Forum Discussion

The_Lefthander's avatar
Mar 06, 2015

Tow Weight of a F-150

I have a 2014 Ford F-150, V6 EcoBoost, 3.55 Axle, and 157' Wheelbase. I am considering buying a 5th Wheel trailer with a total weight of 8600 lbs. I plan to take this trailer to the mountains of Utah/Arizona. Is my F-150 sufficient to carry this weight comfortably. I would appreciate if anyone has a similar truck could provide me some guidance.

35 Replies

  • The Lefthander wrote:
    I have a 2014 Ford F-150, V6 EcoBoost, 3.55 Axle, and 157' Wheelbase. I am considering buying a 5th Wheel trailer with a total weight of 8600 lbs. I plan to take this trailer to the mountains of Utah/Arizona. Is my F-150 sufficient to carry this weight comfortably. I would appreciate if anyone has a similar truck could provide me some guidance.


    When you say total weight of 8600, are you referring to the dry weight of the fifth wheel or gvwr of the fifth wheel?
  • The Lefthander wrote:
    The "Dry" Weight of the trailer is 7,669 lbs. and the hitch weight is 1321. According to the Specs. for the truck, the maximum towing capacity is 9500 lbs.
    Forget that max tow number, that is only half the story.
    More important - what is your payload rating?
  • The "Dry" Weight of the trailer is 7,669 lbs. and the hitch weight is 1321. According to the Specs. for the truck, the maximum towing capacity is 9500 lbs.
  • Probably not!
    Because most 1/2 tons are overloaded with anything bigger than a 5000# fiver hooked up. That's because, with a fifth wheel, they run out of Payload capacity long before they run out of Towing capacity.
    (Unless you have the 8600# GVWR HD with the Max tow package, which I doubt with a 3.55 axle).

    By way of explanation..........
    What does your "Tire and Loading information label say on your driver's door pillar as far as "Combined weights of occupant and cargo must not exceed xxxx pounds" say?
    That is your max payload rating.

    What do you mean by "Total weight of 8600#" for the fiver.
    Is this a dry weight, a loaded for travel weight or the GVWR?

    The fiver will put 20% of its weight on the truck.
    20% of the "Loaded for travel" weight is what you need.
    A hitch will typically weigh 150 -200#
    Add up the weight of occupants (driver, passengers, the dog etc).
    Add any other "stuff" in the truck (toolbox, cooler etc).

    IF (and it's a big IF) that total is less than that 'Must not exceed" number, then you are good to go and I will retract my first comment.
    Like most 1/2 tons, you will be further ahead with a travel trailer than a fiver because a TT puts a lot less weight on the truck.
  • What is the factory listed towing capacity of the TV?

    More important, determine the "payload" rating, as your Pin Weight is most important of the two.

    What you can tow & what you can carry are two different things.