Towing with ‘21 F150 Hybrid

[Larry Mac]

1338 Payload. 3.73. 7350 GVWR
I weigh 225.

Can it do a 25’ trailer with hitch wt 770, 5400 dry wt, 6900 max wt total within safe numbers limit?

It’s got the generator so that could come in handy. It’s got max tow package which did lower the payload but beefed up brakes and rear axle over a standard F150.

Mostly in Florida and SE travel.

Haven’t bought trailer yet but will probably go with weigh safe WDH.(130 lbs)

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

1338 Payload. 3.73. 7350.
I weigh 225.

Can it do a 25’ trailer 5400 dry wt, 6900 total within safe numbers limit?

It’s got the generator so that could come in handy. It’s got max tow package which did lower the payload but beefed up brakes and rear axle over a standard F150.

Mostly in Florida and SE travel.

Haven’t bought trailer yet but will probably go with weigh safe WDH.

The worst case within the limits of a properly loaded trailer is a tongue weight of 1035# (15% of 6900#). That's a stretch but possible. The lowest safe tongue weight of an empty trailer is 540# (10% of 5400#), and that's without propane or batteries. Splitting the difference and adding 50# for the hitch puts you around 750#.

1338 -750 -225 = 363# for all the other stuff you put in the truck, including a cooler, other passengers and the dog. That also assumes you haven't added any accessories to the truck like a tonneau cover.

Based on the above, it can be done within specs but you're close, and that assumes you don't fill up the trailer. Carrying water would almost certainly put you over. The rear axle weight rating (RAWR) may come into play.

[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

The worst case within the limits of a properly loaded trailer is a tongue weight of 1035# (15% of 6900#). That's a stretch but possible. The lowest safe tongue weight of an empty trailer is 540# (10% of 5400#), and that's without propane or batteries. Splitting the difference and adding 50# for the hitch puts you around 750#.

1338 -750 -225 = 363# for all the other stuff you put in the truck, including a cooler, other passengers and the dog. That also assumes you haven't added any accessories to the truck like a tonneau cover.

Based on the above, it can be done within specs but you're close, and that assumes you don't fill up the trailer. Carrying water would almost certainly put you over. The rear axle weight rating (RAWR) may come into play.

Thanks I added some stats. Hitch wt is 770 which you figured out. Will use weigh safe WDH which hurts the payload(130) but should distribute weight to the front. It’s close. Wife will drive other car.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

Thanks I added some stats. Hitch wt is 770 which you figured out. Will use weigh safe WDH which hurts the payload(130) but should distribute weight to the front. It’s close. Wife will drive other car.

Stop in at a CAT scale to weigh your trailer as loaded for camping. Weigh truck and trailer with weight distributing hitch (WDH) springs engaged and with springs disengaged, then weigh the truck alone with the hitch in place and the springs in the bed of the truck. Use that information to adjust your WDH, if needed.

Use the calculator found [url="http://towingplanner.com/ActualWeights/TravelTrailerCatScales"]here[/] to determine the weights on the axles and tongue.

Read articles linked below for useful information.

https://learntorv.com/weigh-rv/


https://learntorv.com/can-i-tow-this/


CAT scale etiquette is a thing. Truckers make money when they're moving. Don't get in their way at the scale. Some truck stops don't like RVs but it's usually not a problem if you don't dally.

Using the CAT scale app to capture the weight and to pay is easier than yelling at the mike in a noisy yard. It also keeps your weight history online.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

... Hitch wt is 770 ...

If your hitch weight is from the manufacturer specs, that's more than likely lower than it actually is. That's why scale weights are important. You don't have to weigh every time but it's good to get objective info about how much you can safely carry and how to distribute it.

[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

If your hitch weight is from the manufacturer specs, that's more than likely lower than it actually is. That's why scale weights are important. You don't have to weigh every time but it's good to get objective info about how much you can safely carry and how to distribute it.

Thank you, Chris. I don’t have the trailer yet.
I’m trying to find out first if the truck can tow it safely by the numbers. (How can there be 10% or 15% to determine tongue wt. That is a huge discrepancy.) Btw I was barely able to get my wife to buy in on this trailer( she wanted bigger). I don’t think she will settle on smaller so we may be out of the RV life before we start. And it’s not just me and her.
It’s the grandkids and their parents— total 6– which is why it’s harder to go smaller and lighter.

[bikendan]

1338lbs is not a good payload capacity.
Probably because of the extra weight of the battery and electric motor.
My regular 3.5 Ecoboost F150, with the Max Tow package, has 500lbs more payload capacity.

[W5CRE]

I'm having issues with the 1338lbs payload capacity on a 2021 F150 Hybrid. Are you sure that's right. I mean it's common for the actual payload to be less than advertised but this trucks spec shows the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 payload to be 2120 lbs.
https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content..._F150_Dec3.pdf

[ARhappycamper]

Originally Posted by W5CRE

I'm having issues with the 1338lbs payload capacity on a 2021 F150 Hybrid. Are you sure that's right. I mean it's common for the actual payload to be less than advertised but this trucks spec shows the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 payload to be 2120 lbs.
https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content..._F150_Dec3.pdf

Depends on each individual vehicle trim level/options/accessories added.
Why are so many on this forum still not getting this ?

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by W5CRE

I'm having issues with the 1338lbs payload capacity on a 2021 F150 Hybrid. Are you sure that's right. I mean it's common for the actual payload to be less than advertised but this trucks spec shows the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 payload to be 2120 lbs.
https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content..._F150_Dec3.pdf

Powerboost F150s consistently lack several hundred pounds of payload, relative to an ICE.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

Thank you, Chris. I don’t have the trailer yet.
I’m trying to find out first if the truck can tow it safely by the numbers. (How can there be 10% or 15% to determine tongue wt. That is a huge discrepancy.) Btw I was barely able to get my wife to buy in on this trailer( she wanted bigger). I don’t think she will settle on smaller so we may be out of the RV life before we start. And it’s not just me and her.
It’s the grandkids and their parents— total 6– which is why it’s harder to go smaller and lighter.

