Watt-maker

The payload (yellow sticker on door) is 1671# for the truck in my signature. I recommend you get at least max-tow if not HD pkg too. Will you be doing any off-roading? You can get the e-locker with max-tow but not the HD pkg. I would've bought an HD pkg truck if I could've found one. I've had that much weight behind my F150 a couple times. The ecoboost tows it no problem. The crappy p series tires ford installs on these things is another story.

Long story short, even if you just get a max-tow truck, upgrade the tires and maybe go with airbags or RAS and you will still be fine (over the payload rating most likely but you'll be ok).

willieboy

I use my truck during the week just like you. For me, I went with the HD Payload. Like EcoBeest, I think it rides just fine, and I REALLY like that it came with real LT E rated tires on it. BUT, I tow a travel trailer 15+ weekends a year, and at least one additional full week for family vacation. I also have full intentions of upgrading from my current Travel Trailer to a Fifth Wheel Trailer in ~ a year.

Now, if I was only hauling the trailer a couple of times a year and I had no intention of going to something bigger, I might have opted to go with only the MaxTow. Do keep in mind if you go HD Payload, you will loose the E-locker that is standard on the 4x4. Now, the HD payload rear axle is a limited slip, but it is not a locker. The other challenge with HD Payload is that if you want something other than an XL trim model long bed, it might be hard to find. I had to order my Lariat. I had plenty of time, so I did not care. Most dealers only stock HD payload trucks as work trucks, not generally the typical commuter/family hauler trim levels.

93Cobra#2771

iTrader: (2)

Something no one has mentioned (unless I missed it) is that you will need a WDH. Factory receiver is only good for 500 pounds without a WDH.

Twisty

If you're going to "tow 2-3 times a year for 4 hours each time" why would you even bother getting a truck?
Rent or borrow a truck for those few times.

Watt-maker

Or go with a gooseneck set-up.

jack12345

Good question. I have a Toyota Tacoma double cap with 220k miles on it now and it's not big enough for my family. It's time to upgrade, and I want a truck I can drive for 10 or more years that will handle just about every use case I have. I only have a tractor now, but we've talked about getting a boat or trailer too.

Bryson

Get a hideaway gooseneck on the eco boost lol. Can it tow it? Yes probably easier than you think. Bad on the truck?...eh

jack12345

So I went to the Ford dealer to talk about getting the truck with Max Tow and the HD Payload package, and the sales manager told me that I really didn't need the HD Payload package. He said that they rarely rarely saw F150s with the HD Payload and if so it was on XL work trucks.

He said he had an Ecoboost with the Max Tow Package and had pulled a 14,000# trailer. He did say that was obviously over the limit.

If I get a trailer for the tractor (7,300#) that weights 2,500# then I'm at 9,800#.

The big variable seems to be tongue weight. If I'm at 10% (980#), then I have 800 lbs to play with before getting to the max payload limit of around 1800#. Having not towed a trailer before, I don't know how realistic it is to expect 10% and whether I should expect to be at 15%. At 15% tongue weight, I don't have enough remaining payload to carry what I would carry (people, gear, gas) without going over the stated limit. I just Googled tongue weight scales and they're available. Does anyone use those and adjust center of the load on the trailer based on the scale?

I was pretty sure about the HD Payload package based on everyone's recommendations, but the conversation with the dealer has put me back to thinking about the Max Tow for my occasional towing needs.

Also (I know this is foolish) the 20 inch wheels look better than the 17 inch wheels that you have to get with the HD payload package. What do those who have the HD payload package think?

Again, I'm planning to tow this 9,800# to 10,300# trailer/tractor combo a few times a year, rest of time a family car.

atvtinker

Hmm! Your dealer is definitely wrong! You will definitely need the HD payload package. And if I were you, I would get a gooseneck hitch like the B&W turnover ball. I will be willing to bet your not going to be able to get all that tractor on a good trailer that isn't a gooseneck. I too have a big Kubota tractor L40 Grand that I haul a couple times a year and I only tow it with a 30ft. gooseneck and my F-250. And believe me, I know its back there. My father-in-law hauls his 40hp Mihindra with loader and bushhog on a 18ft tandem axle with his older model F-250 and he says his pushes him around a little so he's fixing to get a gooseneck hitch put in his truck. He has a wdh on his trailer and he doesn't like the hassle of messing with it all the time for different loads. Just a thought.

acadianbob

You definitely want the HD payload package. IMO, you want to stay with the 17's. Sidewall height is key to absorbing shock without rim damage. Make sure you get LT tires; they may be standard on HD payload.