logspec1

Alright, I need some help please. I have a 2014 F150 with the 5.0 engine and the 3.31 rearend. I also have the #7100 factory tow package. My question is according to the FORD Towing guide my truck is good for 8100# towing weight, however the same truck with the 3.55 rearend can tow 9500#. There is not much difference with these gears so why the big difference in towing weight? The real question is how much can I really tow?

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

To begin figuring out the tow capability, start with the numbers for YOUR truck!

Those "max loaded trailer weights" that they publish rarely come into play unless you have a stripped down/no options truck that weighs in at the minimum curb weight for the model.

Look on the driver's door. There are two stickers - the top one will have your max GVWR (which you say is 7100 lbs); the bottom one ( the tire pressure sticker) has the payload capacity.

The specs for the truck will also have a GCWR, which is the max combined weight of the truck and trailer.

Also, look under the rear bumper for your hitch ratings, which are probably without a WDH max trailer 5000/max tongue weight 500; and with a WDH 10500/1050.

So....what's the payload capacity of your truck? I suspect it's in the range of 1200 to 1300 lbs.

With the tongue weight of a trailer between 10% to 15% of the weight of the loaded trailer, even an 8000 lb trailer and WDH will have a tongue weight in the area of your max hitch limit of 1050 lbs.

And, if your payload capacity is 1300 lbs, and you've got 1050 on the hitch, that leaves you 250 lbs for people and stuff in the cab and bed of the truck.

Bottom line.....don't pay much attention to the brochure maximum numbers, use the numbers for your truck, which will probably be considerably less! Payload capacity and hitch rating will probably be your restricting limits.

.

Norotso

+1

smokeywren

Oversimplified, tow rating tells you the max weight of a trailer you can tow up an interstate mountain pass without being the slowpoke holding up traffic, and without overheating anything in the drivetrain.


3.31 to 3.55 axle ratio change results in a 7.25% increase in engine RPM at the same road speed. So if your engine RPM with the 3.31 ratio is 2,100 RPM, then with 3.55 ratio it would be 2,252 at the same speed. Look at the HP and torque curves of your engine and see how much more HP you have at the higher RPM while the relatively flat torque curve remains near the peak.


I hope the real question is how much can you really tow without exceeding any of Ford's weight limits. And the answer is nowhere near even the 8,100 pounds of your tow rating. Because your trailer weight limiter is not the GCWR (basis of the tow rating) but the GVWR (basis of your payload rating). You will exceed the GVWR of your F-150 long before you get close to the 8,100 pounds tow rating.


On mine, the tow rating is 8,400 pounds, but I'm overloaded with my TT that grosses only 4,870 pounds. I suspect you're in the same boat, so the max trailer weight you can really tow without exceeding the GVWR of your truck is about 5,000 pounds.

Mike Up

Not exactly true. For a travel trailer, you'll need to use a weight distribution hitch. For a correctly adjusted hitch and loading in the camper, an 'average' weight distribution is 80% of the tongue weight on the truck and 20% on the trailer axles (hitches own weight accounted for).

So with 1050 lbs on the hitch and a WDH, you should be putting around 840 lbs on the trucks axles. So you should have 1300 lbs - 840 lbs = 460 lbs left for people and gear. Of course there's many factors so go to the weigh station and make sure!

KR Kodi

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely correct!! You need to go to your local CAT scales and get several weights - just the truck; just the trailer (maybe one measurement with the trailer axles on one scale and the tongue on another); a weight of the rig with the truck on one scale and the trailer on another, without the WDH spring bars attached; and one with the WDH hooked up.


You're right - the WDH redistributes the tongue weight, and the only way to know what's on each of the truck's axles and the trailer's axles is to weigh the rig.

logspec1

Well the truth is I screwed up when I traded in my 2010 F150 with the 4.6 V8 and the 3.55 rearend. It could tow 9500# and now with my 2013 5.0 V8 (bigger engine) and the 3.31 rearend I can only tow 8100#. Maybe it's time to go back to a Titan!

Norotso

You need to properly research the truck you're going to buy. Most important is payload, gearing, tow pkg, etc...Sorry you may not have understood all that goes into buying a proper TV or were mislead by a sales person. Its always buyer beware.... If you go to www.tfltruck.com/ and do some research, you'll find that the F150 is usually the top truck in towing when compared to other half ton models....

logspec1

OK, before I start getting hate mail I was only joking about the Titan, I love my F150. You are correct, I assumed the towing was compatible with my previous F150 and I screwed up. Now I have to decide what I am going to do about it. I have a great trailer now that it tows fine, I was looking to upgrade to something larger. Now I will have to reconsider my options on what I can safely tow. My new F150 is only 1 year old so it is not going anywhere. Older and wiser now!

brulaz

Or maybe get the rear diff changed to 3.73?

That should get you over 9000# tow capacity and would be a lot cheaper than buying a new truck.