F150 Towing Capabilities

[Rvdixie]

F150 Update
After months of reading the various opinions regarding the towing capabilities of the 2015 F150 Eco Boost I finally had to opportunity to take mine on the road. I ordered the truck equipped with all the packages Ford has to offer to maximize towing & carrying capacity. It is a super cab. It is a bit confusing but the nearest I can figure is the truck has a towing capacity of 12,200 Lbs. My 5th wheel weighs about 11,500 lbs. loaded and ready to go with almost empty tanks. Here are the result of the first trip of about 300 miles.
First the truck pulls that 5th wheel like a dream and stops it very well also. I’m not sure how fast it will go but I pulled it at the speed limit with power to spare and averaged 11.3 miles per gallon. The beauty of the F150 is that when I’m not pulling the fiver I average about 22mpg on the highway and about 16.8 in the city. In addition it is like driving in a well-equipped comfortable passenger car.
I know there are plenty of naysayers who will argue that a ½ ton truck should not be pulling a fifth wheel of that size but I’m glad I stuck to my guns and ordered what I did. I am one happy camper. BTW it will be my last one so the argument of a bigger camper down the road is not pertinent. At my age I hope to just live long enough to get a lot of use out of the one I have.

[ependydad]

I don't want to debate numbed, but if you ever hit a CAT scale, I'd be interested to know what you're coming in at...
- truck's door sticker
- truck's weights (unloaded vs. loaded)
- pin weight
- trailer axle weights
- trailer loaded weight (though, I see you said 11,500)

And yes, seriously just curious. These numbers are a weird enjoyment of mine. I've weighed my rig a handful of times.

[Rvdixie]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I don't want to debate numbed, but if you ever hit a CAT scale, I'd be interested to know what you're coming in at...
- truck's door sticker
- truck's weights (unloaded vs. loaded)
- pin weight
- trailer axle weights
- trailer loaded weight (though, I see you said 11,500)

And yes, seriously just curious. These numbers are a weird enjoyment of mine. I've weighed my rig a handful of times.

Sorry but I don't believe there is a truck scale in my future. I'm content to just know I can tow it comfortably and that I am within the capabilities of my truck. I understand that many of you are interested in this type of data but I just don't share that interest enough to go through the trouble of finding a scale and hooking and unhooking to get the various weights. The only reason I posted was to help assure many who ask questions and have concerns about the towing capabilities of the F150 Eco Boost. I know what the trailer weighed empty according the manufacture and I have a good idea of what I have loaded in it. I also removed a couple of heavy pieces of furniture, (sofa and two chairs) and replaced them with lighter stuff. The 11500 is merely an educated guess. I'm sure I'm close. As to tongue weight if barely moves the truck down when loaded. Maybe an inch or so.

[ependydad]

Sounds good. As I said - it's my curiosity but I understand that it isn't for everyone.

[Rockwoodjoe]

I do not tow a 5er, but my f-150 has a load limit of 1761 lbs. My trailer has a tongue weight of about 800 and after I load the bed and hang the bikes on the front I am exceeding that limit. I wonder what the pin weight is on a 11,500lb 5er.

[Pauls Toy Hauler]

Got any pics? always like to see other setups.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Rvdixie

Sorry but I don't believe there is a truck scale in my future. I'm content to just know I can tow it comfortably and that I am within the capabilities of my truck.

The thing is, you DON'T know.

I DO know you don't have enough truck for that fiver.

You are simply burying your head in the sand.

Live and learn, I guess.

Bruce

[spock123]

Originally Posted by Rvdixie

Sorry but I don't believe there is a truck scale in my future. I'm content to just know I can tow it comfortably and that I am within the capabilities of my truck. I understand that many of you are interested in this type of data but I just don't share that interest enough to go through the trouble of finding a scale and hooking and unhooking to get the various weights. The only reason I posted was to help assure many who ask questions and have concerns about the towing capabilities of the F150 Eco Boost. I know what the trailer weighed empty according the manufacture and I have a good idea of what I have loaded in it. I also removed a couple of heavy pieces of furniture, (sofa and two chairs) and replaced them with lighter stuff. The 11500 is merely an educated guess. I'm sure I'm close. As to tongue weight if barely moves the truck down when loaded. Maybe an inch or so.

X2. My Cedar Creek will never see a scale. When DOT requires it I'll do it but not until. Camping is about having fun. I saw a Ford F-150 pulling the biggest fifth wheel Blue Ridge makes and talked to the guy, on the truck he had 20 in tires. He was happy and and I was happy for him. I tell you what a Ford can pull, I have respect for Fords


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[oldgold]

I have had 2 Eco Boost F150's. Whenever I hooked anything to them they both had plenty of power. I am having a hard time with the 11.3 mpg though. Not saying it's not possible, just in my experience, even with an unloaded utility trailer traveling 65mph, I never saw above 9mpg. I would get 21mpg average on daily driving.

[goduc]

Someone's living on the river of Denial. No F150 or 1/2 ton for that mater should be towing an 11,500lb 5th wheel. If the OP had went to the scales he wouldn't be here blowing smoke up everyones you know what. I don't care how good it pulls or stops it, it's how much can it carry that's more important.


I smell a troll on this. 1st, the 29MKS has a GVW of 11,390 lbs so if the OP says it weighs 11,500lbs then he's over weight. 2nd, how does he think it weighs that much? He says he hasn't been to the scales.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by goduc

Someone's living on the river of Denial. No F150 or 1/2 ton for that mater should be towing an 11,500lb 5th wheel. If the OP had went to the scales he wouldn't be here blowing smoke up everyones you know what. I don't care how good it pulls or stops it, it's how much can it carry that's more important.


