Note: All weights mentioned are weight carrying. Weight Distribution and fifth wheel are different subjects.

Was at the dealership getting some warranty work done and looked at a new Ranger. Sure enough the receiver has a tag on it saying max with weight carrying is 750lb tongue weight and 7,500 trailer weight. Had no mention of weight distribution.

In my mind this pretty much settles the argument as to whether the F150 500/5000 limit is either a true limit, arbitrary, marketing bs, or confirmation that their receiver is a weak POS. Not a chance that any Ranger has 50% more capacity than any F150 to include a long wheelbase HDPP Ecoboost Max Tow truck. None of the arguments about reduced front end weight or RAWR hold water in this instance.

The Curt class IV receiver is rated at 1000/10,000. Curt tells me that the sticker on the Ford receiver is for the Ford Receiver, and that the sticker on theirs is for theirs. So long as I stay within the bounds of RAWR, GVWR, GCVWR, payload, and tires that I have no issue towing at 1000/10,000 with their receiver.

IMO: I’m in the arbitrary camp when it comes to the F150 limitation. The load numbers simply do not add up that the true receiver limit is 500 when it can handle so much more stress using a weight distribution setup. My only question is whether I’m willing to go to so much trouble just to have a sticker with a higher number. I’m in a situation where my 10’ single axle regularly sees 750 tw but with a sub 3000lb load. That puts me well within all limitations with the exception of that stupid 500lb sticker. If I wanted, I could drive the load out of the trailer and into the bed and be well within my payload, so things like braking power don’t really come into play.

So where are you guys on this? Arbitrary, marketing, weak factory receiver, or do you think the 150 truly can’t handle more even though the Ranger can handle 50% more? If I need to tow a 3000 lb load at 750tw is the answer really that I need to upgrade to the Ranger?

This can be a good discussion so long as guys don't start calling differing opinions stupid.

 

This is an interesting topic, will need to follow this. If anyone goes to the dealership, grab those sticker pic's so we can have some data point. All in all, I'd stick to the F150 because I certainly will think its beefier than the Ranger. I tend to think more than feel.

 

Shorter WB maybe? Shorter distance between axle CL and ball? Too cheap to make a sticker with more than one line? Doing research on that 500/5000 gave me a headache, too many differing stories come up, a couple saying its a legal thing, but nothing to back it up, yet at the same time GM has the 700/7000 hitch which completely destroys the half ton legal thing. Who knows. I gave up wasting brain power on it. Pretty sure the hitch on the 97 Explorer I had was rated the same as it was rated at 7500 pounds with no mention of WDH.

 

Good luck /w that. This argument has been known to start some awesome threads.

I say arbitrary number based on the worst care scenario. I say this with no actual info to back it up other than it makes me feel good since I tow a boat that puts us over 500/5000.

My wife's old work issued Colorado was rated at 750/75000 with no mention of a WDH. I can say that having pulled our almost 7k boat with both trucks I don't care what the damn sticker says the F150 handled the weight 100x better.

 

Funny, those are similar comments that are made between the F-150 and F-250 Super Duty.

 

Any time the trailer weighs more than the tow vehicle things get more complex. It is certainly possible, but if you read the specs it is theoretically possible to tow a trailer that is more than double the weight of the tow vehicle in some cases. I'm not comfortable doing that even if it is within the specs. I feel better towing no more than about 1.25-1.5X the actual weight of the tow vehicle. That means I'd feel better with a 4500 lb mid size truck towing no more than about 6800 lbs. A 5500 lb F-150 might be OK at around 8300 lbs, and a 6700 lb F250 at around 10,000.

I know they are rated for more in many cases ,but those are my comfort zones. And why bigger trucks handle heavier loads better.

 

I have two F-150's, one F-250 and one F-350. And I don't tow anything that weighs more than a couple thousand lbs with any of them. I do use a lot of payload on occasion though. But yeah the heavier the tow vehicle the more stable it is for heavy towing.

 

Manufacturer's tow ratings are marketing BS

 

Gm has an asymmetric spring design that allows for more weight on the hitch.

 

If you look at the 2016 and earlier towing guides the max load carrying weight for a f250 f350 SRW with the gas engine is 6000/600 so if you own a 2015 or earlier superduty you best trade it in on a new ranger.