Platinum4me

So i'm a newbie to this forum and newer f150's. Im looking at buying a 2012 f150 platinum with the 3.5 Ecoboost. Said pickup has the trailer tow with the 3.55 rear end a gcwr of 15,550 and not the max tow package. I have a 27ft v-nose enclosed trailer with a gvwr of 9900lbs. I haul 2-4 snowmoblies (550lbs/sled) maybe 4 times a year, and thats it for towing. Im not concerned on gas mileage or anything of that nature when towing as I don't do it enough to justify a 250. My question is this pickup capable of pulling this trailer without destroying it?

Sorry but I dont know the empty weight of my trailer, and 4 sleds is not near the max weight the trailer can hold. But I am going to take it over some scales soon for my own knowledge.

dmatt13

You're issue is going to be payload, not towing capacity. You need to know what your available payload is on your truck, and what the hitch weight is on the trailer loaded. The Platinum has a lot of options, and options equal more weight, less available payload. Look for the sticker on the door like the one I attached, it shows available weight. If you're bringing others in the truck with you, their weight is counted in that payload number, plus anything you carry in the bed of the truck.

Platinum4me

To be honest im not really sure how to find out the tongue weight of my trailer. As far as payload, Ford rates the pickup as 1,634 to 1,846 lbs. The pickup is on a used car lot so they're damn near useless with these questions, and to top it off about a half hour away.

bikendan

first, look up your model of trailer. should be able to at least find the fictional "dry" tongue weight.
second, forget what Ford rates. the payload capacity sticker is a good ballpark number to start with. i'm guessing that a Platinum without the Max Tow package or the HDPP, will have a lousy payload capacity.
personally, i wouldn't buy any F150 without the Max Tow package.

Ricktwuhk

You need to get that sticker. Have them photo it or drive a half hour and look. There is no range, and a Platinum is likely to be much lower. You need to way the trailer loaded, and tongue ideally. You can't go anywhere near that max weight.

Old Grey Mule

The truck will tow that much weight just fine. A lot of people use an air bag system to keep it from sagging.

Ricktwuhk

There is not enough information provided to make a statement like that. In fact, one can derive that the truck won't be fine and will in fact be quite over capacity.

If the trailer is loaded to max capacity, 9,900 pounds, at 13% tongue weight it will be 1,287 pounds of tongue weight, plus the 100 pounds for the weight distribution hitch. That is over the capacity of the hitch mounted on the OP's F-150.

Let's assume his 2012 platinum has a 1,600 pound payload capacity. OP weighs 200 pounds, wife weighs 120 pounds, two kids weigh 50 pounds each. No mods to truck, no bedliner or bedmat added, all 100% stock. 1,600 - 420 pounds of people - 100 pounds for WDH = 1,080 pounds left for his loaded trailer. At 13% tongue weight, he can tow a 8,308 pound loaded trailer, until the kids grow and weigh 120 pounds each. Then he's down to a 7,231 pound loaded trailer. Except he got fat, and gained 50 pounds. Just lost another 385 pounds for his trailer.

A level load provided by airbags is not a safe load if it's over capacity.

Jeff1024

Everyone here is right - your issue will be payload /w the platinum trim. My 2015 /w the same options has a payload of 1565, I have also seen some at 1545. Not saying the one you are looking at is guaranteed to be the same, but that is a good ballpark. I would call the dealership and have them snap a quick picture of the yellow sticker on the driver door jam. Shouldnt be a big deal and if they want the sale they will do it.

If you can make the trailer tongue weight plus everything in the truck while you are towing weigh less than the number on the yellow sticker you should be good. Trailer tongue weight scales are ~$100 on amazon, I invested in one when we upgraded our boat just to see how much weight was really on the ball of the truck. Really worth the piece of mind, Since the tongue weight of the boat really cant change I weighed it once then sold the scale on here for around $75. Worked great.

Platinum4me

The sticker say 1154 payload on the pickup. And the dry weight of my trailer is roughly 4600lbs. So may sleds would be around 2000-2400lbs. 4 guys in the pickup all a 200lbs. Can someone help work the math again

06screwlariat

1154 Payload
Combine trailer and sleds 6600 - 13% of this weight in on the truck as tongue weight - so it takes 858 of your payload - need a WDH which is about 100 pounds as well.
4 guys @ 200 pounds = 800 pounds

1154 - 858 - 100 - 800 = -604

You would be 604 pounds over payload which is a lot.

If you really want to get a F150 - look for a higher payload - the 2015+ trucks have significantly higher payloads due to the aluminum body. Or look for an XLT (less options = less weight) or a truck with Max Payload - which will be a challenge when buying used.

I feel your pain - my 2013 Fx4 has a payload of 1201