Chrisdon

OK I think this subject has been on here before, but I have been seeing more and more F150 pulling fifth wheels, since the last post

Rv Dealers are advertising half tonne towable on alot of fifth wheels now.

Is it REALLY a good idea to pull one with a shortbed crew?

Would you do it?

ecobeest

That's a bit of a loaded question as there are many variables to consider. The basic answer of 'can it be done on the numbers' is yes it can be. However, each situation is specific. I will say that the odds are against you from the word go, but if you know what you are doing you can manage it.

If you are looking at potentially doing this, perhaps post the precise truck and 5'r combo and it can be looked at.

Chrisdon

Truck is 2010 XTR 5.3L with 3.55 Axle Ratio

No max tow package, only the Trailer towing package

From what I have read, it looks like its about 9500lb - 9600lb we can pull
I have been looking at this chart on this site
http://www.ford.com/assets/pdf/towin...vF150sep09.pdf

Havent got the 5'r yet. We just have our TT, it pulls it no problem, but its only 4000pounds.

Twisty

I would not do it.
Can it be done? Yes.
IMO, a travel trailer less than 8000 lbs or less than 32 feet = F150
A fiver or bigger, heavier TT = F250 or F350 with an 8 foot bed.

EcoboostKev

When it comes to F150's the first thing you have to look at is payload and and axle weight ratings long before towing capacity. Give us your trucks specs(Payload,GVWR, GAWR, GCWR) then we can go from there. I will say right off the bat that the 3.55 gears is not a good choice when it comes to towing heavy.

acadianbob

Exactly! Payload is the limiting factor vs the pin weight of the 5'er.

People do things and get by with it. You will see posts to that affect. But I don't think it is a good idea; especially with your setup.

An F150 with a HD payload package might be OK with a smaller 5'er.

smokeywren

Not with the truck you mentioned, for two reasons:

1] 2010 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide says "While F-150 SuperCab and SuperCrew with 5.5' box will accept a fifth wheel hitch, current fifth-wheel trailer designs are not compatible with these models." In other words, even with a slider hitch or extended pinbox, you're probably going to have cab to trailer contact when you make a sharp turn. That's not a problem with a 6.5' bed with a slider hitch - unless your slider hitch is manual and you forget to slide it before you make a sharp turn.

2] Your GCWR is 14,000 pounds, so you could probably tow a 5er that grosses up to 8,000 pounds without exceeding the GCWR if you have absolutely nothing in the F-150 but a skinny driver. Add one passenger and normal tools and stuff and the max trailer GVWR goes down to about 7,500 pounds. That's a small 5er. But the typical 17% hitch weight of a 7,500 pound 5er will be about 1275 pounds. Your F-150 has neither the max tow pkg nor the HD payload pkg, so the GVWR is probably 7100 or 7200 pounds. My 2012 SuperCrew 4x2 with TT that has only 650 pounds hitch weight overloads my truck by 100 pounds over the GVWR of 7100. If I tried to tow a 5er with 1275 pounds hitch weight, I'd be severely overloaded over the GVWR of my truck.

Of course not.

Only mentally challenged folks would purposely buy a trailer that they know will overload their tow vehicle over any of the manufacturer's weight limits. On an F-150, available payload capacity, which is based on GVWR, is your limiter. In my case, I bought a TT that the estimated numbers said would not exceed the GVWR of my F-150. But I figured the typical 12% TT hitch weight and my TT turned up with over 15% hitch weight, so I'm overloaded by a bit when wet and loaded for a long trip.

For a 5er, hitch weight varies from about 16% to 24%, with typical for a smaller 5er being 17%. So if you use 17% in your estimates, but your 5er turns up with 20% "pin" weight, then I hope you left some wiggle room in your estimates.

Can you tow a 5er with an F-150 without being overloaded? Yes, but not your F-150. You need the factory optional heavy duty payload package that includes 3.73 axle ratio and 6.5' bed, and results in GVWR of 8,200 pounds and GCWR of 15,000 pounds. Then you have a prayer of towing an 8,000 pound 5er without being overloaded.

In your case, even a TT can easily overload your F-150. To find your max TT weight without being overloaded, load the F-150 with all the people, pets, tools, etc. that will be in it when towing. Go to a truckstop that has a truck scale, fill up with gas, and weigh the wet and loaded rig. Add 50# to that weight if you don't have the shank and ball mount for the weight-distributing hitch installed on the truck. Or if you're trying to determine how much 5er you can tow, add 150 pounds for the 5er hitch and install kit. Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded truck with hitch from the GVWR of the truck. The answer is your max hitch weight without being overloaded - or in other words it's the actual max available payload for your F-150.

Divide that max hitch weight by 12% to get the max TT weight you can tow without being overloaded (if your TT has the typical 12% hitch weight). Divide the max hitch weight by 17% to get the max 5er weight you can tow without being overloaded (if your smaller 5er has the typical 17% hitch weight). If you want to be more certain of the max trailer weight you can tow without being overloaded, use 15% for a TT or 24% for a 5er.

Chrisdon

Thanks for the info, thinking its a no go..... We would be towing from Canada to Flordia or even Texas. (nascar fans) so its not worth the risk.
Hmmm anyone know a deal on a 250??? LOL
Thanks again.
CD.

acadianbob

Hope you don't feel "hammered". I think everyone is trying to help you make the right decision.

SkiSmuggs

I wouldn't tow that fiver with that truck. Here is a thread you might find useful.

5th wheel towing with F150- I am doing it!!!! - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans