I am new to bigger pick-up trucks and new to towing .

I am pulling a camper that weighs about 4300#s (loaded) with my 2004 F-150 (4.6 -- 2 wheel drive). Everything is PERFECT! I can pass cars (if needed) fairly well. at 70 MPH I am pushing about 3000 RPMs. Going up steep climbs I am pushing about 4000rpms. I like to travel a bit slower while towing (usually around 63 mph) and keep the rpms at about 2500 to 2600.

I now want a bigger camper!! I'm thinking about a 5th wheel. However, I will not be ready for a bigger truck for another 4 years or so.

I would love to hear from those of you in this group who are towing with a similar engine who have campers in the 6000 to 7000 lb range. I know that my truck is rated to pull about 7000#s, but I am still very hesitatant to consider a camper that large with my 4.6.

My wife and I travel alone (no kids) and we aren't planning to tow any further than 500 miles from home. I plan to pull my camper about 8 times a year with only 1 major tow of 300 miles or more a season.

Any insight would be welcomed and very much appreciated.

THANKS !!!

 

Don't do it.

 

Get a bigger truck then do it.....

 

It is quite a bit harder to do with a half ton than a 3/4 ton or higher, but may be able to be done. I wouldn't go close to that 7000 u were talking about, but maybe a 5000 pound fiver. I think most say that pin weight is about 20% of total weight(1000 pounds) Your trucks weight limit is probably around 1500. Does your truck have a 6.5 foot or larger bed? If you have the 5.5 foot bed, it really won't be worth it. It is possible to upsize your trailer, but definitely not ideal.

 

I dont know if I would want to tow #7000 too often it will be slow really slow I had to use my truck to tow a cat 246 skid steer on a trailer with 72" bucket I think it was around 8000+ it was way to much but it chugged along for the 2 weeks that the diesel was getting fixed...it was slow and pain full and anything with a grade of any sort was scary. I would stay to around 5000 maybe at most 6000 but more to the 5's... I used to work at a travel trailer dealer and we sold a few fifth wheels to people with half tons but it apparently isnt allowed as the pin weight is usually over capacity of most of the trucks that came in so most people just went with the travel trailer with a wd hitch. Than again one of our shop trucks was a half ton chevy and it would tow a 30ft fifth wheel with ease but it had a built 502 and the drive terrain to back it...

 

I pull about 6500 pounds with my 5.4L/3.73/4-spd truck. It does fine. I can do 70mph at 2850rpm on flat roads. I can pass cars on 2-lane country roads. My worst problem is starting out, especially hills. 0-65mph on an uphill onramp sucks.

You don't have the 5.4L, and I don't know your axle ratio, but it isn't better, could be worse and the even higher profile of a fifth wheel is worse for the same weight of a TT. So 2 or 3 penalties already. Take a 5000 pound 5er with up to 25% pin weight, and a 200 pound hitch in the bed, and you're out of payload before you and your wife sit in the cab. The only 5er I recommend for half tons is the Scamp 19.

Always upgrade the tow vehicle first!

 

I would not tow any 5th wheel or a bumper pull over 5000# with your truck. Wait till you get your bigger truck before you get a bigger trailer.

 

Two words........Super Duty!!!!!