I bought a leftover 2015 f-150 supercrew 5.0l 4x4 with towing package and 3.55 rear end this past fall. My family and I have been thinking about getting into camping so we started shopping for a travel trailer. A toy hauler may also be a possibility. I found a chart on the ford website that says my truck can tow 9000 pounds. Im just curious on everyones thoughts about how much I should be comfortable towing.

 

That's 9000# as long as you don't exceed the truck GVWR/payload rating.

Load up the truck like you would to go on a trip - everything except (obviously) the trailer - and fill the gas tank. Go run it over a truck scale and note the weight. Subtract that number from the GVWR (found on the door jamb sticker) and that's how much tongue weight you can have. Tongue weight is usually around 12% of the trailer gross weight.

 

Crazy how much it drops from the 3.5 ecoboost to the 5.0.


I would see about how much cargo you will be hauling in the trailer then pick from there. It should pull better conventional towing off the factory drop hitch instead of 5th wheel.


If your max payload is around 1600-1700 you can get around 600lbs of cargo/people in the truck plus the driver I believe.

 

It's kind of silly how they figure engine into payload and towing ratings when it's solely the suspension, axles and wheel/tires that truly matter.

 

Yeah I agree with that.

 

The engine matters too - the 5.0 doesn't have as much low end torque as the 3.5 Ecoboost. The tow ratings on the 2.7 Ecoboost and the 3.5 NA are even less.

 

Thanks for the response, ill have to go to a scale with the truck loaded and see where im at. Most of the lighter toy haulers ive come across have around a 700 pound tounge weight. I know my hitch says 1100 pound max but im really just trying to figure out what its going to drive like with a certain amount of weight. I don't want to max the thing out and be wishing I had bought an f250. Was kind of hoping someone with the same truck has had some experience with towing a bigger trailer.

 

Once you get the tongue weight figured out (which is good advice, BTW), then I would stay under 80% of the max tow rating, so no more than 7200 lbs loaded. It's not a hard number, just a good figure to keep some safety margin and accommodate those few extra pounds that get thrown in.

A few things to keep in mind with a toy hauler:

• With a toy hauler, you usually add lots of weight in toys to the trailer. Don't forget to take that plus water, plus food, dishes, clothes, etc. into account when loaded.
• Adding weight to the back of a toy hauler will take some tongue weight off the truck. While this is good for payload, it's bad for towing.

I've talked with several folks that towed a bumper-pull toy hauler and most were not happy with the way it towed. If you DO go toy hauler, I suggest a fifth wheel, which will likely be too big for your truck. On the other hand, if you are hauling small toys without much weight, you should be fine.

I applaud you for doing your research first. Good luck, and enjoy! We are on our third camper. We upgraded from popup to ultra-light travel trailer to now an ultra light fifth wheel.

 

That's kind of what I had in mind that I didn't want to tow any more than about 7000 pounds. I was also wondering if it would be better just to get a smaller TT and then throw a couple dirbikes in the bed. But then I would have a hitch weight of around 350 and then two 225 pound bikes in the bed. Where if I bough a toy hauler I would have nothing in the bed and a hitch weight of 700 lbs.....Not sure which would be better on the truck and safer to drive?

 

Either way is probably fine, as long as you keep 10-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue, it should tow just fine. As far as safety, having the bikes tied down in the trailer is going to be safer, not to mention makes them more difficult to steal while you are stopped grabbing a bite to eat. Not to mention, it leaves room for firewood and other stuff you don't want inside the trailer (assuming you have enough payload).

 

Naw dont throw much if anything in the bed. I use to do that so we could bring an extra Atv along and even in a 3/4 ton it really squated the truck. If you are worried about tongue weight get a weight distribution hitch and sway control, but you need to disconnect that when you get off the road.

Actually put all the cargo but fuel tanks and people in the trailer. I always use to rent toyhaulers that was open cargo area with beds that winched down from the ceiling and one seperate bedroom suite up front. Really can pack a lot of stuff in those trailers and they are lighter since they have less walls etc being more open.

 

Did you look in the owner's manual because the towing specs are in there.

 

Did you read his post because he said he found the tow rating to be 9k but was wondering what everyone thought he should be comfortable towing. Last I checked, opinions are not in the owner's manual, but posting here is a great place to find them.

 

Thanks again for advice everyone I think ill buy one of those weight distribution hitches, and try and find a toy hauler similar to this one-

http://www.jayco.com/products/toy-ha...uper-lite/161/

 

That looks perfect! I love the super lites for towing. Best of luck!