New guy looking for information
04-08-2009, 09:27 AM
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New guy looking for information
Hi, I'm new here I signed up hoping to find some info but although I have searched the data base and used the search function I haven't come up with the info I was looking for.
Looking to get a truck to tow a horse trailer, it'll probably be a bumper pull for now, loaded we're talking about 6,000 lbs. So far so good that's well within the tow rating of the F 150 FX4 Crewcab I'm interested in. But should I upgrade my trailer later on to a fifth wheeel or gooseneck will the 6 and a half foot bed allow me to tow a gooseneck or fifth wheel ?
The reason I'm going for a crewcab is to carry passengers and this set up will be used to drive hundreds of miles to and from horse shows on a weekly basis during the summer.Second question is this, the interior is nice and the front seats are comfortable but the rear seat angle ( pretty much upright) isn't going to be kind to the rear seat passengers is there a fix to kick out the lower part of the rear seat and increase the reclining angle on the backrest?
Looking to get a truck to tow a horse trailer, it'll probably be a bumper pull for now, loaded we're talking about 6,000 lbs. So far so good that's well within the tow rating of the F 150 FX4 Crewcab I'm interested in. But should I upgrade my trailer later on to a fifth wheeel or gooseneck will the 6 and a half foot bed allow me to tow a gooseneck or fifth wheel ?
The reason I'm going for a crewcab is to carry passengers and this set up will be used to drive hundreds of miles to and from horse shows on a weekly basis during the summer.Second question is this, the interior is nice and the front seats are comfortable but the rear seat angle ( pretty much upright) isn't going to be kind to the rear seat passengers is there a fix to kick out the lower part of the rear seat and increase the reclining angle on the backrest?
04-08-2009, 09:56 AM
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Uncle Bob, welcome to the site. Down to business, sure hope you were talking of a receiver pull instead of a bumper. Don't think the bumpers have the rating for that much. Very good question about the back seat and its angle, will be watching myself for the responses. Again welcome and talk more later.
04-08-2009, 10:41 AM
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04-08-2009, 11:14 AM
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Can't comment on the seating question, but I actually have the 2009 towing guide sitting right next to me, and it says you can put a goose-neck/fifth-wheel in a 6.5 OR 5.5 foot bed, but there is a notation, and I quote...
"While the F150 Supercrew (145" wheelbase) and Supercab (132.5" wheelbase) with 5.5 foot box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch, current fifth-wheel trailer designs are not compatible with these models."
You'd be fine with a 6.5' bed.
As far as the weight. No problem. I have a 2008 Supercab with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. I'm rated to tow 8400#. I've towed right up to that rating off the receiver hitch without issue. Just watch your tongue weight.
"While the F150 Supercrew (145" wheelbase) and Supercab (132.5" wheelbase) with 5.5 foot box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch, current fifth-wheel trailer designs are not compatible with these models."
You'd be fine with a 6.5' bed.
As far as the weight. No problem. I have a 2008 Supercab with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. I'm rated to tow 8400#. I've towed right up to that rating off the receiver hitch without issue. Just watch your tongue weight.
Last edited by driver444; 04-08-2009 at 11:16 AM. Reason: more info
04-08-2009, 02:15 PM
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Thanks.
Being the impatient sort I've gone on several trailer sites and just went down to my local trailer hitch specialist.
The information ( yes I'm answering my own question) is, forget about it if you have a bed shorter than 6 feet, it can be done but there are so many issues involved such as weight distribution, cornering clearances between the cab and the trailer and just lousy road manners.
Especially avoid the converting a fifth wheel to gooseneck in order to get more clearance , this places undue strain on the trailers welds and will void any warranty. The general rule for fifthwheel hitches is to mount them at least 60 inches from the front bed wall, if your truck bed is 66 inches you just don't have the clearance to install one correctly since the center of the hitch should be at least over the axle or better still in front of the axle.
A 6ft+ bed will acommodate a gooseneck trailer ( the best option for shorter beds) and even a fifthwhell if equiped with a sliding hitch, the sliding hitch allows more freedom when crawling along in tight spaces, especially backing it into a parking space. The sliding hitch as the name implies allows you to release a pin then drive your truck forward to allow the coupling to slide back in the bed of the truck this gives you more clearance between the truck cab and the trailer overhang in order to make tighter turns without mangling both. Of course the hitch should be slipped back into it's normal position for on road use.
Being the impatient sort I've gone on several trailer sites and just went down to my local trailer hitch specialist.
The information ( yes I'm answering my own question) is, forget about it if you have a bed shorter than 6 feet, it can be done but there are so many issues involved such as weight distribution, cornering clearances between the cab and the trailer and just lousy road manners.
Especially avoid the converting a fifth wheel to gooseneck in order to get more clearance , this places undue strain on the trailers welds and will void any warranty. The general rule for fifthwheel hitches is to mount them at least 60 inches from the front bed wall, if your truck bed is 66 inches you just don't have the clearance to install one correctly since the center of the hitch should be at least over the axle or better still in front of the axle.
A 6ft+ bed will acommodate a gooseneck trailer ( the best option for shorter beds) and even a fifthwhell if equiped with a sliding hitch, the sliding hitch allows more freedom when crawling along in tight spaces, especially backing it into a parking space. The sliding hitch as the name implies allows you to release a pin then drive your truck forward to allow the coupling to slide back in the bed of the truck this gives you more clearance between the truck cab and the trailer overhang in order to make tighter turns without mangling both. Of course the hitch should be slipped back into it's normal position for on road use.