jasilby

I am trying to figure out if I can tow a skid steer 700 miles with my 2012 FX2, SCREW, V8. I have the tow package but don't know what the limit is or if it's going to be very hard on the truck?
The GVWR is 7100. Front GAWR: 3450, Rear GAWR: 4050. I will be pulling a dual axel, flat bed with a regular hitch.

NC F150

I'm not aware of a F150 that is rated to tow less than that. So, balance the load and go.

Trailer breakers are highly recommended, perhaps even required.

PerryB

You're going to want some form of brakes, either electric or surge. Beyond that, no sweat.

Siber Express

What Size Skid Steer?
My Dual axle Skid Steer trailer although it is 20 Foot Long is 3500 Pounds by itself. A Small say S150 Bobcat is close to 6000 LBS so even with a 2000 LBS trailer you are close to 8000. Now with that being Said if you have 3.55 gears you can tow 7900 LBS and if you have 3.73 gears you can tow 9300 LBS.
Those are from the towing guide

smokeywren

Assuming a 3.31 or 3.55 axle ratio. the "tow rating" of your 5.0L drivetrain is 7,900 or 8,000 pounds. That means with absolutely no weight in the F-150 but a skinny driver, and towing an 8,000-pound loaded trailer, you'll probably exceed that tow rating.

Plus, your hitch weight (including the required weight-distributing hitch) will probably be about 1,140 pounds. So with no weight in the F-150 but a skinny driver, you'll probably be right up against the payload capacity of your F-150.

And yes, any trailer tongue weight/hitch weight over 500 pounds requires a weight-distributing hitch. Your tongue/hitch weight will be more than twice that, so you'd be stupid to try to tow an 8,000-pound trailer without a good WD hitch. You said you'd be towing with a "regular" hitch. If that means a weight-carrying ball mount without a WD hitch, don't do it. And if you're smart, you'll want your WD hitch to include designed-in sway prevention, or as a minimum, sway control. Cheap WD hitches won't be good enough. The weight distribution part works okay, but the sway prevention or control is inadequate. As a minimum you'll want one of these, with spring bars rated for 1,200 pounds TW.

Equal-I-Zer
Blue Ox SwayPro
Husky Centerline HD
Reese Strait-Line


Those all list for around $1,000 complete with spring bars and adjustable shank, and are available online for $500 to $700. Here's my Reese Strait-Line:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...e/RP66084.html


And if you can keep the weight of the loaded trailer down to 8,000 pounds, then that 1,140 pounds of hitch weight will probably exceed the tongue weight capacity of your receiver hitch. My 2012 F-150 receiver hitch is rated for a max of 500 pounds hitch weight without a WD hitch, and 1,050 pounds hitch weight with a WD hitch. I'll bet yours is the same.


Can you tow that heavy a utility trailer without being overloaded? No. You probably won't be overloaded much, but you'll definitely be overloaded over the GCWR and hitch weight ratings, and probably over the GVWR and payload capacity of your F-150.

Can you tow that heavy a utility trailer without a disaster waiting to happen? Sure. I don't recommend it, because if you have an accident while overloaded you could be up the proverbial stinky creek without a paddle, but I've towed a much-heavier trailer than that over the Hill Country with no problem. I was severely overloaded over the GCWR, GVWR and rear GAWR of my F-150. I was NOT overloaded over the weight capacity of my hitch, because I was towing with a gooseneck hitch and not a receiver hitch. If you're a good driver, poke along not trying to win any races, and drive very carefully, you can probably make that 700-mile trip with no problem. But if you are involved in an accident while overloaded, then bend over and kiss ole hiney goodbye.

atwowheelguy

Check the "payload" sticker on the driver's door of your truck. Figure 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue to be carried on the truck.



Check the sticker under the bottom of the receiver hitch to see how much weight it can handle.



Check the towing weight rating here: http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

However, almost all F150s run out of payload capacity, what it can haul, before they run out of towing capacity, what it can tow.

I'm sure you know the weight of your skid steer and trailer, but 4000 lbs. seems light. The smallest Bobcat, S70, weighs 2800 lbs. The next smallest, S450, weighs 5075.

The smallest, lightest tandem axle Big Tex equipment trailer weighs 2200 lbs. There should be a sticker on the trailer with the weight on it. The weight will be the GVWR minus the cargo carrying capacity.

jasilby

I appreciate the feedback and the info. I just found out the skid steer is around 2500lbs. (it's an old Gehl 2500, not very big). The trailer is a dual axel car-hauler type trailer, but I haven't found out the weight yet.
I realize I have some more homework to do on the hitch and getting a weight distributing hitch. It may just be cheaper/less headache to have someone on u-ship haul it for me?

Thanks again for the time and info.