We own a 1995 Ford F150 supercab, long box.

The numbers I have from the door sticker are:
Front GAWR - 3025
Rear GAWR - 3800
GVWR - 6250
Trans - U
Axle - H9

The numbers from the owners manual (if I am giving you the proper ones):
Engine - 5.0L
Rear Axle ratio - 3.55
Maximum GCWR - 7800 lbs
Trailer weight range - 0 - 3400 lbs
Maximum Frontal Area of Trailer FT2 - 60

I brought the owners manual to the dealer and asked how big a trailer we could buy and I was told we could get 6000 lbs.

The trailer we are looking to buy (dealer say truck will pull it) has these numbers:

Lenght - 29.8 FT
Width - 96"
Height - 10'
Hitch dry weight (appr) - 486
Axle dry weight - 4482
Total dry weight - 4968
Load cap - 2518

Here is where I am confused. The weight the dealer says seems to high compared to the book. As for the real weight of the trailer I have no idea anymore. Can anyone please unravel this mess of numbers.

 

The number you need to be concerned about is the GCWR which in your case is 7800 lbs. This is the total amount of weight your truck can handle when loaded with cargo, passengers and trailer. The general rule is not to exceed 80% of the GCWR, to leave some room to handle things on the road like headwind and hills that will add load to the truck.

 

Hello LGJ,
Like Tbird69 said, the first and most important number is the Maximum GCWR = 7800 lbs. That means the total weight of truck + trailer + people + all other stuff must be 7800lbs or less so you need to weigh your truck and subtract that from 7800 and the remainder is the maximum weight of trailer + people + all other stuff you can tow. The second important number is GVWR = 6250lbs. That means the total weight of just the truck with everybody and all the stuff in the bed and the trailer hooked up (hitch weight) must be 6250lbs or less. The dealer lied to you about being able to tow a 6000lb trailer. Your truck (4750lbs) full of gas (150lbs) and 2 adults (300lbs) and 2 kids (100lbs) makes roughly 5300lbs. That leaves 2500lbs for trailer and all other stuff. If you apply the 80% rule then you drop to 940lbs for a trailer. Your owners manual shows a maximum trailer weight of 3400lbs but that is based on an empty truck with no people or gas or tires or 80% safety factor. Just weigh the truck and see for yourself.

 

Thank you both!

Sorry, I had the numbers from the owners manual wrong. I gave the manual tranny instead of automatic. This manual has the numbers for both and also for F150, 250 & 350s, reg, super and crew cabs. So it should of read:

Engine - 5.0L
Rear Axle ratio - 3.55
Maximum GCWR - 11500 lbs
Trailer weight range - 0 - 7000 lbs
Maximum Frontal Area of Trailer FT2 - 60

So with these numbers and the info provided from fasterhorses I think I have it figured out.
Maximun GCWR - 11500lbs minus
Truck, people and gas approx - 5300lbs
leaving 6200lbs
80% rule = 4960lbs for trailer & stuff

So we can buy the trailer if we plan on not take anything else with us

Ford dealer was still wrong, hubby wants the trailer so I guess we need a bigger truck.

Once again a BIG thanks for sorting this out in an easy to understand format.

 

Hey lgj,

Sounds like you have gotten some very good advice from the board and I only wanted to say that I agree with them and that you made a good decision on not towing that trailer with your present F150...

It should not be too hard to convince the hubby on a bigger truck if that's the trailer you so desire.

"Tow Ratings" don't mean a thing in the real world anyway.... My truck has a "tow rating" of #7700 yet, when I hitch up my #5000, fully loaded trailer, it puts my truck over it's GVWR, so it does not matter that I have over #2000 of GCWR left!

Anyway, you'll want a F250 at the minimum for that load and the bigger the engine, the better... The Diesel option is an expensive one, but it'll handle the weight well. You might consider the V10... It'll handle the weight, but just need more rev's to do it... Won't cost as much initially, but it'll only get around 10 mpg while towing.

Good luck!

Mitch