Ram 1500 EcoDiesel VS Ford F150 EcoBoost to pull a 7600 lb Airstream

[jamesbford]

Folks, I am a newbie both in the field of pickup trucks and trailers in general, Airstreams in particular. My wife and I have decided to pull a 28' Airstream around the country for the next few years as we're fresh into retirement and are looking for new adventures.
I really like the 1500 EcoDiesel. I've test driven it, and the salesman says there would be no problem to pull 7600 lbs. I'm thinking it might be able to pull the trailer when all is perfect, but I am uncertain whether the 1500 is enough truck when conditions aren't ideal, like descending a mountain pass. A buddy says the new Ford 150 is the truck I should get. I checked it out, but like the 1500 more with its nicer interior and especially with the history of Cummins powering it.
I am interested in any learned, experienced opinions from this forum whether it's safe and easy to pull the trailer with the 1500 EcoDiesel or whether I would be better off going with the larger 2500 Cummins which would be awkward given our garage space. Many thanks in advance. Jim Ford Kensington Maryland.

 

[mpaulson]

Cummins is not powering the 1500, VM Motori is the engine maker. The Cummins is in the 2500, 3500, 4500 & 5500 trucks. It is a great engine from what I've heard and read, no personal experience with it my self. If you want to be sure you could get the same truck as a 2500 and get the Cummins, then you definetly have enough truck for anything the road puts in front of you.

 

[NIsaacs]

Since you are going to full time it, I would go with the larger 2500.

Nick

 

[Tuesdak]

I wouldn't drag a trailer around the country with a truck intended to be a daily driver first and towing as an afterthought for occasional good weather weekends. 3/4 ton diesels pull trailers around the country and do so every day of the week especially for RV haulers.

1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton on up: Clutch cooling fan vs. wimpy sedan type daily driver electric fans, better bigger brakes, better frame, and stronger springs. I'd take a stripped down 3/4t over a Laramie 1/2 ton any day - IMO 1/2t just not enough truck for towing. I wouldn't give the salesman's opinion 2 cents of credit. He will take your money a second time when you trade the 1/2t for a 3/4t...

EcoBoost = EcoGuzzle while towing as the MPG drops through the floor working so hard. Standard for all gas engines to get in the single digit MPG when towing. On a grades everywhere parts delivery route I ran Diesels are 10MPG to 15MPG towing generally depending on engine, trans, and 4x4. (Rat Rod GM 6.5TD 7MPG stock and 10 MPG highly modded to 15MPG with a 2003 5.9 Cummins with a 6 speed Manual 2wd.) Gas engines are 6 MPG on that route.

Towing with a V6 gas engine requires the "slow farm tractor" orange triangles applied to your trailer on any hill let alone a grade. V-8 and V-10 gas engines have to wind up and work hard risking something blowing up when towing. Like the AC belt coming off the engine, Torque Converter Clutch burning up... Diesels work hard and don't mind as much as the gas engines do.

Even so given the choice I would pick a 6.4L Hemi in a 3/4ton truck vs. a 1/2 ton anything.

 

[GrantP]

I think you need more truck than either of those. I have spent a couple thousand miles in an ecoboost F-150 and was impressed with what that little V6 could do but I wouldn't want to pull a 28' trailer with it. As others mentioned, the ecodiesel is not a Cummins product but an Italian built diesel and there is no comparison to be made between the two (other than the number of cylinders). The chassis and engine in the 2500 are much more suitable (and safe) for what you're wanting to do.

 

[TFucili]

Since you are going to full time it, I would go with the larger 2500.

Nick

Good advice. It will be a relaxed tow with a 2500(whether 6.4 Hemi or a Cummins). A 1/2 ton will do it, but in any kind of adverse conditions you will be "working harder" behind the wheel.

 

[jgillott]

I have nearly 100k on my 1/2 ton Ram in my signature. Excellent truck top to bottom. It has been used very hard and it has virtually been trouble free.

With that said, I would not be pulling 7500#+ with it full time. It's just not enough truck to do it comfortably and maintain reliability. Trust me when I tell you that I have pulled with it, and the brakes, tires, etc. are just not sufficient enough for full time duty.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic. I just want you to have a great experience in your travels.

