Am I worrying about nothing??
08-19-2015, 10:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Am I worrying about nothing??
New to these forums but I keep getting sucked into them, lots of good info.
1st of all, I never knew there were so many factors that went into towing (I "tow" small utility trailers behind my current 4 cyl SUV). My experiences growing up were, hook up the trailer and go!
2nd, I've pretty much fallen in love with the new 150s and will be looking to buy early next year, but am beginning to realize that when they say "capable of towing 12,000 lbs (when properly equipped)", there's a lot more to that properly equipped part than simply hooking up a 12,000 lb trailer and taking off down the road.
Eventually I hope to be pulling a boat behind my truck and want to make sure I'm able to comfortably. Now who knows what type of boat that will be but in my dream it's something along the lines of a 25'-26' center console, and by my recent google searches would be around 4500-5500 lbs dry weight. But most likely around my area now it will be more along the lines of a pontoon boat coming in maybe 3500 lbs max.
So should I stop worrying about all this towing info that I'm reading up on? Looks like a lot of what I'm reading has to due with travel trailers/campers. I asked my wife if we were going to be purchasing a camper in the next 10 years and she said probably not, lol. I really am just wanting to be able to hook up and go, and I hope the 3.5 eco is able to do that
1st of all, I never knew there were so many factors that went into towing (I "tow" small utility trailers behind my current 4 cyl SUV). My experiences growing up were, hook up the trailer and go!
2nd, I've pretty much fallen in love with the new 150s and will be looking to buy early next year, but am beginning to realize that when they say "capable of towing 12,000 lbs (when properly equipped)", there's a lot more to that properly equipped part than simply hooking up a 12,000 lb trailer and taking off down the road.
Eventually I hope to be pulling a boat behind my truck and want to make sure I'm able to comfortably. Now who knows what type of boat that will be but in my dream it's something along the lines of a 25'-26' center console, and by my recent google searches would be around 4500-5500 lbs dry weight. But most likely around my area now it will be more along the lines of a pontoon boat coming in maybe 3500 lbs max.
So should I stop worrying about all this towing info that I'm reading up on? Looks like a lot of what I'm reading has to due with travel trailers/campers. I asked my wife if we were going to be purchasing a camper in the next 10 years and she said probably not, lol. I really am just wanting to be able to hook up and go, and I hope the 3.5 eco is able to do that
08-20-2015, 11:05 AM
#2
Senior Member
Basically with a 3.5L Ecoboost...you can pull any trailer that is ~7500#s or less fully loaded. That is with a good WDHitch. Once you go bigger, you really have to know what else you are carrying in your truck (watch payload capacity). Larger than 7500#s and you should "probably" look at an F250. This is just my opinion and those numbers are +/- 200#s maybe.
The following users liked this post:
ja8799 (08-20-2015)
08-20-2015, 11:18 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Basically with a 3.5L Ecoboost...you can pull any trailer that is ~7500#s or less fully loaded. That is with a good WDHitch. Once you go bigger, you really have to know what else you are carrying in your truck (watch payload capacity). Larger than 7500#s and you should "probably" look at an F250. This is just my opinion and those numbers are +/- 200#s maybe.
08-20-2015, 03:28 PM
#4
Grumpy Old Man
7,500 pounds would be the upper limit to what you would want to tow with a fully-optioned F-150 that is equipped with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, HD Payload package, and Max towing package.
A more realistic limit is around 6,000 pounds with the Max towing package but without the HD Payload package.
For an ordinary F-150 that might be available on your dealer's lot, understand that my F-150 SuperCrew is overloaded when towing my small TT that weighs less than 5,000 pounds when wet and loaded on the road. With my EcoBoost drivetrain, I can easily PULL a trailer that weighs over 10,000 pounds, much more than my "tow rating" of 8,400 pounds, but I was overloaded over the payload capacity of my F-150 with my small TT that grossed only 4,870 pounds (4,220 on the trailer axles plus 650 on the tongue).
A more realistic limit is around 6,000 pounds with the Max towing package but without the HD Payload package.
For an ordinary F-150 that might be available on your dealer's lot, understand that my F-150 SuperCrew is overloaded when towing my small TT that weighs less than 5,000 pounds when wet and loaded on the road. With my EcoBoost drivetrain, I can easily PULL a trailer that weighs over 10,000 pounds, much more than my "tow rating" of 8,400 pounds, but I was overloaded over the payload capacity of my F-150 with my small TT that grossed only 4,870 pounds (4,220 on the trailer axles plus 650 on the tongue).
08-21-2015, 08:49 AM
#6
Senior Member
Mine is 13300# Total ... truck weights in at 6000# ... TT as we travel weights in at 7300#
Then add in myself and fiancée with some goodies...total down the road is ~13750.
7200-6000(truck weight)-430(goodies/riders)-760 (tongue weight)=0 payload left, but it works. Now my truck weights a bit because of bigger tires/wheels/Line-X/Aluminum Skid Package/ETC so I am right on the maximum...but the truck and engine combo work great together...no issues.
Like I said...depending on how your truck is equipped (2x vs 4x and so on) you can safely pull up to about ~7500# (loaded weight) with the proper hitch setup. As you can see...my combo is at the right numbers at 7300# (close to the ~7500# stated)
Then add in myself and fiancée with some goodies...total down the road is ~13750.
7200-6000(truck weight)-430(goodies/riders)-760 (tongue weight)=0 payload left, but it works. Now my truck weights a bit because of bigger tires/wheels/Line-X/Aluminum Skid Package/ETC so I am right on the maximum...but the truck and engine combo work great together...no issues.
Like I said...depending on how your truck is equipped (2x vs 4x and so on) you can safely pull up to about ~7500# (loaded weight) with the proper hitch setup. As you can see...my combo is at the right numbers at 7300# (close to the ~7500# stated)
Last edited by DieselDawg; 08-21-2015 at 08:53 AM.
08-21-2015, 04:52 PM
#7
Senior Member
I prefer to tow a lot less then the truck is rated for having extra HP as needed. As far a campers. I've been looking at the 'Camp Lite' trailers. All aluminum frame and I mean ALL the frame, floor walls roof frame...aluminum. Making it very very light to tow.
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08-23-2015, 04:17 PM
#9
Senior Member
shop around.....this is mine....fits my payload/towing...
soon to be my first train haul.....truck/camper/boat......
70-71 feet of fun...
28ft camper
14ft boat
1680lbs payload
11200 towing.....
love the eco...
forgot will be adding the bike rack to...so more to the tongue weights...
soon to be my first train haul.....truck/camper/boat......
70-71 feet of fun...28ft camper
14ft boat
1680lbs payload
11200 towing.....
love the eco...
forgot will be adding the bike rack to...so more to the tongue weights...
Last edited by Steve Osborne; 08-23-2015 at 05:16 PM.
08-23-2015, 09:57 PM
#10
Senior Member
Op, realize folks here are very conservative. Anything 7500 lbs with an Eco and you are more than fine. You can go heavier with a boat as it's slippery in the wind compare to a camper. Just make sure you have good trailer brakes... A 25' boat is a breeze with an Eco. Was still not too bad with my 5.4...
Yes you are worrying too much.
Yes you are worrying too much.
The following users liked this post:
ja8799 (08-26-2015)