Towing calculations, please help
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Towing calculations, please help
This is what the truck is loaded with…. Payload package, tow package, 18inch wheels, etc.
sticker on the hitch connection
Hi guys. I can’t tell you the hours of research I’ve done to try to figure this out and every thread seems to say something different. So I’m just gonna put all my specs and numbers out there and see if anyone out there can help me. I have a custom truck and need to know how heavy of a travel trailer I can get. I don’t want to go over 75% of my max towing capacity and the trailer I am hoping to get is about 7500lbs dry and 33feet long. I am a super newbie so I don’t know anything about towing other than it’s a lot more complicated than some people make it out to be.
Thanks!
Last edited by Lyndsey; Aug 25, 2024 at 09:06 PM.
in the house
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Kansas
That's an impressive payload capacity, one of the highest I have seen. A 7500 pound 'dry' trailer is going to be close to 8500 with all your 'stuff' in it and the water tanks filled, propane filled, etc. You'll be pushing 900 pound or more tongue weight....use of a weight distributing hitch is pretty much mandated. IMHO one simply shouldn't use a 1/2 ton truck for pulling big travel trailers...a 3/4 or 1 ton is so much better for so many reasons...but if you are committed, please browse the RV forums and really LISTEN to what they are saying there regarding size/weight/length of a travel trailer.
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Impressive HDPP truck you have. This is Fords published towing specs. You probably will not have issues pulling the weight, depending on type of trailer you are talking about, BUT wind simply does not play nicely when the trailer gets at certain length. Different regions play better and worse, example Wyoming is very different than Missouri to tow in. Many will brag how they do this and that, seems a few years later we always see them in a bigger truck. I agree with bajaman, also ask on RV forums, and be a bit more specific with type of trailer, you probably can find a Forum for your specific trailer and model. Good luck.
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You truck has a heavy-duty frame, springs, tires, much more than your "typical " 1/2 ton. It will have no issues with that trailer.
What you need to be successful towing is the following
Do plenty of research about towing from sources that do not consist of opinions from unknown people on the internet. Would you take advice from the guy at the end of the bar you've never met before? He has a "smart phone" and is always posting on towing forums as he finishes his 6th beer.
Safe travels and Cheers as I begin to sip my 7th beer.
What you need to be successful towing is the following
Do plenty of research about towing from sources that do not consist of opinions from unknown people on the internet. Would you take advice from the guy at the end of the bar you've never met before? He has a "smart phone" and is always posting on towing forums as he finishes his 6th beer.
Safe travels and Cheers as I begin to sip my 7th beer.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 8
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Impressive HDPP truck you have. This is Fords published towing specs. You probably will not have issues pulling the weight, depending on type of trailer you are talking about, BUT wind simply does not play nicely when the trailer gets at certain length. Different regions play better and worse, example Wyoming is very different than Missouri to tow in. Many will brag how they do this and that, seems a few years later we always see them in a bigger truck. I agree with bajaman, also ask on RV forums, and be a bit more specific with type of trailer, you probably can find a Forum for your specific trailer and model. Good luck.
Senior Member First F150
Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Boston, Ma
First well done getting a truck with that Spec and payload rating. Lets work with what you have.
My bias for WDH is a Weigh Safe unit. I also recommend 100% use of the tow/haul mode. The engine braking that brings to the table is going to be really appreciated.
From Ford's in house numbers your GCWR shouldn't exceed 19,500lbs assuming you are 4x4. As mentioned above you can easily get a 900lbs on the hitch, plus 100lbs for the WDH. That leaves you with 1200lbs of payload. When you add the weight of what and who you plan to take in the truck, can you keep within you self imposed 75% of payload figure?
My bias for WDH is a Weigh Safe unit. I also recommend 100% use of the tow/haul mode. The engine braking that brings to the table is going to be really appreciated.
From Ford's in house numbers your GCWR shouldn't exceed 19,500lbs assuming you are 4x4. As mentioned above you can easily get a 900lbs on the hitch, plus 100lbs for the WDH. That leaves you with 1200lbs of payload. When you add the weight of what and who you plan to take in the truck, can you keep within you self imposed 75% of payload figure?
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From: Georgia
Make your calculations based on the trailers GVWR instead of dry weight. 7500 dry will be at least 8500 loaded, maybe closer to 10,000. then figure 13% of that as tongue weight. 8500 X .13= 1105 on the tongue. Then add another 100 for the WDH so call it about 1200 lbs on your hitch with an 8500 lb trailer.
