I have an 06 f150 5.4 w/3.55's I was looking to get a rage'n FS23 Toyhauler because the old lady likes the front sleeper. With a Rino and 2 bikes, 75 gallons of water and a truck, 1/2 full of fire wood I think thats really pushing the limits. The dealer says it will be ok but I just dont fell to good about it. Whats your take?

 

What's the GVWR on the TH? If it's over #8000, then you might be pushing things a bit IMO...

If you can keep the trailer to around #7000 at most, fully loaded AND not exceed your trucks axle ratings, then you should be okay... Sure, it'll be a load and the old F150 will work at towing it, but it'll get you down the road... You'll wish you had at least the 3.73 gears, especially if you have any larger tire then 31" tall....

Those TH's have more tongue weight then the average TT, so you will have to watch that, and that's where you could fall prey to the trucks axle weight limits. No question, you'll be over the trucks GVWR when it's all hooked up, but that's not as critical as exceeding the trucks AXLE ratings...

The 9.75" rear end is a strong rear end, but it's still just a typical semi floater with C clips holding the axles in the tube....

You'll be in second gear on the grades, if not first, so take it easy and get some sort of trans temp monitoring device and don't be in any hurry!

That's my take on it!

Mitch

 

The toy hauler GVWR = 11,060 with a dry hitch weight of 660. I am running 35's but plan on changing the gears to 4.10's and I also have an edge tuner.

 

Wow..... That's a lot of CCC I'm sure and it's 'dry' weight is probably in the #6000 range??, and even if you don't get anywhere near that GVWR, it's still going to be a very heavy trailer!

With 35's and if you plan on towing this thing often, then I'd go to 4.88's..... But, that's just me... Actually, I'd have a BBD F350 and if I had to have 35" tires, I'd be running the 4.30 gears....

My guess is you'll exceed every weight rating on the truck (sure it has a 'tow rating' of over #9000, but that's not the ONLY weight rating you have to pay attention to...)

I know I wouldn't have much 'fun' towing that beast, even with a new F150....

Good luck!

Mitch

 

I wouldn't feel right about a 11060 GVW trailer with a 1/2 ton truck at all. I'd keep it as lightly loaded as you can till it's time for a new truck, then get one that's better for the job.

 

Yea, the web site has that 23 listed with a dry axle of 4,040. Would that be the trailers overall dry weight? The Rage'n 19fk has a GVWR of 7450 and a dry axle of 3620. Would I be better off with something like that? I just dont trust the sales team at the dealer, and i want my truck to last.

 

Dry axle weight would not include the tongue weight, so add that in as well to get the full UVW. I found the web site and looked around on it and it's listed with a UVW of #4700 for the FS23. (add the axle weight and tongue weight together).

The 'dry' weights are kinda speculative as well... Some manufactures weigh the rigs as they come off the assembly line, so they don't have any tanks, batteries, A/C units, Awnings, etc.. Some weigh them before they leave and have those items included.... The rig you see at the dealers lot is going to be heavier then the brochure listed 'dry' weights 9 out of 10 times I'd bet!

All the dealers do is look at your trucks 'specs', and with the new F150's, they are rated pretty high, just as all the 'new' 1/2 ton trucks from everyone has done.. Then they look at the 'dry' weight of the trailer, and tell you "you'll be fine..." You are way under your 'tow rating'..... Blah, Blah, Blah... "shall we go inside and sign the papers??"

Anyway, IMO, that FS23 will be too much trailer once you get it loaded up, and that's not even close to loading it up to it's max... You might 'think' you can pack light, and not carry as much stuff, but that only lasts so long and before you know it, you have the thing stuffed to the gills and wonder why your truck is not pulling it very well....

Those other two trailers would be a better fit IMO.. Even if you load it up to the max, it's still only going to weigh not much over #7000 and that's about the max I'd want to tow with any 1/2 ton truck... You will still work the truck hard, and with 35's on there, even with a gear change, you'll still have a harder time towing then a truck with it's stock tire setup...

This is just my opinion too... I've towed many rigs that were overloaded, and technically, my current rig 'overloads' my F150 when it's all hitched up, so you just have to balance out your priorities and know your truck and if you've towed 'heavy' before with other rigs, it'll still be 'heavy' no matter what the dealers say or the 'tow ratings' say!

Mitch

 

Thanks for your help Mitch, I think I will make it easier on the truck and the wallet and drop down to the 18 or the 21 footer.

 

It's like what I've said in other threads - and gotten flamed for it too. You should not exceed *any* ratings - GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, etc. Half ton trucks are a lot more capable than they used to be, but they are still half ton trucks. Superdutys are much more capable and suitable.

 

GVWR 11k pounds. Don't bother. The smaller FK's would be better.