Desert Captain wrote: If you go Ecco Boost and add the heavy duty payload package it won't be a problem, just bring $40K+ to your local dealer.
No one pays MSRP .. I'll bet the dealers love to see you coming
Cute comment, ignorant, but cute. If you want a stripped out standard cab you can do a little better but not many want a bare bones half ton these days. The local dealers will get you $6K off of MSRP but that is before you start adding on a few nice bells and whistles to their package, and lets not forget tax and license/doc fees which will add nearly $5K. Then there is dealer prep, tint etc., all of which = nice $$$ for the dealer. Like I said to begin with, bring $40K. This one of the many reasons I will never buy new (another is I will never have that kind of money for a truck).
I know what I paid for my loaded FX4 screw and it wasn't nearly that
I bored my friends and family to tears with stories of how the angels sing when I towed with my diesels. Then I got over it and upgraded to a truck without issues or special needs. My 5.4L F250 does a fine job towing our 8500~ 5th wheel. I'm sure any gas powered full size pickup well rated to tow your TT would be fine. An F150 HD or F250 should be plenty stable when properly hitched up. You don't "need" a longer wheelbase to tow but, a longer wheelbase will ride better and will be more stable. The last time I looked, the F150 HD only comes in a long wheelbase.
'10 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
'07 KZ Jag 28JFSS.
Geez, can we stop with the chest beating already?! Mine's not even an Ego Boost and it does ok. No, it's not winning any races up the big hills, but it gets out in traffic pretty decent and once rolling, it handles all but the biggest grades towing my 8K trailer with relative ease.
I can't say I know what's available on the newer trucks since I haven't had a need to look lately, but the 150 HD package would have enough payload properly equipt and enough engine with the 3.73 and 6 spd. If you want bigger to jerk it down the road "like it ain't back there", fine. Get a bigger truck in diesel. Get ready for the 9K extra up front, though, for that engine option. Price of gas and how much towing you're gonna do could make the payback period a looooong way down the road. My estimate when I bought my nicely equipt $33K truck was about 12 years to the break-even point. I can buy a lot of gas with that much extra money. It tows well enough to suit me and is solid as a rock at speed.
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"...An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Sunset Creek 298 BH
Quote: I believe I need to watch the "payload" weight for the hitch, right? And to tow the 6,500lbs I should have at least 9,000lb tow rating, right?
The Ecoboost with 3:73 gears has a tow rating of 11,300 lb. and it tows that weight easily. If you get the HD option on the truck payload will not be a problem either as the Crew Cab version with the HD option has a payload of 2,400 lb. and the Super Cab version 2,650 lb. payload. The Ecoboost is probably your best bet for a combination "heavy tow vehicle" and every day driver. I get 17.5 MPG around town empty and 19 MPG on the highway empty. The twin turbos give you the same advantage as a diesel truck at high altitude as loosing practically NO power at high altitude.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
Have you tried towing with the Expy yet? What engine does it have and the rear differential? With a 6500 GVWR seems like the Expy should be fine only concern would be the payload capacity.Do you have the specs for the truck and the trailer that way we can do all the calculations for you?
If you insist on getting another tow vehicle does it have to be new? There are a lot of used trucks that should be able to tow the 6500GVWR and be much cheaper than the new Ecoboost. If you want a daily driver and want to stay as a SUV I'd go with a Suburban/GMC 2500, next a Ford F250 V10 which would be overkill,but allow room for upgrading.
I just read your post more closely and it doesn't seem as though you've bought the trailer yet. Pick the trailer you really want and then pick the tow vehicle to tow your trailer.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: F150HD with Ecoboost and 3.73 axle would be my choice for that 6500 GVWR trailer. The truck will have plenty of payload capacity to carry the hitch weight and your other cargo and plenty of power/gearing to tow the load, as well as get good gas mileage when not towing. It's a win-win.
This answer is it. You don't need a one ton dually diesel for that trailer any more than you need a sledge hammer to drive a thumb tack. I mean, do you really want to have to deal with a behemoth for a daily commuter?
F150 Ecoboost, HD payload package, and you have a perfect match. Towing power when you need it, fuel economy when you don't.
My horse in this race is, folks often upgrade. I know I did. I would still have the truck if I had considered that. The EcoBoost is a great half ton, and will serve you well. Until you might want to upgrade.
Your Expie is fine for the job if you don't want to buy another truck. The only thing I would consider on the Expie is proper load rated tires, a good brake controler, and a good WD hitch and sway control system. I towed a 32' TT with a Trailblazer EXT (LWB) 5.3L and it had the power and brakes for the job but didn't have the proper tires and suspension for the job. I switched off to my 1500 pickup and it had the power and suspension but the brakes sucked. I traded the Trailblazer for the 2500 I have now and it did a great job. Then after going 5er it still does great. I am not the fastest on the road but not in a hurry. I let the truck run the rpm's it needs to run to pull the load and just go with it. I am a realistic guy who won't tell you that you need a 1 ton duallie diesel to pull everything. I would like to have one, but my truck is sufficient and I don't want to pay for another truck yet. I have many more years to get out of my truck, it is just broke in. Don't let all the advise to get some overkill truck get to you. If you are within your ratings for your Tow vehicle you are fine.
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If you want a stripped out standard cab you can do a little better but not many want a bare bones half ton these days. The local dealers will get you $6K off of MSRP but that is before you start adding on a few nice bells and whistles to their package, and lets not forget tax and license/doc fees which will add nearly $5K. Then there is dealer prep, tint etc., all of which = nice $$$ for the dealer. Like I said to begin with, bring $40K. This one of the many reasons I will never buy new (another is I will never have that kind of money for a truck). 
