2015 Towing Help
09-04-2014, 02:17 PM
#11
I honestly think you would be fine with that keystone you posted. If you add the dry weight to the carrying capacity of he trailer you get a max weight of 8200 pounds. Multiply by .15 and you come up with an ABSOLUTE MAX of 1230 pounds tongue weight add 500 pounds for your family and you get 1730 pounds. The payload on my 13 xlt max-tow Screw is 1760 pounds. I'm going to make an assumption that Ford will not reduce payload capacity in the new trucks. When we go camping I pretty much load everything in the trailer except the grill, firewood, and my daughter's bike. Maybe 200 pounds in the bed. Bottom line, if you load the trailer to its max, you should be within 2 or 300 pounds of your payload capacity. That is a number I'm comfortable with as long as you get the E rated tires. You could rear load the trailer to reduce the tongue weight to 12% as well
09-04-2014, 03:27 PM
#12
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borninblue (09-04-2014)
09-04-2014, 05:08 PM
#13
09-04-2014, 05:23 PM
#14
Senior Member
Unlike xcntrk, I've been pulling 7500-8000# for many miles without problems. And I think there are others out there pulling at their truck's limits without problems. So you will probably be fine with a MaxTow and that first trailer as long as your unknown 2015 payload numbers work out. A big IF?
The suspension will be very soft though. Ford and all other half-ton manufacturers tune the suspension for its most common usage: commuting and "grocery-getting". I spent $$$ to upgrade the suspension and move to LT tires because I was loaded to the max most of the time. It would have been better and cheaper to get the HD payload option right from the get go, which is why I recommend it, and then you have the higher rear GAWR as well.
But in 2015, everything is different and we don't know yet how the HD Payload option will work. It does appear that the 7 lug axle is gone, so maybe GAWRs will be more a limiting factor than payload with the HD option ???
And like you've found, the HD Payload isn't available in all configurations anyway.
My next truck will be either F150+HD Payload or a 250/2500. Luckily there's no rush, but we do want to spend more time off-road so that means 4x4 and the additional weight that comes with it. With all the junk we carry, I figure a 2300# payload is needed, especially as I want to put a couple more batteries on the tongue.
Wants versus Needs: although I love diesels, we certainly don't *need* a more powerful engine than the EcoB (certainly not a Powerstroke with twice the torque and $9K premium), and I also hesitate to go to an F250 with a stiffer suspension. After driving on rough Northern Ontario roads all last week, I beginning to think that a bit of soft "wallowing" might be better than the pounding of a stiffer suspension. And the gas Superduties with the big V8s are real gas hogs.
So, I dunno. We're going to stick with the current truck for a while and see what happens. Maybe the new 2015 F150's with HD Payload will be fine. Maybe I'll win the lottery and get the Powerstroke I always wanted. We'll see.
The suspension will be very soft though. Ford and all other half-ton manufacturers tune the suspension for its most common usage: commuting and "grocery-getting". I spent $$$ to upgrade the suspension and move to LT tires because I was loaded to the max most of the time. It would have been better and cheaper to get the HD payload option right from the get go, which is why I recommend it, and then you have the higher rear GAWR as well.
But in 2015, everything is different and we don't know yet how the HD Payload option will work. It does appear that the 7 lug axle is gone, so maybe GAWRs will be more a limiting factor than payload with the HD option ???
And like you've found, the HD Payload isn't available in all configurations anyway.
My next truck will be either F150+HD Payload or a 250/2500. Luckily there's no rush, but we do want to spend more time off-road so that means 4x4 and the additional weight that comes with it. With all the junk we carry, I figure a 2300# payload is needed, especially as I want to put a couple more batteries on the tongue.
Wants versus Needs: although I love diesels, we certainly don't *need* a more powerful engine than the EcoB (certainly not a Powerstroke with twice the torque and $9K premium), and I also hesitate to go to an F250 with a stiffer suspension. After driving on rough Northern Ontario roads all last week, I beginning to think that a bit of soft "wallowing" might be better than the pounding of a stiffer suspension. And the gas Superduties with the big V8s are real gas hogs.
So, I dunno. We're going to stick with the current truck for a while and see what happens. Maybe the new 2015 F150's with HD Payload will be fine. Maybe I'll win the lottery and get the Powerstroke I always wanted. We'll see.
09-04-2014, 07:25 PM
#15
Senior Member
E-Rated tires with high pressure + suspension upgrades to make the F150 a decent tow vehicle is likely equal in ride quality to a stock F250 - which needs none of those modifications. Just saying... 
09-04-2014, 09:54 PM
#16
I'm not saying he shouldn't go with a 250/2500 truck, but I do believe the 150 with max tow will handle the trailer assuming the payload numbers meet or exceed the current ones. Yes, E rated tires will hurt the ride some, as will helper springs. Airbags would be a solid option for beefing the suspension only when needed
09-04-2014, 11:03 PM
#17
Senior Member
I think you are getting up there for load, but you should be fine. I assume you are going with the 3.5 EcoBoost. I would be really surprised if the payload and towing capacity went down with the 2015 models. My guess would be that the payload should go up by 400 lbs or so. However, all the aluminum weight savings may not be translated into payload though...
I think you would gain quite a bit in handling while towing by going to a 5th wheel trailer and hitch. I've pulled a 5th wheel for 24 years now with a F150 and while you feel the reduced acceleration and engine loading while climbing hills, on curves and with side winds you never really feel it there. Reese makes a special hitch called a Sidewinder that lets you use a 5th wheel style trailer in a short box.
My plans are to go for a 2015 with the 3.5L EcoBoost, and a 3.31 rear end, to give a maximum trailer weight of 9700 lbs (2014 numbers). The trailer maximum gross weight fully loaded will be 8100, so there is a bit of a cushion. I would be comforting to see that 9700 lb number go up some for 2015, but I guess we will know in due time. I could opt for the extra load option, but I really don't want the heavier springs and rougher ride.
