Towing with Ford F150 with 3.5 Eco Boost

Pop Pop · 03-13-2019, 08:49 PM

Hi all, I am looking to haul my 2018 Forest River Heritage Glen 272 RL. I have a 2011 Suburban but capacity is 8000 pounds so I am maxed out. I am looking at leasing a 2019 Ford F150 with the 10 speed trans, 3.5 eco boost, 3.55 rear, and max trailering package. This combo is rated at 13,200 lb. towing. Does anyone have feed back on this truck for towing. Would appreciate good and bad. Thanks all.

pibi · 03-13-2019, 09:06 PM

I've a 2011 f150 crewcab ecoboost with 3.73 rear diff and max tow package. The payload for my truck is 1830lbs. It towes my trailer Rockwood 2703ws really well. I am very happy with my set up. I also use an Equalizer 4p distribution hitch.

SailorSam20500 · 03-13-2019, 09:19 PM

You are likely going to be pushing your payload limit on the truck. Trailer has a GVW of around 9,600 lbs. Your ready to camp TW can easily be above 1000 lbs. From what I've seen, payload on the F-150's will be somewhere between 1400-1800 lbs unless you get one of the max payload trucks which are low trim and probably special order only. If you go with this combo, I would strongly recommend a Propride or Hensley hitch.
I think there is one for sale used on this site and myrvtalk.com has one for $700 (located in KY).

**bikendan** · 03-13-2019, 10:57 PM

The Payload package you should look for is the HD Payload package, not Max Payload package.
If you order the HD Payload package, it should automatically come with the Max Tow package.

HangDiver · 03-13-2019, 11:03 PM

^^^^^This.... or you might want to consider a 3/4ton F250 gasser...

babock · 03-13-2019, 11:07 PM

I have a 2018 F-150 and it's an excellent truck but there is no way I would use it to pull that trailer.

**bikendan** · 03-14-2019, 12:35 AM

Holy Mackerel! That TT is HUGE!
No way would I tow a 34'+ TT of that weight, with a F150. And I own a F150 3.5 EcoBoost with the Max tow package and 1828lbs of payload.
That TT needs at least a 3/4 ton.

Martsing · 03-14-2019, 05:18 AM

From my own experience you will certainly be able to pull that trailer. What you will find though is that you will be close in all your numbers and you will be doing math in your head before every tow trip to ensure that you are not exceeding payload. You will also be looking for ways to improve the tow experience (tinkering with the hitch, air bags, LT tires, etc etc).

My experience became a whole lot less complicated when I went to a 2016 F250 6.2L gasser.

Either way, have fun!!

Marty

Jdb95650 · 03-14-2019, 12:35 PM

I wouldn't want to be in front of you if you had to stop quickly. Go with at least a 250.

Pop Pop · 03-14-2019, 01:30 PM

Thanks all for your feedback thus far. Ford does not lease 250 series trucks so if I do this it will have to stay in the 150 series truck. I only tow it a few times a year and have been towing trailers of all kinds for 40 plus years up to and including 80,000 pound tractor trailer combos. Payload is 7030 lbs for the max trailering combo 1500 and I will be at 6500 max. Trailer weighs 7400 and tow capacity is 12,700 . Both the Ford dealer and the RV dealer says I will be fine with plenty to spare. Can't understand why everyone is so against this truck for this trailer.

kfergiez · 03-14-2019, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pop Pop

Thanks all for your feedback thus far. Ford does not lease 250 series trucks so if I do this it will have to stay in the 150 series truck. I only tow it a few times a year and have been towing trailers of all kinds for 40 plus years up to and including 80,000 pound tractor trailer combos. Payload is 7030 lbs for the max trailering combo 1500 and I will be at 6500 max. Trailer weighs 7400 and tow capacity is 12,700 . Both the Ford dealer and the RV dealer says I will be fine with plenty to spare. Can't understand why everyone is so against this truck for this trailer.

Everyone is against it because a lot of people play it safe, and there is a pervasive thought that you should only go to 80% of your truck's capacity derived from a lot of people's anecdotal stories.

The problem with this thought is that vehicle engineers have already built in a huge safety margin. I've made it a personal mission to dispel this "extra margin."