The 10% to 15% is a generally recommended safe range and is determined by how you load your trailer. If you load more in the back, it gets light on the tongue and is more likely to sway. That's dangerous. If heavy on the front, it's over 15%.

Some trailers behave better on the upper end of that range; others are okay at the lower end. Only your experience with your trailer will tell you but, generally, start at the mid- to upper-end of the range. Starting out at the lower end without knowledge of how your trailer rides on the road could be disastrous and, to be melodramatic, fatal.

[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by W5CRE

I'm having issues with the 1338lbs payload capacity on a 2021 F150 Hybrid. Are you sure that's right. I mean it's common for the actual payload to be less than advertised but this trucks spec shows the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 payload to be 2120 lbs.
https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content..._F150_Dec3.pdf

Platinum trim is a great ride but that comes with a lot of options that reduce payload.
The Hybrid does have the extra weight of the electric motor and battery and the max tow package along with the hybrid aspects offers beefier rear axle and brakes which should help in towing but again at the expense of payload. If I knew I was going this route, I should have gone XL or at most XLT. Too bad, having the generator would come in handy with a 30 am trailer.

[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

The 10% to 15% is a generally recommended safe range and is determined by how you load your trailer. If you load more in the back, it gets light on the tongue and is more likely to sway. That's dangerous. If heavy on the front, it's over 15%.

Some trailers behave better on the upper end of that range; others are okay at the lower end. Only your experience with your trailer will tell you but, generally, start at the mid- to upper-end of the range. Starting out at the lower end without knowledge of how your trailer rides on the road could be disastrous and, to be melodramatic, fatal.

I’m 99% positive this truck would be great for the trailer and we could micromanage the weight.
But I still think I need to find one with a 1000 lbs less weight and there wouldn’t be any hassles or worries which will cover that 1%.

[elchilero53]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

Thank you, Chris. I don’t have the trailer yet.
I’m trying to find out first if the truck can tow it safely by the numbers. (How can there be 10% or 15% to determine tongue wt. That is a huge discrepancy.) Btw I was barely able to get my wife to buy in on this trailer( she wanted bigger). I don’t think she will settle on smaller so we may be out of the RV life before we start. And it’s not just me and her.
It’s the grandkids and their parents— total 6– which is why it’s harder to go smaller and lighter.

If your wife wants to go bigger (sounds like she wants A LOT bigger) to accommodate grandkids & their parents then you are looking at a much larger truck with much larger payload numbers. I recommend you weigh your current truck at a CAT Scale with a full load of fuel and see what you have to work with. I think you may be in for a surprise and a bit of a disappointment. Then decide on a trailer. You may want to start thinking about a 3/4 ton truck. Just a suggestion for consideration.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

I’m 99% positive this truck would be great for the trailer and we could micromanage the weight.
But I still think I need to find one with a 1000 lbs less weight and there wouldn’t be any hassles or worries which will cover that 1%.

When judging whether the trailer is appropriate for you, use GVWR from the label on the trailer. The manufacturer can't fudge that. Consider how much of that GVWR is the cargo carrying capacity. Too little and you can't carry the stuff you need.

Assume you'll load it up to GVWR. Use 13% for a probable tongue weight and 15% for a possible upper limit. (Some people go a little over that, depending on what they carry.) That tongue weight at 13% is what your truck has to carry, plus whatever people and gear you carry in the truck. Don't forget the weight of the hitch, and RAWR should be taken into consideration, as well.

A weight on a CAT scale, loaded for camping, is the source of truth.

[Stovebolt]

I towed a 33 foot travel trailer with my 2021 Hybrid Platinum pickup with no problems what so ever.

[ARhappycamper]

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

I towed a 33 foot travel trailer with my 2021 Hybrid Platinum pickup with no problems what so ever.

... and absolutely over the CCC of said pickup.

[flyflotrtim]

I would not be comfortable with that payload. Even if possible, its doubtful that you would have a margin of safety.

[Stovebolt]

Originally Posted by ARhappycamper

... and absolutely over the CCC of said pickup.

Not at all. The trailer was weighed and the tongue weight tested using a sherline scale. Most people do not test the tongue weight and assume that everything is OK. We travel light and are nowhere near the max weight trailer weight. I have since sold that trailer and went with one under 30 feet long which is a lot lighter than the last one.

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by Larry Mac

Thank you, Chris. I don’t have the trailer yet.
I’m trying to find out first if the truck can tow it safely by the numbers. (How can there be 10% or 15% to determine tongue wt. That is a huge discrepancy.) Btw I was barely able to get my wife to buy in on this trailer( she wanted bigger). I don’t think she will settle on smaller so we may be out of the RV life before we start. And it’s not just me and her.
It’s the grandkids and their parents— total 6– which is why it’s harder to go smaller and lighter.

It will be great fun for the family if traveling together works out long term. I have seen families start out ready to go but long term depends on age of children, and temperament of adults. Children always have other activities that require time. One of our friends went through four years of football, soccer, softball and on and on.
Another friend yearly traveled to Fla with his brother, father and the women folk. All was good until one of the boys changed women. Introduced a new dynamic that didn’t work.
I try to look at all aspects prior to rearranging my life to accommodate a situation that may not happen. My wife always thought the children and grandchildren wanted to do what we were doing. Not always.
Hope it works out for you. It will give you memories that you can’t put a price on. Buy a new truck and the 40’ fifth wheel she has her eye on. 👍