I smell a troll on this. 1st, the 29MKS has a GVW of 11,390 lbs so if the OP says it weighs 11,500lbs then he's over weight. 2nd, how does he think it weighs that much? He says he hasn't been to the scales.

He could have seen it on a sticker somewhere on the camper, I don't know. It's not against any law that I know of, well maybe for some that think a rv is a commercial tractor and trailer. If you can pull it and you are happy then so am I. I have found out men lie about three things, fuel mileage, what size fish they catch and something else, I forget what the last one was. I always take fuel mileage not with a grain of salt but a whole box.


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[Blackrock]

Keep on rockin' Rvdixie and don't pay no mind to all the so called experts. I have an older 01' F-150 that walks away with a 13,200 load. I have airbags and 10 ply tires at max air pressure and a WDH cinched tight. Gas mileage ain't to brag about but we get there.
I work trucks for a living and believe in making them handle a payload like a Boss.

[dbarr]

Didn't take me long to debunk the 11. whatever claims. Pulled my little bitty 5500 pounder 900 miles the over the last 2 days with the last 2 tanks on premium. All interstate except for the last 150 or so. Went from 9.7 to 9.8!
I do agree that they will pull a hefty load effortlessly but never believed any of the 11-13 mpg that were being claimed here before I bought one. Many years of towing experience told me it would be a 10mpg truck and I would be happy to get that.
I will say the last bit of 2 lane driving at 55mpg the computer was showing a slight increase in mpg but that's NOT my style of driving.

[Tonkatoy77]

Wow!!!......This thread is a total joke! A thread titled "F-150 Towing capabilities", and all it really is is one persons opinion on how tough their truck is. Bottom line is that trailer is too big for that truck. Can it do it? Sure, but so could a Ford Ranger. The only time that setup would be ok is if you never traveled very far and stayed on flat straight roads only.


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[spock123]

Originally Posted by Tonkatoy77

Wow!!!......This thread is a total joke! A thread titled "F-150 Towing capabilities", and all it really is is one persons opinion on how tough their truck is. Bottom line is that trailer is too big for that truck. Can it do it? Sure, but so could a Ford Ranger. The only time that setup would be ok is if you never traveled very far and stayed on flat straight roads only.


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Hey is it your truck or your camper if not then don't worry about it. Opinions is like butts everyone has one


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[dj3spots]

Word of caution. You might want to pay attention to the "weight police" on this forum. If you are involved in an accident(heaven forbid), your fault or not, insurance companies are cracking down on drivers that don't watch their weight limits. You don't want the hassle or expense. Just because your truck can pull a heavy load, doesn't mean it's safe to do so.


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[Tonkatoy77]

Originally Posted by spock123

Hey is it your truck or your camper if not then don't worry about it. Opinions is like butts everyone has one


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Your right, it's not my camper or my truck. But they are sharing the same roads as me when I am in my camper and truck. And that is what worries me!!!! If I was being being negligent in my semi and putting your family at risk would you just say "eh... Not my truck, so who cares?"



I run everything buy the book not only because it's the law, but because I want myself AND everyone around me to be safe!!!!!!


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[B and B]

I owned 2 F 150's towing. The 2013 on a 9500 lb Rockwood Fiver made it move and stopped it fine, or really the trailer itself did. White knuckle moments had few too many. I was offered a deal on a F 250 in my signature and bought it. Would I go back, No. Stability is better, I have 4500 towing km on the truck since June. mid trip in the central US and working great.
I doubt 11,500 fiver would be best suited pulled by a F 150, too light a truck and too heavy a trailer. Just my educated, real life opinion, I have done it, worked but not the right tool for the job.

[lilrube]

hi rvdixie congrats on your entry into the wonderful world of rv's.
I untill recently owned a 2011 f150 lariat max tow michelin lt 18" tires with a max tow rating of 11300. All seemed wonderfull with my salem hemisphere 35ft 5er and handled it like a dream. My curiosity got me when i payed attention to my trans temps when towing on average hitting the high 190's and up to 206 on occasion. Common sense told me I was working my tv pretty hard. Went to cat scales and found tow weight was fine but discovered my rear axle max was rated to 4050lbs and with my trailer hooked up i was 4800lbs. scary thought for us gross combined weight was 16680 just under our max of 17200. such a scary thought about the potential problems of a broken axle while running down the highway. we now have a chevy 2500hd 6.0 gasser gave me a rear axle max of 6200 (better then fords) increased my max combined weight to 20200. We now feel safe and confident in continuing our full time adventure. Only saying go with peace of mind and the confidence you will be safe for yourself and all the rest of us

[spock123]

Originally Posted by Tonkatoy77

Your right, it's not my camper or my truck. But they are sharing the same roads as me when I am in my camper and truck. And that is what worries me!!!! If I was being being negligent in my semi and putting your family at risk would you just say "eh... Not my truck, so who cares?"



I run everything buy the book not only because it's the law, but because I want myself AND everyone around me to be safe!!!!!!


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I guess you never even go 1 mile over the speed limit and always come to a complete stop at stop signs no matter if nothing is coming. My camper will never see a scale, I think it's a waste of time to weigh my camper, my 3500 Silverado can pull it and have no problems, besides a camper is not a commercial truck, not a fifth wheel anyway. When I drove a semi I dodged all the scales and ran two log books and was overloaded most of the time but I was careful and never had a accident. The problem is there too many people that think the truck and camper is a commercial semi, at least on these forums. I do think most rv's that I see on the road think they are a semi because when I'm going 63mph they pass me like I'm stopped. Most rv's have st tires that are only supposed to be run at no more than 65 but most do. There are no standards for what you can pull, so a insurance company would have a hard time getting out of a claim.


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