Towing question - Will the F-150 handle it?

Turf · #1 06-08-2010, 10:13 AM

I am looking at a 2010 F-150 XLT SCrew with the 5.4 V8. I have a Jayco TT with an unloaded weight of 5875 and a GVWR of 7350. I currently use a weight distibuting hitch on my Chevy 1500 and it pulls pretty hard.

How will the new truck handle that weight? Any recommendations about different configurations/models to consider?

Thanks

SoCalF150FX4 · #2 06-08-2010, 10:25 AM

It will handle it with no problem. I would just make sure the truck has the 3:73 gear ratio and not the 3:55's. Also, get it with the tow package and the truck will take it like a champ.

Turf · #3 06-08-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalF150FX4

It will handle it with no problem. I would just make sure the truck has the 3:73 gear ratio and not the 3:55's. Also, get it with the tow package and the truck will take it like a champ.

The "regular" tow package or the "max tow package" they offer? 9800lbs vs 11200lbs I think

fastlayne · #4 06-08-2010, 10:38 AM

I have a 2010 Lariat with Max Tow and it has not problems with my 27.5' TT with a dry weight of 5915lb. On hills that would drag my 2003 (5.4 and 3.73) down to 50km/h the new truck grabs another gear and holds at 85km/h.

Smokewagun · #5 06-08-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastlayne

I have a 2010 Lariat with Max Tow and it has not problems with my 27.5' TT with a dry weight of 5915lb. On hills that would drag my 2003 (5.4 and 3.73) down to 50km/h the new truck grabs another gear and holds at 85km/h.

Just curious as I have a smiliar set-up to yours...

Have you ever scaled your set-up? I'm right at the GVWR and close on axle ratings with my 2010 Screw (Max Tow, too). I have to tow empty with my truck if the DW and kids want to go with to avoid running over the gross vehicle rating. Plenty of gross combined left, but even with the WD hitch, I'm pushing it. Plus, mine loves to hunt for gears. I may have preferred the older 4-speed with O/D lockout. I'd like to know how you are set-up as maybe I'm bassakwards somewhere, but I dout it. My tongue weight is at about 650.

fastlayne · #6 06-08-2010, 12:23 PM

I haven't been on a scale with this setup but I know I was over with my 2003. When towing its me and the family in the truck (400 pounds) and a genset and a couple kids bikes in the box. That and a full tank and it is close to max'd out I'd guess.

APT · #7 06-08-2010, 02:07 PM

What year Chevy and powertrain? What model Jayco?

You need the max tow package's extra payload (about 450 pounds) minimum. Unloaded weight of 5875 means you're going to be close to that GVWR loaded up for camp. I highly recommend hitting like scale like Smoke said. Many landscape places let you do it for free, or CAT certified is less than $10.

The 5.4L/6-spd combo is good. Sometimes like to hunt like Smoke said, but it is optimizing fuel economy. If you can wait 6 more months, the 2011 F-150 will have more powerful engines, better fuel economy, manual control over the 6-spd and a nice LCD showing you all the vitals.

Turf · #8 06-08-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APT

What year Chevy and powertrain? What model Jayco?

You need the max tow package's extra payload (about 450 pounds) minimum. Unloaded weight of 5875 means you're going to be close to that GVWR loaded up for camp. I highly recommend hitting like scale like Smoke said. Many landscape places let you do it for free, or CAT certified is less than $10.

The 5.4L/6-spd combo is good. Sometimes like to hunt like Smoke said, but it is optimizing fuel economy. If you can wait 6 more months, the 2011 F-150 will have more powerful engines, better fuel economy, manual control over the 6-spd and a nice LCD showing you all the vitals.

2001 Silverado with the 5.3 engine. Not sure of the powertrain (I didnt have a camper when we bought it so I didnt pay attention). The camper is a Jayco Jayfeather 30R and it actually has a GVWR of 6950 (to fix my earlier mistake)

Unfortunately I cant wait 6 months. I have a situation available to me that will be decided by mid July and I am either on board or I am not.

APT · #9 06-08-2010, 04:25 PM

Okay, looking into that Jayco model, it has a lot of tongue weight dry, like 850 pounds. That's going to be over 1000 pounds loaded up. You need Add another 75 for WD hitch, family, misc bed cargo and you really want as much payload as you can afford. Whatever truck you look at, check out the driver's door sticker for Maximum vehicle loading which you want at least 1500 pounds. Specifically, a 2010 XLT Supercrew with the max tow package gets you closer to 1900 pounds of payload, which is good for that trailer.

As far as acceleration, any 2010 model (Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota) with the largest engine and shortest gearing will be better than what you have now. Engines are stronger, transmissions have more gears in 2010 than 2001. Frames and suspensions are stronger to handle the weight better.

Now if you plan to upgrade the trailer, limiting yourself to even the most capable half ton now may not be something you want to do. There are some pretty good deals on 2010 Superduty V10s.

Turf · #10 06-08-2010, 05:24 PM

We just got the trailer 4 months ago so I suspect it'll be at least 5-10 years before seriously look at upgrading it.

Am I understanding this correctly? I do NOT need the max tow package to pull the trailer but DO need it for the payload capacity?

brianjwilson · #11 06-08-2010, 07:22 PM

Any of the F150s you look at will have a 9.75" rear axle anyway. The "rear axle weight weighting" on the door jamb probably was 3800 and change but the axle is good for 4500lbs. I wouldn't be concerned about the weight on the truck, you should still come in well under axle and tire weights, as well as gross combined weight. The F150 is a heavy truck to begin with so some people may push gross vehicle weight rating, but it's a solid truck and will have much better brakes and frame than a Chevy 1500.

I would still look for the lower gears that you can find (higher numerically like 3.73) as it will pull better.

glc · #12 06-09-2010, 08:28 AM

I'd get the max tow, just to have some extra margin and to optimize everything.

APT · #13 06-09-2010, 08:57 AM

If a truck has 1200 pounds of payload available and you have 500 pounds of passengers and cargo in the cab/bed, then you should have no more than 700 pounds of trailer tongue weight whether the truck has a tow rating of 10k pounds or 4k pounds. GVWR is what the truck is designed to support on its springs/chassis. Almost every truck will hit GVWR well before GCWR or Tow rating. So just look at those payload stickers on every
truck, Ford, GM, Ram, etc.

That trailer has a high % of tongue weight dry, which is before options, batteries, propane tanks, and anything in the front storage. Getting the actual current weights will help make an informed decision about your replacement truck.

The max tow package for the 2010 F-150 includes the 3.73 axle ratio, brake controller, towing mirrors that you probably want anyway, plus 450 pounds higher GVWR/payload. I think the 2010 F-150 is the most capable (able to handle loads the best) half ton on the market, but you should do your own research. The 2011 Ecoboost will take care of acceleration deficits.