colemac

Looking to purchase a trailer soon and just wondering how large I can go and the highest weight safely?

Please post pics!!

graysonp

Do you have the max towing option? What rear end?

Your towing capacity is probably in the 9500 lb range. Personally, I wouldn't want to tow a 5th wheel with that much weight with an F-150. The aerodynamics of any travel trailer or 5th wheel camper are terrible and will make a 1/2 ton truck strain way too much if you're near capacity.

I would look for something less than 30 ft long, and around 6k lbs dry. With the wind resistance, it's going to feel like you're towing something in the 8k-9k range. Anything bigger, and a 3/4 ton with a diesel will do a much better job of towing that trailer. Keep in mind that you're usually going to add several hundred lbs to the dry weight of the trailer once you get luggage, food, water and other supplies loaded up.

colemac

I have 3.73 gears and there is a trailer break in the truck...I can provide the VIN if that would make it easier.

How do I find out if I have the max tow package?

kjo43

Do you have a yellow payload sticker in your drivers door jamb? We do in the US and that will likely be the weakest link for your truck with a 5'er.

Platinum_Sean

6-7k dry. 1k on the pin. You will need a slider, or pin extension with a 5.5 box. Click on link in my sig.

Biggles

I just went through this exercise for a travel trailer.


Read you truck manual.
Check your max axle weights.
Check the sticker on the door jamb to find out your truck's maximum payload .

Do lots of research for 5th wheels , especially the weights!


My example :

Truck manual says I can tow a maximum of 9300lbs.

However , in reality , it's about 6000lbs.
My truck's max payload is 1422lbs . That is based on a full tank of gas and an average weight driver (correct me if I'm wrong) .

My wife and I are umm.. stout . So 1422lbs minus our weight = 1050 lbs payload. Add 40 lbs for liner , 10lbs for other junk , then add weight for kids etc., and the payload is down even further. For my truck, the maximum hitch weight is 750 lbs. A 6000lb trailer has a hitch weight of about 720 lbs.

Don't let the marketing numbers fool you...

jcain

Probably about the smallest fifth wheel you can find. payload is your limiting factor, not pulling weight.

colemac

Well there are all these people on here with half tons and fifth wheels. Wonderland bg what size they are?

jcain

yes, and they have properly equipped their vehicles upon purchasing. IE, MAX TOW, HD PAYLOAD, etc.

red1994ford

Id imagine you cant tow a very big trailer with a 5.5 inch box




(sorry I had to )

But for a 5.5 foot box id follow the weight guidelines others have said but your biggest issue is probably going to be cab clearance! Youre not gonna have much room between the front of a 5th wheel and the back of your cab so make DAMN sure your trailer is not gonna even come close to clipping the cab when you turn