Too big of trailer?
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From: Soldotna Alaska
Too big of trailer?
Have the chance of buying a 5th wheel 6500 under book price. It's empty weight is 7670 pounds so I'm a little leary. I'm rated for 9300 lbs and I currently tow a 5500 lb tow behind trailer with no problem,
I have a 2005 f150 SC. 373 gears and 17" tires. I also am running airbags and have slotted rotors with ceramic brakes and have an tuner. Have pulled other trailer with no problems. The big deal is that we are moving to Alaska and it's going to be about a 3800 mile pull.
I believe that the hitch weight is about 1500 lbs.
Too much trailer?
I have a 2005 f150 SC. 373 gears and 17" tires. I also am running airbags and have slotted rotors with ceramic brakes and have an tuner. Have pulled other trailer with no problems. The big deal is that we are moving to Alaska and it's going to be about a 3800 mile pull.
I believe that the hitch weight is about 1500 lbs.
Too much trailer?
Last edited by mkinttrim; Apr 8, 2015 at 08:00 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
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From: Puyallup, WA
Really depends on how many other weight ratings you are willing to over look..
Sure, you'd get down the road. Might not like the grades or higher altitude as much, but you'd move..
The technical aspects is you have GVWR, Payload, rear GAWR and even front GAWR to consider besides that big "tow rating" number. Even in the best case scenario, that tow rating assumes a max tongue/pin weight of no more than 10% and you don't load another pound in the truck.
Unlikely you'd be over the front axle, but it wouldn't take much for the other's IMO..
My guess is you've got your standard tow package F150. Probably around #7200 GVWR. Rear GAWR of around #3850 and a payload of around #1400
Right there, you are gonna be over your payload by #100 with just the DRY pin weight of that 5th wheel. Not to mention the ~ #100 of 5th wheel hitch, all that other stuff you have on/in the truck, plus any passengers/stuff you put in the back seat/bed...
Even my 13 F150 with Max Tow would be over weight with that pin weight. But, I'd get down the road just fine..
Anyway, bottom line.. If you are asking if you'd be under your weights with that trailer, I'd say no. If you are asking if you'd get down the road with it, I'd say yes.
What are you comfortable with?? That's up to you.
BTW, sounds like a nice deal and would be hard to pass up!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Mitch
Sure, you'd get down the road. Might not like the grades or higher altitude as much, but you'd move..
The technical aspects is you have GVWR, Payload, rear GAWR and even front GAWR to consider besides that big "tow rating" number. Even in the best case scenario, that tow rating assumes a max tongue/pin weight of no more than 10% and you don't load another pound in the truck.
Unlikely you'd be over the front axle, but it wouldn't take much for the other's IMO..
My guess is you've got your standard tow package F150. Probably around #7200 GVWR. Rear GAWR of around #3850 and a payload of around #1400
Right there, you are gonna be over your payload by #100 with just the DRY pin weight of that 5th wheel. Not to mention the ~ #100 of 5th wheel hitch, all that other stuff you have on/in the truck, plus any passengers/stuff you put in the back seat/bed...
Even my 13 F150 with Max Tow would be over weight with that pin weight. But, I'd get down the road just fine..
Anyway, bottom line.. If you are asking if you'd be under your weights with that trailer, I'd say no. If you are asking if you'd get down the road with it, I'd say yes.
What are you comfortable with?? That's up to you.
BTW, sounds like a nice deal and would be hard to pass up!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Mitch
Last edited by MitchF150; Apr 9, 2015 at 01:36 PM.
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From: Joplin MO
I sure wouldn't drive it 3800 miles with a lot of the way in the mountains. In fact, I'd think twice about doing it with your 5500# bumper pull unless it's empty and the truck is empty except for your @$$.
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From: Among javelinas and scorpions in Zoniestan
Glc makes a lot of good points. Keep in mind too, that a trip to Alaska involves travel through some fairly remote areas. It's not a place I'd want a breakdown.
In the trailer forum I belong to, a member drove his trailer to Alaska and back. One of the precautions he took was to have two spare tires for the trailer. Naturally, he didn't have any tire problems, but you just know if he'd had only one spare, he would have had at least two blowouts!
Like others here, I think the 5th wheel is just too much trailer for your F150.
- Jack
In the trailer forum I belong to, a member drove his trailer to Alaska and back. One of the precautions he took was to have two spare tires for the trailer. Naturally, he didn't have any tire problems, but you just know if he'd had only one spare, he would have had at least two blowouts!
Like others here, I think the 5th wheel is just too much trailer for your F150.
- Jack