5th Wheel and 5'6" Truck Bed?

[RhoZeta]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

Actually, you are getting a slight increase in RAWR with the 20" wheels- you automatically get the same springs with 20's that the MaxTow has. Don't confuse the MaxTow with the HD. HD GVWR is 8200. Comes with 7 lug wheels and, as you noted, there are some structural differences in the frame and axles. I agree that the HD wheels looks are "lacking" and there are almost no aftermarket options. The few options you have in aftermarket are uglier than the stock wheels, too.

Well, I did not want to say "ugly" as someone might get offended...
I already have one strike, I don't need two.

[camper1999]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

By beefing up suspension, you have a truck that is 100% as capable in terms of LOAD CARRYING as the MaxTow. This has been debated ad nauseam on the forums- with about 90% of the "facts" being hear-say and opinion. You are missing 3.73 gears, tow mirrors, integrated brake controller, 51 tube vs 41 tube radiator and an "upgraded receiver hitch." None of those have any bearing what-so-ever on load carrying. I have attached a file from Ford that you can read through to confirm this if you wish. Therefore, IMHO, even though the sticker won't change, a simple upgrade in suspension makes your truck 100% as "SAFE" as the MaxTow is to carry 7700#. With that being said, I would approximate that you can carry in the neighborhood of 1750 pounds and stay under the 7700# mark. Load the truck as light as possible- put everything in or on the camper- and you should be able to manage a small FW with a pin weight in the 900-1000lb range.

X2 my 2500hd diesel GMC is the same truck as a 3500 with the exception of a few more leaf Springs springs.

[DaveandSue]

Here's another vote for the sidewinder.We have one on our Ram 1500.Works great and keeps us away from the cab in any turn.
I would use one even in a 6 1//2' bed.

[itat]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

By beefing up suspension, you have a truck that is 100% as capable in terms of LOAD CARRYING as the MaxTow. This has been debated ad nauseam on the forums- with about 90% of the "facts" being hear-say and opinion. You are missing 3.73 gears, tow mirrors, integrated brake controller, 51 tube vs 41 tube radiator and an "upgraded receiver hitch." None of those have any bearing what-so-ever on load carrying. I have attached a file from Ford that you can read through to confirm this if you wish. Therefore, IMHO, even though the sticker won't change, a simple upgrade in suspension makes your truck 100% as "SAFE" as the MaxTow is to carry 7700#. With that being said, I would approximate that you can carry in the neighborhood of 1750 pounds and stay under the 7700# mark. Load the truck as light as possible- put everything in or on the camper- and you should be able to manage a small FW with a pin weight in the 900-1000lb range.

My '09 F-150 already has the factory Max. Towing package plus I added an extra leaf spring on both sides and upgraded the tires to LTs. Those upgrades increase stability but I still have the stock 18" 6-lug chromed wheels, axles and frame that are not as beefy as with the HD Payload package. The HD Payload package would have increased the payload to 8200 lbs.

I found a spec sheet here https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...2009-F-150.pdf that says my max. payload is 1560 lbs. (SuperCrew, 4x4, 5.4L, 145" WB). That spec sheet agrees with my sticker that my GVWR is 7200 lbs.

A trip to the scales is the only way to know for sure what I can load within the specified GVWR. It seems like a lot of members are towing 28' 5ers without the HD payload package though. In a few years our 3 DSs won't be camping with us anymore so we'll be 400 lbs. lighter in the cab!

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by itat

My '09 F-150 already has the factory Max. Towing package plus I added an extra leaf spring on both sides and upgraded the tires to LTs. Those upgrades increase stability but I still have the stock 18" 6-lug chromed wheels, axles and frame that are not as beefy as with the HD Payload package. The HD Payload package would have increased the payload to 8200 lbs.

I found a spec sheet here https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...2009-F-150.pdf that says my max. payload is 1560 lbs. (SuperCrew, 4x4, 5.4L, 145" WB). That spec sheet agrees with my sticker that my GVWR is 7200 lbs.

A trip to the scales is the only way to know for sure what I can load within the specified GVWR. It seems like a lot of members are towing 28' 5ers without the HD payload package though. In a few years our 3 DSs won't be camping with us anymore so we'll be 400 lbs. lighter in the cab!

You are confusing the HD with the MaxTow. And you do NOT have the Max Tow package with a 7200GVWR. MaxTow takes GVWR to either 7650 or 7700, IIRC, depending on if you have the 145 or the 157 wheelbase. Once again, there are no structural differences in ANY component on the MaxTow from the standard tow other than the different rear spring code. (And, again, this is even identical on the 20" option trucks) Beef up rear suspension and you've got the structural components of the MaxTow, which, as far as I am concerned, gives you the exact same level of safety of the MaxTow at a GVWR of 7650/7700. The HD Payload option has a GVWR of 8200, not payload. In conclusion, your sticker won't change. If you feel the need to go by the sticker- then the 7200 number is what you'll want to stick with. If you feel, like I do, that if you have EXACTLY the same structural components of a MaxTow you should be able to safely carry the same weight as a MaxTow, then go with the 7650/7700 number.

Edit: Just noticed you have an 09. I know everything I am posting is accurate for the 2013 year model as that is what I have and have researched on in depth. You'll want to confirm these findings are valid for 09 models. I expect they will be, but never hurts to confirm.

[dustman_stx]

Upon inspection of the 09 doc provided, it appears as though there wasn't a "MaxTow" option then. If so, no additional GVWR capacity was listed for it. There may have been something listed as "MaxTow" that is completely different from what is called a "MaxTow" on the 13 model. I still would adamantly argue that an F150 is fully capable of carrying more than a Honda minivan(they have ~1300 lbs payload, too )

[B and B]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

That's a great video post 33, but it just BS. In 1 min in, it tells you to spin your revolution to hook up sideways. Well I will tell you while it is new you can do that but once it tightens up the average person can not move it, that will happen after about 6000 miles. ( at least on mine ) Only person that I know of is Bama Bob, He states he can push it with one hand. Which I do not doubt when new but use it awhile and it will tighten up and you will not push it by hand this is correct by the Resse design team. You have to back into at the same angle that you dropped off at. With saying that during the winter I can push it. The only reason I see that happening is because the cushion or rubber plate freezes between the 2 sections.

X2. Mine spins with one hand as well. The big nut is torqued correctly too!

[itat]

dustman_stx, the 2009 F-150 did come with a Max. Towing option which is what I have - complete with the large towing mirrors, transmission cooler and heavier hitch. I have the original window sticker that says it has that option. Check the spec sheet I provided a link to and it talks about the Max. Towing option in the references at the bottom of the page. But it does appear that Ford didn't increase the rated payload with that option in 2009 so maybe there were other changes with that option for later model years.

You are right about the GVWR being 8200 lbs. with the HD Payload option - not 8200 lbs. payload.