For MOST 1/2 tons that would only leave 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo but your 2300 lbs of payload will leave you with about 1100 lbs to work with. Maybe a bit more or less depending on the actual weight of the trailer.
You should be OK as long as you don't get carried away and load up the truck with a lot of weight too. A skinny driver and passenger will be 300 lbs. Four adult men could easily be 800-1000 lbs and be problematic.
While your truck will handle the trailer I still think you're getting into borderline 3/4 ton territory. I see a lot of people with 20-30 year old 3/4 ton trucks pulling trailers that technically could be pulled with a 1/2 ton. Those 3/4 tons have never had to work hard to handle the weight and are still on the road. A 1/2 ton will be worn out much sooner if used regularly with that much weight.
The thing about wind. Your trucks curb weight is about 5500 lbs. I subtracted your payload from GVWR to get that number. A 3/4 ton's curb weight will be about 7000 lbs. When the wind starts pushing the trailer around the trailer starts pushing the truck around. That extra 1500 lbs of curb weight doesn't get pushed around as much.
For MOST 1/2 tons that would only leave 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo but your 2300 lbs of payload will leave you with about 1100 lbs to work with. Maybe a bit more or less depending on the actual weight of the trailer.
You should be OK as long as you don't get carried away and load up the truck with a lot of weight too. A skinny driver and passenger will be 300 lbs. Four adult men could easily be 800-1000 lbs and be problematic.
While your truck will handle the trailer I still think you're getting into borderline 3/4 ton territory. I see a lot of people with 20-30 year old 3/4 ton trucks pulling trailers that technically could be pulled with a 1/2 ton. Those 3/4 tons have never had to work hard to handle the weight and are still on the road. A 1/2 ton will be worn out much sooner if used regularly with that much weight.
The thing about wind. Your trucks curb weight is about 5500 lbs. I subtracted your payload from GVWR to get that number. A 3/4 ton's curb weight will be about 7000 lbs. When the wind starts pushing the trailer around the trailer starts pushing the truck around. That extra 1500 lbs of curb weight doesn't get pushed around as much.
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Joined: Aug 2024
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Make your calculations based on the trailers GVWR instead of dry weight. 7500 dry will be at least 8500 loaded, maybe closer to 10,000. then figure 13% of that as tongue weight. 8500 X .13= 1105 on the tongue. Then add another 100 for the WDH so call it about 1200 lbs on your hitch with an 8500 lb trailer.
For MOST 1/2 tons that would only leave 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo but your 2300 lbs of payload will leave you with about 1100 lbs to work with. Maybe a bit more or less depending on the actual weight of the trailer.
You should be OK as long as you don't get carried away and load up the truck with a lot of weight too. A skinny driver and passenger will be 300 lbs. Four adult men could easily be 800-1000 lbs and be problematic.
While your truck will handle the trailer I still think you're getting into borderline 3/4 ton territory. I see a lot of people with 20-30 year old 3/4 ton trucks pulling trailers that technically could be pulled with a 1/2 ton. Those 3/4 tons have never had to work hard to handle the weight and are still on the road. A 1/2 ton will be worn out much sooner if used regularly with that much weight.
The thing about wind. Your trucks curb weight is about 5500 lbs. I subtracted your payload from GVWR to get that number. A 3/4 ton's curb weight will be about 7000 lbs. When the wind starts pushing the trailer around the trailer starts pushing the truck around. That extra 1500 lbs of curb weight doesn't get pushed around as much.
For MOST 1/2 tons that would only leave 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo but your 2300 lbs of payload will leave you with about 1100 lbs to work with. Maybe a bit more or less depending on the actual weight of the trailer.
You should be OK as long as you don't get carried away and load up the truck with a lot of weight too. A skinny driver and passenger will be 300 lbs. Four adult men could easily be 800-1000 lbs and be problematic.
While your truck will handle the trailer I still think you're getting into borderline 3/4 ton territory. I see a lot of people with 20-30 year old 3/4 ton trucks pulling trailers that technically could be pulled with a 1/2 ton. Those 3/4 tons have never had to work hard to handle the weight and are still on the road. A 1/2 ton will be worn out much sooner if used regularly with that much weight.
The thing about wind. Your trucks curb weight is about 5500 lbs. I subtracted your payload from GVWR to get that number. A 3/4 ton's curb weight will be about 7000 lbs. When the wind starts pushing the trailer around the trailer starts pushing the truck around. That extra 1500 lbs of curb weight doesn't get pushed around as much.
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From: Ca. central
Ford towing calculator