Balancing Payload capacity vs. Offroad

[rruff]

The upside to the 3/4 ton is they have more wheel travel and it's really easy to put 37s on them.

Turning radius is a downside, however. It's not the length or wheelbase... the 3/4 and 1 tons don't turn the front wheels as sharp.

I was going to plan on adding some small mods to make the f150 a bit more off-road rdy, but I did not want to get into dealing with lift kits etc. I have younger kids and with trucks like the raptor out their I figured my time is better spent buying an off-road version f150 and put that time to my kids.

Just put something reasonable like Bilstein 5100s on it, and raise the front ~1.5" and install ~35" LT tires, and airbags if you will use it unloaded most of the time, else an extra leaf or a pack. If you have 18" rims, 285/75r18s will be easiest to fit. Skids are ok, but forget about the winch. Curb your enthusiasm. This is a family camping rig, and getting away from other campers is easy, but getting away from the SxSs is impossible. Fancy shocks are mostly for going fast on crappy terrain, but going slow is a good idea anyway. If it's washboard, air down.

I've been camping in the extreme SE corner of CA for the past 6 weeks. Beautiful area and a primo spot for camping this time of year... and completely devoid of campers... but not offroaders. I've ranged all over on my bicycle, and haven't seen another camper at all.

 

[tacollie]

Turning radius is a downside, however. It's not the length or wheelbase... the 3/4 and 1 tons don't turn the front wheels as sharp.

Agreed. RAM 2509 has a decent turning radius. Ford is awful. It's one of the things I miss the most of the Tundra.

 

[p nut]

…. but getting away from the SxSs is impossible.

I’ve come to really really dislike SxS’s. More so than ATV’s and dirt bikes. They’re like mosquitoes. Everywhere.
Best way I avoid them is park at a trailhead and hike in a couple of miles to a camp spot.

 

[Todd780]

I stopped and looked at a couple Tremors and few other XL and XLT F150s today out of boredom when killing 30 minutes. Payload ranged from 1640 to 1980. Surprisingly the XLs had the lowest payload, but they were also optioned as 6450 GVWR trucks instead of the 7100 GVWR the Tremors and XLTs were. One tremor was 1860 and the other was 1780. Those aren’t exact numbers but rounded to the nearest 0 as my mind likes to round things up or down lol

I'm guessing those XL's with the 6450 GVWR were 2.7L V6's. Trucks with the 2.7 have a lighter frame. You used to be able to option 2.7L trucks with a payload package that would bring payload up to similar levels as a 3.5 or 5.0 equipped truck. Not sure if that option is still available.

Those are pretty good numbers for those Tremors. I'm curious to know what trim level they were.

Agreed. RAM 2509 has a decent turning radius. Ford is awful. It's one of the things I miss the most of the Tundra.

I bet the Ram 2500 has a better turning radius than my 157" wheelbase F150, lol. Actually, I bet the Titanic had a better turning radius than my truck.

 

[rruff]

I’ve come to really really dislike SxS’s. More so than ATV’s and dirt bikes.

There are just so many. I camped (ie basically lived) here for many winters in the 90s, and would often go for weeks and not see another human, and that is when hiking all over, too. No other campers, and not even any offroaders. It's still pretty quiet here compared to say Quartzsite, but it's nothing like it was. If you have any sort of mechanical conveyance (even a bicycle), then you aren't allowed in wilderness (and there is no water, so it's short trips only), which is often the only place noisy offroad vehicles aren't allowed.

It's been the biggest change I've seen camping in the west.

 

[rruff]

I bet the Ram 2500 has a better turning radius than my 157" wheelbase F150, lol. Actually, I bet the Titanic had a better turning radius than my truck.

I used to be able to find this info (turning radius) quickly with a google search, but I'm not having any luck now. You'd think this would be an important piece of data on all these trucks, since maneuverability matters everywhere... maybe more in town than on the trail.

I do recall that the new Tundra is much worse than the 2nd gen... my 164" is about the same as the new 145". Maybe the F150s have grown to be as bad as the F250.

 

[Todd780]

I used to be able to find this info (turning radius) quickly with a google search, but I'm not having any luck now. You'd think this would be an important piece of data on all these trucks, since maneuverability matters everywhere... maybe more in town than on the trail.

I do recall that the new Tundra is much worse than the 2nd gen... my 164" is about the same as the new 145". Maybe the F150s have grown to be as bad as the F250.

F150 Crew cab shortbed (157") is pretty close to the Super Duty Crew cab short bed (159")

Top is current Gen F150 bottom column is Super Duty. Looks like a difference of 2 feet.

 

[driveby]

For the Tremors the newer ones come with trail turn assist. Basically drags the inside rear tire on a turn. Pretty cool feature when you need it. Not gonna work in a Costco parking lot, but on dirt/sand/snow it sure would.

 

[p nut]

For the Tremors the newer ones come with trail turn assist. Basically drags the inside rear tire on a turn. Pretty cool feature when you need it. Not gonna work in a Costco parking lot, but on dirt/sand/snow it sure would.

Is that only for F150’s or does the SD have it as well?

 

[tacollie]

I didn't realize Ford was doing the trail turn assist on any trucks. Here's a video of a F-250 Tremor.

Trail Turn Assist Demo - 2023 Ford F-250 Tremor

youtube.com

 

[Kingsize24]

In an HD Ford or Ram truck you can throw RCV's in the front and shave about an 1/8th inch off the stops. It may not sound like much, but it makes a HUGE difference in turning radius.

 

[chet6.7]

 

[ITTOG]

I'm guessing those XL's with the 6450 GVWR were 2.7L V6's. Trucks with the 2.7 have a lighter frame. You used to be able to option 2.7L trucks with a payload package that would bring payload up to similar levels as a 3.5 or 5.0 equipped truck. Not sure if that option is still available.

Those are pretty good numbers for those Tremors. I'm curious to know what trim level they were.


I bet the Ram 2500 has a better turning radius than my 157" wheelbase F150, lol. Actually, I bet the Titanic had a better turning radius than my truck.

Yeah I really miss my 07 Tundra. It was so much better than my F150. I really miss the 5.7L.

 

[windtraveler]

I don't have a tremendous amount of offroad experience but I do have a lot of towing/hauling experience. Typically the 2 are at odds with each other (especially with the newer vehicles) and they key is to find a happy medium. Simply put, the requirements for good offroad handling and towing/hauling are very different, so the equipment used to enhance one is, by default, a degradation of the other. Even if offroad mods technically don't affect payload or towing capacity, they impact a noticeable degradation of handling and capability while towing/hauling.

 

[rruff]

@windtraveler, could you unpack that a bit regarding the two being at odds with each other? I can think of a few like duallies, small street tires, sway bars, and diesel being nice for towing and hauling, but not so good offroad... where large tires, and a more compliant suspension are desirable.

Yeah I really miss my 07 Tundra. It was so much better than my F150. I really miss the 5.7L.

I'd like to know what your perceived differences are if you don't mind.