I have a very clean 1999 F-150 ,4.6 supercab,2 wheel drive ,3.55 rear.The owners guide says GCWR IS 11500 LBS,MAX TRAILER WT.7000 LBS.
This tuck has 33000 miles on it.Im looking to get into traveling with a trailer.I would like to get a trailer that this truck will tow ,without hurting it.Meaning ,I dont know if,getting a 7000 lb trailer is pushing the truck,or ,does Ford have a safty factor ,by which the truck will pull the 7000 with no worry.I'm hoping to find something lighter anyway ,but I have no knowledge of the rating system,and need the advice.My next part of my question is,I'm told by some ,that I should consider putting a fifth wheel in the bed of the truck because it will make better towing ,and also increase the capacity ,again,I dont intend on going over the 7000 ,but would like to have the info.I've read a bit about fifth wheels in short beds is a bad idea ,due to the turning radius ,especially when backing up,however,there are sliding 5th wheels that are now avail.to remove that problem.
That all said,I appreciate all the help I can get .I understand Im asking alot,but anything you can share ,will definatly enlighten me.Thanks. Mike

 

With the 4.6 and 3.55's I would go over anything that has a dry weight of 4500lbs. Because after you load it up ready to camp you will more than likely be right around 5500lbs.

 

Appreciate he reply,but,I continue to be confused,the owners manual says 7000 ls which would concur with the tow chart on this forum,My truck is an auto.perhaps I should have put that in my OP.Its a 355 rear with a 4.6 supercab.Thanks again

 

That is 7000 pounds tow max with a completely EMPTY truck, just a 150 pound driver and a couple gallons of gas.

Load up your truck with what you would normally be putting in it to take a trip, including passengers, fill the gas tank, and go get it weighed. Subtract the weight from 11500 and that's closer to your real towing capacity (but there are other issues with GVWR, GAWR, payload capacity, and trailer tongue weight that have to be considered). Don't even THINK about a 5th wheel on that truck.

I personally would not pull 7k with an OBS with a stock 4.6. 5k is a lot more reasonable. Will it pull 7k? I'm sure it will - but it wouldn't be fun or particularly safe.

 

What GLC said...

My truck has a 'tow rating' of #7700.. Sounds pretty good on paper.. Take the truck to the scales and things change a whole bunch!

My trailer has a GVWR of #5000, so that's what it weighs right now and then some (I've weighed it!)

When I hitch it up, my truck exceeds it's GVWR and also it's rear GAWR be a couple hundred pounds.. Hummm.. I'm still over #2000 UNDER that magic 'tow rating' number... Since I've exceeded my trucks other weight ratings, I'm done. My true 'tow rating' is basically #5000..

I've got the 5.4 and it knows that #5000 TT is back there.. I get around 10 mpg, but that'll drop to 8 or less in the mountains.

All that 'tow rating' says is that is what the truck can tow IF you keep all your other weight limits in check.. And then it's not like it's going to tow it easily.. It'll work hard and the 4.6 is going to have to work even harder.

I'd stick with trailers in the GVWR range of #5000 to #5500. Forget 'dry' weights. No trailer stays 'dry' for very long!

If you want those bigger trailers, then you gotta get a bigger truck...

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Thanks guys.Whats OBS.? With all respect,why would a fifth wheel not be an option.I ask ,because ,again,I was told if I got one installed it would tow better.The confusion continues,but ,I do listen to ALL advice ,I realize sales people would sell me a bridge if I said yes,so thats why Im here.Does anyone have any trailer suggestions.?I hear there are all kinds of new light weight trailers .I really don't want to buy another truck,to buy a trailer ,that I might not enjoy.If I had money,Id rent or buy a vacation house.The wife and I want to get out of S.Fl.in the summer ,possibly New England or Carolinas for the hot ,hurricane prone months.Fortunatly ,I have a weigh station 1/2 mile away ,so Im going to load the truck with fuel and get a true weight.Thanks again for the replies,if you have advice on type,size manufacturer on a traler ,I appreciate it.

 

OBS = old body style (97-03).

I don't care what the trailer salesmen say, a 1/2 ton truck is NOT the right platform for a 5th wheel. You are adding 200 pounds in the bed for the hitch, PLUS the pin weight of a 5er is a lot higher percentage of the trailer's weight than the tongue weight percentage of a bumper pull. Leave the 5ers for the 3/4 and 1 ton guys, in a 1/2 you will be over GVWR and rear GAWR.

You also have a non-PI 4.6, and towing heavy with it is painful.

 

Manufacturer ratings are usually optimistic in order to keep every weight in spec. A 99 F-150 is 11 years old. Are you sure it is solid enough to handle that kind of load as if it were new? A 99 4.6L has something like 200hp and 270lb-ft of torque.

A 7000 pounds 5er will have 1400 pounds of pin weight, maybe 1750 pounds. You need a 200 pounds hitch that sits in your bed too. Then you and anyone else you camp with. Very few half tons have that kind of payload, and none with the 4.6L. And you have 11 year old springs to support that weight. Don't do it!

