all50states

Being new to towing an RV, I think the Mfr towing numbers are bogus. I've learned a lot about towing numbers since I bought the camper.

My truck is weighted to pull 8900 lbs. I am towing 6500 lbs and an over the other key metrics.

Curb Weight: 6011lbs
GVWR: 7299lbs (7440 lbs. Over by 141 lbs)
GAWR Front: 3699lbs (CAT scale weigh with camper: 2820lbs)
GAWR Rear: 4299lbs (CAT scale weight with camper: 4640. 341 lbs over!)
Payload: 1288 lbs. Actual = 1429 lbs Over by 141 pounds
This was with Equalizer 1000/10000 WDH

I'm not sure how anyone could tow close to 8900 pounds and keep the weight under on GVWR, RGAWR, and Payload.

It would certainly seem that an F250 should be in my future.

acdii

With some weight transfer, an F150 can easily tow that load. First thing to consider is what can be removed from the trucks payload. Keeping an empty bed is a start, carry everything you can inside the trailer. My 7600 GVWR Coleman weighs wet at 6400 pounds, and I towed it up and over the IKE pass with a 2014 RWD Lariat 501a with 3.15 gearing and was under all weights with me and just my two kids. It had a 1470 pound payload.





An XLT 3.5 EB with 1800+ can tow what you have, provided you manage the weight distribution!

If you post the model of the trailer, then with a little math can determine what your target payload is to look for.

For example, a 7600 GVWR trailer with a stable 13% tongue weight would come in right around 988 pounds on the ball, the Equilizer weighs in at 102 pounds so you would have a grand total of 1090 pounds on the receiver. An 1800 pound payload truck would give you 710 pounds of extra payload for people in the cab. This would be the absolute most that trailer could ever weigh, so there is some fudge factor to work with.

I now have a 2018 Platinum RWD with 1557 pounds of payload. I use a Blue Ox WDH, and with the same trailer weighing in at 6400 pounds, and the WDH properly setup , with just me and a full tank, plus 200 pounds of gear in the bed I have 400 pounds of payload to work with. A good WDH will redistribute that weight forward and take some off the truck and put it on the trailers wheels. So even though there is 1090 pounds on the ball, when set up and distributing, some of that weight is moved off the truck and back on the trailer.

Gladehound

Good choice. Just make sure you still pay attention to the numbers. A loaded F250 diesel may not have as much payload as you think. I've seen them as low as ~1,700 pounds on payload. I don't think you can go wrong with an F150 HDPP, F250 Gas, F250 diesel if you don't over option it, or any F350.

tcp2

2016 3.5 eco max tow 6.5ft bed with 7050GVWR here. Our trailer is 29' long and 7500lb GVWR. 1804lb payload on my truck. Tows very well loaded with 4 people and bikes. hit the scale on the way home last year and was under on both axles (180lbs to spare on the front and 350 or so on the back if my memory is correct) with 5800lbs on the trailer axle.

Atlee

At Madison Campground in Yellowstone NP.

If you can find one, get an F150 that comes with the HDPP. You will not regret the extra payload. Also, for use in the high mountains, you will not regret the 3.5L EB. I have a 2014 F150 (last year of the steel body) 4x4, Supercab with 8' box (HDPP requirement). It pulled my 6500# GVWR TT (although it didn't weight that much in travel mode) through the Rockies in NM, CO, UT, ID, WY, MT, & SD easily. The only thing the 3.5L EB lacks is a lot of engine braking ability. A few times, I dropped down to 2nd gear to get enough engine braking in order to not have to use my vehicle brakes too much.

My HDPP has a payload capacity of 2286#. The rear end is a Limited Slip 3.73, and the axle is 4800#. While I would never say I didn't know the trailer was behind me, it was a very civilized tow. 99.99% of the time, passing 18 wheelers never wiggled the truck and trailer. Even when a mule deer hit my trailer on I-90 east of Bozeman, MT, the truck stayed steady as a rock. It never got squirrelly. My wife, looking in her side mirror, said the rear of the trailer moved sharply to the right.

I could strongly recommend the HDPP package coupled with the 3.5L EB for pulling your sized trailer.

kehyler

OP, depending on the options you desire, you can get F150s capable to tow that w/o a HDPP. See my sig, I believe that I would be within spec to pull your trailer.

kehyler

This is true because you put "in general" on it, however, it should be noted that you can specifically order the 2.7 ecoboost with payload package. That gets you a thicker frame and also the 9.75 rear end.

Ricktwuhk

I'm simply pointing out what the 13% math does.

If you add 100 pounds in the bed, that reduces your payload by 100 pounds. 100 / .13 = 769. So, by putting 100 pounds in your bed, you're reduced the ability to tow 769 pounds.

Of course, if your payload is high enough, then the likely limitation is with your receiver. For example, if the sticker on the receiver says 1,250 pounds, take 100 off that for the wdh, you're at 1,150 pounds. If your available payload is higher than that, it's not relevant for the trailer calculation, because you're limited to 1,150. 1,150 / .13 = 8,846. If your available payload after loading up the truck with people and gear was say 1,500, you'd subtract 1,250 from it, be left with 250, and could put another 250 pounds in the bed. That's assuming you now didn't max out the rear axle...

sholxgt

The manufacture ratings should include an asterisk that says the numbers only apply to towing a boat by yourself. LOL That is about the only way you can reach their tow figures because most boats end up with a 10% or so tongue weight which makes the other numbers possible.

I don't believe you said how often you will be towing? If this next truck will be primarily used for towing, skip straight to an F250 and don't look back. However, if this is a mixed use truck that will only tow on occasion, get an F150 with the HDPP package and 3.5 EB. You'll be good to go and have a nice truck to drive when not towing.

Don't buy my truck. 1577 lbs of payload capacity on mine which wouldn't leave you enough breathing room.

Gladehound

And that's exactly why I wrote "in general". I didn't see the point in getting into the details on the 2.7EB trucks because there are other reasons why I wouldn't recommend it for towing the OPs trailer in the Rockies. It will tend to run hotter at the same load compared to the 3.5EB. It doesn't have as much engine breaking as the 3.5 (which already doesn't have as much engine breaking as I would like). It will be into the turbos more which will likely make it less fuel efficient than the 3.5 with that load. And I'm not even sure if you can get it on the longer wheel base trucks which I consider more appropriate for towing a TT of that size.