itguy08

Best bet is to check the payload sticker on your door. My Lariat with "all the bells and whistles" except sunroof, nav, and Sony audio has 1860 lbs or so of payload according to the yellow sticker.

Running the #'s that comes awfully close to the 11,100 lbs Ford says it can tow.

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

I know what my payload sticker says, you know what your payload sticker says, but I'm trying to find out what TedF150's payload sticker says!!


Butt....I'm curious what you mean by "1860 lbs or so of payload". Your sticker will be precisely what the payload capacity of the truck is as it came off the assembly line. You should know exactly what your payload capacity is - and if you've added some aftermarket stuff (tonneau, bed liner, bullbar, etc., etc.) then you can subtract their weights and come up with your current payload capacity.


My King Ranch has all the bells and whistles, including a moonroof, nav, and Sony audio - which all add a lot of additional weight. It also has the off-road package. My sticker says 1115 lbs, and with my after delivery mods of bed liner, tonneau, and bed extender, I'm down to 1020 lbs (weighed on my local CAT scales).


If TedF150's Lariat is like yours but has the moonroof, nav, and Sony audio, I bet its payload is closer to the 1700 lb example I used than it is to the 1860 lbs of your truck.


However, regardless of payload capacity, the hitch receiver has an 1150 lb limit. With a 50 lb WDH head, an 11,100 lb trailer with the minimum of 10% of that on the tongue, would be right at the limit of the hitch (actually 10 lbs over, if the hitch head really weighs 50 lbs).


If TedF150's Lariat doesn't really have all the bells and whistles, and like yours has an 1860 lb payload capacity, then that would give him 710 lbs that he (or you) can carry in the cab and bed when towing.


So - If you hook up an 11,000 trailer with a WDH and tongue weight of 1150 lbs to your truck, subtract that from your 1860 lb payload capacity and you'll have a max payload remaining of 710 lbs. That's perhaps three adult passengers and a couple hundred lbs of other stuff in the cab and bed.


However - weigh it at your local CAT scales and you may find you're quite a bit over your rear GAWR.


Also - what about GCWR??? I don't know the configuration of your truck (RCab, SCab, SCrew, 4x2, 4x4, bed length, etc.), but assuming you have a 7700 GVWR, subtract your payload capacity of 1860 lbs and your truck weighs 5840 lbs empty (the yellow sticker value, completely empty as it came off the assembly line, except for a full tank of gas). Add three 170 lb adults and 200 lbs of tools, firewood, camping stuff, or track support stuff, plus your 50 lb WDH head, and the truck weighs 6600 lbs before you hook up your trailer. If you hook up an 11,000 lb trailer your rig will weigh 17,700 lbs, and that is over any GCWR published for an F150.


Bottom line - Unless it has the HD package, even with the Max Tow pkg you generally can't hook up a trailer much more than 9000 lbs and still be within the weight limits of an F150.


The "sales" brochure and towing guide will tell you mythical numbers that are there simply to look good compared to the competition. The max trailer weight numbers are with nothing in the truck except for a skinny 150 lb driver, and the truck they use to get those max trailer weights are a plain Jane/no frills/zero option truck. When you get a truck with any normal comfort and convenience options the payload capacity and max trailer weight you can tow go WAY down from those fictitious "sales" brochure numbers.


Every truck is unique and has its own payload capacity that is generally the most limiting weight rating. Do the math on your trailer's tongue weight and what you'll be carrying in the cab and bed of the truck when towing to get YOUR truck's real limits. Then go to the CAT scales to confirm.
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meaz93

Loadlifter 5000's will definitely help in towing that much weight, and get rid of the pogoing effect-period. Sure the WDH needs to be adjusted correctly with a good sway mechanism., but those bags will level that beast out and make for a stress free trip.

itguy08

Ted should know what his payload sticker says. He passes by it every time he gets in and out of the truck.


I was going off my (not so good anymore) memory. And I was wrong. Pulled up the spreadsheet I used when we were evaluating travel trailers and it's 1820 lbs payload with an 1130 lb tongue weight with a WDH.

That's what I don't get - Ford says I can stuff 1820 lbs in the truck so why are there not sufficient ratings to carry it? That just makes no sense to me. Sure, if I put 1800 lbs at the tailgate something will give but a relatively evenly distributed load should not cause issues for any of the ratings of the vehicle.

Yup. It's all a numbers game and the best and safest thing we all can do is check and double check the #'s and then weigh to confirm.

brulaz

Payload can be spread between both axles. Like 5 football players in a SCrew.

And if you add up the GAWR of both axles, they are usually greater than the GVWR so it works ok.

But trailers put all the weight on the rear axle (or more depending upon your WDH settings) . So you gotta watch the rear GAWR when you get close to maxing out payload. Currently I'm 2% under GVWR but 2% over the rear GAWR.

Ole Man Dan

Re adjust your hitch and bars.

My experience is that 'P' rated tires belong on Grandma's car...
I would either change to 'D' rated or 'E' rated tires.

Truck tires take the 'Spooky' out of towing.

Air Lift Company

^^^ This. It is amazing the difference a rubber bag and some air will make. You will feel like you have a completely different truck while towing. Let me know if you have any questions!

frobotz

I don't understand why you wouldn't get a 3.4 ton for towing this heavy. Being just barely in the legal range to tow makes me edgy. I always go overkill when towing heavier loads. I don't get the half ton towable 5th wheel trailers either. Makes no sense to have a trailer just barley under your max towable weight but none of this helps so I will add a properly setup wd hitch will help as will airbags for stabilizing the truck.

TedF150

GVWR is as follows 7700lbs - 3900lbs front + 4050lbs rear

TedF150

Bought the F150 with advertised Equipment package able tow maximum of 113000lbs.