Ford 150 ??

op wrote:
Will a Ford 150 tow a small 5th wheel? if so, any recommendation on engine size (gas). Thanks
Brian

Sure.
We've pulled properly matched 5th wheel trailers with F150 (1/2 ton trucks) since 5th wheel trailers became popular. And we have those that didn't do their homework on the matching the truck/trailer weight numbers have a bad experience.

The OP says he is looking for a 5th wheel trailer under 25'
under 25'.
Here's several under 25' 5th wheel trailers to look at http://www.allencampermfg.com/upload/255%20RKS%208.30.pdf.

You want a F150 with;
7050 GVWR...4050 RAWR...3.5 EB...1800-2000 bed payload.

7600 GVWR...4550 RAWR...5.0...2000-2200 bed payload.

7850HD GVWR...4800 RAWR...3.5 EB or 5.0...2400-2500 bed payload.

Don't be fooled by Fords other super cabs/crew cabs 6xxx gvwr and those small 3800 rawr max tow advertizing. These are the smaller size F150 made for small TTs.

We don't need a 3/4 ton truck to pull a small 5th wheel trailer .....unless you just want one.

I have a "half ton towable" fifthwheel and I can tell you now that anything under a 3/4ton truck will be hard pressed to stay within its axle ratings and tow comfortably. Do yourself a favour and go right up to atleasrt a 3/4t truck, heck if your buying new anyways spring for the 350/3500 of your choice for a few extra dollars and open yourself up to many more 5er choices.

You can almost never have too much truck. Easy to find yourself driving something within an inch of its rated safe capacity. You can even beef up a truck with airbags & such.

All of this is worthless when you are in situation where the tail is way too big for the dog & you are looking out of the windshield milliseconds away from crashing into something & thinking 'I should have bought a bigger truck'.

All those $$ you cleverly saved by stretching the ability of that smaller truck won't add up to a thing compared to repair costs or, worse, huge medical bills & possible residual pain for years to come.

Choices. Lifes choices.

In spite of all the naysayers, a properly equipped newer F150 can safely handle a light FW. I did it with a 2004, 5.4, 3.73, towing package, etc., and the newer ones have more capacity.

goducks10 wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
My '17 F150 ecoboost in Lariat trim has an 1800 lb payload. I have max tow, as well as airbags.
There are many small fivers around but some have high pin weights:

Grand Design 29rs which is what I have. UVW 8515 lbs, pin weight 1498 lbs
Grand Design has a new 230rl 1/2 ton towable, UVW is 6895 lbs, hitch is 1195 lbs,
Northwood Manufacturing Fox Mountain 235rls UVW 5860 lbs, pin weight 1375 lbs
Jayco Eagle HT 24.5ckts UVW is 7400lbs, pin is 1285 lbs
Rockwood 2440WS UVW is 6741 lbs, pin is 1134 lbs
Keystone Cougar XLite 25res UVW is 7035 lbs, pin is 1405 lbs
Cougar XLite 26rls is very similar as is 27rks.
Also look at the Cougar Half tons, 268rlswe, 279rkswe, 264rlswe

1800 lbs of CCC is barely enough for only a couple of those listed.
Those are dry pin weights. Your 29RS at 1500 lbs dry will put you over your CCC.
I have a Fox Mountain 235. Loaded its 1800 lbs on the pin and 9000 lbs. It's actually 7385lbs UVW with 1385lb dry pin. Add propane, batteries, 5th hitch and then load the front compartment up with camping gear and it will max out most all 1/2 tons before any passengers have entered the truck.

I am not concerned at all. No only do we have real world experiences from guys like SkiSmuggs that has done it for over 20k miles with no issues, we also have my nearly 40 years with very heavy towing with half tons on the farm.
If the OP will get a F150 3.5 ecoboost with the max tow package he can add air bags or helper springs or he can opt for the heavy duty payload package. Having said that the differences between the two aren't what you might expect.
The max tow ecoboost F150 has the same 9.75" gearset. Both the HDPP and the “regular” gearset have 34 splines. Only the Raptor gearset is heavier as it has 35 splines. Other than getting a 3.73 instead of a 3.55 the only other difference is that Ford calls for slightly more fluid in the HDPP diff. The axles and axle bearings are identical.

Wheels are no longer 7 lug on the HDPP. Now they all have 6 lug. The HDPP wheels are rated at 2101 lbs vs 1825 lbs for the regular wheel.

If you get the 18” tires you can get the same Goodyear Wrangler AT “c” load range tire that is an option on the HDPP F150

The Supercrew HDPP uses 0.110” thick frame and the other Supercrew 157 uses 0.100” frames.

