Hi,
Im a newbie with a 2016 F150, EcoBoost Engine. I was told by the dealer and from what I can understand I’m able to tow up to 10K pounds. Im considering a trailer that I would tow using the hitch.

A friend suggested that I look into buying a small 5th wheel and use that because of some advantages. (Turning, towing and sway)

Does anyone use their F150 to pull a 5th Wheel? Should I use the same information to determine GV ratings?
Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Owen

 

 

It shows that I can tow up to 10,700lbs. Im not sure if that includes a 5th wheel or traditional towing?

 

Payload is the amount of weight your truck can carry it's on a sticker on the driver side door jam

 

 

Yes Sir, Im very new to towing!
Here’s the info and thank you for your feedback.

 

make sure your truck has at least a 6'5" box and not the 5'5" for a fifth wheel.

 

Alright, so since you have a lower payload capacity your towing capacity will be based on this. Let's run through the numbers with a normal tongue trailer:

For a normal tongue trailer, hitch weight should be approximately 10-15% of the trailer weight. We will use 12% for these calculations. First, you need to subtract anything you add to the truck from the payload which includes passengers, pets, gear, accessories (i.e. bed cover, WDH). Then, you can calculate the maximum trailer you can tow. For example:

1,565 lbs payload - 400 lbs passengers - 100 lbs gear - 100 lbs WDH = 965 lbs
965 lbs / 12% = 8,041 lb trailer

Based on the example above, you can tow an 8,000 lb trailer. Keep in mind this is the trailer weight with all of your gear, water, propane, etc loaded.

A 5th wheel has more like a 20% tongue weight, so using the same equation:


1,565 lbs payload - 400 lbs passengers - 100 lbs gear - 100 lbs WDH = 965 lbs
965 lbs / 20% = 4,825 lb trailer

In short, there is a reason you don't see F-150s with 5th wheels. It would be better to look at a normal travel trailer. You will have to do you own calculations, but you cannot tow 10k pounds.

 

Edit - slow tablet typing...


As you will soon understand, that 10,700 number is way above your limit, because you will max out on payload, or rear axle capacity first.

I cannot imagine someone new to towing getting a fifth wheel. Let's look at a regular trailer.

Take your 1,565 payload and subtract the weight of every modification you make to the truck - tonneau cover, bed mat, floor mats... Now subtract the weight of you and your family, the dog, and everything they bring into the truck. Now subtract anything you load in the bed, and 100 pounds for a weight distribution hitch.

Take that number and divide by .13 and that is the max LOADED trailer you can have. 13% is the average tongue weight.

Also, read the label on your trailer hitch. It shows a max weight distribution number of 1,150 or maybe 1,200. Subtract 100 for a weight distribution hitch, then divide by .13. 1,150/.13 = 8,846. 1,200/.13 = 9,231. And remember, that is loaded. Often a travel trailer has 1,000 pounds or more of crap in it.

Discussed often, read some of the posts on the forum.