I would also avoid the 20" tires for the same reason. Less rubber and a rougher ride. Also much more expensive when it comes time to replace them. I have 15" tires on the F150 I have now, and take the opposite view on appearance. I think the big wheels with the thin rim of rubber look funny. But for loading it should all come down to the rating of the tires. If you keep the same load rating you should be ok, except for the ride.
I think you would gain quite a bit in handling while towing by going to a 5th wheel trailer and hitch. I've pulled a 5th wheel for 24 years now with a F150 and while you feel the reduced acceleration and engine loading while climbing hills, on curves and with side winds you never really feel it there. Reese makes a special hitch called a Sidewinder that lets you use a 5th wheel style trailer in a short box.
My plans are to go for a 2015 with the 3.5L EcoBoost, and a 3.31 rear end, to give a maximum trailer weight of 9700 lbs (2014 numbers). The trailer maximum gross weight fully loaded will be 8100, so there is a bit of a cushion. I would be comforting to see that 9700 lb number go up some for 2015, but I guess we will know in due time. I could opt for the extra load option, but I really don't want the heavier springs and rougher ride.
I would also avoid the 20" tires for the same reason. Less rubber and a rougher ride. Also much more expensive when it comes time to replace them. I have 15" tires on the F150 I have now, and take the opposite view on appearance. I think the big wheels with the thin rim of rubber look funny. But for loading it should all come down to the rating of the tires. If you keep the same load rating you should be ok, except for the ride.
09-04-2014, 11:16 PM
#18
I think you are getting up there for load, but you should be fine. I assume you are going with the 3.5 EcoBoost. I would be really surprised if the payload and towing capacity went down with the 2015 models. My guess would be that the payload should go up by 400 lbs or so. However, all the aluminum weight savings may not be translated into payload though...
I think you would gain quite a bit in handling while towing by going to a 5th wheel trailer and hitch. I've pulled a 5th wheel for 24 years now with a F150 and while you feel the reduced acceleration and engine loading while climbing hills, on curves and with side winds you never really feel it there. Reese makes a special hitch called a Sidewinder that lets you use a 5th wheel style trailer in a short box.
My plans are to go for a 2015 with the 3.5L EcoBoost, and a 3.31 rear end, to give a maximum trailer weight of 9700 lbs (2014 numbers). The trailer maximum gross weight fully loaded will be 8100, so there is a bit of a cushion. I would be comforting to see that 9700 lb number go up some for 2015, but I guess we will know in due time. I could opt for the extra load option, but I really don't want the heavier springs and rougher ride.
I would also avoid the 20" tires for the same reason. Less rubber and a rougher ride. Also much more expensive when it comes time to replace them. I have 15" tires on the F150 I have now, and take the opposite view on appearance. I think the big wheels with the thin rim of rubber look funny. But for loading it should all come down to the rating of the tires. If you keep the same load rating you should be ok, except for the ride.
I think you would gain quite a bit in handling while towing by going to a 5th wheel trailer and hitch. I've pulled a 5th wheel for 24 years now with a F150 and while you feel the reduced acceleration and engine loading while climbing hills, on curves and with side winds you never really feel it there. Reese makes a special hitch called a Sidewinder that lets you use a 5th wheel style trailer in a short box.
My plans are to go for a 2015 with the 3.5L EcoBoost, and a 3.31 rear end, to give a maximum trailer weight of 9700 lbs (2014 numbers). The trailer maximum gross weight fully loaded will be 8100, so there is a bit of a cushion. I would be comforting to see that 9700 lb number go up some for 2015, but I guess we will know in due time. I could opt for the extra load option, but I really don't want the heavier springs and rougher ride.
I would also avoid the 20" tires for the same reason. Less rubber and a rougher ride. Also much more expensive when it comes time to replace them. I have 15" tires on the F150 I have now, and take the opposite view on appearance. I think the big wheels with the thin rim of rubber look funny. But for loading it should all come down to the rating of the tires. If you keep the same load rating you should be ok, except for the ride.
Last edited by borninblue; 09-05-2014 at 12:03 AM.
09-05-2014, 08:12 AM
#19
Senior Member
I think it's SkiSmuggs who says he's ~500# over the rear GAWR with his 5er. Others here are doing it also; there's several threads about it you can find with the search.
But with 5er hitch weights easily twice that of bumper pulls (~200#?) and pin weights of 1300# or more ... the only way it works, if you want to stay under Ford's limits, is by not putting anything else in the truck. Of course with the 5er hitch in the bed, people don't have much else in there. And I think it's RedOne who said that all he carries in the cab is his wife and her purse.
09-05-2014, 11:21 AM
#20
Probably, but some folks aren't that concerned about it.
I think it's SkiSmuggs who says he's ~500# over the rear GAWR with his 5er. Others here are doing it also; there's several threads about it you can find with the search.
But with 5er hitch weights easily twice that of bumper pulls (~200#?) and pin weights of 1300# or more ... the only way it works, if you want to stay under Ford's limits, is by not putting anything else in the truck. Of course with the 5er hitch in the bed, people don't have much else in there. And I think it's RedOne who said that all he carries in the cab is his wife and her purse.
I think it's SkiSmuggs who says he's ~500# over the rear GAWR with his 5er. Others here are doing it also; there's several threads about it you can find with the search.
But with 5er hitch weights easily twice that of bumper pulls (~200#?) and pin weights of 1300# or more ... the only way it works, if you want to stay under Ford's limits, is by not putting anything else in the truck. Of course with the 5er hitch in the bed, people don't have much else in there. And I think it's RedOne who said that all he carries in the cab is his wife and her purse.
