https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4704

Ok guys I know your going to hammer me on this but I know some of you out there work your trucks, I know i do. What do you guys haul. I just bought a 34'11 camper to travel in. ( with in ) 300 miles. It weighs 8200 dry plus or minus. will I be ok with my truck..

 

I've owned many campers both 5th wheel and regular travel trailers. How much is the hitch weight? My last one had almost 7000 pounds over the hitch which was placed directly over the axle. Also without having my owners manual handy at this time I'd say look at yours first. It answers all those questions. My last 5th wheel had a empty weight of 17k# It required at least a one ton dually. Which was yes. I hate to admit was a chebby. I'm so embarressed now

 

Off the top of my head, the things that affect towing weights are:

gear ratio
size of wheels (18" wheels make your truck have less towing capacity than the 17" ones)
whether it's 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive (2-wheel can tow more)
obviously whether you have the 4.6 or 5.4

I'd say you are close to the "owner's manual" limit of your FX4.

 

I can tell you that my buddy has an '01 F-150, with the 5.4, and no engine mods, and he pulls a 10,000 pound fith wheel every year to AZ from OH with it. He did add some airbags to the rear suspension, but that's it.

mikebaby

 

I remember seeing somewhere that the deeper bed on the new style F150 can present some clearance problems for 5th wheel hitches. With the 17 inch wheels your tow rating is probably going to be 9300# but if you put larger tires on the 17 inch wheels it will take away some of that due to getting less torque to the road. I put the standard 17 inch FX4 wheels and tires on my truck in order to tow my 26 foot 6500# (actual) 7700# (GVWR) travel trailer better. You might consider upgrading the factory transmission cooler to one with more capacity, your transmission will last longer that way.

 

I have the 5.4, 3.73 ls, with 265/70/17's gy-ats, with exhaust mods. 6.5 bed length.

 

As you have larger 17" tires, that puts the diameter within 1/4" of the 18" tires/wheels, you should probably go with the numbers for the 18"wheels. This means a tow rating of 8800lbs. As the weight you list for the trailer is 8200lbs dry, you are probably going to be well over your tow weight and GCWR once you add everything. This is before you add people, a fifth wheel hitch, etc to the truck.

 

Most fifth wheel setups require an eight foot bed for cab clearance.

I am thinking you need an F-250 with a powerstroke to properly tow that trailer dude.

You are over the limit, and wait till you fill it with water, and supplies. What will it weigh in at then?

You really need more truck to do it right.

 

A half ton pickup and a fifth wheel hitch? Sure you could probably do it, but why? Different tools (or trucks) for different jobs and all.

 

The short answer, "No, you shouldn't tow this trailer with your truck". You will be over GVWR even if you are within GCWR. I do have to ask, why buy a trailer before checking the limitations of the truck that will be towing it? I would definitely look into either trading your truck for at least a 3/4 ton, or, if the camper dealer told you your truck would be fine to tow the 5th wheel, taking the camper back and demanding a refund.

My $.02

Sackett

 

My dad's been pulling 5th wheels for over 40 years and I ran this buy him. He said you need to buy a new truck because a halfton simply won't do it.

You gotta remember that while the 5th wheel may weigh 8200 pounds, must people put several hundred (more like 800-1000) pounds of stuff in their rigs for long vacations.

This is a swag (scientific wild-*** guess) but even if the truck could handle it, your breaks probably will not.

If you want to keep the rig, I would recommend moving up to a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. While you may be able to safely pull it in normal conditions, you are really pushing your luck in emergency or bad weather conditions.

My 2 cents worth.

 

I am in the process of buying a 23ft Stingray Sport Boat with a 502in Mercruiser....the boat/motor and trailer will weigh aroung 4500lbs. I shouldnt have any trouble pulling it with my Screw (5.4 w/3.55s) even with the 24in wheels had I?

 

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...Equipments.pdf

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...ailer_F150.pdf

 

RamSST,

You'll be fine. I'm assuming your boat trailer will have electric brakes? If so, you'll hardly know it's back there at all when set properly!

Sweet boat and truck man!

 

Yeah, it has eletric brakes on it and its a dual axel trailer. The boat is sweet...its done in red white and blue stars and stripes graphics and top end on its around 75MPH. Thats hauling *** for a boat that big!