2013 F150 4X4 EcoBoost w/3.5L & 145" wheelbase

7500 miles so far, half way through 2nd camping season, and no problem mostly in the Ozarks No issue flat land set cruise at 65 and let it run. Yes pay attention to all weight issues. Mine is set up with max tow haul.

To the OP,

The fact that some people get away with something does NOT make it a good idea! (or legal)

rhagfo wrote:

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

Yes you will need to have some concerns with a 1/2 ton towing a fifth wheel. Most 3/4 ton's have problems with exceeding the GVWR while towing a fifth wheel too. Yet it is possible. No you do not require towing a 25' trailer, you should be able to find a 30' or 32' with a light pin weight. Not a Montana, or Grand Teton. But some of the lightweight, and other trailers should be fine.

If it is a shortbed, then Superglide hitch is another requirement to make it work right, without the front of the trailer trying to come inside the back window.

A extended pin box can also lessen the hitch weight a little bit. That just makes the distance between the front of the axles and the pin box a little farther, and thus less weight on the hitch.



Fred.

Really the commissioner of the Weight Police is encouraging using using a F150 to tow a 30' to 32' fiver ! While there maybe a couple out there that will fit in the payload capacity of a Max/Max it is still a light duty pickup truck! The GVWR of this rig is very close to the total of the axle ratings, making it easy to exceeds the rear axle rating on a semi floating rear axle (single bearing riding on axle that also supports the load).
While I tow over my GVWR I am well within my axle ratings, and don't need air bags or Timber's to support the load. This is not the Pot and Kettle, it is an 2001 TV with a one size fits all VIN sticker.
I am not saying that a F150 can't tow a correctly sized fiver, BUT it has to be correctly sized should not NEED bags to support the load.

Yep, with over 10,000 miles of towing my combo, I am still waiting to have that little semi-floating rear axle fail and the wheel go flying out from under the truck.
Set your combo up right, know your limitations, setback and enjoy the scenery...Happy camping to all.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

Yes you will need to have some concerns with a 1/2 ton towing a fifth wheel. Most 3/4 ton's have problems with exceeding the GVWR while towing a fifth wheel too. Yet it is possible. No you do not require towing a 25' trailer, you should be able to find a 30' or 32' with a light pin weight. Not a Montana, or Grand Teton. But some of the lightweight, and other trailers should be fine.

If it is a shortbed, then Superglide hitch is another requirement to make it work right, without the front of the trailer trying to come inside the back window.

A extended pin box can also lessen the hitch weight a little bit. That just makes the distance between the front of the axles and the pin box a little farther, and thus less weight on the hitch.



Fred.

Really the commissioner of the Weight Police is encouraging using using a F150 to tow a 30' to 32' fiver ! While there maybe a couple out there that will fit in the payload capacity of a Max/Max it is still a light duty pickup truck! The GVWR of this rig is very close to the total of the axle ratings, making it easy to exceeds the rear axle rating on a semi floating rear axle (single bearing riding on axle that also supports the load).
While I tow over my GVWR I am well within my axle ratings, and don't need air bags or Timber's to support the load. This is not the Pot and Kettle, it is an 2001 TV with a one size fits all VIN sticker.
I am not saying that a F150 can't tow a correctly sized fiver, BUT it has to be correctly sized should not NEED bags to support the load.

Shadow_Grey wrote:
Nope, can't be done...you need a 1 ton at the very least, maybe even bigger. :B

Something like Shadow Grey's Cougar lite would be perfect! My cousin pulls one with a Tacoma 5.7. That Lakota looks pretty heavy but I don't know the numbers.

Noticed the eco-boost will be the only engine in the Expedition/Navigator next year.

I totally agree with Sturgeon Phish. Some of the combos on the road are very scary.
Most car dealer salesmen are
I) salesmen first
II) car salesmen second
and have little concern/concept of the pick up truck market, capacity or usage.
If possible you should source out which sales rep handles the light truck city or commercial tender process at the dealership. He would be an expert on his product line and would know how to match the truck with its expected use. He will also know what option packages are or will be coming up on special.
You may need to be patient if he is in the middle of a large tender process but the wait is well worth it.
Bottom line don't rush into an impulse purchase, think through what your current and future needs are and will be.
That super special which will end at midnight tonight will still be there next week.
GPG

It seems every week we see posts about how much camper I can tow with my 1/2 ton truck. The pin weight and tire rating and brake capacity are all numbers that are there to work with, but so many when buying the camper or truck seem to forget what will be the weight of their combo as it goes down the road. As we keep our campers it seems we'll put one more thing in the camper and before you know it, your weight is more than you would imagine. Several of us have hit the scales and been shocked at what we weighed.
The fudge factor is very slim with 1/2 ton trucks. We've all seen camper truck combos going down the road that were obviously over their limit.
The question is, after doing your homework, will the combo be safe at highway speeds, in the environment it will be operated at for the duration of the trip? If you cannot say with total confidence yes, get a different combination. An accident or premature failure of the TV is not worth taking the risk.
Jim

OP, as everyone here has been asking, they need to know what your payload is. I have owned a 2010 F-150 which is very similar to your truck. Same brake system and transmission, but totally different motor. There is no doubt that the F-150 has the brakes to stop something under 11,000 lbs loaded and the power to haul it as well with the ecoboost. The issue though is how much weight are you putting on that rear axle. Do you have a 6-lug? or a 7-lug? 7-lug will get you around 2,000 lbs payload or a little more. If you have that setup, then you're golden as most light weight 5'ers have pin weights around 1,000 lbs +/- 200 lbs and you have payload space for the family and such.

I've personally looked hard at 5'ers for my F-150, but with my low rating of 1,400 lbs on the rear axle, I couldn't find something I'd be happy with. I also found out that hauling soil and such in my truck was putting me grossly overweight on the rear axle. So I figure'd I'd buy the biggest truck I could comfortably own.

laknox wrote:

Ed9824v wrote:
MY boy has that truck with rear air bags and super glide hitch and it pulls his 9k 5th wheel trailer like it is not there only ever issue was the front brakes seem to get hot on really steep grades. pulls better then my 99 dodge diesel with injectors and edge ez.

He needs to adjust his brake controller, or check the trailer brakes, if the truck brakes are getting hot. The trailer brakes are supposed to fully stop the trailer by themselves.

Lyle

Will do that, The Ford has a unbelievable brake/sway controller don't ask how we know. BUT WE WILL GIVE THE TRAILER BRAKES A GOOD CHECK thanks

Ed9824v wrote:
MY boy has that truck with rear air bags and super glide hitch and it pulls his 9k 5th wheel trailer like it is not there only ever issue was the front brakes seem to get hot on really steep grades. pulls better then my 99 dodge diesel with injectors and edge ez.

He needs to adjust his brake controller, or check the trailer brakes, if the truck brakes are getting hot. The trailer brakes are supposed to fully stop the trailer by themselves.

Lyle