Tolson37

I've got a 2018 F150 SuperCrew 4x4 fx4 short wheel base with 3.5 Ecoboost 3.55 axle and towing package. I'm assuming the following cargo in the truck.

Driver - 235 lbs
Passenger - 275 lbs
2nd row - 400 lbs
Cargo in bed - 200 lbs

Can someone calculate the max trailer weight I can tow. I took some pictures of what I think the relevant stickers are on my truck - but am still confused on what I can realistically tow. I don't use the bumper to tow anything - I use the receiver hitch.

Appreciate anyones input here...

8100hd

Figuring a tongue weight of 12.5% max trailer weight about 5000lbs.

Ricktwuhk

Math is given in post after post on this section of the forum.

1,657 minus anything you added to the truck (bedmat, bedliner, floormats) - 910 pounds in truck (per your post) = 747 pounds (minus anything you added to the truck).

747 / .13 average tongue weight = 5,746 pounds. However, you can't go over 500 pounds without a weight distribution hitch, figure it weighs 100 pounds.

747 - 100 = 647 / .13 = 4,976.

Keep in mind that's FULLY LOADED. Most people put in 1,000 pounds or more of stuff into a travel trailer.

Pugga

iTrader: (1)

Tolson, Keep in mind that the information provided by Rick is based a 'rule of thumb' relationship between tongue weight and trailer weight for travel trailers. Every trailer is different, for example, boat trailers can be heavy with a light tongue weight and any trailer can be tongue-heavy based on options and how they're loaded. My point is, don't just take his post as gospel, it's just a guideline, you still need to do your own homework on the trailer you intend to tow.

smokeywren

As Pugga noted, any answer you get based in that info will be a rough estimate. I agree with Ricktwuhk's estimate.


If you want a better estimate, then you must load the tow vehicle (TV) with everything and everybody that will be in it when towing, including the WD hitch components placed in the rear of the bed. Fill up with gas, then weigh the wet and loaded TV.


If you don't have the WD hitch yet, then add 100 pounds to the wet and loaded weight of the TV.


Subtract the wet and loaded weight of the TV from the GVWR of the TV and the answer is payload capacity available for tongue weight. Divide the payload capacity available for tongue weight by 0.13 and the answer is the max wet and loaded weight of any travel trailer (TT) you can probably tow without being overloaded.


Even that estimate is still an estimate that assumes the industry average of 13% of gross trailer weight as tongue weight. Almost all TTs have tongue weight of 12% to 14% when loaded for an RV trip. But if you use 13% and then properly distribute the weight in the trailer, you should be very close to your estimate.

Probably your biggest challenge will be in finding a suitable TT with an actual wet and loaded weight of only 5,000 pounds. My 19' TT without a slide has GVWR of 5,600 pounds, and an actual wet and loaded weight on the road of about 5,000 pounds. It's fine for two old folks and two dogs, but only one person can be up and moving around. The other person and the dogs must be on the bed or in the restroom, or in/on/under the dinette. Our floorplan has no sofa, no bunk beds, but a nice size restroom/shower/tub and closet. We could take one or two kids with us, and they could sleep on the dinette converted to a short twin bed. But they would have to stay off the floor when granny is in the kitchen.

8100hd

One can only do so much before they purchase a trailer so the formulas are about as good as your going to get.

chimmike

put the 200lbs cargo from the bed onto/into the TT. WDH reduces that weight effect on the tongue to far less than 200lbs.

Gladehound

Tolson 37. All people can do is estimate how much tongue and hitch weight the truck can take before being over your payload. Given what you said would be in the truck (below) the estimates of around 5,000 pounds are reasonable.

Driver - 235 lbs
Passenger - 275 lbs
2nd row - 400 lbs
Cargo in bed - 200 lbs

However, if you could move the 400 pounds from the 2nd row and the 200 pounds from the bed and carry them in the trailer, it will approximately double the tongue weigh (and thereby the trailer weight) that your truck can handle (with a WDH of course). You could theoretically tow a ~10,000 pound trailer and not be over your payload, hitch or rear axle limits (but would be right at them). Bear in mind, that even being within all weight ratings in this latter scenario does not guarantee that the combination will handle well. Given that you have a short wheel base and relatively soft springs - I would be cautious about going above 7,000-8,000 pounds if going any distance or at highway speeds. Keeping below this upper limit will allow you to have a higher % tongue weight while staying within ratings and that will make the trailer handle much better as long as your WDH is set up right.

You did not say what type of trailer. Handling will be better with an equipment trailer with wheels outside the deck because it is low and wide and doesn't catch much wind. A travel trailer has narrower axles, has a high center of gravity and catches a lot of wind. For something like a travel trailer, you'll want to be more conservative with the size and weight compared to an equipment trailer.

I hope this was helpful. Good luck setting up whatever type of trailer you had in mind.

Tolson37

Thanks for your response - I'm towing a 23 foot chaparral boat with tandem axle trailer. Boat is approximately 4000 lbs dry or 4500 lbs wet. I'm thinking the trailer is about 2000 lbs for a total of 6500 lbs. I've never used a WDH before and had no problems with squatting, porpoising, etc.. with my previous tow vehicles. Do you guys think I need to be worried about not using a WDH. I typically travel about 20 miles to/from the Lake in Phoenix, Arizona.

I'm really surprised by the calculations and what can/can't be reasonably towed. From listening to the Ford commercials, etc.. you would have thought these trucks could truly tow what they're publishing. I guess that's where the real usage differs from the advertising.

Here's a pic of my boat




My New F150

Pugga

iTrader: (1)

Boats are generally the exception to the rule, they are heavy but have relatively light tongue weights and still tow well. A lot of boat trailers won’t accept a weight distribution set up because they don’t have an A frame at the front of the trailer.