emilyallison

Hello! I've been lurking here for several months as we are toying with the idea of purchasing a travel trailer and pulling with our F150. I've done calculation after calculation but want someone who has experience and more knowledge than myself to take a look. My husband has towed for years but only small utility trailers so we don't have a lot of experience with the limitations and making sure we are being safe in what we are towing. If greatly appreciate some input or help!

Here's the specs of our truck (let me know if more info is needed)
2013 F150 FX4 Supercrew 5.5ft bed 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost
Tow package
7200# GVWR
3.55 Elec Lock RR Axle

We don't travel heavy and the combined weight of our family is 400lbs

Nighthawk87

What's your payload sticker say. Surely you have to know that from spending months lurking. That's the most important thing.

emilyallison

Sorry, thought I had included it.

Ricktwuhk

That is a very low payload.

1,151 minus 400 pounds of people(make sure that includes the driver) minus any modifications to the truck (bedliner/mat, floor mats, tonneau cover), minus any stuff you bring in the truck or bed with you (cooler, computers, backpack, pet) = 751.

Assuming 13% tongue weight, you can tow 5,777 (751 / .13). However, that puts you over the 500 pound limit of the receiver without a weight distribution hitch. So your limit is 500 / .13 = 3,846.

If you add a weight distribution hitch:

751 - 100 wdh = 651

651 / .13 = 5,008.

This is for a fully loaded trailer. Many people add 1,000 pounds of stuff (propane, water, batteries, food, pots, pans, linens, .., so you may be looking at a dry weight of 4,000 pounds or less.

Keep in mind you need to fill in the stuff that is currently zero (pet, cooler, etc.).

If you've done the calculations, you should have the same numbers, it's simple math.

And congrats for asking before buying the trailer. Being safe is important to your family and everyone else's!

emilyallison

Thank you! I was getting the same calculations but wanted to double check that I was figuring it correctly. I'm obviously a female with no knowledge in this department, so excuse me if this is a really dumb question. Is there ways to "add" payload capacity to a vehicle or is it based off the frame, etc of the truck?

emilyallison

Oh and we did plan on a WDH and the TT we are looking at have hitch weight of 515-560. When using a WDH do you simply go by the percentages or is there a way to figure the max hitch that is allows?

Ricktwuhk

No, you cannot add Payload.

The max is the max. The only thing that changes with a WDH is that it both allows you to exceed 500 in tongue weight and distributes the weight to the front axle and back to the trailer, so that you don't max out the weight on the rear axle if that was a concern - which on your vehicle with the low Payload it isn't.

Keep in mind that hitch weights provided by trailer manufacturers are usually BS. Use 13% of the trailer weight as a guide, and get a true physical weight of the trailer from a scale - often what they say doesn't include options you may have added. And remember that once you load it, both its weight and the balance of the weight (which impacts tongue weight) changes.

When you are all loaded, go to the CAT scales and get proper weights hooked up to the WDH with the bars properly tightened, and with them undone, which allows you to see weight on each axle, weight of the truck alone (make sure it's fully gassed and loaded for the trip, including the people), etc.

While it's great you're doing this before you buy the trailer, ideally it's done before you buy the truck also. Your Payload is awful - 20 inch wheels and 4x4, plus options you got, plus the lack of packages that can enhance Payload - saw to that. There is a spreadsheet on this section of the forum that lists payloads for various configurations. My 2013 is a SuperCab, 4x4, with a 6.5 bed so we are very close in configuration. I have 18 inch wheels and my GVWR is 7,350, so only 150 pounds more than yours. But as my signature shows, my payload is 1,643, or 492 pounds more than yours. Something in your configuration limited you a great deal.

Of course I've added a bedliner with mat and a tonneau cover and Weathertech mats, so my Payload would be reduced by those probably a good 120+ pounds, but I don't have a TT.

mark waller

When you go to a RV dealer remember that the tongue weight in the brochures are dry tongue weight not actual after you load your trailer. Don't let them mislead you at the dealership. Yes your payload is low and that is your limiting number. My truck payload is 1789.

humblerb

I always use the dry weight and add 1500# of gear to get me in the ball park when looking at trailers. Our actual added weight is 1200#-1300#, depending on how much beer we take.
As stated above, your payload is very low.
Even giving up part of your payload capacity for the 4X4, that is low.
My 2012 FX2 Sport has a 1500#+ payload capacity.
With 1,151 # payload, as long as you stay within your limits, your trailer will be a breeze to tow.

2016maxtow

This thread is timely. I have a newborn SCREW and have been racking my brain with the same data praying for an accurate result. I've already resigned to loading it up and heading to a CAT scale. In the mean time...

I have:
2016 SCREW, 5.5 box, 4x4, 3.5 EcoBeast, MAX TOW, FX4, 3.55 ratio, 7,000GVWR

POU(purpose of use): TTrailer, 7,809 UVW, 870 hitch weight, WDH but haven't purchased yet.

First, an excerpt from the Ford towing guide:


So Ford claims this option can increase payload capacity. While i didn't know it existed, between my MAX TOW and FX4, I'm trying to equate if i sit in between this and my factory payload. Considering some of these items i already have as a result of MAX TOW, I could upgrade springs(or air bags?). I also have 20" six-spoke wheels. This 627 option seems to assert that at these GVWR's, you have to have 17's or 18's. Interesting.

One other item - don't you get upgraded shocks with FX4?

I've already learned some from your replies. Thank you and keep them coming.