I have a 2014 F150 FX4 SuperCrew / 3.5L V6 EcoBoost / 145 Wheelbase / 3.55 Axle Ratio, and I just have a couple questions about towing capacity. I'm looking into buying a toy hauler and I'm trying to educate myself on this whole thing, and honestly, it seems a little more complicated than it should be.

- My GCWR is 15,500lbs (according to the chart in my owners manual)
- My GVWR is 7,200lbs (as per label on door jamb)
- My Payload Capacity 1,190lbs (as per label on door jamb)
- My Curb Weight is 6,010lbs (correct me if I'm wrong, curb weight = GVWR minus Payload Capacity)

Towing capacity should be my GCWR minus Curb Weight, yes? If so, I'm looking at a 9,490lb Towing Capacity.

Here are my questions:
1). If I can tow 9,490lbs, why does my owners manual say, and I quote you, "Do not exceed a trailer weight of 5,000lbs if your vehicle is not equipped with a Heavy Duty Trailer Towing Package"?
2). Technically speaking, towing capacity is calculated assuming I'm at the max payload (passengers + cargo). So if I have no passengers or cargo, I should be able to tow more than 9,490lbs right? Technically speaking, I should be able to tow 10,680lbs (minus my weight) if I have no gear or passengers.

 

You cannot tow 9,400 pounds or anything near that. You could PULL a hay wagon with no tongue weight weighing that...

1) You need a weight distribution hitch when your hitch weight exceeds 500 pounds.

2) Assuming the truck is 100% stock with no tonneau cover, bedliner, floor mats,...
Take 1,190 pounds minus your weight minus 100 pounds for weight distribution hitch. Assuming you weigh 150 lbs, 1,190 - 150 - 100 = 940 pounds remaining payload.

Assuming a 13% hitch weight, 940 / .13 = 7,321 max LOADED trailer.

Hundreds of threads review these calculations.

If you aren't the original owner, go to a CAT scale, fill it with gas, and then weight it. Subtract that weight with you in it from GVWR and that is your new, lower, remaining payload.

 

So I just entered into the search box in the upper right corner "how to determine towing capacity" and the results were worthless.

Since you often mention HOW MANY TIMES a topic has come up how about educating me what search terms you'd use to find these HUNDRED threads.

 

You're burying me deeper in the confusion hole. What's the difference between towing and pulling? The tongue weight I'm not too concerned over, since the weight of my 4 seat RZR will counterweight the tongue (or is this a bad practice?)

 

Bad practice to have a light tongue weight, you'll get trailer sway . Folks here like to use 13% of the loaded trailer weight. that 13% comes off your payload. For example 10,000 toy hauler should have at least 1300lbs on the tongue.

Worth watching it's done by a manufacturer not some yahoo with a video camera.

 

Here is an example of the math:

I have a 2014 F140 Super Crew with Heavy Duty Payload Package and it has a yellow door sticker showing 2150 payload limit.

2150 (max payload amount) minus
50 pounds tonneau cover
100 weight distributing hitch
40 BedRug
10 GPS. Back-up Camera, CB radio, antenna, dashcam
200 camping cargo in the truck bed
520 weight of persons in the cab including driver
75 misc cargo in the cab, glove box, under back seat, and wife's purse
equals a remaining 1155 pounds of payload

Divided by 13% means a max towing capacity of 8575 pounds for me even with one of the most capable 2014 F150's made.

Since you are starting out with only 1190 payload before subtractions for any weight of driver, passengers, modifications, and in-truck cargo, your max towing capacity will be limited by a different, individual number that includes how many passengers, weight of the individuals, how much stuff you intend to put in the truck bed, what modifications you have made, including tires and wheels, Show us your individual math for review.

 

I've PULLED 30,000 lb tractor trailers out of ditches with a pickup truck, but there was no weight on my trucks suspension. With a 9400lb trailer you will have over 1300 lbs on your trucks suspension. You only have about 1200 lbs payload. That's towing.

Your payload is the limiting factor. MOST 1/2 tons have 1600-1800 lbs payload and some are well over 2000 lbs. Your truck is far below the average. But even with 1800 lbs you'd be pushing things to tow a 9400 lb trailer. If you have 1300 lbs on the trucks suspension you only have 500 left for passengers and cargo in the truck. Four skinny passengers is 600 lbs.

Realistically you can tow 3000-4000 lbs. A 4000 lb trailer will put a little over 500 lbs on your suspension leaving about 700 lbs for passengers and cargo. Even at 700 lbs you're going to have to pack carefully.

If you plan to tow with only a driver in the cab then around 7000-7500 might be doable.

 

@MikeD134,

I can't put the RZR any other place but the rear of the toy hauler, it's how they're all designed. You're saying if I have a RZR in the toy hauler, I'll get trailer sway? How do I know what the tongue weight will be once the RZR is loaded, and how do I compensate for that extra load in the rear of the toy hauler...like a way to counterweight the tongue to get a heavier tongue weight...

 

They build toy haulers taking into consideration you'll have the toy in back.
Poor mans tongue weight scale How To Find Trailer Tongue Weight (DIY bathroom scale) #rvlife - Bing video