CJMCQFordtrucks

I am wanting to buy a camper trailer and am wondering how much i can tow with my 2003 F150 FX4 4x4 truck. I believe it is rated for 6600 pounds but I wondering if I could tow more or if I would need to make adjustments to be able to do so. It is an automatic; I believe it is 3.55 gears. I am also wanting to set it up for fifth wheel towing.
Could I tow 7500 pounds with a fifth wheel??

Mike Nickolas

From experience pulling various RV's with my 97 4.6 I can tell you that I was able to pull 5000 lbs wet comfortably on flatland but did have a little trouble downhill in the Arizona mountains. After installing a brake assist it was a whole lot better. With a 7000 lb RV I had a hard time keeping it from pushing my truck downhill even with the brake assist and I had to use every pullout that I could find and let the brakes cool. Anything above 5000 lbs is too scary for my blood. My advice is to keep it under 5000 lbs and use sway bars and brake assist. I have not tried a 5th wheel yet.

mbb

I wouldnt plan on nearly that much

Your gears and tires are going to make huge diff too.

Mileage?

15 yr old vehicle, high mileage isnt my idea of dependable tow vehicle.

The tow vehicle is like the motor of a boat....its the single most important part. Without reliable one you can trust, youve got nothing.

Jbrew

Nope. That's too much trailer for that truck...quite a bit too much.

akdoggie

Using a 1/2 ton truck for a 5th wheel is an accident waiting to happen. Too much weight pushing or pulling. In many states it is illegal to use a 1/2 for a 5th wheel puller. Even the 7700 is illegal in many cases, as it is still on a 1/2 ton basic truck, even though it is heavier in torsion bars and rear axle/spring combo. it's still too lightweight.

If you had a Chev/GM 3/4T you still may not be legal for a 5th wheel. They too often rate their trucks as able to use, but working as a SM for an RV business, we couldn't legally add a 5th wheel to anything that didn't meet minimum specs for truck vs particular trailer. Our GEN 10's do not fit the requirements able to handle a 5th wheel or load over XXXX amount (depends on the body, power train, axle and model).

Overloading with a 5th wheel in these GEN 10's, It's something you just don't do. The frame is strong enough, but nothing else is. If you have an 8.8 rear axle, you are done right there. There shouldn't be an 8.8 in your year, but I threw that out for anyone else thinking about doing something like this.

mbb

Also dont forget occupants, gear, gas, installed options all detract from gcvwr. Most peoples actual tow rating is almost 1000 lb less than the "base" rating for vehicle.

CJMCQFordtrucks

I appreciate y'alls thoughts. I almost have 200,000 miles, I have a brake controller and I was planning on doing an add-a-leaf as well. If I installed 3.73 or 4.10 gears would it be more reasonable?
My transmission is my biggest concern. I would not be towing very often at all, would it be really tough on my engine too or would it mainly be the transmission, brakes, and suspension?

Aragorn

Short answer is yes. Long answer is following AK's advice. If you want that heavy of a trailer either get a newer model with a weight distributing hitch or a bigger truck. Read through the towing section and get a feel for what is needed.

You could change the gear ratio, add a transmission cooler, and do other various things to the truck but by the time you spend that much money you could get pretty close to a decent down payment on a truck more suited to purpose.

Jbrew

Yea but with that engine and trans, all it might take is once to do it in. Don't waste time and money gearing. THAT truck just isn't built to pull that weight. BUT if you just need to move the trailer a VERY short distance (very short), you could probably get away with it. Like 10 miles short lol.

I had just had a trailer custom built and we pulled it home 3 weeks ago, from Ohio to MI. The trailer is 7400 lbs dry 33'. My 98 F150 is rated to pull it (7700 lbs) in the good book. But not once you figure in pay load, = truck options, fuel, tongue weight, people. So we borrowed a new EB which was rated to pull it AFA engine and trans, hell those can pull 10,000#. BUT, payload was still maxed out with 3 of us in the cab. When you get close to maximizing payload when pulling heavy, it changes everything...it's a transformation of the truck being in charge to the trailer. You feel everything. Longer story short, it's going to be F350 for that trailer. I won't need to go dually, but will need a 1 ton. Was concerned about the harsh ride of a 1T when not pulling, but the newer 1T's road great unloaded.

Today trailer manufactures are producing ultra light trailers and fifth wheels for 1/2 tons...the newer half tons. It's still new, but pretty cool. But after pulling just 7400 lbs with load leveling and anti sway, -everything hooked up perfectly I still wouldn't use a half ton to pull that much weight and that's because of the affects payload has on the vehicle.

Lets not forget braking. Major problem- THESE particular F150's have very poor braking to begin with. The system is fine, it's the hardware the factory uses. It can beefed and remedied somewhat, but not for pulling heavy on a regular basis.

BTW, you can visit the Towing section here , -

https://www.f150forum.com/f82/

A lot of those guys just do the math and think because they are within limits they are fine lol. You want to see some crazy set ups visit the towing section on this site lol.

Anyway, there's a lot more that figures in when pulling over 5000 lbs. Usually it's payload and the difference that makes when pulling. But in your case, it's that AND your engine/trans. Maybe if you don't plan on going far, you may pull it off. At the very least I would go 3/4T, an older truck if need be. You should be able to find a gaser fairly cheap, then sell the 150.