2011 Platinum 5.0 TT Towing HELP!
08-06-2014, 08:33 PM
#11
Actually, I meant earlier in this thread to refer you over to the "Tow/Haul" section of the forum:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/
The real experts hang out over there and can give real good advice.
Unfortunately, a lot of owners think the published weight rating limits are some kind of engineering hoo-haa, and that if you can hook it up, your truck will pull it.
OTOH, I'm of the opinion that the engineers actually know what they're talking about, and I'd prefer to stay within the weight limits - for durability and longevity of the truck, and especially for towing SAFELY!
It seems that the main weight limits that usually come into play are:
We're just going to need to see the published numbers for the 2015 when they are released, but I would imagine that Ford will want to claim "best tow rating in class" as they have in recent years - and that will require numbers very similar to the 2014 specs.
A 2014 with Max Tow will have a 7700 lb GVWR. If you have a nicely optioned truck weighing about what your current Platinum weighs (let's say 6000 lbs), then you'd have 1700 lbs of payload.
With a 1700 lb payload capacity you could pull an 7500 lb trailer with 900 lb tongue weight and a 100 lb WDH, and that would leave you 700 lbs for people and stuff in the cab and bed of the truck.
So....I've got my Trailer Toad that carries all the tongue weight, so all I need to worry about is the GCWR, but if I didn't have the Toad I'd definitely be looking to get at least Max Tow on my next truck, and maybe the HD pkg as well.
As far as the 2015 - hoonose!?!? We'll just have to wait for them to publish the numbers, and more importantly we'll need to look at the stickers on the doors of some trucks with a nice set of options to see what they will really be able to tow safely.
.
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/
The real experts hang out over there and can give real good advice.
Unfortunately, a lot of owners think the published weight rating limits are some kind of engineering hoo-haa, and that if you can hook it up, your truck will pull it.
OTOH, I'm of the opinion that the engineers actually know what they're talking about, and I'd prefer to stay within the weight limits - for durability and longevity of the truck, and especially for towing SAFELY!
It seems that the main weight limits that usually come into play are:
GVWR - the max weight your truck can weigh
Payload Capacity - the weight on the tire pressure sticker that says "weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx lbs"
GCWR - the max weight of the combined truck and trailer
Hitch Rating - most new F150s are 5000/500 (max trailer weight/max tongue weight if no Weight Distributing Hitch is used; 10,500/1050 with a WDH for standard tow pkg; 11,500/1150 with Max Tow and/or Heavy Duty pkg)
and sometimes the GAWRs - the max weight each axle of your truck can handle without overloading the tires/wheels, suspension, and wheel bearings
Payload Capacity - the weight on the tire pressure sticker that says "weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx lbs"
GCWR - the max weight of the combined truck and trailer
Hitch Rating - most new F150s are 5000/500 (max trailer weight/max tongue weight if no Weight Distributing Hitch is used; 10,500/1050 with a WDH for standard tow pkg; 11,500/1150 with Max Tow and/or Heavy Duty pkg)
and sometimes the GAWRs - the max weight each axle of your truck can handle without overloading the tires/wheels, suspension, and wheel bearings
We're just going to need to see the published numbers for the 2015 when they are released, but I would imagine that Ford will want to claim "best tow rating in class" as they have in recent years - and that will require numbers very similar to the 2014 specs.
A 2014 with Max Tow will have a 7700 lb GVWR. If you have a nicely optioned truck weighing about what your current Platinum weighs (let's say 6000 lbs), then you'd have 1700 lbs of payload.
With a 1700 lb payload capacity you could pull an 7500 lb trailer with 900 lb tongue weight and a 100 lb WDH, and that would leave you 700 lbs for people and stuff in the cab and bed of the truck.
So....I've got my Trailer Toad that carries all the tongue weight, so all I need to worry about is the GCWR, but if I didn't have the Toad I'd definitely be looking to get at least Max Tow on my next truck, and maybe the HD pkg as well.
