Can I tow a Flagstaff 26SRD travel trailer with a 1/2 ton truck?

[ColoFatherOf3]

The Flagstaff 26SRD has these specs:

Hitch Weight
716 lb.
UVW
6,509 lb.
CCC
2,007 lb.
Exterior Length
29' 9"

Thus, a GVWR of (6509 + 2007) = 8516.

I'm buying a 2025 Ford F150 Platinum that has a payload capacity of about 1400 lbs.

A bigger truck is NOT an option for me as I can only get a 1/2 ton in my garage and I need to find a trailer to match a truck that fits in my garage, not find a truck that can pull a specific trailer.

If I assume 12.5% of GVWR on the tongue, that gives me 1064 lbs on the tongue WITHOUT A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH.

I do plan to use a WD hitch, but even without it, I still have about 350 lbs of spare payload in my truck for passengers and other junk.

Not sure how much a WD hitch takes off the tongue.

Is this cutting it too close? Anybody out there pull one with a 1/2 ton?

thanks,

ColoFatherOf3

 

[TitanMike]

The Flagstaff 26SRD has these specs:

Hitch Weight
716 lb.
UVW
6,509 lb.
CCC
2,007 lb.
Exterior Length
29' 9"

Thus, a GVWR of (6509 + 2007) = 8516.

I'm buying a 2025 Ford F150 Platinum that has a payload capacity of about 1400 lbs.

A bigger truck is NOT an option for me as I can only get a 1/2 ton in my garage and I need to find a trailer to match a truck that fits in my garage, not find a truck that can pull a specific trailer.

If I assume 12.5% of GVWR on the tongue, that gives me 1064 lbs on the tongue WITHOUT A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH.

I do plan to use a WD hitch, but even without it, I still have about 350 lbs of spare payload in my truck for passengers and other junk.

Not sure how much a WD hitch takes off the tongue.

Is this cutting it too close? Anybody out there pull one with a 1/2 ton?

thanks,

ColoFatherOf3

I tow a Flagstaff MicroLite 25BDS with a 2023 F-150, tow package, and 3.5 Ecoboost engine.

Scale weights fully loaded for me (including full FW tank) are :

Truck Front. 3420#
Truck Rear 3480#
Trailer. 6220#

Gross Weight 13120#

Started the last day of July and went to Maine, down to N. Carolina, West on I-40, Hwy 58 to I-5, and back home loaded like that. Crossed the Continental divide twice without a single hill giving me issues. Also averaged in the just under 10,000 miles 12.5 mpg.

You shouldn't have any issues with that truck and trailer. Just make sure of your loading and weight distribution by investing $13 for a weigh on a CAT scale. The weight and distribution I had for all those miles made the trip very enjoyable.

Also, Ford doesn't do like mfr's did in the past and specify a max tongue weight and gross combined weight rating.. Just a gross weight for the truck and tongue weight is included in that. Actual scale weights will be very helpful in tuning a WDH and load distribution. They have a nice calculator on their site that you enter your VIN number then Plug in driver's weight, passenger's weight; cargo weight and it tells you how much trailer weight you can tow.

 

[MT Biker]

While you may get the numbers to possibly work out on paper actually towing that trailer safely may be another story.
Just my opinion but a 30’ travel trailer should be towed by a HD truck just for the stability you will have from the increased weight of the vehicle itself.
I am sure you will get plenty of opinions for & against towing this with a 1/2 ton, this is simply my opinion.

 

[Jfkmvk]

You’ll absolutely need the WDH, the receiver is rated for 500# tongue weight without it. Consider a lower optioned F150. The payload on my F150 XLT (non HDPP) is over 1800#.

 

[ColoFatherOf3]

You’ll absolutely need the WDH, the receiver is rated for 500# tongue weight without it. Consider a lower optioned F150. The payload on my F150 XLT (non HDPP) is over 1800#.

I know, I have an XLT right now. I just want more of the creature comforts on my next truck. I also know that I loose payload capacity the more options I add to the truck.

I'd like my cake and want to eat it too .

 

[GolfingDave]

I have 1855 lbs of Payload and am at my limits with just me in the truck loaded up with golf clubs, small smoker, and some basic tools that may be needed.

I do have a tonneau cover, bed cover and maybe 30lbs of sound proofing that I added that are not included in the base truck weight so they go against payload.

When I add water I am most likely over my payload but I figure I am burning off gas at the same time. I also drive in the no hurry lane at 55 and keep it at 50 on a lot of two lane roads.

3 foot less trailer and quite a bit in weight. Just me but I am happy I did not buy the 2606WS. Same campers w/wo the dinette. I was tempted.

