F150 Lariat can't tow!
05-21-2018, 11:35 AM
#1
F150 Lariat can't tow!
OK, here goes. I love my 2016 F150 Lariat 5.0 liter, it has 12K miles on it. I bought it to tow late 2016 brand new absolutely loaded sticker was 62K. The dealer told me no problem at all so I didn't question anything...Bad Move!
I Just got a 2018 26' Rockwood dry weight 6200 lbs. Bought a equalizer system. Go to pick up the new camper and OMG are you kidding me?
That truck is a dog with that weight. auto tow keeps it in 3rd to stay at 60-65 MPH. That's not the worse of it , you would think you were in a rocking chair when you tow. . You actually rock back and forth!!! The suspension of the rear is way to soft it sits down 2+ inches in the rear. I fooled around with the equalizer thinking what's wrong??? nothing The front stays at the height before and after the trailer is attached but the rear drops 2" as mentioned. I love the truck but it can't tow that weight dry...nothing in my truck or in the trailer has been added.
TWO issues. The motor should have been larger ( no eco boost thank you) 6.2 not a 5.0
The rear should have been around a 373 instead I have a 331
So now I'm looking at a Denali 2500 HD, so mad at the ford dealer! He should have put me in a F250 with the 6.2. Let me be very clear money was not an issue . He probably didn't have what I liked in stock and pushed this one. Sorry everyone the F150 without the right motor & rear just can't cut the numbers they tell you.
Ok lets have it , I know a bunch will want to rip me apart but these are the facts. If your looking at one of these to tow stay under 4000 lbs. just my opinion.
I Just got a 2018 26' Rockwood dry weight 6200 lbs. Bought a equalizer system. Go to pick up the new camper and OMG are you kidding me?
That truck is a dog with that weight. auto tow keeps it in 3rd to stay at 60-65 MPH. That's not the worse of it , you would think you were in a rocking chair when you tow. . You actually rock back and forth!!! The suspension of the rear is way to soft it sits down 2+ inches in the rear. I fooled around with the equalizer thinking what's wrong??? nothing The front stays at the height before and after the trailer is attached but the rear drops 2" as mentioned. I love the truck but it can't tow that weight dry...nothing in my truck or in the trailer has been added.
TWO issues. The motor should have been larger ( no eco boost thank you) 6.2 not a 5.0
The rear should have been around a 373 instead I have a 331
So now I'm looking at a Denali 2500 HD, so mad at the ford dealer! He should have put me in a F250 with the 6.2. Let me be very clear money was not an issue . He probably didn't have what I liked in stock and pushed this one. Sorry everyone the F150 without the right motor & rear just can't cut the numbers they tell you.
Ok lets have it , I know a bunch will want to rip me apart but these are the facts. If your looking at one of these to tow stay under 4000 lbs. just my opinion.
05-21-2018, 11:42 AM
#2
Sorry you bought the wrong truck? You should have bought a 5.0 with 3.73 or a 3.5eco with 3.55. But yes, the rear suspension is soft on these trucks, pretty common knowledge. Plenty of fixes for that--airbags, roadmaster active suspension, add a leaf--all in conjunction with replacement rear shocks.
Pro-tip: for your next purchase, do your own research and math instead of trusting what a car SALESperson tells you. Payload, rear axle weight, hitch rating, etc. all factor in when towing. Do the math!
Pro-tip: for your next purchase, do your own research and math instead of trusting what a car SALESperson tells you. Payload, rear axle weight, hitch rating, etc. all factor in when towing. Do the math!
05-21-2018, 11:52 AM
#3
Senior Member
Surprised you kept it this long, given your post 1 1/2 years ago: https://www.f150forum.com/f2/f150-no...-state-365782/
Hopefully before you buy the Denali you'll know better what you need, including a brake controller.
A F-150 with the 5.0 and a properly adjusted WDH will tow 6,200 pounds just fine, ASSUMING you've ensured that your payload will allow it. 6,200 should be around 800 pounds on the hitch, plus 100 for the WDH, is 900. Your payload should allow for that just fine, and setting the truck in tow/haul mode makes it hold the proper gear.
It's said that you've carried this anger for 1 1/2 years.
Hopefully before you buy the Denali you'll know better what you need, including a brake controller.
A F-150 with the 5.0 and a properly adjusted WDH will tow 6,200 pounds just fine, ASSUMING you've ensured that your payload will allow it. 6,200 should be around 800 pounds on the hitch, plus 100 for the WDH, is 900. Your payload should allow for that just fine, and setting the truck in tow/haul mode makes it hold the proper gear.
It's said that you've carried this anger for 1 1/2 years.
The following users liked this post:
Simnut (05-21-2018)
05-21-2018, 12:08 PM
#4
Lesson learned and I don't need to 'rip you a new one' as you've already been ripped for 1.5yrs and you'll get more from folks here lol. I'm sure you'll enjoy that Denali. Safe travels! 
05-21-2018, 12:19 PM
#5
Your hitch is too tight! Leave it, load the trailer up, fill the water tank, and try again, chances are it will no longer hump the monkey like it does now. It is also well known that 3.31 gears suck with the 5.0. They work great with the EB, too bad on your part you refused one. My poor departed 2014 with 3.15 gears would walk away from your 5.0 with those gears.
05-21-2018, 12:28 PM
#6
Wow - I'm sure with the help of the knowledgeable people on this forum you could get the truck setup to tow that 6k trailer no problem. Seems you would rather complain and rant than actually solve the problem though.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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05-21-2018, 01:29 PM
#8
Senior Member
Wow. Want to say something but enough folks will come back on this. Properly equipped and knowing the capabilities. 5.0 with sufficient gears or better yet for towing weight you look at the 3.5. The newer trucks with 10 speed and say 3.55 gears. My Rockwood is 5600 dry / 7000 lbs loaded. Had 2011 with 5.0 engine, 3.55 gears, 6 speed, and current rig is 3.5 with 3.55 gears, 10 speed, max tow package. I use a weight distribution hitch and even so I experience about 2.0 inches of sag. Between what I carry in the truck bed and the weight of the trailer as loaded I do expect this. Last trip out, running mostly highway at speeds of 60 up to 70 max my experience was minimal rocking affect as well as minimal tail wag.
On my older 2011 I actually put Monroe heavy duty spring assist shocks on the rear to minimize characteristics of a loaded half ton pickup. These helped immensely when loaded and did not suffer rough ride unloaded. I also found that OEM tires are inadequate for any heavy towing. This I fixed with 8/10 ply LT tires. My 2018 suffers from the tire problem which I am fixing as we speak with a new set of LT tires.
Best of luck on your new purchase. Take your time and understand all the advantages of a light duty vs heavy duty truck. Obviously money doesn’t appear to be an issue. Point to watch for- the higher trim level packages take away from weight carrying capacity. Ford F-150 for example you can only get max carry capacity in an XL trim. Every option adds weight which takes away from truck cargo/bed carry capacities. Know what your vehicle is capable of before buying a trailer.
Best of luck.
05-21-2018, 03:03 PM
#9
Senior Member
I have zero issues towing my equipment trailer (over 7000lbs) without a WDH . I have a Lariat, 5.0, 3.55 gears and keep up fine with everyone. You will have a more capable truck than I do as it allows more payload and towing capacity. I wouldn't go to a smaller engine either...for myself. I love the holding power the V8 has going down grades....even 6%. We actually had someone tell us our brake lights were not working after the hill down into Lake Tahoe. Long 6% grade. I joked with him.....how could you tell...I wasn't using brakes 
