I've learned through trial and error that my Coleman tows much better if the FWT is full. It's weight is down low which helps to counter the top heavy CG of the trailer. Now as an FYI, the Coleman I have uses flipped axles so it has a low ground clearance, so the water weight is only about a foot off the pavement where a normal set trailer with the wheels under the floor and not in a raised box above the floor would be closer to a foot and a half or more above the ground. In my case, a full tank works well, for others YMMZ.

When setting up the hitch, it is important to measure both front and rear wheel wells, to make sure the rear is down at least an inch or more over unladen. I don't know where my measurements are for my setup for reference, so that 1" is arbitrary, going off memory, it may be to not go an inch higher than before WDH is applied, but something to keep in mind and noted above. However it is, mine hit it on the money the first time.

Scale it to be 100% sure though, nothing can compare to actual weight numbers when setting up the hitch.

 

It turns out I was slightly over adjusted so I ended up readjusting the hitch by removing a washer from the head unit. Brought the front of the truck up by 1/16 inch above the non weight distributed height which ended up being perfect. Took the travel trailer up to the mountains and the truck towed beautifully. Really blown away by the towing capability of the new truck.

 

Cool...whats your stats on this setup

Truck GVWR
Trailer GVWR
Payload etc....inquiring minds wanna know please

 

The truck is an XLT with a 3.5L EB, 145" WB, Super Crew, 3.55 axle ratio, 20" wheels, 302a, FX4, Sports Appearance, Special Edition, and Max Tow package.

Truck Stats:

• GVWR: 7,000 lbs.
• Max Payload: 1,807 lbs.
• GCWR: 18,200 lbs.
• Max Loaded Trailer Weight: 12,700 lbs.

Trailer Stats:

• Lance 1995
• Overall Length: 23'8"
• Dry Weight: 4,376 lbs.
• GVWR: 5,700 lbs.
• Max Payload: 1,324 lbs.

 

Sounds like an almost perfect match of trailer and tow vehicle.. Plenty of payload capacity to handle the tongue weight of the trailer when loaded for bear. More than enough power and torque to drag that fully-loaded trailer over any interstate mountain pass at any speed with which you are comfortable.

Yep. That 3.5L EcoBoost engine is amazing. My 2012 was amazing, even when severely overloaded. I haven't towed yet with my 2019, but unloaded on regular 87-octane gas it reminds me of a 1969 Hemi Charger that had 425CID, two 4-bbl carburetors, 425 HP and required Sunoco 260 super-premium gasoline. (The current FIAT so-called hemi is not related to a real Hemi of the late 1960s and early 1970s. I was there. selling real MOPAR Hemis from 1968 thru early 1973)

 

Yes sir, it is a perfect match. It didn't even feel like I was towing anything going over the mountains. I was skeptical going with a V6 after coming from the 5.4L Triton V8 but this EcoBoost easily blows away the V8. By the way, its good to hear from someone in Midland, I grew up there.

 

Thank you, that info puts things in perspective. Just curious, according to these calculations, what do you think my 3.0L diesel can pull with a 7050# GVWR and 1295 payload using a WD hitch? We are getting different numbers of just what is a practical sized trailer this truck can handle without over stressing it. Looking a travel trailers like the Grand Design or Jayco trailers. How much trailer do you think would be safe. I am currently thinking it would have a hard time pulling a lawn equipment trailer at the moment. Any help much appreciated. THANKS!

 

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You might be able to get away with a light trailer like mine if you don't have a lot of passengers and cargo. A 5700 pound trailer with a 10% tongue weight plus a hitch would take up about 670 pounds of your payload. That would leave you with 625 pounds left over for cargo and passengers (assuming you haven't added any equipment to your truck). Of course you need to take a look at your hitch receiver and see what its weight ratings are. You would also need to look at what the GCWR of your truck is. A good place to figure out the towing capability of your truck is to find the towing guide for it at this address: https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

 

Without being overloaded? Short answer: Not much, Not near as much as you hope.

The 2019 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide says 10.000 pounds or more for a SuperCrew 4x4 diesel. But that's just the gross weight your drivetrain can PULL when your wet and loaded F-150 grosses less than 6,000 pounds. The tow rating ignores payload capacity, which is your limiter.

But payload capacity is your limiter - not GCWR nor tow rating.. To answer your question, you must weigh the wet and loaded truck when loaded with everyone and everything that will be in it when towing, including people, pets, tools, toys,, camping stuff, everything. Drive to a truck stop that has a CAT sale and fill up with diesel, then weigh the wet and loaded F-150. Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded F-150 from the GVWR of your F-150, and the answer is payload capacity available for hitch weight. Subtract 100 pounds from the payload capacity available for hitch weight to get payload capacity available for tongue weight (TW). Divide the payload capacity available for TW by 13% and the answer is the max weight of any TT you an tow without being overloaded. I would not consider buying any TT with GVWR (or dry weight plus CC) more than the max weight of any TT you can tow without being overloaded.

My guess? If your F-150 is a SuperCrew 4x4 diesel, then if you travel light, maybe a TT with 5,500 pounds GVWR. Nowhere near the 10,000 pounds per the tow guide. But don't take my word for it. Load up the F-150, fill it up with diesel and weigh it. Then do the math.