F150 with Dual Exhaust towing 5.0

[Rabbit Hash]

I'm curious if anybody tows the 5.0 with an F150 with Dual Exhaust? What the B&W site shows is their turnover ball kit will NOT work with dual exhaust. But when I called them, they tell me their rail kit will work (RVK2405). I plan to use the Anderson setup. I would love to hear from anybody towing an Escape 5.0 with a Gen14 F150 with dual exhaust, and your setup. Thank you!

 

[Centex]

That's an interesting constraint I'd never noticed and a bit of a bummer. Both of my turnoverball-equipped F150s (2005 V8 and 2022 3.5EB ) have single, side exit, exhaust as OE.

Does your planned 2025 F150 have dual exhaust because of a particular option or trim package such as the Black Appearance Package? I ask because searching the attached Order Guide for the term "dual" might seem to indicate that's the case, but that may not be definitive.

Your prerogatives and priorities of course but given the constraint vs the functional features of the turnoverball, I'd be incited to order a truck that's compatible with it if at all possible.

Good Luck!

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Hi Centex! Exactly! Its a house of cards haha! If you want the Max Tow axle, that forces you to the Blackout Package. I believe this is due to the rear brakes not fitting in the chrome rims. And honestly, the BAP has grown on me! BUT, if you get the BAP with 20" wheels, that comes with Dual Exhaust on the packages. Now I can find a "few" trim levels with the BAP on 18" wheels and they have the single exhaust. I may have to just order one of those and possibly upgrade to 20" later if the mood still hits me. I do understand the advantages of towing with 18's so I have to digest that and maybe that will be my ticket. Thanks again!

 

[Centex]

Wow and LOL, the trim / option requirements, constraints, and relationships seem to be more complex than ever!

Good Luck 'assembling' your dream truck!

 

[Jim Bennett]

Are not all F150s dual exhaust, I know mine is. The Turnover Ball was a fairly easy install, though I would not do it again if I had the chance.

 

[Centex]

Are not all F150s dual exhaust ....

Already answered in this thread .... many F150's going back for decades, both V8 and V6, including some current model year, have single exhaust.

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Wow and LOL, the trim / option requirements, constraints, and relationships seem to be more complex than ever!

Good Luck 'assembling' your dream truck!

Yep, it boils down to do I want power seat (XLT) and add 20" wheels and tires later $$$, or do I want to get the STX which by the way is the ONLY truck that comes with 20" black wheels and a single exhaust, but then I have to replace the drivers seat with a power seat (and all new seat covers to get rid of the ugly green STX stitching). Its a real stupid thing to have to decide while dropping 60k for a relatively stripped down truck.

 

[Centex]

You're probably well-ahead of this, but I mention just in case ....

Are you looking at 4x2 or 4x4 in the STX / XLT?

If 4x2 this is moot, but if 4x4 the transfer case difference between XLT and lower (ESOF with 2H, 4L, 4H) vs Lariat and higher (TOD with 2H, 4L, 4H, and 4A) was a significant factor (along with several other items) in my decision to go with the Lariat 500A.

I wanted 4x4, the TOD / 4A provides full-time 4WD ('safe' on any surface at any speed) which I really like for driving when wet, mixed wet / dry, or other less-than-ideal surfaces are encountered both towing and 'empty'. Note that, with either ESOF or TOD, 4H is not recommended for use on even wet pavement due to risk of damaging drivetrain 'binding'.

Yeah, the price-jump to the Lariat was not insignificant, but amortized over the long-term I expect to own the truck it was worth it for me (YMMV, no worries!).

I was building my dream truck, you're building yours! Have Fun!

 

[GinoandLinda]

When we were looking for our F150 in late ‘22, we had two choices, a white STX and a silver XLT which we chose because of the 36 gallon fuel tank. I would have been immensely disappointed if we got the STX and not been able to use the turn over ball mount. I really dislike bed rails for hitches.

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Thank you all for the input. We narrowed it down removing any without the turnover ball (no dual exhaust). Four remain. and a HUGE thank you Centex for the AWD/4x4 reminder. That AWD will be huge when traveling in retirement. After a convo with the DM, I think we may land on the Lariat 500A. We tend to keep vehicles for a long time. I believe this decision is behind us!

I had 30 more days to change my mind 30 times LOL, but it seems just yesterday Ford extended the Employee pricing from June 2nd till July 4th, so now I can change my mind 60 more times

 

[Centex]

After a convo with the DM, I think we may land on the Lariat 500A.