As far as the 2015 - hoonose!?!? We'll just have to wait for them to publish the numbers, and more importantly we'll need to look at the stickers on the doors of some trucks with a nice set of options to see what they will really be able to tow safely.
.
Last edited by KR Kodi; 08-06-2014 at 08:35 PM.
08-08-2014, 11:57 AM
#12
Senior Member
A quick browse around most trailer campsites shows me that I'm one of the few who actually takes their max payload into account. F150s crew cabs everywhere with 30 foot plus trailers and quite a few with fifth wheels. People only look at the max trailer weight and then figure they are good to go based on that. The beds are loaded up with coolers and bikes, and a family of of five jumps inside the truck to top it off.
I'm towing a 25' with my Platinum. I'm comfortably within its ratings.
I'm towing a 25' with my Platinum. I'm comfortably within its ratings.
08-08-2014, 09:04 PM
#14
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I read through this briefly. I would recommend getting a truck that will haul something without working so hard. The trailer you are looking at looks like an f250 job or a diesel. A lighter TT would work too. Use good judgment.
08-09-2014, 09:19 PM
#15
After looking into things more I believe I will be fine with a ecoboost screw with trailer tow package. 2 adults and 2 kids will be around 630lbs on the high end. Plus tongue weight of 900lbs is 1530lbs. I believe even without the payload package I still will have room to work with. No reason to go up to a 250.New models will have higher payload due to weight loss. This will also be my daily driver for 35min commute each way to work.
08-10-2014, 02:26 PM
#16
After looking into things more I believe I will be fine with a ecoboost screw with trailer tow package. 2 adults and 2 kids will be around 630lbs on the high end. Plus tongue weight of 900lbs is 1530lbs. I believe even without the payload package I still will have room to work with. No reason to go up to a 250.New models will have higher payload due to weight loss. This will also be my daily driver for 35min commute each way to work.
08-10-2014, 04:03 PM
#17
Retired and loving it!
Keep in mind the mpg you are going to get. I towed a nearly 8,800 pound (all loaded up and ready to hit the road -- no water on board) TT (with a fairly upright front end) thousands of mile with our 2012 max tow SCAB Lariat EB.
The EB handled it "OK" but I hardly ever saw above 8 mpg.
We moved to a 2,000 pound lighter TT (Keystone Bullet 289 RKS) which was the same length as the heavier one and has a more aerodynamic front end. Again, we have towed this TT for thousands of miles, and never gotten less than 10 mpg, and usually get closer to 11.5. This makes a HUGE difference in your gas bill when on the road. Think of buying your gas at a 50% discount and how happy you would be.....that is the difference between our two TT's in towing mpg.
I would recommend the following:
1. Stay at 70% of your rated towing capacity. This is just a safety margin that a TT salesman is going to try to get you to ignore.
2. Get the Max Tow!!! When towing you will need the bigger gas tank as well as the added features. The 2014 has a 36 gallon tank, the 2015 is going to have a 33 gallon tank --- but will also be 700+ pounds lighter, so the difference is likely going to be a push.
3. The day you take delivery of your new truck, ask to trade the "P" rated OEM tires as "new take offs" for a good LT rated tire. I can highly recommend the Michelin LTX MS2's as they made a HUGE difference in how the truck tows.
4. Get a weight distribution hitch - the best you can afford as well as an anti-sway setup. Although we have the Equalizer WDH with a friction bar anti-sway setup, if I had to do it over again, I would have bought the Reese Dual Cam due to it's proven anti sway technology....vastly superior to a friction bar and much safer.
If you'd like to talk more about these issues (I think my post in looooooong enough!) feel free to PM me and we can trade contact information over there.
The EB handled it "OK" but I hardly ever saw above 8 mpg.
