F150 As Tow Vehicle

[Mark S]

I have the exact same truck, same numbers, in a 2015. I am leaving in the morning heading to Colorado from Florida. My 27 foot Toy Hauler weighs about 7,800 pounds loaded with a tongue weight of 1,050 pounds. I added Michelin LTX Defender LT E rated tires. My combination works great for me. I am very happy with my F150 as a tow vehicle with my trailer.

That said, if I went with a larger trailer I believe I would go with a 3/4 ton truck. I use a Husky WDH and 2 friction sway bars. The ride and stability is very good but I get the feeling that I am close to the comfortable limits of the truck. Especially for the Rocky mountain trips I do each summer.

Last year I used the original Goodyear P rated tires and this year I put the LT tires on. It made a big difference. I don't get pushed around by big trucks anywhere near as much.

[Seachaser186]

I have the '16 XLT 4x4 3.5 EB with the 355. My payload is 1830 with the 36 gal tank. So I would say I have a more than able tow vehicle. You are always going to get these guys with the 3/4 & 1 ton commenting on the F-150 posts.

[Living_The_Dream]

LOL, Two years ago I sold my 08 F350 when we bought the Solera. Kind of wish I still had it but honestly I use this truck fairly often and it's much more to my liking than my Lariat F350 was. I drive mostly in sub 45mph areas and the darn thing was often in DPF cleaning mode. On the rare times I took it for a longer drive or pulled a load, it was fine. Do I wish I still had it... no. Maybe it's my dumb luck but when I fill with diesel, I can rarely find a pump that is clean and not covered in diesel. They may be amazing pulling machines, but you better keep the hand scrub close when filling.

Maybe in a couple of years when we are looking for a new layout, I will get a 3/4 or 1 ton. I think we are focusing on a few 7500 GVWR 31 footers that my F150 should pull with ease.

Thanks for all the posts. Lots of good info.

[WolfWhistle]

The published GCWR for your truck according to the manufacturer, LESS (-) the actual SCALE weight of YOUR tow vehicle with everything you will carry in the truck - full tank of fuel, driver and all passengers, trailer tongue weight, hitch, coolers, bikes, etc. leaves you with how much trailer (GVWR) you should be shopping for. Most people will overload the trailer so don't guess that you will only carry so much.

You should stay below all GAWR and GVWRs; and lastly all towing components have to not be exceeded (hitch, ball, etc)
WW

[jcnobile]

I'm not out bragging ,being arrogant about my 1 ton. I was just telling you my story with our new camper and us being nieve with the Saleman saying sure your 1/2 ton will pull that no problem. Yes it pulled that's not the issue and you guys will figure it out on your own. When your tranny temps run high for a long period it's doing damage. Your brakes and rotors aren't going to last. TRUST me I was in the same boat asking people on this site if my truck can pull this blah blah blah. I though I was good but a year later I upgraded trucks.

[spock123]

Where's the popcorn?


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[D. J. Schuler]

Look at the little sticker on the door frame for payload, surprise. Then subtract you, wife, children, hitch and stuff in the bed from the sticker payload figure - that's suggested max trailer tongue/pin weight on the hitch. The max trailer weight is supplied by manufactures for the different truck styles/packages. State regs and manufactures also have weight limits for brakeless trailers, then trailer brakes are required.

[spock123]

I don't have a dog in this thread but the only way my truck and camper will ever go across scales is if someone steals it and they scale it


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[325BH]

Originally Posted by spock123

I don't have a dog in this thread but the only way my truck and camper will ever go across scales is if someone steals it and they scale it


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Not sure what this means. Weighing your truck and trailer costs about $10 and benefits you. There is no reason not to do it. It isn't like you are being monitored or anything.

Without weighing, you don't know if you are at, under or over weight(s).




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[spock123]

Originally Posted by 325BH

Not sure what this means. Weighing your truck and trailer costs about $10 and benefits you. There is no reason not to do it. It isn't like you are being monitored or anything.

Without weighing, you don't know if you are at, under or over weight(s).




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For one thing I'm not a commercial truck and quite that a long time ago. I just ride and keep fuel tank filled up. Bee Happy, my motto


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[another_newfie]

Originally Posted by B and B

LT tires add stability to the F 150 but run really rough dry. They do not add payload.

