jmk00001

Hi everyone. Great forum, I'm really glad I found it. I've been searching this forum and doing endless web searches to verify what the sales people are telling me..it's been maddening. I am hoping some of the experts here would be able to help me out.


I've been looking to buy a new 2015 F150 Lariat Supercrew, 3.5L Ecoboost, 502A package, dual moonroof, extended range fuel tank, max tow package... I've been able to find exactly what I want but it only has the standard tow package. The dealer insists I don't need the max tow, but I know they'd tell me anything to sell a truck, so I'm trying to verify.


I want to be able to tow approx 7,000 lb travel trailer-with passengers, luggage, and camping cargo would be maybe 1500 lbs more between truck and trailer-without overloading my truck.


I know the truck payload capacity is just over 2000 lbs. and Ford site says max towing capacity is 10,700 when "properly equipped." I assume since we're talking max towing capacity, "properly equipped" means the max towing package...but what about the standard towing package? What is max towing capacity then? Can't find any numbers anywhere.


I don't have the axle weight numbers (from what I've read they are necessary to calculate), but I assume they would be similar to others that may have similar trucks on here. But the GVWR is 7000 lbs, curb weight is 4925 lbs (hence the payload cap). It has the 3.55 elect. lock RR axle. I don't understand how to read the charts I've found showing various GVCW. And those charts never state the numbers for standard vs. max tow package. I just need to know if the truck I found would be sufficient, or if I need to keep looking for one with Max Tow! Please help! Thanks!

DieselDawg

Sounds like you should be able to tow a trailer with a loaded weight of 7500#=/-500# with the correct Weight Distributing Hitch. Just remember that you need to subtract the weight of the WHD and Tongue weight from your GVWR to get your usable payload. You (based on 12.5% tongue weight and 125# hitch weight) should have about 1000# of payload left for driver/passengers/luggage...Actually you are probably better off to put luggage/ice chests/etc over the axles of your TT to save on your GVWR Payload Capacity


Check my sig: trailer is about 7400# as towed...very close on payload with just me and wife but it works great! Most of the time you will max out your payload #'s well before your tow #'s.

jmk00001

Thanks, DieselDawg, for the quick reply. Do you think I would be pushing the max on the capacity/rating, or would I have a bit of a "cushion" in capacity? From what I've been able to gather in my research, it seems best to have more capacity than you absolutely need.


I was hoping to pull around 8,000 lbs and have a cushion of 2,000 lbs just to be sure I wasn't putting too much on the truck.


Oh, and I forgot to mention in my original post that I'm looking at the 145" 5.5ft bed. Thanks again!

jmk00001

Can anyone else confirm or advise? Or, point me in the right direction?


I just want to be very sure, as this is not something I can afford to find out later was incorrect. Thanks again!

BCMIF150

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a F150 with a payload capacity over 2000 lbs. You need to check the door stickers.

Cover Dog

Yes, since the truck is on the dealers lot check the YELLOW door sticker and see what the payload is.

And your right, they will tell you anything for a sale. Those dual moonroofs are going to be heavy and takeaway from your overall payload capacity. I would hold out or order exactly what I needed for towing your trailer.

My 2013 Lariat EcoBoost 4x4 SCrew 6.5' bed has the Max Tow & HD Payload packages and my payload is #2162.

ak_cowboy

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...0_r1_Jan12.pdf

Page 2

jmk00001

You guys were right. The yellow sticker indicates a payload capacity of 1609 lbs. Here are both stickers. Can you guys help me determine what the trucks max tow capacity would be? If you need specific numbers I can estimate passengers and cargo in the truck itself to be no more than 600 lbs. Anything else I would want to haul could go in the trailer. As a hypothetical, if I had a 7500 lb trailer with another 900 lbs of cargo in it, would this over tax the truck? Thanks again.

ak_cowboy

Take your truck (loaded for the trip, without trailer) over a set of scales. Subtract that weight from 7000 to get your payload that is left. Trailer tongue weight should be 15% of total trailer weight.

Ex: Truck weighs 5500lbs, that leaves you 1500lb for payload/tongue weight.
7500 Trailer+900lb cargo = 8400lbs.
8400*15% tongue weight = 1260lbs on the truck.
1500lb - 1260 = 240lbs left of usable payload in the truck.

acadianbob

Focus on the payload of the truck and the tongue weight of the trailer. You can more or less forget about the total trailer weight because it is almost a given that payload capacity will be your limiting factor

Out of that 1,600 pounds comes: weight of family, dog, items in the back of your truck like bikes, coolers, firewood, generator, grill, etc. Also any options you added to the truck after the factory like a bed topper, side steps; also the weight of your weight distribution hitch. After your subtract all of that from your payload, that is what you have left to handle tongue weight.

Tongue weight: The dry weight in the brochure is unrealistically low. That's a dry weight. Add: battery, LP gas tanks, options on the trailer, the stuff you put in your trailer; clothing, food, dishes, etc. 15% of that added weight in the trailer will go on the tongue; in addition to the dry weight.

Do you have enough payload? Do the math now before you make a mistiake in what you purchase.

Good luck. Have fun. Be safe.