Don't normally need to tow anything to worry about but I am moving next month and my buddy is letting me use his trailer so I don't need to get a uhaul. I've searched and from what I'm reading I believe I'm ok, but just want to clarify. My buddy has a 24' dual axle enclosed trailer he is letting me use. He says it is 3500lbs empty. I figure after I load it, it's probably going to run close to 7-7500k. I'm only towing that weight for 25 miles to my new apartment. Will me truck be ok with this? Also, any advice towing this large of a trailer? I don't have a trailer brake either. Thanks in advance!

 

Are you sure 7500k that would be 7.5 million lbs? LOL

Your planing on loading a 4,000lb load?

Most v8 F150 trucks tow rating is somewhere around 7,000-8,000. For your specific truck you would have to check a towing rating chart, Google.

 

8200 lbs for my screw 4x4 with 3.73 gears.

 

Two things you will have to worry about.

1 Idiots on the road with you

Can't really help with that one. Darwin has failed. Lol


2 Properly loading the trailer.

Make sure you have the load as close to evenly spread out over the inside of the trailer as possible. Too much tongue weight and it will push you wherever it wants to....too light and it will reduce your rear traction to dangerous levels.


Make sure you plan your route for the easiest possible way that will accomidate the enclosed trailer. Take it slow, and you should be ok. Make sure your tires are aired up to at least 80% of maximum capacity for the tire (to help carry the load).

 

You dont want the load too neutral. Some tounge weight is necessary to improve traction from the weight on the tires.

Ive balanced smaller loads before and didnt lile how the towing as a whole felt. Back of the truck bounced more from trailer pivoting on axle since was no real weight favoring either side of it.

 

And leave a lot of room. Even if someone dips into the space you were leaving, back off to get nthat distance back. You do not want brake fade. Which will happen if you are on them too much with how close to max tow rating and no trailer brakes assisting. That'd my biggest worry out of anything.

 

Your truck can tow that 25 miles easily. My 01 and 05 towed that same type of trailer with same type of load for a couple thousand mile round trips. Towed it pretty easily and safely. Brake controller fried in Texas and I towed with no trailer brakes for a few hundred miles which I would not recommend, but otherwise Uneventful...

 

I'm assuming that the 24' trailer has brakes which require a "RV" type 7 pin connector. Even though your truck doesn't have a brake controller does it have a 7 pin connector? If no 7 pin connector how are you going to get the turn signals and tail/marker lights to work? If you have a 4 pin connector, you can buy a 4 pin to 7 pin adapter. Just something to think about as I wouldn't tow that far without lights.
Also, make sure that you have the right size ball. I'm assuming the trailer takes a 2 5/16". Good luck!

 

Thanks for all the responses. Yes I did mean 7500lbs lol. I helped a buddy move to his place and was kind of tired when I typed this up. I'll have to look at what kind of pin the harness is for the trailer and what size ball. I've pushed this truck for what I thought was pretty hard quite a bit (pulled 21 stumps out of my yard) but this I think will be more of a challenge for it. Thanks again