Royz

I plan to pull 5th wheel travel trailer with 2019 F 150 with max tow package. It looks like 10,700 with 17 or 18 tires and 12,700 with 20 inch tires.
I don't really want 20's.
Is this because the 20's have a higher capacity?
If so, can I put 18 inch LT tires with higher weight rating to get to 12,300 ?
Thanks
Royz

thrifty biil

You need to focus more on heavy duty payload. Max tow package doesn't get you fifth wheel towing capability without higher payload. Pin weight on fifth wheel is typically around 20% of the trailer's actual weight. To this you have to add the weight of the hitch assembly, plus passengers, driver, any stuff in the truck, any options added after the factory, etc. Compare that figure to the payload for your truck (yellow label on the driver's door jamb).

Sure there are a few light weight fifth wheels out there like the Escape 5.0 and the Scamp 19. Most fifth wheel trailers you are more likely in F250 territory (or higher).

Tow ratings on most Ford trucks are unobtainable by a bumper pull RV or a fifth wheel due to tongue weight. Fifth wheel is the worse in this regard. Ford tow ratings are more hypothetical, sure if you are pulling a farm trailer or a boat (trailers with low tongue weight), its meaningful. I have 9,800 pound tow rating on my F150 yet I run out of payload at about 5,500 pound trailer. And don't be mislead by dry weights. If you are buying a trailer new, have the RV dealer run it across a certified scale for you. Sure they will flop on the floor and foam at the mouth, but in the end, they want your money. And recognize the actual weight of the trailer when you tow it will be higher, as you will have all of your stuff in it, plus water, and so on. But at least it gives you a a starting point.

My first fifth wheel the RV dealer "convinced me" that my half ton truck was enough. It wasn't even close, I ended up with a 1 ton dually. Learn to do your own due diligence, and do not trust someone that either wants to sell you a truck, or wants to sell you a RV. The "fact" they told you it would work means nothing.


Some of the more deluxe Supercrew models, which can seat five comfortably, will lose more than half of their payload just to passengers and driver, depending on the weight of the people.

TerryD64

You can't easily change ratings, gotta pay an engineering firm to certify any new numbers. (Cheaper to buy a new truck typically)

You'll run out of payload before you exceed 10,700

10,700 * 20 percent = approx 2140 estimated pin weight.
All but the heartiest HDPP builds will struggle with that when you add passengers, hitch and any extra cargo to the truck.

Pin weight on trailer in my sig varies between 1700 and 1850 depending on water and how I load for the trip. I have to watch my passenger and truck cargo limits. and that is with a 2337 Payload.

bikendan

Yep, Royz, you're looking at the wrong package. for handling the heavier pin weight of a 5th wheel, you should focus on the Heavy Duty Payload Package. you'll probably have to order it, since HDPP F150s are unicorns.

Royz

Thanks Bill. Lot of good info. I'll have to put on the thinking cap.

Royz

Terry I did start looking at payload ratings yesterday. Ford doesn't make getting that info easy. Looking at HDPP.
Thanks

Royz

Bikendan After reading every bodies advise in these posts I came to that conclusion. Happy that I came across this forum. I was walking around blind.

Many thanks to you and every one else.

bikendan

Payload Capacities are specific to each particular vehicle, based on how they are configured. You won't find a chart.

Royz

I found this to be helpful. https://www.ford.com/services/assets...-150&year=2018
Page 33 and 34 gave some useful info about payloads.

kbroderick

Keep in mind that (a) those are best-case for the configuration listed and (b) the 7,850-pound GVWR is the HDPP. The "post your payload" thread might be helpful for real-world examples. And don't forget the weight of the "stuff" that lives in your truck; I was a little surprised at my real-world payload when I weighed mine, and then I pulled the recovery / emergency / etc. gear out of the cab and weighed it at 70 pounds. That plus the LT tires, bedliner, etc., that I added made a difference (as did the heavy front bumper, but I knew that was going to have an impact; I didn't really think as much about the lighter stuff adding up).