If that's where you end up (or even if not), I can only hope you'll be as happy as I am with my 500A (albeit mine is the no longer offered Super Cab).

Now at 35 months and 15k miles since I picked it up, I can honestly say every mile has been a joy, it has indeed proven to be my dream truck (and I've had many over the last 50+years).

Included standard equipment has changed, option bundles have changed, MSRP has certainly changed, and some of your preferences may differ, but FYI here's the Order Sheet for mine (which yielded a sticker payload of 1848#):

Had I and my dealer been more confident that ordering the DIO Trailer TPMS + Cam would not have resulted in a major delivery delay back in those days of covid shortages and frequent factory deletions, I'd have gotten it with the truck rather than buying that after the fact, it's a really wonderful system, IMO. As it turned out I got my truck a tolerable 5.5 months after order with no factory deletions, it was delivered exactly as ordered .

Wishing y'all the best, Have Fun!

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Hi Centex. Its amazing how they repackage the options in just a few years! I believe the 500A is standard with leather, co-pilot, 360 camera. But maybe that does explain some of the HUGE MSRP difference haha! As for the TPMS, that is the only "maybe" left to consider. I noticed the option is a dealer installed option, so maybe it really doesn't matter much in this case. More to ponder! Also considering the Mobile office, but I'm not sure if the 110V outlet in the truck bed is in the same location of where I would like to put the OEM 7-pin connector. Would you have insight on that? Lucky you to get the auto stop/start DELETE! Id pay $$ for that haha. Thanks so much!

 

[Centex]

Also considering the Mobile office, but I'm not sure if the 110V outlet in the truck bed is in the same location of where I would like to put the OEM 7-pin connector. Would you have insight on that?

I've no idea what the mobile office entails.***

Just FYI, here's my in-bed 7+12 pin connector (12-pin is for the TPMS/Cam kit and included with it)

For details, see this post on the F150 forum. The reason that I'd order the TPMS/cam kit with the truck is to ensure that the truck has all of the necessary chassis wiring for the 12-pin connector installed at the factory (mine did not so required a DIY harness-swap in the truck as described in the linked post). I do not know if ordering a 2025 without the DIO option still risks suffering that truck chassis harness shortcoming.

***A big part of my ordering philosophy was aimed at preserving payload. I knew that the 1728# payload of my 2005 F150 worked great with the 5.0 and wanted to at least equal that. Knowing that every option chips-away at payload, and that can add-up, I rigorously evaluated each option, asking: "Is this something that I really think will add meaningful value / enjoyment for me?" No regrets in retrospect, I'm very happy with my outcome, hope the same for you.

Have Fun!

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Hi Centex,

Another question. You are mentioning that I order the DIO kit when I order the F150 as to make sure that the truck harness has the wiring for the 12 pin built in, and that makes sense. BUT, if I do that, is there a chance that the Yaw wiring will NOT be built into the truck wiring because it is a F150 and not a F250? Am I better off not ordering the kit, and if I have to do the truck harness swap, I can use the F250 harness to get the Yaw? I'm still researching and learning, including reading the 35 page thread on the other forum. But your thoughts would be great! Thank you!

 

[Centex]

Joe -

My understanding is that you'll get the YAW wiring on the truck-side but the DIO kit will include only the TPMS + Cam components.

FWIW on my 2022, and I believe this to still be the case today (but could be wrong!), the F150 backup assist set-up menus don't support the YAW / backup assist function for 5th wheel trailers (there's not a menu choice to calibrate the backup assist specifically for a 5th wheel / gooseneck trailer). This being distinct from the other-than-backup-assist trailer definition menus which do allow entry of length, etc specifically for a 5th wheel / gooseneck on my F150. Yeah, that's an odd 'disconnect'.

Also, FWIW, none of the 22 OTA updates I've received over the years for my 2022 have added 5th wheel / gooseneck backup assist functionality.

I've read of one person installing a yaw sensor on an F150 towing a gooseneck / 5th wheel and using the bumper-pull backup assist calibration process. While this yielded a backup assist display, the resulting guidance-lines projected on the screen, and backing steering assist, were inaccurate because the backup assist algorithm in the F150 was not 'corrected' for the 5th wheel pivot-point in the bed (rendering the 'assist' of limited value, IMO).