If you are within your limits you'll be just fine. Make sure you're not over the payload capacity, make sure your the GVW of your trailer is UNDER your tow capacity and you'll be fine.

The Trailer's GVW is 9,645 lbs. You're under your truck's tow capacity.
The Trailer's tongue will weigh around 1,200 lbs. at that GVW. If you don't pile a bunch of crap in the bed of the truck, you'll be under your payload.

You look good to me.

That particular trailer will be a giant sail however, so just bear that in mind.

rlocicero · 03-14-2019, 01:46 PM

We have a flagstaff 829FKSS and tow it with a 2014 F150 supercrew Maxtow, 3.73 3.5 Eco.. It tows better than my 2005 5.4 and my 2008 and 2011 5.0 L, all super crews..
.. I do have 1200 lb bars and E rated 10 ply rubber. If you are running on Chinese made tires, I would run to the nearest tire dealer and get rid of them. Goodyear endurance and Maxxi are viable alternatives.

Pop Pop · 03-14-2019, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kfergiez

Everyone is against it because a lot of people play it safe, and there is a pervasive thought that you should only go to 80% of your truck's capacity derived from a lot of people's anecdotal stories.

The problem with this thought is that vehicle engineers have already built in a huge safety margin. I've made it a personal mission to dispel this "extra margin."

If you are within your limits you'll be just fine. Make sure you're not over the payload capacity, make sure your the GVW of your trailer is UNDER your tow capacity and you'll be fine.

The Trailer's GVW is 9,645 lbs. You're under your truck's tow capacity.
The Trailer's tongue will weigh around 1,200 lbs. at that GVW. If you don't pile a bunch of crap in the bed of the truck, you'll be under your payload.

You look good to me.

That particular trailer will be a giant sail however, so just bear that in mind.

Thanks man, that's what I wanted to hear.

kfergiez · 03-14-2019, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pop Pop

Thanks man, that's what I wanted to hear.

You got it.

Pop Pop · 03-14-2019, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlocicero

We have a flagstaff 829FKSS and tow it with a 2014 F150 supercrew Maxtow, 3.73 3.5 Eco.. It tows better than my 2005 5.4 and my 2008 and 2011 5.0 L, all super crews..
.. I do have 1200 lb bars and E rated 10 ply rubber. If you are running on Chinese made tires, I would run to the nearest tire dealer and get rid of them. Goodyear endurance and Maxxi are viable alternatives.

I am a stickler on tires especially on trailers. I have to see what tires are on it. I will also be having a weight distributing and anti sway hitch installed. I really think I should be fine.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...RP66074.html#/

breezyhillfarm · 03-14-2019, 02:26 PM

It's not whether you can pull it. It's whether you can stop it.

kfergiez · 03-14-2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pop Pop

I am a stickler on tires especially on trailers. I have to see what tires are on it. I will also be having a weight distributing and anti sway hitch installed. I really think I should be fine.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...RP66074.html#/

Yep. I threw on some BFG KO2's for my tow rig, they are a D rated tire and I love them. Some of the best tires I've ever owned.

A lot of people recommend the Goodyear Marathon for trailers.

EDIT: Goodyear ENDURANCE. Not marathon.

kfergiez · 03-14-2019, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezyhillfarm

It's not whether you can pull it. It's whether you can stop it.

Absolutely. Any truck would have a hard time stopping this trailer without trailer brakes and a controller.

Daves rv · 03-14-2019, 02:35 PM

I am also a retired tractor trailer driver. I have a 2018 F150 with max tow package. The payload is just over 2000 lbs for 2018 and newer. If you have the experience of driving a semi you should have no problem. The power and torque for the 3.5 EcoBoost is more than adequate. My TT is a bit smaller than yours and also lighter but you are within specs. Your past job will serve you well in avoiding problems.

**bikendan** · 03-14-2019, 02:38 PM

How much towing experience do you have?
Many saying you'll be fine, are experienced towers.
That 34'+ TT will have a loaded tongue weight around 1200lbs. The loaded trailer weight could easily weigh at least 8500lbs.
I'm an experienced tower and I have a 2014 F150 3.5 EcoBoost with Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload.
I would NEVER tow a TT of that weight and length, unless I had a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Even if the F150 also had the HD Payload package.
I love my truck but as a retired firefighter/EMT, I don't believe in pushing safety limits.

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