 

[moose074]

Power wise you have more power than most gas HD truck's produced before 2020 more hp and more torque. As mentioned though most likely you’ll be over payload before you get in the truck. I am not endorsing towing overloaded. That stated I have mentioned before on this forum that I pulled a trailer similar to yours with 2 different 1/2 ton trucks both 2014s a Tundra I loved that truck and a 2014 F 150 Platinum. The hitch weight unloaded was 840 according to manufacturer. I only towed a few times with the ford 600 miles one way from west Texas to east Texas and to Ft David then the wife wanted a 5th wheel and not a small one. I had now trouble stopping ( trailer brakes are required but they are on my 1 ton as well. Now I started towing at age 12 my grandfather required me to be able to back the trls before I could drive on the street. Normally if one owned the combo I would suggest go with your comfort level, however I would never recommend buying a combo because that’s a very expensive trial. If you to do it I did need Timbren airless bags ( fancy bump stops). I needed a small block to get trl hitch high enough to get truck out from underneath it but then when time to hook up tongue weight was to much didn’t allow weight off of block.

 

[Chuck_S]

Only numbers you need:

UVW 6,509 lb.
+CCC 2,007 lb.
---------------
GVWR 8516 lbs.

A Ford F150 should easily handle this but if you can't safely tow that weight or support the safety-required 10% to 15% weight of the trailer on the ball (850 pounds minimum you shouldn't tow this trailer.

In theory my Expedition can handle this trailer but I doubt it'd be happy tow.

-- Chuck

 

[GolfingDave]

Only numbers you need:

UVW 6,509 lb.
+CCC 2,007 lb.
---------------
GVWR 8516 lbs.

A Ford F150 should easily handle this but if you can't safely tow that weight or support the safety-required 10% to 15% weight of the trailer on the ball (850 pounds minimum you shouldn't tow this trailer. -- Chuck

Not sure where you come up that 850 lbs is too much? 1350lbs appears to be the limit if using a WDH depending on......

The original poster should acquaint himself with the 2024 Ford Towing Guide. Everything depends on Truck, Engine, Cab, etc......

Link is an automatic download of it.

https://www.globalowneraem.ford.com/content/dam/global-owner/ford/ca/en-ca/documents/towing-guides/58380-PK8523-Ford-2024-RVTTGuide-Ev7-NS-Remediated.pdf

My WDH is set up to tow around 1000 lbs of tongue weight and loaded it is usually be 12 to 15 percent of trailer weight.

Would I want to tow more? No, but I know my hitch assembly is capable according to my years towing manual and what is stamped on the hitch for WDH weight.

 

[D W]

Not sure where you come up that 850 lbs is too much? 1350lbs appears to be the limit if using a WDH depending on......

The original poster should acquaint himself with the 2024 Ford Towing Guide. Everything depends on Truck, Engine, Cab, etc......

Link is an automatic download of it.

https://www.globalowneraem.ford.com/content/dam/global-owner/ford/ca/en-ca/documents/towing-guides/58380-PK8523-Ford-2024-RVTTGuide-Ev7-NS-Remediated.pdf

My WDH is set up to tow around 1000 lbs of tongue weight and loaded it is usually be 12 to 15 percent of trailer weight.

Would I want to tow more? No, but I know my hitch assembly is capable according to my years towing manual and what is stamped on the hitch for WDH weight.

What he's saying is that it depends how much weight you can transfer to the TV and still maintain proper TW.

 

[Chuck_S]

Don't confuse capacity ratings.

Cargo (payload) capacity of the truck he's buying was stated at 1400 pounds (which is less than my Expedition). Cargo capacity is NOT the same as maximum tongue weight capacity. Mine is 920 pounds and that requires a WDH. 850 pounds of tongue weight (the minimum safe weight of 10% of this 8500 pound trailer) is probably just fine but if 15% (1275 pounds) is needed the maximum tongue weight capacity may be exceeded. Tongue weight is not some randomly selected weight (percent) but has to be determined for each trailer. Somewhere in that 10% to 15% window.

-- Chuck

 

[emugel]

I'm buying a 2025 Ford F150 Platinum that has a payload capacity of about 1400 lbs.

I do plan to use a WD hitch, but even without it, I still have about 350 lbs of spare payload in my truck for passengers and other junk.

You asked this same question on a different forum. On that forum you used a TT model that has almost identical specs to the one you are asking about here.

A truck has a set amount of payload. Using a WDH does not change that. It just redistributes it.

So - - - you figure you have "about 350 lbs of spare payload".
Big deal.
Figure 100 lbs for the WDH. (yeah, the hitch counts)
Figure 120 lbs for your wife.
Figure 170 lbs for you.
3 kids? Figure 60 lbs each or 180 lbs.
(have a dog? it's weight counts, too)


You are already at about 570 lbs - - - over 200 lbs past your "spare" payload - - - even before you add a full tank of gas, or a cooler or two full of drinks, or firewood, or chairs, or a BBQ, or ? ? ? ? (Even if I'm off by 20% on my weight guesses, you are still off by over 100 lbs of payload.)
I could well imagine your actual total loaded payload being close to 1000 lbs. Well past your imagined 350 lbs. You will be amazed at how fast it adds up.

You have asked for advise on two different forums - - - but don't seem willing to accept the answers you get.
So just go do it. Experience can be a harsh teacher. I hope it doesn't bite you in the butt down the road.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

The Flagstaff 26SRD has these specs:

Hitch Weight
716 lb.
UVW
6,509 lb.
CCC
2,007 lb.
Exterior Length
29' 9"

Thus, a GVWR of (6509 + 2007) = 8516.

