F150 with a new Travel Trailer
I have a 2006 Ford F150 FX4 Supercrew with the following specs. 5.4L V8 Engine 3.73 gearing 139" wheel base 5509 curb weight 7200 GVWR 9200 Towing With passengers, bikes, wood, etc. I would ...
Forum Discussion
For the OP....
a 2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 139" FX4 4WD has a RGAWR of 4,200 lbs. Very typical for this mid-range half ton
Info found in a quick search at: Carconnection.com, 2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 139" FX4 4WD Specs
A rear curb weight on the rear axle is listed as: 2,338 lbs (note that the rear spring rating is less than the RGAWR...3,850 vs 4,200, whats up with that?)
4,200 - 2,338 = 1,862 lbs
OP says about 1,000 lbs in the truck. So that means it leaves about 862 lbs left for the WD Hitch system and tongue
A 7,700 lb GVWR trailer and if like most trailer OEM's, it will have about 10% tongue weight. Say it will weigh in around 7,000 lbs, which will have a tongue weight of around 700 lbs....or more depending on how the OP loads it, where the water (potable/grey/black tanks are located in reference to the trailer axles) and if that trailer OEM's tongue weight included the spare tire, propane tanks, propane fill, battery, etc
How much will those dealer installed things will weigh and eat into the 162 lbs left is only a guess
My guess is that trailer the OP is looking at will have an actual tongue weight around 1,000 lbs
The reserve the OP figures is based on the pull rating (GCWR), not the rear axle weight carry rating
Again, the wheels won't instantly fall off...they will fall/fail sooner
As for the comments of a 'C' clip semi-floater rear axle. Am another who has seen one come apart. In high school, built a 396 GTO for a buddy and on his first run on the local boulevard...the the guys sitting in the back seat informed buddy that his right rear wheel/tire was sticking out past the rear fender...he had busted the 'C' clip
Have seen a few busted 'C' clip trucks/SUVs sitting on the side of the road with the tire sticking out about 2 feet....and....several more axle/wheel/tires sitting on the highway side. Guess California has more than the folks who say they have never seen them....
My 1973 K5 was constantly wearing out the 'C' clip (replace about 4, IIRC), LS was breaking and the disc's were coming off in pieces and the rear bearing (always the right rear) was always coming apart (the cage distorted and allowed roller so come out...lucky they stayed in the axle tube. Change the whole suspension to a Dana 60 front and GM 14 bolt full floater
Just donated the 1980 silverado C10 Big Ten (the HD, higher rated half ton of it's day). 1 ton coil helper springs on top of the rear axle tube. Its rear right bearing was always allowing a roller to get loose. Stopped towing with it after almost killing myself and two workers up in the windfarm in Tehachapi (Arbutus) towing a +14,000 lb utility trailer....it became my rental property truck and hailed gravel/dirt/fire-wood/wood-pellets/etc. About 3,000 lbs in the bed, which had a steel cap (guessing about 200 lbs)
All a 'can do', but not for long...nor as safely if under the OEM's ratings...
a 2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 139" FX4 4WD has a RGAWR of 4,200 lbs. Very typical for this mid-range half ton
Info found in a quick search at: Carconnection.com, 2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 139" FX4 4WD Specs
A rear curb weight on the rear axle is listed as: 2,338 lbs (note that the rear spring rating is less than the RGAWR...3,850 vs 4,200, whats up with that?)
4,200 - 2,338 = 1,862 lbs
OP says about 1,000 lbs in the truck. So that means it leaves about 862 lbs left for the WD Hitch system and tongue
A 7,700 lb GVWR trailer and if like most trailer OEM's, it will have about 10% tongue weight. Say it will weigh in around 7,000 lbs, which will have a tongue weight of around 700 lbs....or more depending on how the OP loads it, where the water (potable/grey/black tanks are located in reference to the trailer axles) and if that trailer OEM's tongue weight included the spare tire, propane tanks, propane fill, battery, etc
How much will those dealer installed things will weigh and eat into the 162 lbs left is only a guess
My guess is that trailer the OP is looking at will have an actual tongue weight around 1,000 lbs
The reserve the OP figures is based on the pull rating (GCWR), not the rear axle weight carry rating
Again, the wheels won't instantly fall off...they will fall/fail sooner
As for the comments of a 'C' clip semi-floater rear axle. Am another who has seen one come apart. In high school, built a 396 GTO for a buddy and on his first run on the local boulevard...the the guys sitting in the back seat informed buddy that his right rear wheel/tire was sticking out past the rear fender...he had busted the 'C' clip
Have seen a few busted 'C' clip trucks/SUVs sitting on the side of the road with the tire sticking out about 2 feet....and....several more axle/wheel/tires sitting on the highway side. Guess California has more than the folks who say they have never seen them....
My 1973 K5 was constantly wearing out the 'C' clip (replace about 4, IIRC), LS was breaking and the disc's were coming off in pieces and the rear bearing (always the right rear) was always coming apart (the cage distorted and allowed roller so come out...lucky they stayed in the axle tube. Change the whole suspension to a Dana 60 front and GM 14 bolt full floater
Just donated the 1980 silverado C10 Big Ten (the HD, higher rated half ton of it's day). 1 ton coil helper springs on top of the rear axle tube. Its rear right bearing was always allowing a roller to get loose. Stopped towing with it after almost killing myself and two workers up in the windfarm in Tehachapi (Arbutus) towing a +14,000 lb utility trailer....it became my rental property truck and hailed gravel/dirt/fire-wood/wood-pellets/etc. About 3,000 lbs in the bed, which had a steel cap (guessing about 200 lbs)
All a 'can do', but not for long...nor as safely if under the OEM's ratings...
VA_Camper wrote:
I have a 2006 Ford F150 FX4 Supercrew with the following specs.
5.4L V8 Engine
3.73 gearing
139" wheel base
5509 curb weight
7200 GVWR
9200 Towing
With passengers, bikes, wood, etc. I would say that we have about 1000 pounds in the truck. Mainly because typically my wife and kids come later in a different vehicle. It could be more if we all ride together.
The trailer I am looking at has the following specs
2019 Heartland Pioneer 270BH
7700 GVWR
680 Hitch weight
32'-3" long back to tongue
The way I have it calculated is that I have combined trailer weight of 14189 with a GCWR of 16400. So, I have a reserved of 2211 pounds. So, numbers wise I should be fine. With a good WDH. I know the truck is capable. We have a 19 foot camper that it pulls fantastic. I have pulled a 24' camper with half ton trucks in the past without an issue. I am just wondering if it will pull it without damaging a 13 year old truck.
Opinions are welcome, please let me know what you think.