 

[Ozymandias]

And just to mention it, the 2500 Cummins has the Engine Brake from Factory a BIG Safety Plus when going Downhill with a Trailer.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

X10 what everyone has already mentioned. You are already aware of non-ideal conditions, according to your first post. Buy a heavier truck the first time and avoid the double purchase mistake like so many people make.

Wind, rain, snow, and steep mountain grades are game changers for maxed out towing limits.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

X10 what everyone has already mentioned. You are already aware of non-ideal conditions, according to your first post. Buy a heavier truck the first time and avoid the double purchase mistake like so many people make.

Wind, rain, snow, and steep mountain grades are game changers for maxed out towing limits.

 

[gtoli]

I had a 2005 F-150 when we bought our travel trailer. The trailer was within the "tow rating" of the Ford, but somebody forgot to tell the Ford. It was well on its way to failure. That's how I ended up as a member here with my signature truck. Now the upgrade to a fifth wheel will not be a problem since the Goat is already up to the task.

 

[Jim W]

I agree with the other posters that the 2500 Ram with the Cummins engine would be an ideal pull truck for your AIR Stream trailer. What you need to consider is the extra items you will need when you full time versus living in stick and brick house. The truck will not only be required to be a pull vehicle for the trailer but you need to consider your wife, your weight, fuel plus what ever other items you carry in the truck. Now your trailer weight must be considered when loaded with clothing, food, water, bedding, tools and what ever else you need. This will be more than what you think it would weight, you need to run the trailer and truck across a certified scale to find out what you are pulling.

I am not a full timer and we tend to carry between 1,000 and 1,500 lbs. of stuff when we travel with our 5er.

Jim

 

[MLee]

you mentioned that you thought the 2500 is bigger than the 1500, maybe a bit taller and a bit further off the ground, 4x4 yes 2x4 not much. the over all size is the same so should not have a problem in the garage. The newer ride is very nice.
Also a salesman will tell you anything you want to know, and he believes it him self. Go figure.
Good luck on your choice.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Over the years of RVing, I've owned two Airstream trailers, a '76 29-ft. and a '86 31-ft. (purchased new). I towed them thousands of miles with either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton big block V8 gasoline GM vehicles. Towing with our Airstreams with a 3/4 ton vs. a 1/2 ton was like night and day. The 3/4 ton with its heavier suspension (the powertrains were identical) easily towed through all weather conditions without any feeling that "the tail was wagging the dog". In my estimation, the Cummins would be a bonus compared to the VM Motori engine that was originally designed for use in a car.

Bill

 

[sag2]

I have towed a couple thousand miles with an Ecodiesel and for my 5,000 pound trailer it did a great job. Fuel economy was 14+ while towing and high 20's when not. It had more than enough power for going up hill and the 8 speed made it a dream as it always had the correct gear. Down hill was actually pretty good even without an exhaust brake. It held speed by downshifting but it would have been ideal with an exhaust brake.
Now what it lacks is cargo capacity. A fully loaded ED like you are probably considering will have a cargo capacity of just over 1,000 pounds. Depending on your tongue weight (mine is 650) you will not have much room for anything else in the truck. Also with the 3.90 gear ratio max towing is probably in the high 10,000 range, again not leaving you much margin of safety.
The new Ford with the EB engine will have more than enough power for your needs and they return pretty good economy for a gas engine. Most towing reports are in the 10-14 MPG range if you believe what they say. Also because of all the weight they took out of the truck the payload will be significantly higher than the Ram.
As was said several times the 2500 will be ideal for your needs, even a bit of over kill. But when towing there really isn't anything like over kill. You can never have too much power, weight, fuel economy, cargo or towing capacity.
All three trucks will adequately serve your purpose by the numbers. The choice you have to make is what do you really want, and how safe and comfortable do you want to be when traveling. I will tell you I opted for a 1500 Hemi because I'm only towing 5k occasionally and could not justify an $8k swing in price for the ED over the Hemi (price and rebates) for the 8k miles I use it per year. If I were going to tow full time with a heavier trailer I would opt for a nicely equipped 2500. You will not get close to the hwy mileage of the ED or EB trucks, but towing will return close to what the Ram and Ford will do with a far more capable, safe, and comfortable experience. If it were me in your situation I would go with a 2500.
And unless you have weighed the trailer loaded for use, do not believe any published weights you might have seen as they are generally not accurate and will be heavier than you ever imagined.
Enjoy your retirement, I did it this spring and would have done it even earlier had I known how good it is.

