2016 Tongue weight???
01-24-2017, 10:25 PM
#12
Grumpy Old Man
The F-150 can handle it just fine. It's the receiver hitch that is your limiter. You cannot use a weight-distributing hitch with a cargo carrier, so you're limited to a max of 500 pounds weight carried by the receiver. If the cargo carrier weighs 100 pounds, that leaves you a max of 400 pounds of cargo you can haul on that carrier.
You see lots of numbskulls hauling overloaded. Don't be one of those guys.
You snubbed your nose at towing a small trailer, but that seems to be your best choice. An open utility trailer would be your least-expensive option. Maybe 6x12 floor, like this one:
http://www.bigtextrailers.com/35sa-r...-axle-utility/
That one has GVWR of 3000 pounds, or expected tongue weight of 390 pounds when properly loaded, or max tongue weight of about 450 pounds if not carefully loaded. Since those weights are less than your max of 500 pounds, then that trailer can be hauled by your F-150 when loaded with both bikes along with spare gas and parts.
Or you could do like my nephew hauling his boy's dirt bikes to the track: an enclosed cargo trailer, again about 6x12. The Pace American Cargo Sport is available with 12.5' interior length and 68" interior width. Perfect for your needs. GVWR for the model CS6X12S12 is about 3,000 pounds, so max payload would probably be around 2,000 pounds worth of bikes and gas cans and spares.
http://www.paceamerican.com/trailers...-cargo-trailer
My current cargo trailer is a CarMate 7'x14'. It was originally designed to hauk two Hawgsr, so it has all sorts of tie-downs in the floor. GVWR is 7,000 pounds, so it's a lot heavier than the Pace American above. I've used it primarily as a moving van, moving kids and grandkids and even great grandkids all over the country. So it's very handy to have around. With 7k GVWR, mine has a lot more than 500 pounds tongue weight, so I tow it with a weight-distributing hitch.
I also have a single-axle 5x10 utility trailer with 4' side boards that I use to haul a golf cart or a ZTD mower or anything else that doesn't need to be inside the cargo trailer. It might be a bit tight for hauling two dirt bikes, so that's why I suggested a 6x12.
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tenny80 (01-25-2017)
01-25-2017, 09:51 AM
#13
Thank you for the information. I see lots of pictures carrying the 2 dirt bikes behind small SUV's so I thought for sure the F150 would be able to handle it.
Seems like it will be easier to just put them in the bed of the truck and not have to worry about calculating weights, etc. I am going to go with one of these : http://ccrsport.com/bed-buddy-motorc...-full-size-60/
Seems like it will be easier to just put them in the bed of the truck and not have to worry about calculating weights, etc. I am going to go with one of these : http://ccrsport.com/bed-buddy-motorc...-full-size-60/
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tenny80 (01-25-2017)
01-25-2017, 11:02 PM
#14
The F-150 can handle it just fine. It's the receiver hitch that is your limiter. You cannot use a weight-distributing hitch with a cargo carrier, so you're limited to a max of 500 pounds weight carried by the receiver. If the cargo carrier weighs 100 pounds, that leaves you a max of 400 pounds of cargo you can haul on that carrier.
You see lots of numbskulls hauling overloaded. Don't be one of those guys.
You snubbed your nose at towing a small trailer, but that seems to be your best choice. An open utility trailer would be your least-expensive option. Maybe 6x12 floor, like this one:
http://www.bigtextrailers.com/35sa-r...-axle-utility/
That one has GVWR of 3000 pounds, or expected tongue weight of 390 pounds when properly loaded, or max tongue weight of about 450 pounds if not carefully loaded. Since those weights are less than your max of 500 pounds, then that trailer can be hauled by your F-150 when loaded with both bikes along with spare gas and parts.
Or you could do like my nephew hauling his boy's dirt bikes to the track: an enclosed cargo trailer, again about 6x12. The Pace American Cargo Sport is available with 12.5' interior length and 68" interior width. Perfect for your needs. GVWR for the model CS6X12S12 is about 3,000 pounds, so max payload would probably be around 2,000 pounds worth of bikes and gas cans and spares.
http://www.paceamerican.com/trailers...-cargo-trailer
My current cargo trailer is a CarMate 7'x14'. It was originally designed to hauk two Hawgsr, so it has all sorts of tie-downs in the floor. GVWR is 7,000 pounds, so it's a lot heavier than the Pace American above. I've used it primarily as a moving van, moving kids and grandkids and even great grandkids all over the country. So it's very handy to have around. With 7k GVWR, mine has a lot more than 500 pounds tongue weight, so I tow it with a weight-distributing hitch.
