Confused about towing??
#11
Hey man, rather than get this simple question and whip it into a casserole of "who's right or wrong", just post the number on the yellow payload sticker from inside your door pillar. If you do that, this can be as easy as yes or no, and what direction you need to go from here.
#12
truthfully were it me- I would say hook and go and forget it. There's nothing unreasonable about this setup to me. The only guys that seem to have to play by the payload rules are the half ton guys. But I am just trying to play neutral in a soon to be weight based thread. To me if the payload is within reason, no question. Just go. I wouldn't bat an eye at 500 or so over the nanny sticker as long as you're smart about loading and have your head screwed on straight. Change rubber, add bags, whatever. Enjoy the truck, and use it like a truck.
My priorities in order of appearance:
1. GCWR- so you don't cook something
2. Axle ratings
3. Length
Last edited by smurfs_of_war; 01-28-2014 at 11:46 PM.
#13
Senior Member
I've never heard of an F150 exceeding its GCWR (or trailer tow capacity) when towing a travel trailer, without first way exceeding its GVWR (payload), and/or rear GAWR, or even its receiver rating.
Maybe if you only had 10% tongue weight, you could exceed the GCWR, but with high side travel trailers, 12% is the recommended lower limit. And the more the better for towing stability. Mine is currently 15%.
My MaxTow receiver is rated at 1150# tongue weight and total 11500# trailer weight with a WDH. So a trailer with 12% tongue weight can only weigh 9583#, before exceeding the receiver's rating. My current trailer is 7500# with a 1140# tongue weight (>15%), so I'm just 10# under the receiver rating.
Like Buck50HD says, with the MaxTow, there's a good chance you'll go over your rear GAWR before anything else. And that's what happened to me: over by 130#. But under GVWR by 200# and way, way under the GCWR by >3000#. Since I'm also under the front GAWR and under the trailer's GAWR by a lot, I could tighten up the WDH to move weight off the rear axle.
If you don't have MaxTow, there's a good chance you'll run out of payload before hitting the receiver rating or rear GAWR.
But, really, unless you are running low tongue weights (<12%), it's unlikely that GCWR (or trailer tow capacity) will be a limit.
Maybe if you only had 10% tongue weight, you could exceed the GCWR, but with high side travel trailers, 12% is the recommended lower limit. And the more the better for towing stability. Mine is currently 15%.
My MaxTow receiver is rated at 1150# tongue weight and total 11500# trailer weight with a WDH. So a trailer with 12% tongue weight can only weigh 9583#, before exceeding the receiver's rating. My current trailer is 7500# with a 1140# tongue weight (>15%), so I'm just 10# under the receiver rating.
Like Buck50HD says, with the MaxTow, there's a good chance you'll go over your rear GAWR before anything else. And that's what happened to me: over by 130#. But under GVWR by 200# and way, way under the GCWR by >3000#. Since I'm also under the front GAWR and under the trailer's GAWR by a lot, I could tighten up the WDH to move weight off the rear axle.
If you don't have MaxTow, there's a good chance you'll run out of payload before hitting the receiver rating or rear GAWR.
But, really, unless you are running low tongue weights (<12%), it's unlikely that GCWR (or trailer tow capacity) will be a limit.
#14
I love beating a dead horse.... so I figured some additional numbers.
Truck used for specifications- 2013 F150 3.7L, Screw, 4x4, 145" WB, *max tow package.
Your prospective trailer weight= 7,338
Assumed tongue weight (figured at 15% to be safe)= 1,100
Your truck's GVWR 7,650 - curb weight 5,615 = max payload 1,985. (Spec book says max payload is 1,900 so we will use that)
Your Max Rear GAWR = 3150
Your Max trailer tow capacity (from spec book) = 9,200
As you can see.... the trailer you are looking at is well within your trucks capabilities as per Fords recommendations and specifications. So even if my numbers vary slightly, you'll still be safe. Hope all this helps.
Truck used for specifications- 2013 F150 3.7L, Screw, 4x4, 145" WB, *max tow package.
Your prospective trailer weight= 7,338
Assumed tongue weight (figured at 15% to be safe)= 1,100
Your truck's GVWR 7,650 - curb weight 5,615 = max payload 1,985. (Spec book says max payload is 1,900 so we will use that)
Your Max Rear GAWR = 3150
Your Max trailer tow capacity (from spec book) = 9,200
As you can see.... the trailer you are looking at is well within your trucks capabilities as per Fords recommendations and specifications. So even if my numbers vary slightly, you'll still be safe. Hope all this helps.
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cosway (01-29-2014)
#15
Senior Member
Here's a simple tool to help you estimate the Payload and Tow Rating required to support any given trailer:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/traile...tility-244126/
I have also plugged in your trailer input and produced the following:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/traile...tility-244126/
I have also plugged in your trailer input and produced the following:
#16
Senior Member
Sure you CAN tow it but can you tow it safely? Can you tow it in the rain/sleet/snow? Up and down killer hills in 100 degree summer on a 12 hour road trip?
So then when and where do you want to go camping?
Ps. What tires on that sucker?
So then when and where do you want to go camping?
Ps. What tires on that sucker?
Sorry to ask another question thats probably been anwsered like ten times over but these acronyms have me confused? Anyway, here soon enough, not sure exactly when, we are trying to get into a camper. Anyway, we are thinking about a cougar xlite 28rbs which i believe has a dry weight of 6338 (could be wrong). Lets just say for numbers sake i add 1000 pounds to it so 7338. I guess the question is can my truck pull it? I think i can but the acronyms and numbers are starting to confuse me. Any way i have a 2013 platinum with max trailer package, gvwr 7650, 3.73, ecoboost. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks.
#17
The "can you pull it safely" is subjective IMO. If the trailer is within all the spec by the manufacture to me it is safe. Doesn't matter if it's a F150, 250, or other. Now if it was within specs and the driver was eating a hamburger and texting then no it's not safe. I never get the " that's too heavy for a little f150". Wouldn't the manufacture design it in such a way it can handle right up to and including the weakest capacity beit payload, axle, etc? And tackle the steepest consumer highway/pass. While I'm ranting what is the deal with length? I've never read any restriction on length in the capacities. I've read folk saying you need at least 158" to pull anything over 30'. Does that even apply any more with all the advancements of truck technologies?
Rant over.
Rant over.
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cosway (01-29-2014)
#18
Senior Member
...
While I'm ranting what is the deal with length? I've never read any restriction on length in the capacities. I've read folk saying you need at least 158" to pull anything over 30'. Does that even apply any more with all the advancements of truck technologies?
...
While I'm ranting what is the deal with length? I've never read any restriction on length in the capacities. I've read folk saying you need at least 158" to pull anything over 30'. Does that even apply any more with all the advancements of truck technologies?
...
#19
Senior Member
I actually was interested in that trailer when i was looking. It has a dry tongue weight of 955lbs, you will unfortunately be over your trucks gvwr with that trailer. I also have the max tow pkg and 7700lb GVWR. I have 1700lbs of available payload and with you having the Platinum with every possible option you must have less available payload than i do? I ended getting a Outback 292bh that has a dry hitch weight of 850lbs and is also 6300lbs dry. Loaded up for a trip with the family i hit my local Cat Scale, The trailer weighed 7500lbs(loaded) and my truck came in at 7540lbs. I'm only 160lbs from my GVWR and i had very little packed in the bed of the truck. You are talking about another 100lbs of dry hitch weight with that trailer with less available payload capacity do to it being a Platinum so you will more than likely be over.....
The following users liked this post:
cosway (01-30-2014)