 

[crispyboy]

What Sag2 say is spot on sbout the choice of trucks.

Also don't forget to install a good weight distribution/anti-sway hitch and take it to the scale to dial it in properly.

 

[schmeg]

I've got a ED 4X4 CrewCab with 3.55's and a GDE tune w/exhaust brake feature. I also own a 31ft Keystone Passport Ultralite at 6400lbs dry. The truck works fine as does many others towing this weight range with this truck. I did upgrade the rear springs and use airbags ad a WD hitch with sway control. If you stick to speed limits and don't get foolish, this ED will work fine. Its not to say a CTD wouldn't be more secure because pure physics dictate it would be a more stable platform, but the 6000-7500b is fine with a PROPERLY setup ED.

 

[dcs1968]

I could not agree more with everyone who recommends the 2500. Before I bought the truck in my signature I was towing with a 2001 1500 gasser. I upgraded the rear springs and 4.10 gears to pull my 30' toy hauler weighing in around 7000lbs lightly loaded. Typically it pulled it fine but more than once we had a white knuckle ride. You can't beat the power of a Cummins and going to a 2500 more often than not, you don't even feel like the trailer is back there. I can also load the trailer to its weight capacity and still be well within my trucks weight ratings. Nothing worse than being under trucked!

 

[RVTRKN]

Folks, I am a newbie both in the field of pickup trucks and trailers in general, Airstreams in particular. My wife and I have decided to pull a 28' Airstream around the country for the next few years as we're fresh into retirement and are looking for new adventures.
I really like the 1500 EcoDiesel. I've test driven it, and the salesman says there would be no problem to pull 7600 lbs. I'm thinking it might be able to pull the trailer when all is perfect, but I am uncertain whether the 1500 is enough truck when conditions aren't ideal, like descending a mountain pass. A buddy says the new Ford 150 is the truck I should get. I checked it out, but like the 1500 more with its nicer interior and especially with the history of Cummins powering it.
I am interested in any learned, experienced opinions from this forum whether it's safe and easy to pull the trailer with the 1500 EcoDiesel or whether I would be better off going with the larger 2500 Cummins which would be awkward given our garage space. Many thanks in advance. Jim Ford Kensington Maryland.

I'm going to upset the Apple Cart here, but here is my opinion. Nissan is just about to release a 310HP V8 Cummins Diesel with an Aisin auto transmission in a 1/2 to 3/4 ton truck. That Cummins engine was turned away by Fiat after it was designed specifically for the Ram truck, for (IMO) an inferior Fiat diesel. I just missed the showing of the new truck, but saw the worksheet that was used for training the sales staff and saw a 12,000 lb trailer capacity number. Until the truck is revealed and are on the lots, which is supposed to be mid December, I'd wait and see how the truck compares to the Ford & Dodge offerings. Nissan already has a 3/4 ton platform for their Van line and would expect that frame to be used, also the frame will probably be stouter than the other makes when it compares to a 1/2 ton.

 

[sag2]

I looked at the 4x4 Nissan yesterday at the Phoenix Auto Show and it was very impressive. The first thing I noticed was the GVWR of 8,900, a full 2,000 more than many of the Ram 1500 trucks. It had a very large frame rail although it was more exposed than the Ram and made the truck sit pretty high. The way it sat most people would need side steps to comfortably get in and out. The engine bay was not too cramped, it had large brakes and axles. Interior was large and leather seats were very comfortable in front as well as rear. Not sure of the price point as this truck was built in August so most likely a pre-production model. Also interesting that many of the vehicles on display did not have Monroney labels.