Tow capacity
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Tow capacity
Very confused by towing capacity. Have a 2012 F150, 5 liter, extended cab, long bed, 3.55 axle, tow capacity 8100. Am I ok with a travel travel with a dry weight of 5400 and gvwr of about 7400?
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Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Vermont
Find your payload. Find the campers tongue weight. Add that up, add in 100# for a weight distribution hitch, cargo in truck, occupence, truck add on, etc.
All of that has to fall below your payload number.
Yellow door sticker will tell you.
All of that has to fall below your payload number.
Yellow door sticker will tell you.
in the house
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Kansas
Yes. You WILL feel it back there, make no mistake...but you have a more-than-capable vehicle for the task. Flat land towing should be a non-issue...but hills and <shudder> mountains are going to be a problem. How many miles on the truck?
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I'm curious why do you think mountains will be an issue? I've been to Glacier Park and never had an issue. I have a 7700 GVWR trailer.
in the house
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,140
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From: Kansas
You have the 10-speed transmission...IMHO makes a huge difference in climbing. Full disclaimer, I am comparing my 2010 with the 5.4 Triton and six-speed to my new truck, insofar as performance goes.
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Anyway, OP, this is the 2013 Ford Towing Guide and it gives you plenty of towing tips, naturally. I’d pack light, though.
5 Year Member
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Because the 3-4% power loss per 1,000’ gain in altitude? The empty trailer likely outweighs the truck and wants to follow gravity? Anything that rotates heats up much quicker in thinner air.
Anyway, OP, this is the 2013 Ford Towing Guide and it gives you plenty of towing tips, naturally. I’d pack light, though.
Anyway, OP, this is the 2013 Ford Towing Guide and it gives you plenty of towing tips, naturally. I’d pack light, though.
You make it sound like he'd be rolling backwards on the I70 6% grade.
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Ford recommends reducing the GVWR of the towed trailer by 2% for every 1000' of altitude.
The Ike Pass on I-70 is 11,000'. 8100# - 22% = 6318#.
Load your truck with a full tank of fuel and all passengers, then run across the scales at a truck stop. That will give you your GVW.
On the upper right of the white sticker in the door jamb will be the GVWR of your truck. (Usually between 6900-7400 on an F150)
GVWR - GVW = # of additional weight you can load on your truck.
Forget the CCC number on the yellow sticker. That is the number as delivered from the factory with a full tank of fuel and no additional equipment, modifications or passengers.
Not being overloaded is important for two reasons: 1. Safety. 2. Some states are now weighing privately owned vehicles pulling trailers to see if they are overloaded. Many of them are and the result is a nice ticket and a juicy revenue stream for the state.
The Ike Pass on I-70 is 11,000'. 8100# - 22% = 6318#.
Load your truck with a full tank of fuel and all passengers, then run across the scales at a truck stop. That will give you your GVW.
On the upper right of the white sticker in the door jamb will be the GVWR of your truck. (Usually between 6900-7400 on an F150)
GVWR - GVW = # of additional weight you can load on your truck.
Forget the CCC number on the yellow sticker. That is the number as delivered from the factory with a full tank of fuel and no additional equipment, modifications or passengers.
Not being overloaded is important for two reasons: 1. Safety. 2. Some states are now weighing privately owned vehicles pulling trailers to see if they are overloaded. Many of them are and the result is a nice ticket and a juicy revenue stream for the state.
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,645
Likes: 1,341
Ford recommends reducing the GVWR of the towed trailer by 2% for every 1000' of altitude.
The Ike Pass on I-70 is 11,000'. 8100# - 22% = 6318#.
Load your truck with a full tank of fuel and all passengers, then run across the scales at a truck stop. That will give you your GVW.
On the upper right of the white sticker in the door jamb will be the GVWR of your truck. (Usually between 6900-7400 on an F150)
GVWR - GVW = # of additional weight you can load on your truck.
Forget the CCC number on the yellow sticker. That is the number as delivered from the factory with a full tank of fuel and no additional equipment, modifications or passengers.
Not being overloaded is important for two reasons: 1. Safety. 2. Some states are now weighing privately owned vehicles pulling trailers to see if they are overloaded. Many of them are and the result is a nice ticket and a juicy revenue stream for the state.
The Ike Pass on I-70 is 11,000'. 8100# - 22% = 6318#.
Load your truck with a full tank of fuel and all passengers, then run across the scales at a truck stop. That will give you your GVW.
On the upper right of the white sticker in the door jamb will be the GVWR of your truck. (Usually between 6900-7400 on an F150)
GVWR - GVW = # of additional weight you can load on your truck.
Forget the CCC number on the yellow sticker. That is the number as delivered from the factory with a full tank of fuel and no additional equipment, modifications or passengers.
Not being overloaded is important for two reasons: 1. Safety. 2. Some states are now weighing privately owned vehicles pulling trailers to see if they are overloaded. Many of them are and the result is a nice ticket and a juicy revenue stream for the state.
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