Wingdreamer

Hey, new to the forum, and ready to buy my first pickup! Looking at a 2009-2010 F150 Platinum or Lariat 4x4. I plan to buy a 27-29 foot 5th wheel in a few years to tow behind this truck, but have no idea if either of them will tow a 7500 lb (dry weight) trailer.
Also, I am being told that the crew cabs with the 5.5 foot box are too short of a box to use a 5th wheel plate (need min 6.5 foot?). Anyone shed some light on these 2 issues? I am actively looking and hope to buy one within the next week, just dont want to buy the wrong truck.....
Much appreciate the feedback!

cerhai

with that length of 5th wheels, you will be close to maxing out the capability of a half ton, go for a 3/4 or 1 ton.

Sammy77

The newer platinums tow less due to the 22" tires. IMO you'll need at least a max tow F150. I would get a Super Duty to tow that.

mvander

You can get a Lariat with the HD payload pkg and max tow. This could work as it should have about 2000# payload. You will have to crunch the #s though. It will be close.

The platinum will proly have around 1200# payload and you will definatly need more for a 5th to support the pin wt.

Wingdreamer

Been pretty much looking at the Lariat for the extra towing capacity. What about the size of the bed? Most of the crew cabs have a 5.5 foot box. I am being told that a conventional 5th wheel plate in the short box will result in some heavy damage to the cab if I try to back a 5th wheel in and hit anywhere near a 90 degree angle. What about the sliding hitches?

TJPlatinumEB

Platinum's do not have 22" wheels. They have 20" wheels with the same size tires that all of the other trim levels have. Only the Limited's have 22" wheels, but they didn't exist until 2011.

Sammy77

You're right. I'm always mixing the two up cause I don't see/work on too many Limited

Ricktwuhk

There is a Towing section of the forum with extensive information that you should review, I link to one such post in my signature below. Payload is going to be your big issue outside of the "will a 5th wheel work in a 5.5 bed"

In short, for a 5th wheel, you'll likely be looking at a 3/4 or 1 ton truck as noted.

PawPaw

The 6.5 bed with a sidewinder pin box on the trailer should give you enough clearance to turn. Max I would tow with a 1/2 ton would be around 9K pounds.

Wingdreamer

So, sounding like a 5 1/2 foot box is out of the picture. The 6.5 foot boxes on the Lariats (supercab) are hard to find used....