I'm real happy with my purchase of a 2010 f-150 screw lariat, full load with max tow package 3.73 5.4l. Dealer info is that Ican tow up to 11,3oo lbs. of trailer how much truth is there to this. I realize that to pull a fifth wheel you need to purchase a special hitch as it's a 5.5 box. Does any body with this truck pull a fifth? I do own one thats 25 feet in length with a dry weight of 5400 lbs. Istill own a 1995 7.3l deisel that i have been using its in great shape but is getting tired, could still use this and use my 150 to pull the boat, any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Check out your driver's door or B pillar sticker (open the driver's door) to find your truck's Max Occupancy and Cargo sticker. That's the limit you'll hit first for most 1/2 ton trucks and why fifth wheel towing is generally not recommended for 1/2 tons.

You probably have about 1700-1800 pounds with the max tow package (only way to get 3.73 gear in the Lariat). So, let's say your trailer is about 6500 pounds loaded for a trip. There will probably be about 20% of that on the pin in your truck bed, so 1300 pounds. Add 200 pounds for a sliding hitch. So, you could be down to 200 pounds available before you or your family sit in the cab.

You should find out what your actual trailer pin weight is. The next time you have it hitched up to the other truck, find a CAT scale. Weigh just the truck with the trailer attached. Another day, find out how much your truck weighs without the trailer. 5th wheels generally have 15-25% pin weight which is a large variance, but where yours is may be towards the high or low end. That will help decide if your new truck is close enough to invest the money for the sliding hitch ($1000+).

 

The price on the pullrite sliding hitch is anywhere from 2500.00-3000.00 dollars ouch! And i weigh the additional 200lbs. Just outta curiousity what do other people pull with these f150s that are rated to pull 11,300 lbs. To pull my 5th rated at 5400 lbs dry with maybe a 1000 or 1500 lbs of gearI thought i would be well under the weight, it has a tounge weight of 750+200 for the hitch.

 

That's total marketing fantasy. You will be well over one or more of the other ratings that matter long before you hit that number. I have no doubt that the truck can PULL it, but that's seriously overloading it.

 

According to the manual (I'm surmising you have a 5.4 engine and 5.5' bed, and the max tow package) these are your maximums:

Max Trailer weight = 11,200 lbs (w/o max tow pkg it's 9,600 lbs)
(trailer + cargo in trailer)

GCWR = 17,100 lbs (w/o max tow package it's 15,500 lbs)
(truck, people, pets, gear, fuel, trailer, everything combined)

As previously said, F150 size trucks are not recommended to tow fifth wheels. Really should use an F350 dually for that.

 

I second the pin weight concern. There are new ultra light 5'ers like in their website pics. But 11,300 is all empty, 150lb driver no gear or gas etc... I carry 800 lbs with two people full gas, two dogs etc... So that 1200 lb door sticker is about down to 400 lbs...

I like to stay within 2/3's of the max ratings. I think mine is 9,600 max towing I plan on towing a TT @ 5,500 lbs.

 

I'm thinking of towing a TT that is 4200 dry, +500 or so loaded. I'm skeptical, so I don't want to exceed 2/3ds of advertised capacity.

 

This is the pic I was looking for.

The caption should read. 5'ers all day long baby, heck double up put your boat behind there too! lol...

 

It is possible, but rarely practical. As mentioned, marketing gets paid the big bucks to come up with that.

Bumper pull trailers are designed for less tongue weight (10-15%), even if it is well behind the rear axle vs. a 5th wheel. So, an 11k pound trailer, with only 10% tongue weight = 1100 pounds and no 200 pound hitch, so there is room left for passengers and some cargo in the bed in theory. But most travel trailers are designed when loaded up for about 12-15% tongue weight and I've never seen a pickup pulling a TT RV with an empty bed, so the available payload for tongue weight is further reduced. This is why I recommend bumper pull RVs under 6000 pounds unloaded/dry weight for the most capable half tons.

You might be okay with your coach. Find out exactly how much pin weight it has and play with your actual numbers.

 

Before Breakfast...