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Truck Advice for a sled deck - the 'ol half ton debate!

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18K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  Freewill  
#1 ·
Could use some advice / insight on what truck to be looking at.

What I need: daily driver, so something more efficient / easier to park then my current 99 F350 4 door 8' 7.3 that is just getting old. In the winter 75% of the time I have no sled on my deck, 20% of the time I have 1 sled on my deck, and 5% of the time I have 2 sleds on the deck. Average drive to trail head is 25 miles for me, so no long distance sled trips normally. If we do that, we would probably grab the trailer. I like the sled deck as its convenient for me with only 1 sled, and provides dry storage underneath for skis and snowboards and gear. Deck gets pulled out in the summer so the moto can go in the back.

I'm back and forth on F150's. I'm lured toward a F150 as they drive so much nicer commuting then a F250. It seems like there is a unicorn that exists, not many out there, of a SuperCrew 6.5 bed F150 with the V8 with the optional payload package. I would say no way to putting a deck in any F150 without this extra payload package, even though it looks like it can be done it just seems to close.

Ford lists the truck as 2650 payload (without this package payload is 2100, so you gain 550 with beefier springs, different gears, etc.), this would be my fully loaded setup:
  • 550 pounds per sled wet/with snow (2020 Expert 154x2.5)- 1100 pounds
  • about 400 pounds for my aluminum deck
  • 2 dudes in truck - 200 pounds each - 400 pounds
  • 2 dudes gear in truck 100 pounds each - 200 pounds
  • Misc truck **** (tools, etc) - 100 pounds.

All this added up is 2200 of which is 450 pounds under max payload. I would still probably add airbags just to cut down on any sway in the truck.

For reference, a 99 F250 crewcab/8' had 2775 payload, so the F150 today is almost the same as the 250 from 20 years ago. I would not blink an eye at putting a deck in a 99 F250.

So, question is, is my math off or does this unicorn of a F150 seem very capable to haul a sledeck???
 
#2 ·
Yep, i've always figured around 2200lbs for a sled deck, 2 guys and 2 sleds. Seems good to me.

If you are only running twin sleds 5% of the time, and planning on running air springs... i wouldn't think twice.

Had a 99f350 with a deck, now have a supercrew 6.5 bed with 5.oh, and thinking of doing the same as you.
 
#10 ·
You have to look at it with the payload package. it adds HD springs and gearing. I wouldnt buy new, looking at a 2018-2021, so maybe it changed for the 23 trucks? without the payload package it drops about 550 pounds so maybe that is what is on the site now.

4x4 supercrew 6.5 bed with the V8 is listed as 2650 with the max payload package. check this link its easier to understand then fords site:

 
#5 ·
That Max payload 150 would be a stripped model xl. The more options, the less payload. I had a 2018 f150 xlt super crew 3.5 with a 6.5 bed and my payload was only 1500. You would need airbags at a minimum and even then, it would be kinda sketchy.

Unless you are leasing and not buying, you can get a 250 or 350 for almost the same price. My 22 F350 lariat with the 7.3 gas was within $1900 msrp of my 150. I get 14 mpg around town and 17 highway. My payload is 3900.

Join mustang club of America and get ford xplan pricing. I get xplan through my job and It saved me $4500.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
 
#8 ·
Why not give it a season if the spec’s say it will work. Adjust if need be later. I’m of the opinion that if it fits it ships. I tow my camper and a snowmobile trailer anywhere I wish to go with a four cylinder Subaru Outback without any problems and if truth were told, I’m slightly, 20 lbs, over on the tongue weight for the camper. That car is closing in on 120k miles without any issues and I do not expect there to be any. In the past when remodeling my house and again when making my patio I definitely had my truck over loaded a few time with no lasting issues. Those were rare trips but my point is the rating isn’t where failures begin, there is a definite safety factor built in. To each there own but you should be perfectly fine if your in spec.
 
#11 ·
Why not keep the current truck to haul the sleds and get something else for a daily driver?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
thought about that too.

current 99 F350 is a great sled truck, but she is about to have her 400,000 mile birthday. I'm not a fan of driving it more then 50 miles from the house as I'm just worried about the old girl. In the summer the wife and I have a camper, and her subi wont pull that. So need something with decent pulling ability that is more reliable then a truck with north of 400k on it.

I've thought about getting a SUV or something, but then if the F350 ever breaks down it would be nice to have something ready to haul sleds. F150 seems to be the happy medium, then probably just go to 1 truck.

We could do 3 cars in our family, but honestly it just seems like a pain... just 1 more rig to break down at the end of the day.
 
#14 ·
Sled deck is way easier. no hassle at the lots, easy to whip around, stop for supplies and not be looking for a place to park. Plus in the early/late season when going up to elevation you dont need to worry about turning around. Trailers are nice when its nuking and your getting ready/having a beer after riding, but sled decks otherwise win in my book. I've owned both!
 
#18 · (Edited)
I would definitely go with air bags even with the hd suspension and max payload. I've had some sketchy situations with my ram 2500 with a flatbed and sled deck on it. The sleds that high really change the dynamic of the load, which you know, because you had a deck before. If I kept my ram with the deck the next upgrade was going to be airbags.
 
#19 ·
I had this same debate before moving from a 1995 GMC 1 tonne dually diesel to a 2018 Ford F-150 3.5 twin turbo crewcab 6.5ft box with Heavy Duty Payload package. I regularly have two long track mountain sleds on my sled deck plus two guys with all gear in the truck and I can tell you right now it doesn't phase the truck at all. I was expecting sway and needing to put in air bags but it's driven straight and true at all times whether doing 100+ km/hr on the highway or crawling up some some nasty forest service road. The sticker on the door reads max payload of 2358lbs. Long story short buy the F-150 and try it first before you buy any helper springs or airbags or any of that stuff because if you're like me you won't need it.