Best trailer weight?
09-01-2013, 05:25 PM
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Best trailer weight?
Hi Folks,
I have a 2012 F-150 that is rated to tow 5,800 #. Can you give me a dry trailer weight recommendation? What would be a comfortable size (weight) trailer to haul?
I have a 2012 F-150 that is rated to tow 5,800 #. Can you give me a dry trailer weight recommendation? What would be a comfortable size (weight) trailer to haul?
09-01-2013, 05:56 PM
#2
You are going to get a wide variety of answers on this one Micki. There are those who exceed the truck ratings and think it is fine. I'm on the other side; that is staying below the limits. I think it is safer, easier on your truck, and less stressful for you. The farther you are towing and the more mountainous, the lower you want to be as a percentage on your maximum. So, based on that, IMO you should target between 70 and 90%.
Only you can decide what philosophy is right for you.
Only you can decide what philosophy is right for you.
09-01-2013, 06:36 PM
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09-04-2013, 09:12 AM
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Thanks for the info. Hubby and I are looking at a 20' Jayco Swift - dry weight is 2750 lbs, fully loaded 3500 lbs. With 2 adults (and 2 small beagles) we travel rather light so I don't think we will get to those 3500 lbs.
09-04-2013, 10:34 AM
#6
I had a 2008 nissan fronty that was rated to tow 5800,so i bought a jayco 22fb that weighs 4500 dry,the nissan did great,4 mos later i traded for a f150 and now i wish i had a bigger camper.
09-04-2013, 07:12 PM
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You apparently have a SuperCab shorty 4x2 with 3.7L V6 engine and 3.73 axle ratio. That's the only 2012 F-150 configuration with a tow rating of 5,800 pounds, and its GCWR is 11,100. But your tow rating is probably overstated. The GCWR is a good number, but its probably not your limiter as to the weight of a TT you can tow without being overloaded. Your limiter is probably the GVWR of the F-150, which is used to determine your available payload for hauling the hitch weight of a TT.
So here's the way you determine the heaviest trailer you can tow without being overloaded:
GVWR of your F-150
minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150 with the hitch but without the trailer tied on
= maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150.
Maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150
divided by 0.15 (15%)
= maximum GVWR of any TT you want to buy.
So load the F-150 with all the people, pets, tools, snacks, drinks, and anything else that will be in the pickup when towing. Include the shank and ball mount from your hitch. Go to a truck stop that has a certified automated truck scale (CAT or J scale or equivalent), fill up with gas, and weigh the wet and loaded F-150. If you don't have the hitch yet, add 50 pounds for the estimated weight of the shank and ball mount of the hitch).
As a double check, compute your real-world tow rating as the GCWR minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150. That tow rating will probably be more than the max trailer weight you computed above. But a lot less than the 5,800 pounds tow rating Ford estimated for your truck. But go by the answer that results in the least trailer weight - which will probably be available payload for hitch weight divided by 15%.
I suspect you can tow either the model 184BH or 185RB without exceeding either the GVWR or GCWR of your F-150. GVWR for both Jaycos is 3,500 pounds with 525 pounds wet and loaded hitch weight. Ignore Jayco's spec for dry hitch weight. You won't be towing a dry trailer. Count on 525 pounds hitch weight if you don't overload the trailer.
Last edited by smokeywren; 09-04-2013 at 07:29 PM.
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09-05-2013, 03:40 PM
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No one can answer that question without a lot more information. But dry trailer weight is a terrible specification to rely on. If you don't want to be overloaded by the middle of your third RV trip, then use the GVWR of the trailer to match trailer to tow vehicle.
You apparently have a SuperCab shorty 4x2 with 3.7L V6 engine and 3.73 axle ratio. That's the only 2012 F-150 configuration with a tow rating of 5,800 pounds, and its GCWR is 11,100. But your tow rating is probably overstated. The GCWR is a good number, but its probably not your limiter as to the weight of a TT you can tow without being overloaded. Your limiter is probably the GVWR of the F-150, which is used to determine your available payload for hauling the hitch weight of a TT.
So here's the way you determine the heaviest trailer you can tow without being overloaded:
GVWR of your F-150
minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150 with the hitch but without the trailer tied on
= maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150.
Maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150
divided by 0.15 (15%)
= maximum GVWR of any TT you want to buy.
So load the F-150 with all the people, pets, tools, snacks, drinks, and anything else that will be in the pickup when towing. Include the shank and ball mount from your hitch. Go to a truck stop that has a certified automated truck scale (CAT or J scale or equivalent), fill up with gas, and weigh the wet and loaded F-150. If you don't have the hitch yet, add 50 pounds for the estimated weight of the shank and ball mount of the hitch).
As a double check, compute your real-world tow rating as the GCWR minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150. That tow rating will probably be more than the max trailer weight you computed above. But a lot less than the 5,800 pounds tow rating Ford estimated for your truck. But go by the answer that results in the least trailer weight - which will probably be available payload for hitch weight divided by 15%.
I suspect you can tow either the model 184BH or 185RB without exceeding either the GVWR or GCWR of your F-150. GVWR for both Jaycos is 3,500 pounds with 525 pounds wet and loaded hitch weight. Ignore Jayco's spec for dry hitch weight. You won't be towing a dry trailer. Count on 525 pounds hitch weight if you don't overload the trailer.
You apparently have a SuperCab shorty 4x2 with 3.7L V6 engine and 3.73 axle ratio. That's the only 2012 F-150 configuration with a tow rating of 5,800 pounds, and its GCWR is 11,100. But your tow rating is probably overstated. The GCWR is a good number, but its probably not your limiter as to the weight of a TT you can tow without being overloaded. Your limiter is probably the GVWR of the F-150, which is used to determine your available payload for hauling the hitch weight of a TT.
So here's the way you determine the heaviest trailer you can tow without being overloaded:
GVWR of your F-150
minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150 with the hitch but without the trailer tied on
= maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150.
Maximum hitch weight you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-150
divided by 0.15 (15%)
= maximum GVWR of any TT you want to buy.
So load the F-150 with all the people, pets, tools, snacks, drinks, and anything else that will be in the pickup when towing. Include the shank and ball mount from your hitch. Go to a truck stop that has a certified automated truck scale (CAT or J scale or equivalent), fill up with gas, and weigh the wet and loaded F-150. If you don't have the hitch yet, add 50 pounds for the estimated weight of the shank and ball mount of the hitch).
As a double check, compute your real-world tow rating as the GCWR minus the wet and loaded weight of your F-150. That tow rating will probably be more than the max trailer weight you computed above. But a lot less than the 5,800 pounds tow rating Ford estimated for your truck. But go by the answer that results in the least trailer weight - which will probably be available payload for hitch weight divided by 15%.
I suspect you can tow either the model 184BH or 185RB without exceeding either the GVWR or GCWR of your F-150. GVWR for both Jaycos is 3,500 pounds with 525 pounds wet and loaded hitch weight. Ignore Jayco's spec for dry hitch weight. You won't be towing a dry trailer. Count on 525 pounds hitch weight if you don't overload the trailer.