My 2012 F150HD came with LT and I've 4 years on them. I don't find the ride any more rough than my 08 XLT.

[another_newfie]

Originally Posted by jcnobile

Your brakes and rotors aren't going to last.

4 years on my OEM kit on my 2012 F150HD. Just over 20,000 towing miles including up and down the East Coast from Ontario to Key West. Many, many trips through the mountains etc. I could have easily stretched them another 4 months or so.

[The Big Toe]

Originally Posted by Rrickim63

I recently purchased a used f150 with similar payload. These fords tend to get squashed easily in rear if overloaded.

[The_Rhino]

Originally Posted by Living_The_Dream

LOL, Two years ago I sold my 08 F350 when we bought the Solera.... Maybe in a couple of years when we are looking for a new layout, I will get a 3/4 or 1 ton. I think we are focusing on a few 7500 GVWR 31 footers that my F150 should pull with ease. Thanks for all the posts. Lots of good info.

New F150 EBs actually have more tow capacity than my entry level 2011 Ram 2500 CC w/5.7 Hemi: (9,100 TC & 15,000 GCVW). My TV is my daily driver so I have considered "downgrading" to a F150 EB for better commuting mpg... However, we really need/use the extra payload a 3/4 ton provides.

Our Ram 2500 has a payload of 3,000. Empty our "1/2 ton towable" 31' TT is 6,500 w/tongue weight of 650, but loaded we're 8,000+ w/1100+ tongue. The F150 would only have about 500 payload left, which would be fine for just the DW & I plus our dog & some tools in the PU bed. However, we have 3 (growing) boys, generators, bikes, kayaks, firewood, etc. & like to keep it all dry under a fiberglass cap. Therefore we have an average payload of 2,500 & are close to our GCVW 15,000 (TV & TT combined).

So, IMO the F150 EB w/out HD upgrade would be fine for a couple w/out kids & TT in the 7,500 (loaded) range. IMO the EB engine is capable but make sure you have your WDH & TT brakes setup properly. Our Equalizer 4 1200 is dialed-in just right & it feels much like towing a 5er or gooseneck. We switched from the OEM brake controller to a P3 and feel a definite increase in safety/emergency braking. Ram replaced my Hemi under their no hassle powertrain warranty so I plan to keep her for a while 'cause it's all working well together right now...

[fx2]

I have a 2016 F150 with Max Tow, 3.5 ecoboost, tow mirrors, etc. I tow a Surveyor SC321BHTS - bumper to hitch is 35.5 ft. Fully loaded is about 8,300 lbs and tongue weight is just over 1k lbs. while I am technically within ALL weight ratings on the truck it squats the rear ended by about 4 inches and I am riding on the bump stops for most of my trip.

I'm debating putting air bags on it, also debating upgrading to a 3/4 or 1 ton.

Not saying one way or the other, just passing on my experience.

[CaptnJohn]

I pulled a 7200# TT with a 2015 F150 EB. Used an Equalizer 4 point hitch and was satisfied. Even though within all limits that truck was maxed out in capabilities. Me, my wife and 2 small dogs plus less than 70# additional in the truck was all I would want. knowing we would upgrade to a 5er we bought the diesel... now even the 5er pulls comfortably.

[Seachaser186]

Fx2...Look into the Super Springs, similar situation; it helped me.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by fx2

I have a 2016 F150 with Max Tow, 3.5 ecoboost, tow mirrors, etc. I tow a Surveyor SC321BHTS - bumper to hitch is 35.5 ft. Fully loaded is about 8,300 lbs and tongue weight is just over 1k lbs. while I am technically within ALL weight ratings on the truck it squats the rear ended by about 4 inches and I am riding on the bump stops for most of my trip.

This is interesting. We pull a very small 5er with our F150. We ARE within the specs for the truck; loaded and wet. My payload is 1820 and my wet pin is 1250. My truck only squats 1 1/4 inches with the 5er. I wonder if your squat is a function of the weight being so far behind the axle with the bumper pull.

We previously pulled a bumper pull trailer with a tongue weight of about 700 pounds. The truck squatted more with the bumper pull . . . .

[Love-to-campp]

Good video

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