I've got a '13 SuperCrew 5.0 w/3.55, 145"WB. Payload listed on door says 1389#. I'm looking to purchase a travel trailer that will weight about 7500# loaded with a hitch weight of about 780#. I'll carry four people (2A, 2Teens) and a dog totaling about 700#. Do you guys with more towing experience than me think this okay or I'm I pushing the payload capabilities to far. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

You are most likely ok............Run tires at max pressure and hope the trailer has brakes.

 

If the hitch weight and payload exceeds 1389#, you are technically over limits.

 

Good answer, but not to his question. He wants to know if it will be ok to tow with the weight he has compared to the weight he is allowed. I say yes, mainly because he is so close. I know that is not technical, but it IS ok. I have done it many times with no issues and with more weight.

 

Man, and i thought my 1548lb max payload on my screw was low. I think you would be fine, but remember the cargo in your bed, and even a full tank of gas are part of that number.

 

Dont forget about gas. A full tank of gas will add over 200lbs to your truck, putting you about 300 over. I have the same problem, and I think this may be the last half ton I buy because of the limited payload. Good luck getting it all figured out!

 

Try adjusting the contents of the trailer to move a little of the weight to the rear. If you can get your hitch weight down to 500 you might be OK. And go to the scales to see what everything really weighs.

Being so close to the limits (or slightly over) you are going to want to check axle weights and overall weights. The door sticker should have front and rear axle limits.

 

You also need to factor in a good equalizing hitch. That will be 50 to 100# extra weight. I'm assuming this is a bumper pull unit. I have no idea what a 5th wheel set up weighs.

 

I disagree with you. Moving weight to the back takes weight off the tongue, and the truck, bringing you within your limits, yes. BUT, it also decreases stability of the trailer, leading to more trailer sway. You need 10-15% of your total weight on the tongue. Less than that and the trailer has a higher tendency to sway.

For the OP, personally, I don't like to tow over the limits, but knowing the F150, and the fact that your limit is rather low compared to most F150's, I would think you would be OK. However, I would look at getting some LT (6 ply) tires first, though, and then I would feel a lot more comfortable. Honestly, the tires are most likely the limiting factor on your truck, not the truck itself. Trade your P rated tires for a set of LT's and go for it!

 

Wow, that's one heavy 5.0L Screw 4WD you got. Your truck is almost 200 lbs heavier than mine and mine is pretty loaded.

A normal tongue weight percentage of total trailer weight is normally around 13% but improper loading, or trailer design can make that heavier. Also a properly adjusted weight distribution hitch (accounting for the weight of the hitch also) will normally distribute 80% of the hitch weight to the tow vehicle while distributing 20% of the tongue weight back to the travel trailer's axles. Of course improper adjustment or even the tow vehicle design can keep the adjustment from being optimal, distributing more weight to the tow vehicle.

A 13% tongue weight on 7500 lbs is 975 lbs (near the hitch receiver's 1050 lbs limit). 80% of that 975 lbs is 780 lbs on your trucks suspension and against your payload. Your family is 700 lbs + 780 lbs is a payload of 1480 lbs. Sorry, you are over your trucks capacity with just your family. Plus with only a 3.55 axle, you are at your trucks towing capability of 7700 lbs. That 7700lbs is for a flat bed trailer with no frontal surface area. Pulling a travel trailer, you should be at 80% of your tow rating to account for frontal area, wind, hills, elevation, and other factors. While the 80% of tow rating is a rule of thumb and not stated in the manual, the other things are. A 3.73 axle would had been better matched to that trailer.

You need either a truck with more payload or a much lighter trailer. With our payload, the trailer weight works out to 6600 lbs. loaded. You really need to be under that as your kids are going to grow and wiggle room if your weights are heavier. You really need to get your rig weighed to know exactly.

You really need to get a much smaller trailer.

 

What alot of people don't realize is weight distribution helps a ton, you should be fine and well within the limits of your truck.

 

Weight distribution doesn't change the fact that you are over your weight limits though. Distribute the weight all you want, if you are over weight, you are over weight. Now, you can be under weight and still overload an axle, but if your payload rating is x and your payload is x+200lbs, you're still over by 200 lbs, no matter how you distribute that weight.

A properly distributed load will tow much better though.