bthomp22

I know very little about travel trailer/5th wheel towing but after lurking here for a bit, thought this would be a great place to ask questions. I have a 2013 F150 that has the following:

4 x 2 supercab 6 speed auto
145" wheelbase
5.0L V8 FFV engine
3.31 ratio regular axle
trailer tow package


In looking at what I can tow, what kind of numbers should I be looking at? Should I even think about a 5th wheel? I will be hauling just myself and one other person as far as passenger capacity.

Sorry, I know very vague questions but would rather ask here than go into an RV lot and have them tell me. Thanks for the help.

Brian

13seth

What does the yellow sticker inside your door say for available payload? What will be the total weight of passengers and cargo?
With these numbers it can be figured out, I would guess you can tow something around 5,000lb dry weight.

ecobeest

Post back with more details about your truck, specifically as 12seth asked for your payload.

At first brush I will tell you that if you can find a 5'r that will match your truck it will have to be a LIGHT one, and I mean light. In all honesty I'd be looking for a smaller TT and not going down the 5'r road with that truck.

acadianbob

IMO your truck is unsuitable for a 5er; like most F150's. The F150 can work on a 5er if it is extremely light AND you have the HD payload package. Your rear end ratio also works against you.

Milton6001

Even if you have a good payload rating, your axle ratio is not good for towing. The book says 8,100lbs tow rating. You will have a hard time finding a fifth wheel that keeps you withing your payload (I am guessing on that), and you tow rating. I would stick to a moderate size travel trailer. I would have to agree with the comment above, you probably need something around 5000 lbs dry. You might be able to push up a little higher if you pack light and don't put much water in it when you pull.

bthomp22

Only numbers I saw were front GAWR at 3600 lbs and rear GAWR at 3850 if that is what you were looking for...

bthomp22

Sorry, and I run about 220 and another passenger would be 150. I would not be loading up full of water and going anywhere as I do not plan on doing any 'remote' camping at this time...

A7B2FX4

The label your looking to find is usually on the truck jam to the rear of the driver's door. It has touches of yellow on a white background. About one third of the way down it will say Maximum Payload as never exceed weight.

13seth

There should be a yellow sticker "tire and loading information" it will say "the combined weight of passengers and cargo should never exceed ****lbs" That is the payload left after all options were installed on the truck with a full tank of gas.
Take this number and subtract your weight, the weight of passenger and any luggage, cargo, atv or anything else that would be in the truck.
After subtracting passengers and cargo you will have the left over payload for tongue weight and the weight of a WDH hitch.
It seems to be a rule of thumb to subtract another 100lbs for the hitch. Now your left with the max tongue weight (assuming this number is less than your trucks hitch limit with a WDH).
Now lets say you had 800lbs left in available payload for tongue weight. If your trailer tongue weight was 13% of the trailer weight, the maximum trailer weight when fully loaded would be around 6,000lbs. (6000X.13=780).


Also check the weight rating on your actual hitch on the truck, mine says not to exceed 1050lbs with a WDH. Your available payload will probably be less than this. Your axles and tires will also have limits but it seems the payload is the limiting factor. usually if the trailer tongue weight, passengers and cargo are within the limits, everything else will be good.
I just did all of these calculations for my truck and am picking up a 6800lb unloaded weight travel trailer Friday. Then I am heading another 20 miles to a cat scale so I can figure out how much I can pack in the trailer and how much weight I should put behind the axles or in front to adjust the tongue weight.

Norotso

Your gearing 3.31, is going to be the downfall for your truck....