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I apologize if this has already been asked...I've searched the Forum without luck in finding an answer.
We are getting a new 5th Wheel Trailer/RV. It will be one of two models, either a Jayco HT Eagle 30.5ckts or a Grand Designs Reflections 303rls.
The trailers weigh:
Jayco - 9025 Dry, 11,000 GVWR
Grand Designs - 9275 Dry, 11,995 GVWR
We prefer the F150 and will order, build or only buy one that will fit the bill. Our choice is an 2018 F150 Lariat/Platinum, Crew Cab, 3.5l EcoBoost, 5.5" or 6.5" ft bed with the Maximum Tow Package. According to Ford we should be able to tow either 12,700 or 13,000 lbs. There are some good deals on 2017's but they are rated with lower tow capacities.
We've been told by friends that we should really be looking at an F250. It seems like previous model year F250's towed about the same as the current 2018 F150. In addition...if we step in to a F250 Gas 6.2l we are only gaining about 1000 lbs extra towing... So if we make that jump we would be moving in to a F250 with the Power Stroke 6.7l diesel
Either way the truck will be a daily driver...and used to tow about 6 times a year. 3-4 trips will be local(ish) of 100-150 miles each way... 2-3 trips will be 1000-1500 miles each way.
Anyone tow with these types of weights? How was it? Any observations?
Is the F150 enough or do we need to go to a F250?
Is the F150 ok for 5th wheel/gooseneck towing?
I can really use input from the folks here at F150 Forum.
Too much trailer for the 150 with all the equipment of a Platinum or high end Lariat. They would not have the payload to support that much pin weight. If you load out a 250 diesel with the same equipment you could also hit payload issues. The diesel drivetrain is very heavy and eats the payload margin of 250s quickly. Get a SRW 350 diesel and dont have any worries, and cost is about 1k more than a 250.
The 150 needs HDPP to have better payload and its not available on platinum or higher option Lariats. The trucks can pull the weight but not support the payload imposed by 2500lbs or so of pin weight without being overloaded.
Get a f350 if going diesel a 5th wheel. Get a 250 gas if you don’t mind high revs.
I would tow over 5k pounds with any half ton. Read my threads. Don’t get a F150. Look at al brands too. The ram is a way better value and can be just as nice inside.
The trailers weigh:
Jayco - 9025 Dry, 11,000 GVWR
Grand Designs - 9275 Dry, 11,995 GVWR
We prefer the F150 and will order, build or only buy one that will fit the bill. Our choice is an 2018 F150 Lariat/Platinum, Crew Cab, 3.5l EcoBoost, 5.5" or 6.5" ft bed with the Maximum Tow Package.
I'll somewhat disagree with the others. If you are willing to order the truck and wait a coupla months or more to get it, then it's possible to get an F-150 with barely enough payload capacity to haul a 10k 5er. Probably not the Grand Designs but you should be able to load the Jayco to 10,000 pounds wet and loaded weight without leaving too much stuff at home.
The F-150 absolutely must have the heavy duty payload pkg (HDPP). That limits the other options you can order and still get HDPP. The fanciest trim you can order is Lariat base 500A. No Platinum, and not even the fancier Lariat trim levels of 501A and 502A. No shorty bed, so it's good that you'll accept the 6.5' bed.
HDPP requires the Max Tow pkg and the 3.5L EcoBoost engine so the HDPP gives you all the essentials for towing a 5er except tow mirrors. So be certain you also order the tow mirrors.
In addition to limiting the weight of the 5er, you'll probably also have to limit the weight you haul in the F-150. Payload capacity is your limiter as to how much 5er you can tow without being overloaded, so you'll need to pay close attention to the weight you load into the pickup, and then weigh the wet and loaded rig at a CAT scale to verify your weights.
According to Ford we should be able to tow either 12,700 or 13,000 lbs.
The Tow rating is the weight your drivetrain can PULL, but ignores payload capacity. My F-150 3.5L EcoBoost can easily pull a 13k trailer, but it's overloaded over the payload capacity of the F-150 when towing my small travel trailer that weighs less than 5,000 pounds when wet and loaded on the road. So ignore GCWR and the resulting tow rating, and concentrate on GVWR and the resulting payload capacity.
A 10k 5er is going to have pin (hitch) weight of at least 1,800 pounds, probably closer to 2,000 pounds, and could be as high as 2,400 pounds. So subtract at least 2,000 pounds from the payload capacity of your F-150 and see how much is left for people, pets, tools, jacks, and other weight in the F-150. Then you'll see why most folks are suggesting that you opt for an F-350 SRW PSD (PowerStroke Diesel) instead of even the beefiest F-150.
The F-350 SRW is available with any level of luxury you can afford. So if you want a Platinum with all the toys, and still be able to tow a 12k 5er, it's available. No problem with having enough power and torque to drag a 12k 5er over the Rockies.
Why not an F-250? The F-350 SRW is identical to the F-250 except it has 1,500 pounds more GVWR, so almost 1,500 pounds more payload capacity for only a few hundred more dollars. As 5.0GN tow pointed out, the F-250 has very little more payload capacity than the F-150 HDPP, because that PSD drivetrain is very heavy. So with an F-250 you'll still have to be concerned with the weight you haul in the trailer and pickup, whereas the F-350 SRW has enough payload capacity to not worry so much about weights.
Ford puts max pin weight for any F150 at about 1700lbs which 15% of max fifth wheel trailer weight rating. Thats for the Screw EB with HDPP and max tow which is pretty damn good if you ask me.
What would be the maximum weight 5th wheel or travel trailer you would recommend for the 2018 F150?
I'm looking at all of the comments and am feeling a bit confused and dismayed.
My 2013 Jeep Wrangler unlimited is rated to tow 3500 lbs and we currently tow our Lance 1575 all over the place without issue. The trailer fully loaded with everything we bring is at scale 3417 lbs. Even on long up hill pulls I've never had problems pulling, maintaining speed or braking. I've used a Reese WD Hitch. Now I'm worried that I've actually been grossly over weight all this time. This was our first experience with an RV and with towing. I have over 72,000 miles on my Jeep now and we started towing after we just a few thousand miles.
10-21-2017, 03:48 AM
Have our heart set on a F150...can it do the job?
