lhnkele

Looking a purchasing a 2015 / F-150 SuperCab / 4X4 / 8' with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6

Want to tow a 5th wheel, mostly weekends in MI with an annual trip to FL and back.

Looks like with the 3.55 I gain an extra 100 lbs (11,700 vs 11,600) Towing Capability.

Looks like if I select the 3.73 it also requires the Heavy Duty PayLoad Package.

I was planning on adding the Max Trailer Tow package but was on the fence about the Heavy Duty PayLoad Package.

What do I gain/lose between the two axle ratios?

And aside from the additional payload capacity (2520/2760 vs 2030), what am I losing by omitting the Heavy Duty PayLoad Package?

The specs on the 5th-wheel I'm looking;
GVWR 9350lbs
Cargo Capacity 1268lbs
Hitch Weight 1337lbs
Axle Weight 6745lbs
Exterior Height 12.42'
Exterior Length 31.92'
Exterior Width 8.00'

Thank you in advance for your help!

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm.....


First of all, PAYLOAD CAPACITY is EVERYTHING!!!!


Second of all, your statement "Looks like with the 3.55 I gain an extra 100 lbs (11,700 vs 11,600) Towing Capability" is faulty thinking. By the time you get a truck with a nice set of normal comfort/convenience options your towing capability will be WAY LESS than those weights.


Third of all, likewise for your statement "payload capacity (2520/2760 vs 2030)". Again, with some nice options, your truck's payload capacity will probably be at least a couple hundred lbs less than those weights. If you get a very plain Jane/no frills/zero options truck you might reach those numbers.


Fourth of all, "Hitch Weight 1337lbs" is HUGE, and will may likely be higher than that when you actually load up the trailer.


Fifth of all, what's the GCWR of the proposed truck?? With a 9000 lb trailer you may be approaching/exceeding the GCWR.


Sixth of all, what's the axle GAWRs, especially of the rear axle?? You probably without doubt need the Heavy Duty to keep from exceeding that.


If you do buy a truck with the published 2030 lb payload capacity, when you add a couple hundred lb fifth wheel hitch, and then hook up your trailer even at 1337 lb hitch weight, that would use up close to 1550 lbs of your payload capacity. IF you had that 2030 lb payload capacity that would leave you with less than 500 lbs for people and stuff in the cab and bed. I bet a truck with options would have no more than 1850 lb of payload capacity, so that would actually leave you with 300 lbs of payload capacity remaining - if you will travel alone with nothing else in the cab/bed you might be okay.


Bottom line - IMHO you absolutely MUST have the Heavy Duty payload package to even think about towing a fifth wheel trailer that might approach 9000 lbs wet&loaded. The required hitch weight of a gooseneck or fifth wheel is 15% to 25% of the wet&loaded trailer weight, and that will use up a whole lot of payload capacity.
.

Velosprout

Well stated.

Wally186

F250 would be better suited for you.

lhnkele

hmmm, confusing...

The stats I posted above came from Ford's F-150 Specifications, Towing Capabilities...

Ford's Towing Guide however lists the 5th-wheel max trailer weight as;
3.55 @ 10,500 and
3.73 @ 11,500/11,600 (depending on tires)

...makes my decision a little easier ; )

lhnkele

GCWR of the truck is 17,100 (w/Heavy Duty Payload Package).
Curb weight is 4964

I know I saw the axle GAWR, but can't put my finger on it just now...

Those are all great points, thank you for taking the time to go over them with me. Gonna crunch some more number and see what we end up with.

But Defiantly the 3.73 and Heavy Duty Payload!

...we were looking at the F-250's and was disappointed to learn that the build date was closed... Seems like all the trucks available are 'all or nothing' regarding options...

Haven't bought anything yet, that's why I'm here first!

zx12-iowa

I disagree if he get the the package. I'd go 3.73 gears with that weight and wind resistance.

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

Yep - those weights are "sales" brochure numbers!!! They are with a zero options truck so it looks as good as possible when compared with the competition!


The "max trailer weight" numbers are determined with a zero options truck with a skinny 150 lb driver.


When you start adding options to a truck, and loading the cab and bed with a family, snack cooler, luggage, firewood, some tire changing tools, etc., the actual weight of trailer you can hook up goes WAY down!!


.

lhnkele

Ok, it says the GAWR ratings can be found on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on the vehicle...

Anybody have a similarly equipped vehicle and what to share?!

brulaz

According to the 2015 Source Book, with the 164" wheel base SCab
(that's a LONG truck!):

The rear GAWR of the 2015 HD Payload trucks is apparently still 4800# with the 18" HD 6 lug wheels.

Non HD Payload trucks rear GAWR is 4050# with the 3.5L EcoB and 3800# with the V8. (Odd that it's so much lower with the V8.)

The trouble is that the 18" HD 6 lug wheels are only rated for 2102# each, so two of them do not add up to 4800#. I'm not sure whether those rear GAWR are (or the wheel ratings) are right.

Otherwise, the HD payload option is the only way to go. If you went non HD payload, and even if you somehow miraculously came under all the weight ratings, you would still want to stiffen the suspension and switch to LT tires because the reg truck's suspension is so wimpy. The HD Payload option does all that for you, plus strengthening the rear axle, wheels, and frame. It's an essential package for a 5th wheel towing.

And of course you only get the 3.73 rear axle with the HD payload.

EDIT: But I don't think they are building HD Payload trucks yet ...but they should be soon.