We moved to a 2,000 pound lighter TT (Keystone Bullet 289 RKS) which was the same length as the heavier one and has a more aerodynamic front end. Again, we have towed this TT for thousands of miles, and never gotten less than 10 mpg, and usually get closer to 11.5. This makes a HUGE difference in your gas bill when on the road. Think of buying your gas at a 50% discount and how happy you would be.....that is the difference between our two TT's in towing mpg.
I would recommend the following:
1. Stay at 70% of your rated towing capacity. This is just a safety margin that a TT salesman is going to try to get you to ignore.
2. Get the Max Tow!!! When towing you will need the bigger gas tank as well as the added features. The 2014 has a 36 gallon tank, the 2015 is going to have a 33 gallon tank --- but will also be 700+ pounds lighter, so the difference is likely going to be a push.
3. The day you take delivery of your new truck, ask to trade the "P" rated OEM tires as "new take offs" for a good LT rated tire. I can highly recommend the Michelin LTX MS2's as they made a HUGE difference in how the truck tows.
4. Get a weight distribution hitch - the best you can afford as well as an anti-sway setup. Although we have the Equalizer WDH with a friction bar anti-sway setup, if I had to do it over again, I would have bought the Reese Dual Cam due to it's proven anti sway technology....vastly superior to a friction bar and much safer.
If you'd like to talk more about these issues (I think my post in looooooong enough!) feel free to PM me and we can trade contact information over there.
Last edited by Adobe2X; 08-10-2014 at 04:23 PM.
08-10-2014, 04:19 PM
#18
Senior Member
After looking into things more I believe I will be fine with a ecoboost screw with trailer tow package. 2 adults and 2 kids will be around 630lbs on the high end. Plus tongue weight of 900lbs is 1530lbs. I believe even without the payload package I still will have room to work with. No reason to go up to a 250.New models will have higher payload due to weight loss. This will also be my daily driver for 35min commute each way to work.
I won't rehash things that have already been discussed but rather will shine a light on the items not discussed - weight distributing hitch functions, what is actually done by the hitch?, and the effect of the weight distributing hitch regarding tongue weight.
So we have a hitch that is good for 10,500lbs of trailer and 1,050lbs of tongue weight when using a weight distrubuting hitch. Which means the weight of the tongue prior to the weight distributing hitch being engaged must be equal to or less than this rating.
When we use a properly setup weight distrubuting hitch the tongue weight is "Distributed" approximately as follows (wheelbase of the tow vehicle and trailer will effect the amount of distribution):
15% is transferred to the front axle, 25% is transferred to the trailer axles, and the remaining 60% is left on the rear axle.
Example:
Tongue weight = 900lbs = 135lbs to front axle (15%) + 540lbs on rear axle (60%) + 225lbs to trailer axle('s) (25%)
Leaving us with 675lbs of actual weight added to the tow vehicle. Now is the point that ALL of the other ratings and base weight numbers of the tow vehicle as equipped come into play. We must determine if we stay with in ALL of the individual weight ratings of the vehicle. ie: base FGAW + 135lbs < FGAWR ?, RGAW + 540lbs < RGAWR ?, GVW + cargo + passengers + 675lbs < GVWR ?
Hopefully this helps clear some things up and doesn't just further muddy the waters.
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Adobe2X (08-10-2014)
08-10-2014, 04:50 PM
#19
Senior Member
If you are having to trade in your truck for new and want to stay with a 1/2 ton. Then you might as well get one with the max tow and HD payload pkgs.. I wish the offered the HD payload pkg in 2011 when i bought mine.. With my trailer and family of four i have to be very careful what i load in the bed of my truck so i don't exceed my GVWR and rear axle rating..
08-10-2014, 05:09 PM
#20
Thanks again for all the info espically the WDH. Hey Kev I would love the HD payload package prob is you can't get it with 5.5 box. I only have 6" to spare to allow garage door to close. I am seeing that this is also taking me out of all 3/4 trucks due to length. I see GM has some nice payloads...but would kill me to go that route.