I bought a 2004 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4 L 2WD. At first it was just because I wanted a truck but now I've decided I want to get a one car trailer and use it to transport cars, haul things etc. to make money. Do you think it will handle the task? I've read things and looked at videos and no one has explained this GCWR, GVW, Payload, Tongue weight, tow capacity thing where I can understand it. I understand what each of them mean but then it seems like people start talking in circles and I can't under how they all go together or what numbers I need to know to find out how much I can tow with my truck.

 

Please read through the dozens of posts about this very subject here...I think it will help you gain some 'real' understanding. First thing to find out is what your truck's door decal says...as it typically takes into account your engine, axle, weight of the truck, etc.

Just a very quick estimate would be that trailer is going to weigh at least 1500 pounds, and so if you put an average 4000 pound car on it, now your towing at least 5500 pounds.
Probably very 'do-able' but you need to be safe...please read a bit more. GREAT info here.

 

Thanks for the advice. I did look more into it last night and got a better understanding before I went to bed. I guess I was making it more complicated than it had to be but I don't want to put myself or anyone else in danger.

 

Good to hear, it CAN be a little confusing. This is one of the best things about forums like this...it's just a great resource of info.

 

Correct but also keep in mind a forum can be a lot like asking for advise in a gin mill......... need to verify what you hear.

 

GCWR - is the maximum weight that the truck + the trailer can be including their own weight and the weight of anything you put in or on them
GVWR - is the maximum weight the truck + anything you put in or on it can be. This includes hitch weight - which is tongue weigh plus the weight of your hitch.
Payload - This is the GVWR of the truck minus the actual weight of the truck (to it changes depending on what you add to the truck)
Tongue weight - this is simply how much the tongue of the trailer weighs a the coupler at any given time - changes based on how you load the trailer.
Tow capacity - is the GCWR minus the weight of the truck so it changes based on how much is in / on the truck.

You may want to post your GCWR, GWR, yellow sticker payload (if they had it in 2004? don't know when that started), and the ratings off any stickers you find on your receiver hitch (assuming you have one). Then someone here can show you the math with your actual truck and it will make more sense. You'll see people here talk about 13% tongue weight a lot or even more. That's because most of the discussion here is about travel trailers. But for a car hauler you should be fine around 10%.

The maximum weight you can tow will be limited by one of those ratings. Until we know what those ratings are for your specific truck, we can't help you. We will also need to know the weight of anything you'll have in the truck (you, any other people, any gear). Good luck!

 

You want to take a 17 year old truck and start working it hard? Do you have a backup vehicle that can also tow the trailer with a vehicle aboard?

As has been stated, you will need to check your payload and GCWR to see how much room you have to tow. Once you get to mid-size vehicles, you'll have to start using a weight distribution hitch, which will require you to adjust the bars for each vehicle you load. There's a reason those that transport vehicles daily use gooseneck trailers hooked to heavier duty trucks. As vehicles go up in weight, so does the weight of the trailers you need to tow them.

Everyone I've talked to that tows/hauls (self employed) for a living said they need to be working constantly to make a profit due to all the dropped contracts and vehicle maintenance.