randie_in_co

Hi Everyone, I'm currently shopping for a newer F150 (looking at 2014 or newer) to pull my 2 horse trailer. My horse trailer with 2 horses in it weighs about 5500 lbs. I've been looking at 5.0L V8's but am wondering if I should be looking at the 3.5L V6 Ecoboosts. Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks!!

Wicked ace

3.5 EB is my vote. Something in an XLT with Max Tow should get you 1600# to 1800# payload.

kehyler

This is hard to answer w/o knowing extra information. This will take some thought on your end, but how much "extra weight" are you going to be adding to the truck when you tow? (Include everything, what trim, what add ons, what gear...everything). We need to know how much payload you need.

Also, what percentage of the time will the truck be towing? If you tow 7k lbs all the time, I'd recommend a different truck than if you towed 7k lbs only 5% of the time.

Hoss10

I tow about the same size horse trailer. I have a HDPP Screw with the 3.5 EB. Tows the traiker fine. As for motors they are different. The V8 makes great sounds and will pull but it does it with more drama. you will be at a higher RPM with the 5 L but you might get a little better MPGs. The 3.5 will pull with little effort, I pulled my 6500 pound travel trailer up some steep inclines and basically you choose what speed you want to go up, awesome power at a lower RPM. You also might see a little better MPGs not towing.
Which is more reliable, ask me in 5 years!

thrifty biil

Be sure to look at the payload sticker on the driver's door jamb. Many F150s have surprisingly low payload limits, others have ample payloads. The sticker will tell the tale.

Figure the tongue weight of that horse trailer comes out of the payload, as do the weight of passengers, stuff in the truck bed, camper top if you have one, etc. It adds up! Its disappointing on some Supercrews how low the payload can be, given that it is a five passenger truck!

A HDPP truck (heavy duty payload package) used would be a nice find! Its not just a rating, the truck build is much different, starting with a thicker steel frame.

thrifty biil

Check the payload sticker in the door jamb. Some F150s have surprisingly LOW payload ratings. Others are quite good. Tongue weight, passengers, gear, anything added after the factory, all come out of payload rating.

Seems like car dealers would rather sell you on "tow rating" than have to explain payload. I run out of payload on my truck at about 60% of the tow rating.

A HDPP (heavy duty payload package) truck would be a nice find, as would be the top towing package (Ford in their infinite wisdom has several different towing packages!)

HDPP is not just a rating, the truck has a different build, starting with a heavier steel frame.

acdii

Considering I pulled my Trail-Et New Yorker with 2 Thoroughbreds int it with an Explorer, you should have no problems finding an F150 that can do it. Whatever the TW is on the trailer empty, will more than likely remain the same with two horses in it. Their weight is distributed over the axles on a straight in load, if a slant load it might change a bit, but will still be well within just about any F150 out there. I would be surprised if it exceeds 650 pounds on the ball.

I have also towed it with a Flex, though not with horses as it would have exceeded the Flex tow ratings. That is also without a WDH on it in the picture below. It was a one time tow and didn't feel like breaking it down for it.

randie_in_co

How do I know if a truck has the HDPP? Where would this be posted?

TerryD64

The window sticker if new OR more practically if used the GVWR and RAWR found on the white sticker on the door frame.
7850 GVWR and 4800 for the RAWR for the 2018 model years

I'm sure other will chime in on other methods and numbers for other yrs.

5.0GN tow

A 5.0 will pull a 2H bumper pull just fine. The load you are talking about will have very little tongue weight. As mentioned earlier, small bumper pull tandem axle horse trailers put almost all the weight on the axles. A 14 5.0 with 3.55s would be perfect for this trailer, my dad had a loaded SC XLT 4x4 that had 1590 payload, and 7350 GCWR, a truck like that would be perfect for your set up.

I used my 13 5.0 with one a few times and even with no WDH it was very stable with almost no rear squat even with two horses aboard with tack for a show.