I'm careful to not speculate about changes that may have occurred between 2022 and 2025, anything is possible in that regard!

Personally, after a bit of practice, I find the 5.0 so easy to back that I don't think that the lack of backup assist is a shortcoming.

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Thank you Alan! Your advice is appreciated, and its wonderful to have this! What you wrote makes sense. I think I will order the kit with the truck as you mentioned, just to be sure - and I'm going to need the kit eventually anyway.

I'm thinking the "dealer install" will just be changing out the 7/12 on the bumper, and handing me the rest of the parts in the box. I'd almost rather do that bumper part myself too but that's ok.

Another interesting thing is I see the price is the exact same cost to order the TPMS/Camera with the truck DIO option vs. just buying the kit from ford. Its exact to the dollar! But if you buy other DIO's (tailgate damper on lower trim models, door rain deflectors, etc.), there is quite a markup when ordering them with the truck. I assume this covers the dealers labor. I realize this still does not answer if the truck harness is different with the TPMS DIO, but it is an interesting tidbit. Just an FYI

p.s. - I think I'm just a couple weeks from ordering! I'm trying the get the delivery 1) after our garage is completed (and the builders have been SLOW on the progress), but 2) before the roads have salt here is SE Indiana. As we are not retired YET, I think I'm going to drive my current truck thru the '25-'26 salt/winter just because - haha

Thank you again!

 

[Centex]

Joe, just FYI looking back to the Max Tow axle ..... Ford has now released the Final Remedy for the recall affecting those of us with that axle and its potential bolt-breakage issue (a problem I've never suffered though my VIN is subject to the recall).

The new axle uses a threaded-end with a very substantial nut rather than the previous 'tenuous' bolt.

Almost assured that if you decide to go with the Max Tow axle option your late build will have the improved axle as OE (congratulations!).

Attached just FYI, there's pics in this showing the new axle-end.

 

[SRS]

Just curious Alan, did you get an updated recall notice or is this just the service info for dealers as the prep to do begin the recall.
TYA

 

[Centex]

Just curious Alan, did you get an updated recall notice or is this just the service info for dealers as the prep to do begin the recall.
TYA

I have not received an updated mail notice, they're scheduled to go out starting 5/12, I'm tracking this and downloading info from the NHTSA website.

I spoke briefly with my small-town dealer yesterday, he said they're able to proceed with the Final Remedy now, but he'd not yet tried to place an order for the new parts which are 'limited supply' while this is ramping-up (he needs someone's eligible truck in the shop to do that).

Given I've had no problem to date and this moment isn't convenient for me to be without the truck for even a day, I'm not in a rush so didn't try to schedule mine.

 

[Rabbit Hash]

Joe, just FYI looking back to the Max Tow axle ..... Ford has now released the Final Remedy for the recall affecting those of us with that axle and its potential bolt-breakage issue (a problem I've never suffered though my VIN is subject to the recall).

The new axle uses a threaded-end with a very substantial nut rather than the previous 'tenuous' bolt.

Almost assured that if you decide to go with the Max Tow axle option your late build will have the improved axle as OE (congratulations!).

Attached just FYI, there's pics in this showing the new axle-end.

That's great news Centex! Thank you for sharing that 3D model. I'd agree, it seem substantially stronger. Maybe I'll weld the nut to the axle just to be sure (I'm kidding!!). But yes, that's great news. I love the CAD models - I was a mechanical designer for the majority of my career so that hits home!

So tomorrow is the planned order day! I'll post the build soon. One hard decision was the 5.5 or 6.5 bed. I'd much rather have the extra foot, but this will be a daily driver as well, and we really want/need the supercrew so I guess we will make do with the 5.5. It will force us to pack lighter. haha. Another thing is we plan to get the hard folding bed cover. Everybody says its not an issue when folded up and towing the 5.0 (please correct me if I am wrong). But the 6.5 bed will add another panel, meaning another thickness when folded up, albeit further forward. I've kinda got my fingers crossed on the hard bed cover.

We are so excited! 1) garage under construction, 2) truck ordered tomorrow, 3) retirement coming in less than a year, and 4) Escape 5.0 is the last piece of the puzzle!

As for the 5.0, We are going to wait until the garage is DONE, and until the truck is in hand, and I install the B&W turnover ball/Anderson hitch before we get serious about looking. Then if a nice lightly used one pops up, we can jump.