2016 Towing Capacity issues w/new boat
#41
Motor 10
Wow! I have been reading so much on towing, that my eyes are burning. I have learned a lot and had no idea how complicated this subject is. Unfortunately, I did not do this research before my recent boat purchase.
The dealer told me when I bought my truck 3 months ago "It can tow up to 9100 lbs." Now I see the BS in that statement.
I have a 2016 Screw XLT 5.0, with the Trailer Tow Package and 3.31 electronic locking axle. It has a dealer installed level kit as well.
I live in Miami and drove up to Jacksonville this weekend to purchase my new boat. Once I got there, I ended up getting an even better deal on a larger demo boat. It took me 5 hours to get there, and almost 10 hours to get home. Other than the rear sag, the truck handled the trip well. I was not 100% confident in my towing setup and weight so I took it very, very slow and pulled over every 100 miles to check. I also drove late at night to make sure if something did go wrong, I did not have a bunch of travelers around me.
Now that I am home and started reading more on this great forum, I know I need to get my GCWR for both the truck and trailer, as well as my tongue weight.
Honestly, I don't even want to hook up now to take it to the scale until I feel more confident. I feel pretty irresponsible for making that long trip now, and I am lucky nothing went wrong. I am coming here for advice, not judgment.
I know this was stupid, and my wife is giving me an earful for trading in my 2015 F250 for the F150 (another story).
So using the data I could get regarding the boat and trailer:
Trailer = 1403 lbs.
Boat = 4700 lbs.
160 gallons of fuel = 1040 lbs.
misc gear = 500 lbs.
TOTAL GVW = ~7643 lbs
Calculated Tongue (5% of GVW) = ~382*
*I am pretty sure that my tongue weight was much higher as you can see it the picture below. I ordered a Trailer Tongue Weight Scale today to verify.
After reading on here, I crawled under my truck and found the sticker for the factory hitch which is 5000/500. I think what saved me on the trip home was that the boat had no fuel, but I was still over 5000.
So I wanted to come on here and ask for recommendations on how to safely tow my load 5 miles round trip to the boat ramp (better hitch, airbags, gear change, etc.). The boat ramp I use is well maintained, and in all of the years I had my previous 4x4, I never needed it.
The dealer told me when I bought my truck 3 months ago "It can tow up to 9100 lbs." Now I see the BS in that statement.
I have a 2016 Screw XLT 5.0, with the Trailer Tow Package and 3.31 electronic locking axle. It has a dealer installed level kit as well.
I live in Miami and drove up to Jacksonville this weekend to purchase my new boat. Once I got there, I ended up getting an even better deal on a larger demo boat. It took me 5 hours to get there, and almost 10 hours to get home. Other than the rear sag, the truck handled the trip well. I was not 100% confident in my towing setup and weight so I took it very, very slow and pulled over every 100 miles to check. I also drove late at night to make sure if something did go wrong, I did not have a bunch of travelers around me.
Now that I am home and started reading more on this great forum, I know I need to get my GCWR for both the truck and trailer, as well as my tongue weight.
Honestly, I don't even want to hook up now to take it to the scale until I feel more confident. I feel pretty irresponsible for making that long trip now, and I am lucky nothing went wrong. I am coming here for advice, not judgment.
I know this was stupid, and my wife is giving me an earful for trading in my 2015 F250 for the F150 (another story).
So using the data I could get regarding the boat and trailer:
Trailer = 1403 lbs.
Boat = 4700 lbs.
160 gallons of fuel = 1040 lbs.
misc gear = 500 lbs.
TOTAL GVW = ~7643 lbs
Calculated Tongue (5% of GVW) = ~382*
*I am pretty sure that my tongue weight was much higher as you can see it the picture below. I ordered a Trailer Tongue Weight Scale today to verify.
After reading on here, I crawled under my truck and found the sticker for the factory hitch which is 5000/500. I think what saved me on the trip home was that the boat had no fuel, but I was still over 5000.
So I wanted to come on here and ask for recommendations on how to safely tow my load 5 miles round trip to the boat ramp (better hitch, airbags, gear change, etc.). The boat ramp I use is well maintained, and in all of the years I had my previous 4x4, I never needed it.
#42
Motor 10
#43
I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but, appearantly you lose towing capacity with the sport package. There was a thread here, recently, that stated just that. To my knowledge, no one was able to determine why the sport package was detrimental, but, it is just the same. I have a '16 5.0 Screw myself, and I actually called Ford customer support to get my accurate tow capacity. I was told 8,100lbs. I have the appearance package, which includes the FX4 & Sport packages. I'll see if I can find the thread.
#44
Motor 10
I have a 1907lb. payload rating. Appearantly mine is very high, for not having the HDPP. just food for thought.
#45
That is high. I have 1541 lbs on a 2.7L XLT Supercab with 36 gal tank. I expect that is about average for similarly equipped trucks. Once you add in the wife's and my weight along with other stuff we carry we're down around 1K lbs. I've seen a number of Screws with payloads down in the low 1400's who by the time you figure occupants and cargo are left with payload below 900 lbs which will reduce their spec'ed towing capacity.
#46
That is high. I have 1541 lbs on a 2.7L XLT Supercab with 36 gal tank. I expect that is about average for similarly equipped trucks. Once you add in the wife's and my weight along with other stuff we carry we're down around 1K lbs. I've seen a number of Screws with payloads down in the low 1400's who by the time you figure occupants and cargo are left with payload below 900 lbs which will reduce their spec'ed towing capacity.
#48
Senior Member
Step one. Remove "leveling kit" and throw it into the ocean.
Step two. Purchase a quality air bag kit https://www.airliftcompany.com/vehic...4-wheel-drive/
Step three. Have air bags installed by a reputable shop.
Step four. Figure out how much air pressure to run in air bags when your boat is hooked up, enough to remove almost all of the sag.
Step five. Max out rear tire pressure as indicated on sidewall, I'd run 40psi in the front and 45 or 50psi in rear.
Your Good.
Step two. Purchase a quality air bag kit https://www.airliftcompany.com/vehic...4-wheel-drive/
Step three. Have air bags installed by a reputable shop.
Step four. Figure out how much air pressure to run in air bags when your boat is hooked up, enough to remove almost all of the sag.
Step five. Max out rear tire pressure as indicated on sidewall, I'd run 40psi in the front and 45 or 50psi in rear.
Your Good.
#49
That is high. I have 1541 lbs on a 2.7L XLT Supercab with 36 gal tank. I expect that is about average for similarly equipped trucks. Once you add in the wife's and my weight along with other stuff we carry we're down around 1K lbs. I've seen a number of Screws with payloads down in the low 1400's who by the time you figure occupants and cargo are left with payload below 900 lbs which will reduce their spec'ed towing capacity.
This is what I ran into, mine is 1470, and once I scaled it with my TT attached and all the people in it, the truck was 400# over the GVWR. We resolved it by taking a second vehicle for long trips. Worked out well since I didn't have to take my truck on short trips to stores and such.
Last edited by mass-hole; 12-20-2016 at 11:49 PM.
#50
Senior Member
I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but, appearantly you lose towing capacity with the sport package. There was a thread here, recently, that stated just that. To my knowledge, no one was able to determine why the sport package was detrimental, but, it is just the same. I have a '16 5.0 Screw myself, and I actually called Ford customer support to get my accurate tow capacity. I was told 8,100lbs. I have the appearance package, which includes the FX4 & Sport packages. I'll see if I can find the thread.
Yup, this (although I'd have said 1800+ range).