I also have a single-axle 5x10 utility trailer with 4' side boards that I use to haul a golf cart or a ZTD mower or anything else that doesn't need to be inside the cargo trailer. It might be a bit tight for hauling two dirt bikes, so that's why I suggested a 6x12.
You see lots of numbskulls hauling overloaded. Don't be one of those guys.
You snubbed your nose at towing a small trailer, but that seems to be your best choice. An open utility trailer would be your least-expensive option. Maybe 6x12 floor, like this one:
http://www.bigtextrailers.com/35sa-r...-axle-utility/
That one has GVWR of 3000 pounds, or expected tongue weight of 390 pounds when properly loaded, or max tongue weight of about 450 pounds if not carefully loaded. Since those weights are less than your max of 500 pounds, then that trailer can be hauled by your F-150 when loaded with both bikes along with spare gas and parts.
Or you could do like my nephew hauling his boy's dirt bikes to the track: an enclosed cargo trailer, again about 6x12. The Pace American Cargo Sport is available with 12.5' interior length and 68" interior width. Perfect for your needs. GVWR for the model CS6X12S12 is about 3,000 pounds, so max payload would probably be around 2,000 pounds worth of bikes and gas cans and spares.
http://www.paceamerican.com/trailers...-cargo-trailer
My current cargo trailer is a CarMate 7'x14'. It was originally designed to hauk two Hawgsr, so it has all sorts of tie-downs in the floor. GVWR is 7,000 pounds, so it's a lot heavier than the Pace American above. I've used it primarily as a moving van, moving kids and grandkids and even great grandkids all over the country. So it's very handy to have around. With 7k GVWR, mine has a lot more than 500 pounds tongue weight, so I tow it with a weight-distributing hitch.
I also have a single-axle 5x10 utility trailer with 4' side boards that I use to haul a golf cart or a ZTD mower or anything else that doesn't need to be inside the cargo trailer. It might be a bit tight for hauling two dirt bikes, so that's why I suggested a 6x12.
Heck our driveway isn't even big enough for my f150 and the wifes Fusion, we have to leave the garage door open and pull the car half way in (garage is full of motorcycles)...
I need a place in the country haha.
I am just going to put the bikes in the bed of the truck, seems like the best option. I'll keep my eye out for a cheap used hitch carrier, it would be a lot easier to load the bike when it's just mine going.
Last edited by tenny80; 01-25-2017 at 11:04 PM.
01-27-2017, 01:27 PM
#15
Senior Member
The different weights on the hitch are with respect to Weight Distribution, not what the hitch can hold........... A WD assembly mounts the same way as a standard hitch thru the 2in receiver box. So it does not matter if there is 500lbs or 1000lbs mounted on the tongue as the hitch is bolted to the vehicle the same way regardless. However, where WD hitch comes in to play is LEVERAGING weight or DISTRIBUTING the load across all axles. The weight on the tongue does not get removed, instead a weight distribution hitch leverages the tongue so as to distribute weight to the front axle. Exceeding the recommended weigh in which a WD hitch is stated can lead to a possible loss of steering control and may cause damage to rear axle components and suspension, but whether you use a WD hitch or not the hitch assembly is capable of supporting up to its make weight referenced. Upgrade rear suspension components, i.e. load control shocks from Monroe, Spring/bag kits, etc. can off set a limited portion of the weight that would transfer off the front axle, however, you would be adding additional weight and wear on the rear axle components (bearings etc.) as well as decreasing effective stopping distance and handling.
In short, 600 - 650lbs without WD hitch but with load control shocks no problem, but you still have to drive with your head on your shoulders, slower speeds, longer stopping distances, increased length, but this would be the same whether or not you use a WD hitch.
In short, 600 - 650lbs without WD hitch but with load control shocks no problem, but you still have to drive with your head on your shoulders, slower speeds, longer stopping distances, increased length, but this would be the same whether or not you use a WD hitch.
