JimInNV

My question is slightly different than other posts I’ve read regarding 5th wheel towing.

I have a 2015 F150 2WD Lariat Crew

3.5L Eco 3.55 axle, Max Tow Package 53c
145” wheel base 5.5’ box
GCWR 17,000; GVWR 6,800; GAWR rear 3,800; GAWR front 3,300
Door sticker “the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1632 lbs”
This truck tows our 2011 34’ Outback 295RE loaded at 8,500 lbs with ease.

On a CAT scale this truck with self, wife, and 35 gallons of fuel weighs:
Front Axle 3080 leaving 295 lbs reserve
Rear Axle 2440 leaving 1360 lbs reserve
Total 5520 leaving 1280 lbs reserve

We would like to upgrade from TT to 5th wheel. 5th wheel manufacturers claim “half-ton towable”. But even the smallest models from all mfrs would overload our truck. We like the Jayco Eagle HT 28.5RSTS, published dry hitch 1500 lbs, unloaded weight 8600 lbs. Say fully loaded this unit weighs 9600 lbs, then at 20 to 25% hitch weight is 2000+ lbs. For current truck I cannot reconcile 1360 rear axle reserve with 2000 lbs hitch weight. If I assume 5th wheel hitch is 100 lbs, then I have overloaded the axle by probably 800 to 900 lbs. GCWR no problem.

At ford.com the specs for a 2018 F150 Crew 4WD 6.5’ box show a 7850 GVWR option. None of the 4 Ford dealerships in Las Vegas have such a configured F150. So I can’t “with my own eyes” verify door sticker information or test drive to a CAT scale.

Please comment on the following analysis. My GVWR is 6800 lbs. New F150 Lariat could be 7850 lbs. This is a 1050 increase, or 1360 +1050 = 2410 reserve on rear axle. Now adjust for 2WD versus 4WD say 300 lbs, and 6.5’ box versus 5.5’ box and beefier springs 200 lbs. Now I estimate a rear axle reserve of 2410 - 300 - 200 = 1910. While still technically overloaded by 100 to 300 lbs I might be inclined to go for it. And if I forget the 4WD (@300#) be fully compliant.

I read the specs on F250/350s, but they won’t fit in garage, a requirement. And not a good daily driver for us.

BigDozer66

The only way to get there would be one with the HDPP (Heavy Duty Payload Package) that will put you up to 2400 pounds payload.

That would only work if you don't have over 400 pounds in the rest of the truck including you, your wife, your family, and anything and everything else you put in the truck or bed.

We are getting a TT now to push our F150 but in a few years when we get ready to go full time we are getting a 5er and when we do we will be getting a F350 SRW 6.7L PSD (or equivalent ) to tug it.

Trailbreak74

Towing a fifth wheel with a half ton is a risky proposition at best.

The new F150 might be changing that. The payload specs keep growing. 2410 lbs of payload means your truck would have been called a 1 ton a few years ago, even though Ford now calls it a half ton.

Now getting one of these HDPP trucks might be tough. Lots of people on the forum have them, but I’ve never seen one for sale on a lot.

I still say towing ANY fifth wheel with a half ton is foolish. If you are within payload and GCVWR then the choice is up to you.

RubyRed Canadian

One of the dealers in Ontario has one. 2,430lbs payload. It's an XLT though.

http://www.hannafords.ca/vehicles/20...?saleclass=New

smokeywren

Sure, the 3.5L EcoBoost drivetrain will pull a mountain and dance a jig while doing it. But I'll bet you're overloaded over the payload capacity of your F-150.


That's the heavy duty payload package (HDPP). Dealers rarely stock them, but they'll be glad to order one for you. Count on at least two months to get one, and my dealer advised me that it would probably be closer to three months. (Demand exceeds supply for F-150s right now).


On Ford.com, choose SuperCrew with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, 6.5' bed and 3.73 axle ratio and you'll see the HDPP option. Then do not choose any option that deletes the HDPP.


Note the restrictions to get HDPP. The fanciest trim available is Lariat 500A. Must have the "long" bed, 6.5' for a SuperCrew or 8' for SuperCab. Includes max tow with the integrated trailer brake controller, but does not include the trailer tow mirrors. However, the TT mirrors are a standalone option so you can order them with HDPP.

But no, you won't be able to see it or test drive it until after it is delivered to your dealer.

Or maybe chose the best dealer near you and ask the Fleet Manager to do a "dealer search" looking for an F-150 with HDPP within a few hours drive for you. Have him check the Ford dealers in SoCal, especially the one in Fontana.

Are you sure? CrewCabs with a 6.5' bed, both F-150 and F-250 are over 20' long, but neither one is over 21' long. F-250 is 20.833' long. F-150 is 20.308' long. If you can close the garage door on the F-150, you can probably close it on the F-250.

Don't be concerned with commuting and grocery getting in an F-250. I put over 200,000 miles on my last one, and only half those miles were towing.

But I would not want to tow a small 5er without a factory turbo engine. In a SuperDuty, that means the PowerStroke diesel (PSD) engine.

JimInNV

Thanks smokeywren,
very helpful information

kbroderick

If it's a matter of inches, the F250 might be too long. The 2017 crew-cab, 6.5'-box F-250 is a 159.8" wheelbase with an overall length of 250.0" length, 6.3" longer than a crew-cab, 6.5-box F-150. Still under 21', but not by much.

(according to the Ford docs, at least)

...and if it really is that close, consider the effect of anything you might want to have installed extending beyond either bumper, like a hitch ball.

8100hd

You will be close to the maximum ratings with the Jayco. Take a look the Grand Design 150 Reflection series, the hitch weights are more realistic.

Leaf-Peeper

We ordered a '18 XLT 4x4 Super Crew 3.5 Eco on Nov 15th, 2017. The current delivery date is Feb 7, 2018 (that's with the holiday shutdown). You can ask the chatty Ford folks online to do a search for you, just maybe there's one of your liking located near you. If not, contact the dealers that do have them on the lot and ask for a photo of the yellow payload sticker, that's what we did.

Here's 2 XLT Super Crew 3.5 Eco's located in Kansas City
http://www.thoroughbred-ford.com/new...rchDepth=32:62

http://www.thoroughbred-ford.com/new...rchDepth=55:62


Here's the yellow sticky on the silver one from the above link... XLT Super Crew HDPP, no center console.



Another XLT Super Crew HDPP Yellow Sticky, no center console.



Another XLT Super Crew HDPP Yellow Sticky, no center console on this either.

mass-hole

Houston Ford in MN has had a few HD Payload trucks with the 7850 lb GVWR on the lot. The one I reached out to them about was an XLT 4x4 and had ~2500 lbs of payload.

The Lariat 4x4's I have seen or heard about were more in the 2400 lb range.

With the HD Payload trucks, you dont get the full 1000 lbs back. For 1, the axle is beefed up slightly over the normal 9.75". 2, the frame is thicker than the standard trucks. 3, the springs are stiffer and probably weigh a bit more. So for the 1000 lbs you gain in GVWR, you might get 800 back in payload.

Oh and FYI, the HD Payload trucks have a 4800 lb Rear axle rating. From what I have seen, they generally have enough capacity on the rear axle alone to take the entire payload of the truck(2200-2300 lb empty weight gives you 2500-2600 lbs of capacity.) Since your 4x4 weight is going almost entirely on the front axle, it will have little effect on the rear axles empty weight.

So with that in mind, I wouldnt worry so much on the rear axle weight rating with the HD truck. Since you and your wife will be sitting in the front seats, most of your weight ends up on the front axles. The trailer pin is really the only substantial rear axle weight, and you will have exceeded payload before the RAWR.