab with a polaris RZR on the back so figure approx 6500 tp 7000 lbs. the DP handles it just fine although it definitely is extra weight that I can feel.

Biggest problem with this truck is the electronic transfer case...very much a pita. I am considering selling this truck and buying an older one with a manual transfer case. I have talked to other owners of other makes who tow vehicles with electronic transfer cases ...they are all problematic at times.

hdrider · November 4, 2016

After towing a Jeep Rubicon almost 4 years we switched to a 2016 F150 a few months ago and have towed it from Oregon up through Colorado and down to Arizona with no issues.

Ray,IN · November 11, 2016

I am towing a GMC 1500 ext cab with a polaris RZR on the back so figure approx 6500 tp 7000 lbs. the DP handles it just fine although it definitely is extra weight that I can feel.

Biggest problem with this truck is the electronic transfer case...very much a pita. I am considering selling this truck and buying an older one with a manual transfer case. I have talked to other owners of other makes who tow vehicles with electronic transfer cases ...they are all problematic at times.

Jim, not to steal the thread, but the GM electronic transfer case must be shifted frequently or it seems to balk at going into Neutral. When I bought my '13 last July it would not shift to N. I sat it in on the dealers lot for ~ 15 minutes shifting it in/out of N until it would shift easily and faster, then signed the line.

Jimalberta · November 12, 2016

Ray...how is the transfer case working out as you tow the truck?

My biggest problem is getting the truck to go back into gear after a long tow....I am wondering if its getting hot and that might be the problem....I dunno. My tranny guy said to shift it and use 4x4 sometimes so as to get a bit of wear on it.