New to the forum and R-Pod community

After towing our 177 for 8 years with a couple different Explorer's we went with a 2011 F-150 with the 5.0L V-8 Coyote engine.  Maybe I just had a lemon but that engine sucked oil like there was no tomorrow.  We took a 6000 mile hike over 30 days into the Rockies and back to Michigan, ended up using 6 quarts of oil.  Mechanic told me the Coyote engine was known to use 32oz. oil for every 1000 miles!  Now my older 1994 F-150 also had a 5.0L. V-8 (not a Coyote) and would use about 8oz. oil after 10,000 miles using a synthetic oil, which I also used on the Coyote.  That engine on the 1994 had 322,000 miles on it and had never had an engine issue, although it did need a new clutch and throw-out bearing after 240,000 miles.  And, to change the plugs on that Coyote engine was not  an easy task either. 

The newer 3.5L with ecoboost is a much easier engine to work on just to do the basics.  And so far, although it doesn't have that many miles on yet, hardly uses any oil between the 10,000 mile intervals.

Welcome and good for you for jumping in! Your thought on a half ton pickup with tow package will work. Our Tacoma did fine towing a 179 except in very strong headwinds. The Tundra doesn't know the 195 is back there, until we near a gas station of course :-)  Have fun!