f150 towing vs 3/4 ton
 

I am purchasing a fifth wheel camper with pin weight of 1600#, dry weight of 9500#, currently own a 2005 dodge ram 2500 and a 2009 Jayco eagle fifth wheel, need to replace truck, would like to buy a 2013 or newer f150 with heavy duty payload package, 3.5 ecoboost, my dilemma is I know a 3/4 ton would tow much better, can I make upgrades to f150 like air bags or change tires to help with towing since only need to pull camper maybe 2000 miles a year, rest of the time need fuel economy and ride

F250.

Thats way way too much for an f150. I’d i was towing that I would looks at a srw f350. With a 1650 pin weight and a driver you need a minimum of 2000 pounds of payload to support that. Even if you found an f150 with enough payload you would overload your rear axle significantly. You need to be in a superduty to tow that. I would want a diesel pulling that much around and the diesel f250s nicely equipped have right around 2000 pounds of payload putting you at the limit with just a driver. Move up to an f350 and you get a larger block in the rear, extra overload spring, and a stronger axle. You also pick up significant payload allowing you to tow that beast and have some people ride with you.

he did say an HD payload F150 which will have 2200+ lbs payload depemding on the year(more recent aluminum ones can be 2500 lbs for a 4x4 supercrew) and a 4800 lb rawr. It would still be under both with this trailer.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...8cfdb2fde7.jpg
Heavy Duty Payload Package should handle that without busting a sweat.

1600lb pin weight is dry, and probably not accurate, so keep that in mind. Add weight of the 5er hitch, figure actual pin weight is 1700-1800lbs, add in hitch weight 1900lbs, that leaves 300-400lbs for passengers and cargo. And 9500lbs dry, so you're actually gonna be towing closer along the lines of 10,500-11,500.

F250.

I have F-150 HDPP and FW 6500# dry, I recommend F-250 for you.

Cab style and other options matter. If you're talking about a regular or extended cab 4X2 with no options it is theoretically possible. Much harder to make it happen with super crew cabs with 4X4.

But even a 2200 lb payload may not be enough. I have a friend with a 2014 F250 with a diesel engine. He is rated to tow 15,000 lbs, but he has a 4X4 Lariat Screw that reduces his payload to right at 2200 lbs. The diesel engine will pull that 10,000 lbs at 80 mph up inclines without straining. But with a 10,000 lb trailer he is over his payload with 3 adult men riding in his truck. If the OP has anything in a 9500 lb dry weight trailer he'll easily be at 11K.

And another idea that is rarely discussed. It is a good idea to make sure the curb weight of the tow vehicle isn't too light in relation to the trailer of the weight of the trailer. That prevents a much heavier trailer from pushing around a lighter tow vehicle. Most F150 will weigh 4000-5500 lbs. An 11,000 lb trailer will weigh more that double the weight of an F150 towing it. Not good regardless of payload or towing capacity. An F250 will have a curb weight of 5500-7500 lbs and a payload up to 4500 lbs.

Pin weight is pin weight and it's not as though you can adjust tension like on a WDH.

A truck with a 5th wheel or bumper pull tongue weight AND air bags will actually put more weight on the rear axle with increased PSI.

As others have stated, the proposed 5er is F250+ territory. And, if you do go the 3/4 ton route, it will likely have to be gas for proper payload.

I don't subscribe to this idea. Class 8 trucks regularly weigh less than 20,000 lbs and still pull 40,000 - 60,000 lb trailers.

As long as the truck suspension is correctly spec'd for the weight and trailer brakes are working correctly, TV vs trailer weight isn't an issue IMO.