please help!

I'm looking at buying a F150 .
occassional Trailor pulling of over 12,000 # but not for long distances .

Cost is a factor or I'd buy a bigger truck.
What do I look for and what can I get away with?

any help greatly appreciated

 

I would look for a good used Super Duty. 12,000# is 4 or 5000# above the highest rating for an F150. Even short distances are going to tear up something sooner or later.

DF

 

Hi Gary

WELCOME....

If you havent already done so, take the time on this board, go back as far as you can, lots of good info here.

Like DF said, yep, you could pull that load, but look out.

Do your homework, be safe not sorry.

Good luck OT

 

Forget the F-150. Yeah you could drag 1200lb down the road for a while. But your rear end would be waggin al over and worst of all when you try to stop, your trailer better have da.. good brakes brakes. If this task is something your doing on rare occaision, either rent a rig or like the others said get a used SD. You might be able to get away with a 250 with 5.4 and 4.10's. Although that my be pusin' it a little.

 

I'll just add my "no" vote too. I wouldn't do it. Not even once. I can't imagine how you would stop that much weight, even with good trailer brakes with a 5K pound truck.

I saw an F250 SD just the other day get pushed by his load. He had a basic car hauler with a junk Chevelle on it. He apparently missed his turn and slammed on the brakes. The trailer brakes just locked up and he could just hang on for the ride. Pushed him a good 20 ft farther then he wanted to go. And yes, I'm sure the trailer brakes weren't set correctly, just saying that even with that "light" of a load, it still pushed a SD pretty good!

 

Go with the SD, or don't go at all. 12,000lb's is a lot for a f-150, The SD will not only give you better brakes and components, but the suspension will not be loaded to the max, which will make driving much easier and safer. Even though it may cost a little more, you will be much happier in the long run

 

But such an overloaded truck would not handle safely, possibly putting you and others on the road at risk. And if that doesn't convince you, remember the old rule that those who try hardest to save money on everything usually end up spending the most. You could buy an F150 and pull that 12 thousand pounds, and then when it's straining your suspension and/or drivetrain and you have to either foot the bill for thousands of dollars of repairs or replace the truck early and get something designed to pull that load, you'll realize that it's costing you more than if you just paid a little extra for the right truck in the first place.

By the way, I've seen stripped 3/4 ton and 1 ton Fords selling in the mid to high twenties. Not really a much more than a well equipped F150.

 

F250 here too. I agree. Some surprises though. A fully loaded F250 SD SC 5.4L 4X2 weights about the same as a F150 same set up 4X4. Withing a 100 pounds. And a XLT SC Auto 5.4L with towing package will run you around 23K new. And will take that load "once in a while" with the proper trailer brakes and hitch stuff.

Note: If I was pulling that load all the time I would go F350 Dually though with Power Stroke.

 

You know, we only heard from Garry that one time, then we never heard from him again.

I wonder if he went and done it?

 

Could explain why we haven't heard back from him....... He is still trying to stop that truck/trailer combination!

 

Yeah, you guys got that right....

I remember one question on this board about the guy who got great buy on cab over camper for his truck.

Only problem was, camper was way to heavy for truck....
Even after all the "DONT DO ITS" he still came back and posted he got it anyway.

Funny, never heard from him again either....hmmmmmmmm?

Good luck guys. OT

 

I'm still here and thanks very much for your help!
I was reading posts all along ,just wanted to answer once not ten times.
much apprecaited answers.
Still have not bought any truck .I read some where that when your buying take 6 weeks to shop around ,well that's what I'm doing.
I'm so in the dark when it comes to shopping for a vehicle so I do a lot of prep work ! Last Truck I bought was 12 years ago and never gave another a thought till now,man I don't know a darn thing about trucks but my old beater has had the bun!

 

Hi Garry, glad to hear that you hadn't 'bought it'.

Oh and you don't get answers here, only opinions.

My loaded F150 cost me 22K new. It's tow rating is 8300#.
My dad's F350 cost him 25k new. It's tow rating is 12000#.

My payload is 1875, his is 4400.
I have 3 leaf springs, he has six.

All things being equal the trucks should depreciate about the same, so look to pay about 15% more for a used SuperDuty over a comparable used F150.

 

Garry M.

Everyone here is right but you don't have to just take their opinon. Just go to your local Ford dealership and ask for the Towing / Hauling guide that Ford publishes. It gives all the ratings for every Ford truck. Simple, no guessing!

One other point that I'm surprised no one has mentioned. Lets just say your pulling 12,000 lbs with a truck rated to pull 8,300 lbs and you have a wreck injuring someone. Can you say LIABLE! What you are contemplating is insane. But I commend you for asking before hand.

I used to pull an 8,900 lb 5er with an F-250 LD 4x4. Now pull the same 5er with a F-250 Superduty. Believe me when I tell you, the only thing these two trucks have in common pulling is they are both Fords.

Good luck with your research and be safe.

 

I occassionally pull a 7000 lb tractor on a 1000 lb trailer with my F150... about 10 miles total. Trailer has no brakes. I always do this in the morning... on backwoods country roads... and I never go faster than 35 mph.

An F150 is maxxed at 8000 lbs. I don't believe I'd tow this much at highway speeds with a load levelling hitch and good brakes... even though the truck is rated for it... it is the MAX rating, and running 75 to 80 percent of max is prudent.

A 12000 lb trailer could easily have a 1000 lb tongue weight... and if it doesn't, it could be fishtailing all over the place. I think it is overkill.

Reminds me of years and years ago, my daughter's boy friend couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him tow my 2000 lb boat with the dinky bumper type trailer hitch he had on hi Camaro.