jkirksey1889

1FTRX12W77FA44725

2007 4.6L V8

I'm looking to buy a decent sized camper and I'm hoping I'll be able to safely tow it with the truck I have. I have a picture of the sticker that's on the door if you need any of that information.

Thanks!!

acdii

https://www.f150forum.com/f82/number...9/#post5446734

smokeywren

The info required to match trailer to tow vehicle (TV) is not available on any sticker on the TV.


Your limiter to how big a trailer you can tow without being overloaded could be any one of these four limits:


1. GVWR
2. rear GAWR
3. GCWR
4. Receiver hitch


The Ford OEM receiver hitch with a weight-distributing (WD) hitch is rarely the limiter. But without a WD hitch it's usually the limiter. So count on investing about $500 to $700 in a good WD/sway control hitch such as a Blue Ox or Equal-I-Zer.


GCWR is rarely the limiter. You will reach GVWR or rGAWR before you get close to the GCWR.


GVWR and rGAWR are usually very close as limiters of trailer weight. So since rGAWR is harder to use, we'll assume GVWR is your limiter.


The GVWR is on the sticker inside the driver's door frame, so write down the GVWR of your F-150.


Then load the F-150 with all the people and other things that will be in it when towing. Drive to a truck stop that has a CAT scale, fill up with gas, then weigh the wet and loaded TV - with everybody inside the TV.


Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded TV from the GVWR of the TV. The answer is the payload capacity available for hitch weight. Subtract another 100 pounds from the payload capacity available for hitch weight to get payload capacity available for tongue weight (TW). Divide the payload capacity available for TW by 0.13 (13%) and the answer is the max weight of any TT you can tow without being overloaded.


Whether the max weight of any TT you can tow without being overloaded is a "decent size" or not depends on how much weight you haul in the TV. If your results from above does not result in a TT that you consider to be a decent size, then figure out a way to haul less weight in the TV. Maybe move the tool box and jacks from the TV to the TT? Or maybe you'll need to invest in a heavier duty TV.

clarkbre

This will likely be the limiting factor of them all. These are 1/2 ton trucks and the 1100-1500 lbs payload gets eaten up pretty quick.

If the truck is a 2wd, that will help increase the payload. The rear axle ratio will also be a limiting factor for the truck. If it's a 3.31 or a 3.55, it may have a lower towing capacity than say a 3.73.

What size trailer are you looking to get? Whatever you do, figure the tongue weight with the trailer loaded and ready to go. My "598 lbs" tongue weight ended up being 800lbs once the trailer was loaded and wet rolling down the road.

Deerchaser

Coachmen Apex line is designed for 1/2 tons. Pay close attention to your payload. You'll hit that way before your tow rating with a travel trailer. We have a 23' Apex, 26 total. dry wt 4250, tw of 520 I think. My payload 2096..

chimmike

potentially, but a 2007 4.6 is probably only rated to tow less than the 2.7EB in new trucks..so keep that part in mind too.

Deerchaser

Well they make them as short as 17'. Aluminum framed,
azdel walls and ceiling. You wont find anything much lighter.

chimmike

oh I know. I have one! Apex Nano 185bh. 3000lbs dry.
Problem is not the weight but the aerodynamic drag of towing a wall. That'll be more work on that 4.6 than the weight is.

smokeywren

I owned a 4.6L 2V for a little while. It was inadequate for towing an empty 7x14 tandem-axle cargo trailer from Phoenix over the ridges to New Mexico and then on home to Midland County. Downshifted for every little bump in the road. I understood why it didn't have much oomph for towing the loaded trailer from west Texas to Phoenix, but not even being good for towing the empty trailer back from AZ was the last straw. I traded for a new EcoBoost 3.5L.


But I've heard the 4.6L 3V has a lot more tow rating than my 2V had. So maybe a 3V would have be adequate for towing that empty trailer.

Deerchaser

Yes, I owned a 4.6 years ago. Hated it! Aluminum bass boat was ok LOL sort of.