I'm trying to determine my towing capacity and just want someone to confirm my numbers:

2008 Ford F-150 Supercrew w/4.6L 3.55LS 151” wheel base with factory towing package

GVWR– 6800lbs (taken from the door sticker)– Gross Vehicle Weight Rating includes the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight.

Base Curb Weight - 5240lbs (from the internet)

Max Trailer Weight – 5800lbs (from owners manual with 18" tires)

Payload – 1560lbs (6800 GVWR - 5240 Base Curb Weight)

GCWR – 11200 - Gross combined weight rating (GCWR) is the maximum allowable weight that a road vehicle can tow in combination with its own Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Deducting the GVWR from the GCWR gives the vehicle's maximum towable weight limit if the gross trailer weight rating (GTWR) is unknown.

All this leads me to conclude the following:

Truck 5240 + Passengers 450 + Gas + 165 + Gear 150 =6005 lbs

Trailer Tounge Weight = 800 lbs

6005 + 800 = 6805 max

11200 GCWR - 6800 GVWR = 4400 total trailer weight?

Am I correct??

 

If the truck weighs out at 6005, the max tongue weight will be 795, and the max trailer weight will be 5150. The only other factor will be GAWR (max axle weight) which will be hard to calculate without running it over a scale. A weight distribution hitch can shift some of the weight forward to prevent going over the rear GAWR.

 

Math is okay. The trailer can weigh up to GCWR - truck's weight + tongue weight, like GLC said. You really need to weigh the truck though because I bet it weighs more than base curb weight. Most vehicle hit GVWR well before GCWR.

 

Guess it would be a good idea to get my truck onto a scale. I will be using a weight distributing hitch, so that will reduce the tonge weight. I will also get the trailer weighed to make sure I'm safe. I just wanted to make sure I was using the correct math formula's to deteremine if I'm gonna be safe. Thanks for the replies.

 

That is your best idea. I could not believe how much difference the hitch made. I suggest the Equalizer. It is great.

Steve

 

A few thoughts based upon my recent experiences:

A) You must have an trim level less than the Lariat, which is indicated by the lower base curb weight and the 4.6L engine. This could help your actual payload to be closer to the "book" payload number. See "B".
B) Your calculated payload number is most likely incorrect. Look at the door sticker and you will see the actual payload may be closer to 1,265. This is the number that rules... not what the internet or the book says. The door sticker reflects what was actually built.
C) Towing at the GCWR is only good IF the truck is EMPTY and only has the driver behind the wheel with NO PASSENGERS. See your Owner's manual.
D) Note that the Class IV hitch only has high TONGUE weight ratings if you are using a weight distributing hitch, otherwise the Calss IV is only a 600 pound tongue weight hitch if undistributed.
E) Fuel is included in the door sticker cargo capacity number, however note that if you have the larger capacity fuel tank available, it will diminish your cargo ratings (payload) over what the books say, which is a general standard XL chassis. The book values are not based upon typical loaded XLT's or Lariat trimmed trucks.

Take it for what it's worth, but there is alot more than meets the eye in some cases. If you can exceed the payload and GVWR, you can also exceed the FAWR and the RAWR (axle ratings) without much work.

 

Thanks Smokewagun, I checked the door sticker, and it says "the combined weight of occupents and cargo should never exceed 1518 lbs." This information isn't on the build sticker, which simply indicates the 6800 GVWR total. The sticker with the tire information is where I found the 1518 lb information. I guess if that includes me and a full tank of gas I have a little more capacity, although it is a little under the 1560 Payload number from the owners manual.