Performance wise, I'd stay closer to 4000 pounds dry. As mentioned, you'll be 1000 pounds over that when ready to travel. Shipping weight of any RV is 250-500 pounds over the dry weights listed on web sites and brochures. My TT is in the range you think you want, 6500-7000 pounds ready to travel. While my truck is heavier and 4WD, I have the 5.4L and 3.73 axle. I'm right at my 12,500 GCWR. While performance is acceptable on flat land, hills are not always pleasant and mountains? I'll be upgrading my truck before those trips.

 

You have to watch your GVW, once you put passengers in plus some cargo and hitch weight you will be at the max for your truck. You need to re-look at what you want to do and find a light weight trailer with a smaller frontal profile. A 8' wide tall trailer will kill your performance more than anything. Look for a smaller trailer, one of the lite weights with a lower roof line and narrower width. Also look for something in the 3500-4000lb loaded weight range, with a hitch weight around 400-450lbs. You basicly have a truck equal to a V6 import (Toyota-Nissan). You have maybe a little more power, but your curb weight negates that. I've towed a 4050lb loaded TT with a 450lb hitch weight with a 06 V6 Nissan, it did ok, but only got 9.5mpg. It was narrower at 7'6" and has a lower roof line. Ran out of steam around 65mph. Shouldn't tow much over that anyway, but it was maxed out none the less. You could also put some higher gears in and have better acceleration, but it won't change your GVW rating. Your truck is more of an economy truck than towing truck.

 

Well, it's better than that. The chassis, driveline, and frame are a lot beefier than the V6 imports, and the 4.6 is a strong little engine for what it is, you just have to wind the **** out of it. As long as you can stay within all numbers you will be fine. I still think that 5500# loaded will be within limits and the 4.6 can haul that if you are reasonably patient.

 

It'll feel more stable, but an 06 Nissan has an 11,000 GVCW limit as well as a 6500lb tow rating. 265hp and 281tq, plus less curb weight. I've towed with an 06 Nissan plus my current truck an 08 5.4 3.73 SC 9500lb tow rating and 15,300 GVCW rating, and ya there's a differnce, but the 4.6 just isn't that much more of a motor than the V6. I tow 4050 behind my truck and I know it's there, and I have 300hp and 365TQ. Factor in 70lbs of TQ and 50 less hp and put 5000lbs behind it and your mpg will be 9 or less trying to run 60mph or better. It's one thing to tow it and it's another thing to enjoy it. He'll be wishing he had more power everytime he hits a small hill. Plus if he starts to take to much stuff with him plus 300 lbs of water if he's not going somewhere where there's full hookups then he will be maxed out pretty quick. A 5000lb trailer should have a hitch weight of 750 lbs. Add in passengers of say 350lbs, thats 1100lbs already. If he has a 1200lb payload, then he's basicly done. Now add in another 700lbs in the trailer and he's at 5700lbs. 5700lbs + 6200lbs for the truck and he's over the 11,000 lbs GCVW. He really needs to look at something in the 3500-4000lb loaded weight to make limits and be safe.

 

My intent is to stay at a campground with all the goodies,elec water sewer CABLE,in the New England area ,but,I live in Fl.Keys.Need a min.of a queen bed,a place to watch TV other than bedroom and a place for Mama to relieve her bladder at nite.If anyone has a tip on Travel trailer manufacturers ,that are lite but realistic in quality,I appreciate it

 

Someone is feeding you a load of ***** if they are telling you that you can get more trailer in a 5th wheel then a tow behind with a 4.6 F150!! They might 'tow' better, but that's if you have a Super Duty F250 or above..

Like was said already... Just the 5th wheel hitch ALONE is gonna weigh more then the average person....

Okay, now that I re read your last post..... Yes, a 5th wheel does tow better then a tow behind.... IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH PAYLOAD... You won't have enough payload left for anything other then a 5th wheel that's no bigger then a 12' slide in camper... That ain't much...

You can tow much more then that... My TT is 19' long for just the coach.. I have a front walk around QUEEN bed and a full width rear BATH ROOM.. The middle is the dinette and kitchen.. Works great for 2 people... If you have any kids.... Well.... You figure out where they go...

You are all wrapped up with the "tow ratings" and they don't mean ****... You won't come anywhere close to that size trailer AND still stay within a reasonable limit of your other trucks weight limits...

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE TOW RATING!! It's what your truck weighs in the driveway right now and what it's GVWR is and it's front and rear GAWR is... That's all that matters if you want to have a safe and comfortable tow.... I just came back from a 4 day camping trip and I wish I was still on the road because it's a pleasure to tow a travel trailer with my 213,000 mile F150!! That's because I tow something that's within my truck TRUE tow rating...

Mitch

 

Mitch ,thatnks for your reply. But "My TT is 19' long for just the coach,"dont understand what that means.Is it just 19 ft? If you can give me some idea of a travel trailer ,by name if possible ,that might be in my desireable range.I want used,but not an antique,I would ,however,like to get as large as possible for comfort.I have no problem paying for something that is lightweight to gain the comfort.I have read about a new rig made by EVERGREEN,suposidly the state of the art in weight /size.They are however a new company ,so i dont see any used ones.Like I said,Im real new into this,If I absolutly needed to upgrade my truck,it can be done,but i dont want to have a big monster truck as my daily vehicle either.Thanks again,I appreciate all replies. Mike

 

you might not be satisfied with a tent trailer but thats about all that would be safe for you to pull wiht the described vehicle. believe it or not!!!!!!