Opinion on Truck

[hyperhad]

Hello:

New member. Second post.

We are renting a TT with a weight just under 6000lbs. We have a 2012 F150 Super Crew, 5.0L, 4x4, XTR. 3.73, tow package.

The dealer says I can tow the trailer with our truck. I tried a tow calculator on-line and it indicated I could not (I may have entered some numbers incorrectly)

I have done a lot of investigation on several forums, and any time there is discussion of what vehicle can two how much trailer, there are as many opinions as posters.

Any advice/opinions here?

Thanks.

[PHS79]

6000lbs is no problem! Just make sure that you use a WD hitch.

From what I was able to find it looks like your truck is rated to tow 9300lbs, according to the 2012 Trailer Life towing guide

[Steeljag]

Hyper- assuming you have a good WD hitch you should be good. The 4x4 may come in handy, but actually reduces your towing capacity.

Do you know what your payload # is? Are you hauling anything in the truck bed, i.e, generator, wood, four wheeler?

Your truck has a solid engine, good gearing, and a tow package.......don't over load the truck and you should be good to go!

[MOTrout]

The biggest issue with 1/2 ton pick ups is the payload rating. Look at your yellow sticker and see what it is. Figure in all the passengers and hitch weight and gear and see where you are. If you have a trailer that is 700lbs of hitch weight you may be driving two vehicles if you have a lot of gear and a big family.

[Twisty]

Just got back from the Oregon coast.
My truck;
7200 GVWR
1520 payload
5.0 engine, 3.55 gears, 4x4

Loaded the truck with quite a bit of wood, 2 dogs, 2 people, 2 bikes, some tools...

Full cooler in the front of the trailer and "supplies" for 4 days, 2 batteries, 2 full propane tanks...

Front axle 3350
Rear axle 4000
Trailer axles WDH connected 5500

150 over GVWR
about 700 under GCWR

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by PHS79

6000lbs is no problem! Just make sure that you use a WD hitch.

From what I was able to find it looks like your truck is rated to tow 9300lbs, according to the 2012 Trailer Life towing guide

That's marketing hype...Potentially you can tow 9300 lbs - if you have 1/2 tank of gas and only 150lb driver, no options on truck other than tow related ones (as in tonneu cover, running boards, etc).

Every pound you add to the truck comes off that max tow rating. It's calculated from the GCWR less truck curb weight.

So for a silverado with a tow rating of 9600lbs in 'the guide' may work out like mine - 15,500 GCWR and the truck weights 5645 so it's REALLY 9855! Then we add me, the wife, kids, bikes, the dog...and tow weight drops. Add the tongue weight of the trailer and suddenly we've exceeded the GVWR of the truck yet still have a couple of thousand pounds of tow 'capacity' available.

My expedition is 'the guide' at some big figure - then one reads the manual and four wheel drive reduces tow rating 500lbs, 17" wheel options reduces it another 500lbs...and what you think you can do you can't do.

The guide is just that - a guide, a place to start. READ YOUR MANUAL and check the stickers on your truck.

[hyperhad]

So the consensus is that I need a WD hitch?

GCWR 15100
Trailer Weight 6000
Truck Curb Weight 5348
GVWR 7358
Cargo 1375
Tongue 2010

These are the numbers I can find in the door stickers, manual, the Ford site, and from the dealer. He says I can do this, no problem with our truck. He did not mention a WD hitch.

Does this seem correct, and good to go?

[bikendan]

first, where did you get the 6000lbs. number for the trailer? post the year, brand and model so we can look at the specs.

second, YES! you'll need a WDH and also sway control. a 6000lbs. trailer will be over the amount your owner's manual will require you using a WDH.

read the towing section in your owner's manual!

[MOTrout]

Look at the sticker on the hitch itself. It will tell you the limits of the hitch with and without WD hitch.

[Doering]

Yes, you definitely need a WDH with sway control to make the drive enjoyable.

Tongue 2010 ????

[hyperhad]

Trailer is an xlite Cougar 26BHS. My confusion grows as more members respond. So is my dealer wrong in his opinion? I'm going to email him regarding the WD hitch.

Curb Weight - GVWR= Tongue wt 2010 according to a towing weight site.

[Doering]

Just to help clear the confusion. Regardless of what the dealer says, you need a WDH with some form of sway control. If your payload (cargo) is 1375, you only have approximately 600lbs remaining (with trailer tongue weight around 700). Just don't put too much gear in the truck bed. Put the stuff into the trailer. Only take what you need to cut down on the total weight.

[bikendan]

that 6000lbs. number you quoted, appears to be the brochure "dry" weight, not its actual weight when it leaves the factory.
that number is for a stripped-down version of the trailer and NO trailer weighs its brochure "dry" weight.
for a TT, you can usually add 400-500lbs. to that number to get an approx. weight when it leaves the factory.
that's also a nearly 30' trailer with a loaded tongue weight nearing 1000lbs. and NO WAY should you be towing that size of a trailer without a WDH and sway control. its bogus "dry" tongue weight is 710lbs.

loaded for camping, for a family, you'll be close to 7000lbs.

another bit of advise that is common for newbies:
Never believe the saleman/dealer. all they want to do is close the deal.