I'm buying a 2025 Ford F150 Platinum that has a payload capacity of about 1400 lbs.

A bigger truck is NOT an option for me as I can only get a 1/2 ton in my garage and I need to find a trailer to match a truck that fits in my garage, not find a truck that can pull a specific trailer.

If I assume 12.5% of GVWR on the tongue, that gives me 1064 lbs on the tongue WITHOUT A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH.

I do plan to use a WD hitch, but even without it, I still have about 350 lbs of spare payload in my truck for passengers and other junk.

Not sure how much a WD hitch takes off the tongue.

Is this cutting it too close? Anybody out there pull one with a 1/2 ton?

thanks,

ColoFatherOf3

Carefully watch the loading. At 8500 lbs GVRW trailer weight, the hitch weight will be ~1000 lbs. (12%) Only leaves about 400 lb for cargo in the truck. A WDH, correctly adjusted will correct the tail sag of the truck, but does nothing to give more towing or carrying capacity. It just distributes the tongue weight to the front and rear wheels of the truck and wheels of the trailer.

Like most, one runs out of truck payload before reaching towing load capacity. Nothing unusual here.

Our 1/2 ton with factory tow package pulling a 25'6" outside dimension trailer which has a GVWR of 7686 lbs., tongue weight of about 1000 lbs, is about all this 1/2 ton wants. It handles nice, very little sway with trucks passing, stops comfortably, and rides well. It is a short bed, crew cab 4X4 configuration.

As to a recommendation to you, more truck or less trailer. You and the truck will be happier.

You'll find some good info on this site.
Actual Weights - Travel Trailer/Bumper Pull Weights from CAT Scales - TowingPlanner

Bob

 

[sailorsam20500]

I tow with a Platinum F-150. My trailer ready for travel weighs 7,000 lbs. I am just below my cargo limit. I travel with minimal additional stuff in my truck beyond some leveling blocks and boards and my Blackstone griddle, no kids just me and my DW. This setup has over 40k miles on it.

If I were contemplating a setup like the OP, I wouldn't consider any hitch other than a Hensley or Propride (my preference), and I would be upgrading the trailer to disc brakes.

 

[GolfingDave]

Don't confuse capacity ratings.

Cargo (payload) capacity of the truck he's buying was stated at 1400 pounds (which is less than my Expedition). Cargo capacity is NOT the same as maximum tongue weight capacity. Mine is 920 pounds and that requires a WDH. 850 pounds of tongue weight (the minimum safe weight of 10% of this 8500 pound trailer) is probably just fine but if 15% (1275 pounds) is needed the maximum tongue weight capacity may be exceeded. Tongue weight is not some randomly selected weight (percent) but has to be determined for each trailer. Somewhere in that 10% to 15% window.

-- Chuck

Agree. The way I was reading/interpreting your post I seemed like you were saying the minimum tongue weight of 850 is too much for an F150. Just reread it a few more times.

"In theory my Expedition can handle this trailer but I doubt it'd be happy tow."

Nor do I believe it would be with my F150.

 

[aircommuter]

Are you sure a 3/4 ton truck is physically bigger than a 1/2 ton truck?

 

[CountryRoads-FRF]

Another thing that you should factor in your decision is the ability to stop your vehicle and camper in emergency situations. Most people don't consider this when making a decision on tow vehicle and camper sizes and lose sight of the fact that the most important people in their lives will be riding in that tow vehicle. My advice would be to choose a camper that falls within the capacity limits of the tow vehicle that you plan on using.

 

[wuffwuff]

Towing

I'm with Aircommunter, the length of a Half and three quarter ton with the same configuration (cab/bed length) should be the same.
My thought on being able to tow the camper is "if you question whether it will do the job, you need to move up to a three quarter ton"
When in doubt then why chance spending money on a truck that you'll be unhappy with later.

 

[Mike134]

Another thing that you should factor in your decision is the ability to stop your vehicle and camper in emergency situations. Most people don't consider this when making a decision on tow vehicle and camper sizes and lose sight of the fact that the most important people in their lives will be riding in that tow vehicle. My advice would be to choose a camper that falls within the capacity limits of the tow vehicle that you plan on using.

You bring up a good point. Whether he buys a 1/2 ton or an F450 it still only has 4 postcard size patches of rubber to stop him.

I suggest EVERYONE towing 3000+ lbs use a class 8 tractor like a freightliner so you have 10 tires on the tow vehicle for that "just in case" moment.

 

[TitanMike]

You bring up a good point. Whether he buys a 1/2 ton or an F450 it still only has 4 postcard size patches of rubber to stop him.

I suggest EVERYONE towing 3000+ lbs use a class 8 tractor like a freightliner so you have 10 tires on the tow vehicle for that "just in case" moment.

Even then there are those who wouldn't be satisfied.

BTW "postcard sized patches"? Tires on my F-150 have ~100 square inches of patch. Perhaps you are referring to the days when trucks only had ~ 5" wide tire tread on the round.