CAN I TOW THIS?

June Lake Fan wrote:
Need so me advise, I have a 2007 F-150 5.4 4wd.
Iam looking to purchase a 2006 Yukon Wilderness 29ft
travel trailer says rated at 8400lbs.
Does anyone see any problem towing this with this
size truck?

Welcome to the forum !

A lot 'depends' on many attributes

First, decide if you believe in the ratings system of your OEM or not.
Many do not and/or don't understand how the ratings system works and
will advise you accordingly.

If you do NOT believe in the ratings system, then do whatever...but
note that you have taken the OEM's off the liability and warranty hook
if you are over their ratings

If yes, the read up and learn HOW2 figure out the simple math yourself
It will require, or more accurately, be best go load up your TV ready
to go camping and weigh it axle by axle

'High desert' might mean hills, steep ones, winds and rolling terrain

Depending on how your TV is optioned out and how you load it up...that
trailer WILL be at the limits of ratings to over

Toss in steeps, hills, head wind, etc and your TV will die sooner than
it would below the limit

Semantics...'can' means a riding lawn mower 'can' do it, but not well
'Should' or 'safely' or 'rated for' are better terms

If me, I'd not...been there...done that...to survive to tell/advise
others of the potential hazards of going at to over the ratings limits

Here is a diagram showing the relationships of all the component/system
ratings and how they work in concert

howmuchcanitwo howmuchshoulditow

2oldman wrote:

ed6713 wrote:
What does your owners manual say about the max. tow weight?

Yeah.

Sorry....MAX TOW Rating is a magical marketing number with numerous fine print caveats.

Tow Vehicles will reach vehicle ratings: 'actual' payload capacity, RAWR, Tire Load Ratings, GVWR before reaching MAX Tow rating.

In order to have a better understanding of what YOUR vehicle can tow.....load it up camp ready (you, fuel, passengers, all stuff that you would carry in truck) and go to a scale and get it weighed.
Weigh ticket will give you weights on front axle, rear axle and total vehicle weight.

Then look at the data plate on door/jamp.....it will give you ratings: GVWR, FAWR, RAWR.
Subtract weights on weigh ticket from ratings.......then you will know what you have.

That 8400# trailer will probably exceed your actual available weights....especially payload.

You probably can but you shouldn't and you won't like it if you do.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
This web page shows the towing guides.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

4X4 2008 F-150 with 5.4L V8 and 3.73 rear end has a GCVWR of 15,000 pounds, unless you have the Harley Davison Edition or Lariat that have a more limited 11,000 GCVWR. SO you can tow about 9,000 pounds if only the driver is in the truck. Add 300 pounds of passengers, and you will start to lower your tow rating - pound for pound.

You also have a cargo rating too. Say your GVWR is 7,500 pounds and the truck empty is 5,500 pounds. This limits you to about 2,000 pounds of hitch weight, passengers and driver.

A average weight on the hitch of a 8,400 pound trailer will be around 850 - 1,20 pounds. Much depends on how you load the cargo, how far back the axle is from the hitch (or from the rear of the trailer) and where the fresh water tank is located, and if that 60 gallon (480 pound) tank is full or not.

You should be fine.

Fred.

There are no 2007 F150s with a GVWR of 7500lbs. Except the HD.
Also the 8400lb number is DRY weight. It's gonna be over 9000lb on the road

So what does the Ford truck towing specs say? You are legally responsible for having an adequate tow vehicle. Here is the towing guide, read it: Ford towing guide

Half ton RVing is typically limited based on payload or receiver rating. 8000 pound loaded TT means about 1000-1100 pounds of tongue weight. Check that your receiver can handle that with weight distribution. Next check your payload as equipped by locating this sticker on driver's door and noting what your lists where mine says 2051:

Say you have 1400 pounds available. Family weighs 500 pounds and you'll have at least 200 pounds of stuff i nthe truck bed. That only leaves 700 pounds left for trailer tongue weight which is about 5500 pound loaded TT.

The more capable half tons still hit an RV limit of about 7000 pounds loaded before exceeding at least one of the truck's ratings. 6k dry is a comfortable limit for most.