The max tow trucks have the same transmission cooler as well.

So the real differences between the two are:

Heavier springs (air bags or helper springs takes care of this)

3.73 gear over 3.55 (not an issue since we now have 10 speeds)

Slightly thicker frame by .01” (both fully boxed frames are still stronger than the previous generation

Wheels are rated at about 200 lbs more capacity each but the HDPP wheel isn’t even capable of the capacity of the GY Wrangler AT “C” range tire. So if you towed really heavy and often I would upgrade the wheels.

If you are concerned about "official numbers" then get a HDPP as it has a 800 or so pounds increased capacity over a max tow F150.

Finally when Ford went to the aluminum body in '15 they reduced the weight of the trucks up to 700 lbs. Instead of giving us this additional payload they chose to reduce the axle ratings and payload and gave us only about 200 lbs of it. I therefore have no problems going 500 lbs over my "official payload"

Good luck to the OP on your decision. Without a doubt these new aluminum bodies F150's are not as stable in the wind as the heavier steel bodied ones; therefore either a fifth wheel or a travel trailer and the Propride or Hensley hitch will be necessary for an enjoyable towing experience.

johndeerefarmer wrote:
My '17 F150 ecoboost in Lariat trim has an 1800 lb payload. I have max tow, as well as airbags.
There are many small fivers around but some have high pin weights:

Grand Design 29rs which is what I have. UVW 8515 lbs, pin weight 1498 lbs
Grand Design has a new 230rl 1/2 ton towable, UVW is 6895 lbs, hitch is 1195 lbs,
Northwood Manufacturing Fox Mountain 235rls UVW 5860 lbs, pin weight 1375 lbs
Jayco Eagle HT 24.5ckts UVW is 7400lbs, pin is 1285 lbs
Rockwood 2440WS UVW is 6741 lbs, pin is 1134 lbs
Keystone Cougar XLite 25res UVW is 7035 lbs, pin is 1405 lbs
Cougar XLite 26rls is very similar as is 27rks.
Also look at the Cougar Half tons, 268rlswe, 279rkswe, 264rlswe

1800 lbs of CCC is barely enough for only a couple of those listed.
Those are dry pin weights. Your 29RS at 1500 lbs dry will put you over your CCC.
I have a Fox Mountain 235. Loaded its 1800 lbs on the pin and 9000 lbs. It's actually 7385lbs UVW with 1385lb dry pin. Add propane, batteries, 5th hitch and then load the front compartment up with camping gear and it will max out most all 1/2 tons before any passengers have entered the truck.

According to Fifth Wheel Safe Towing, the F150 3.5L Ecoboost correctly configured is the only half ton capable of towing fifth wheels. Towing 5th Wheels with half-ton

I towed my 10K fiver over 20K miles in 3 years with my 2011 Ecoboost Max Tow and never felt like I needed a bigger truck. At the minimum, get the Max Tow package for an extra 500 lbs of payload. Even better, get the HD Payload package for over 2000 lbs of payload.
Without the HD Payload package, you should add Helwig or Supersprings overloads or the Sumosprings and Bilstein 4600 or 5100 HD shocks.

Personally, I would and have gone with a bigger truck. However, I see lots of fivers and trailers with 150's on them. One gal I know has pulled a fiver all over the US and Canada with one. I believe she has a Rockwood.

troubledwaters wrote:
If your sticking with a F150/1500 pickup, you can tow a bigger TT than 5th wheel with any given truck.

True, but a 5er will be a NATURALLY more stable tow, and will tow shorter for the same size.

My '17 F150 ecoboost in Lariat trim has an 1800 lb payload. I have max tow, as well as airbags.
There are many small fivers around but some have high pin weights:

Grand Design 29rs which is what I have. UVW 8515 lbs, pin weight 1498 lbs
Grand Design has a new 230rl 1/2 ton towable, UVW is 6895 lbs, hitch is 1195 lbs,
Northwood Manufacturing Fox Mountain 235rls UVW 5860 lbs, pin weight 1375 lbs
Jayco Eagle HT 24.5ckts UVW is 7400lbs, pin is 1285 lbs
Rockwood 2440WS UVW is 6741 lbs, pin is 1134 lbs
Keystone Cougar XLite 25res UVW is 7035 lbs, pin is 1405 lbs
Cougar XLite 26rls is very similar as is 27rks.
Also look at the Cougar Half tons, 268rlswe, 279rkswe, 264rlswe