I have a very clean 1999 F-150 ,4.6 supercab,2 wheel drive ,3.55 rear.The owners guide says GCWR IS 11500 LBS,MAX TRAILER WT.7000 LBS.
This tuck has 33000 miles on it.Im looking to get into traveling with a trailer.I would like to get a trailer that this truck will tow ,without hurting it.Meaning ,I dont know if,getting a 7000 lb trailer is pushing the truck,or ,does Ford have a safty factor ,by which the truck will pull the 7000 with no worry.I'm hoping to find something lighter anyway ,but I have no knowledge of the rating system,and need the advice.My next part of my question is,I'm told by some ,that I should consider putting a fifth wheel in the bed of the truck because it will make better towing ,and also increase the capacity ,again,I dont intend on going over the 7000 ,but would like to have the info.I've read a bit about fifth wheels in short beds is a bad idea ,due to the turning radius ,especially when backing up,however,there are sliding 5th wheels that are now avail.to remove that problem.
That all said,I appreciate all the help I can get .I understand Im asking alot,but anything you can share ,will definatly enlighten me.Thanks. Mike

 

My thoughts that I would go get your truck weighed. Once you do that consider the weight of the truck plus whatver you are wanting to tow. If you have a truck with a max tow of 7k put a bunch of stuff in it and then you exceed the capacity.
I do understand that a 5th wheel can help distribute the weight but some consideration on weight. I have a new truck that has a max tow of 9300 and a travel trailer that weighs 4400 without anything in it. so I am close to 5k by the time I am ready to go. My thinking is it still does not weigh more than the truck a I am driving.
There has been some other really good threads about this but can't find them.

 

I wanted to mention that my trailer is 26ft sleeps 6 so for me I am comfortable. I looked into a slider hitch (5th wheel) because I have a short bed and the cost was almost $2700 bucks. So it can be more expensive. I would not trust the people you are buying a trailer from since they want to always sell more or bigger and it could be unsafe.
This is what I would do:
These are examples.

Max tow- 7000
GVWR 11000

weight of truck-5600
weight of trailer- 4400

total weight of truck and trailer- 10000

you have 1000 pounds of stuff you can load into the trailer and truck but don't go over the 11000

I hope this makes sense.

 

My brother had that exact same truck years ago, and I borrowed it once to tow my boat (5,500 lbs boat and trailer total weight).
It struggled terribly, the transmission got so hot the fluid was boiling. It had no power to climb even moderate hills without shifting to the lowest gears and having the engine scream.
I really thought it was going to die.

There is NO WAY I would ever recommend, based on my personal experience at least, this outfitted truck to tow any more than say....a Sea-Doo or something like that.

 

It really sucks when you get 'PROFESSIONAL"help that tells you stuff like,the posted ratings have a built in safety factor,then,you read actual experiences that are not in agreement.like the poster who had trouble with a 5500 pound boat,and I hear from a dealer I can pull anything as long as it dont exceed the GCWR or trailer weight.I havent bought a trailer yet,there is just the wife and I ,so I dont need anything too big,but do want the comfort .If anyone has any suggestions about a travel trailer,I thank you.Im lso told NOT to consider a fifth wheel with my truck.Basically ,I'll be towing it to one or 2 places during the summer months,to get away from S.Fla.East coast mainly.Anyway,thanks and if anyone has some experience with a perticular ,lite weight trailer,I appreciate it.

 

Read this and see if it helps determine your real maximums.

 

This works for us, but might be to small for some. Tracka96
http://www.scamptrailers.com/

 

First things first. Does the truck have the FACTORY
tow package? If not, I would not tow heavy loads
with it. There is a lot more to a factory tow package
than just a class four 2" receiver bolted to the frame.

I would never even try and tow a fifth wheel travel
trailer with a 1/2 ton truck of any make even if it has
a factory tow package. 99% of fifth wheel units are
best towed with a 3/4 ton truck. There are some RV
companys making fifth wheel units that can be towed
with 1/2 ton trucks but make sure before you buy.

A honest RV dealership will pull a chart to check your
trucks limits. If he doesn't look and tells you, "sure it
will pull it", GO SOMEPLACE ELSE! He's only trying to
sell you a RV and could care less about your safety.

As questions. No question is too stupid when it comes
to your safety.

Good luck...

 

5th wheel towing with a 150? Read this- https://www.f150forum.com/f38/5th-wh...m-doing-52823/

P.S. The terms half ton and 3/4 ton are starting to fade. Our 150's, which some may call a half ton have cargo ratings close to 1500 lbs, which, is 3/4 of a ton.

 

How much did the trailer cost you, if you don't mind me asking. I've been looking for something exactly like that 13ft.

Sorry, not trying to thread jack.