Hey Everyone.

I'm gonna be the next guy to ask "so can I tow this or not?". LOL.

This is what I have: 2014 F150 Screw (5.5 ft box). 6.2L, 7700 GVWR package, and I currently have the 3.55 gears with the EL, but I will most likely be changing those. I have the 6 speed tranny (I think all the new ones do), with the Tow/Haul mode, and I also have the factory trailer brakes and anti-sway

The current max GCWR is: 15,600 lbs, front and rear GAWR is 4,050 lbs each, and the door sticker says the maximum weight of passengers and cargo is 1,517 lbs.

The tow package sticker says max trailer weight is 10,500 lbs and max hitch is 1,050 (with WD hitch of course).

So here's what I'm looking at buying (actually I already bought it, but now I need to see if I should upgrade my truck to diesel, or if my half ton is going to be safe):

Trailer specs: 2015 Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler. It's a 28' hauler. The dry weight (according to the factory, not a dealer, if that means anything), is 7,200 lbs and 680 lbs hitch weight. My toy is 1,500 lbs (4 seater SXS), and I'd fill up with water and gas when I got close to my destination.

My family of 4 weighs about 550 lbs combined, and then add the weight of a WD hitch, etc.

As stated, I'd have a WD hitch, but I'd also put air bags on, and I will be re-gearing. Since this is new to me, I'm still learning how to figure the math out on all this. It seems I will run out of payload before I exceed the towing capacity. Is there anyway to increase payload capacity by changing shocks, suspension, or axles? Apologies if these are stupid questions.

I am not concerned with gas mileage. My only concern is safety. I'm sure I can pull it, but how well can I stop it? Is it going to be safe in windy situations, and going down hills, etc.

I am open to all suggestions or recommendations.

Thanks guys.

 

Forget the "tow rating", as that's not specific for a tongue heavy toy hauler!

Your biggest issue is going to be your rear GAWR and payload and hitch ratings. You can add all the suspension things you want, but those numbers do not change.

It's not all that big of a deal to go over the trucks GVWR or the payload for that matter, but you want to pay attention to the axle weights for sure..

How much of a 'fudge factor' you deploy is up to you really.. To give you a rough idea of some actual weights, I got some axle weights with my little 22' #5000 TT hitched up to my 13 F150 a couple months ago.

Front: #3400
Rear: #3640
Truck Tot: #7040
Trailer: #4500
Combined: #11540

This was with just 2 of us in the truck, some stuff in the bed and the trailer was fully loaded with a full fresh water tank (30 gal).

I figure the trailers tongue weight is around #600 from when I weighed it with my old 97 F150 a long time ago.

So, I'm only #400 away from my rear axle limit with only a #5000 TT...

I think you'll have your hands full if you load that TH up.. You'll exceed some ratings for sure.. I can see that TH having over #1200 TW real easy. Remember, that "dry weight" is without anything loaded and probably does not even include batteries/propane tanks, etc that go up front...

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Mitch

 

Great setup and you're well within the safe zone.

You can't really increase capacity, but you can make the truck operate much better within its capacity by using air bags.

http://www.realtruck.com/firestone-a...kits/2525.html

http://www.realtruck.com/firestone-w...2M192754A.html

 

Thanks for the reply guys. I actually had not taken delivery of the hauler yet, so I decided to terminate the deal at this time. I do think that I'm pushing the limitations of the truck (and past them actually) and I do not want to put myself or other drivers at risk.

It's hard for me to find a toy hauler that will fit my machine as it's 13' long, yet can still be towed by a half ton truck.

I appreciate your feedback.

 

I say buy the biggest trailer you want and just rent a super duty to pull it when you want to go somewhere once in a while. You can move it around the yard and around town fine with your f150. If you fall in love with camping, buy a super duty. If you don't use it much, renting a truck will be much cheaper than having to work on/maintain another truck. Especially a diesel.

 

You JUST bought the truck, so that sucks if you need a 3/4 ton, and I'd say you do to haul that.

Did you sell the Mark LT?

 

Yes I did sell it. I started having issues with it, but since I had put a supercharger on it and voided the remaining warranty. But besides that, I did want a truck that had more power and could tow more. But at the time I bought the new F150, I hadn't really got into camping and learning about trailers, etc. I figured the F150 would be capable to tow pretty much anything I'd want to tow, but now I know that I was wrong. LOL.

So I'm not sure what to do now.

 

That sucks, I loved that truck. But hmm . . . I love the 6.2s and I wouldn't want to give that up. But I wouldn't want to stress it out either. And then you have to consider how far and how often you'd be towing a large trailer. If it's just 100 miles a few times per year, maybe it's alright. If you're going across the country, it might be 3/4 ton time.

 

Not sure where my weight ended up, but somewhere around 8k mark for trailer loaded to the gills. The truck squatted more than when I had 1800# of firewood in the bed

It's 2 5/16" ball with electric brakes.


My added factory brake controller worked amazingly.

 

Pat, are you running different sized tires on the front and back?

 

Nope she's all stock. In the pic I was running 35 up front, and 40 in the rear

 

I figured, but can you see why I asked? Your front tire looks much fatter in that pic for some reason.

Edit: I just asked someone to look at your truck in that pic, the whole thing, and see if anything was weird looking. He said the back tire looked smaller

 

Yah I must have flinched just slightly during the capture? no idea how that happened, and didn't notice until you said something.

 

Well whatever happened, it was something entertaining to notice!

 

Camera lens distortion.