[hyperhad]

I spoke to the dealer again yesterday. He responded today that, yes, I would need and WD hitch to properly tow the trailer. He apologized for not recommending this at the outset.

I feel better after getting the advice from members regarding this issue. There is a lot of confusion and differing numerous opinions on this issue. I am ordering a WD hitch this week, to be installed.

Once done, and when I have more questions, I will be posting again. I will, of course, be reading everything I can on the forum.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Great to be here!

[ependydad]

How many people in your family? How much stuff do you intend to take in the truck? How much stuff do you intend to take in the truck bed?

It's possible and even likely that you will be over your ratings pulling this trailer.

[hyperhad]

Two adults, one dog, a week's worth of food, some outdoor camping stuff (folding chairs, towels, bedding, etc) perhaps 500-600 lbs. We'll get our water at the campsite.

This is our first tow with a TT. I drove in the military, Deuce and a half's with trailers. I taught others to drive. Our destination is only 4 hours away, so a short trip to begin with. We are going for one week.

With a WD hitch, we should be ok.

More research to go.

[MOTrout]

Something to remember is that the tires on the TT are only rated for a probably 65 MPH. Just don't get into a hurry and you will be fine. Just make sure you set up your hitch according to the truck manual. You will get squat but , as long as the front doesn't rise a considerable amount you will be fine. I believe that Ford recommends that you put the weight of the trailer on the hitch without the weight bars first. Then you load it on the bars till you get the front to go back down half of the height that it went up.

One thing I know for sure is that a lot of the camper places don't know how to properly set up a WD hitch. You a better to learn for yourself then verify that It is done correctly.

[hyperhad]

For sure. I am looking at the Andersen hitch. Looks interesting, and easier to set up. We are renting, so it will have to be connected and disconnected when we return the trailer. I have contacted them to determine which size to go with.

[Handye9]

Originally Posted by hyperhad

Trailer is an xlite Cougar 26BHS. My confusion grows as more members respond. So is my dealer wrong in his opinion? I'm going to email him regarding the WD hitch.

Curb Weight - GVWR= Tongue wt 2010 according to a towing weight site.

GVWR - actual weight (some say curb weight) = payload (yours is probably in the area of 1300 lbs)

Payload is max weight you have available for passengers, cargo, WD hitch (average 75 - 100 lbs), and tongue weight.

Two trucks with same make and model, can have different payloads, due to manufacturer, dealer, or customer installed options. Everything (4X4, bed covering, nerf bars, bed liner, etc, even floor mats) added to the truck, takes away from payload. To get most accurate payload, weigh the truck and subtract that from GVWR.

A trailer with 6000 lb advertised empty weight, will weight around 7000 lbs loaded for camping.

Tongue weight averages 12% of loaded trailer weight. (7000 lbs X 12% = 840 lbs tongue weight). No doubt you need WD hitch.

It is very easy to overload payload before you reach vehicle's max tow rating.

Towing at max weight can be quite unpleasant, if not unsafe.

[hyperhad]

Ok. I have looked on the door plate, the manual I have for the truck, and Ford-posted sites: Ford Towing Guide and 2012 Ford Towing Specifications. Here are the numbers:

The trailer has an (assumed) dry weight of just under 6,000 lbs. I will be using a weight distributing hitch. I have the tow package and the brake controller in the cab.

Owners Manual: 2012 F150 XTR 4x4 157 Bed, 3.73 Rear End, 136L Gas Tank.

GCWR 15,100 lbs
Max Trailer WD Capacity 11,300
Max Tongue Weight 1,130
Max Trailer Weight 9,100

Truck Door Jamb Sticker

Front GAWR 3,900
Rear 3,850
GVWR 7,350
Vehicle and Cargo Max 1,375 Tire Sticker

Ford Towing Guide

Max Tow Weight 11,300 (No Cargo)
Conventional Tow GCWR 15,100
Max Loaded Trailer Wt. 9,100
Weight Dist Hitch Max Trailer Capacity 11,300
Weight Dist Hitch Max Tongue Capacity 1,130

2012 Ford Technical Specifications

GVW 5,716 lbs

According to the Ford Towing Guide:

GVW is 5,716
Passengers 400lbs= 6,116 lbs
Loaded Trailer Weight approximately 7,000 lbs with cargo
Yields Gross Combination Weight (GCW) of 13,116 lbs

My GCWR is 15,100

Does this look correct? It looks like I have some "left over" capacity, about 2,000 lbs.

Am I good to go??

Thanks for the help and ongoing advice everyone.