I have a 2016 Ford F-150 4 x 4 with 2.7L Eco Boost engine, 3.73 axle, and trailer tow package. GCWR is 13,000#, GVWR is 6500# and tow capacity is 8,000#. The trailer I am looking at is 6,500#s dry/empty. Weight of all passengers, full gas tank plus stuff in truck bed should not exceed 855#s and no more than 500#s added to trailer while towing. All of the numbers keep me under the 13,000# GCWR. Can I tow this trailer safely or should I be looking for a lighter trailer?

Loaded that trailer will be pretty close to 8,000# or more. This means a tongue weight of over 1,100# {including the WDH}. Your hitch probably is not rated for that and you'll probably be over your rear axle limits as well. The biggest problem will be running out of payload. Most 4X4 half tons are notoriously short in that category{especially if they are crew cabs}, and very few can actually tow their "towing capacity" a nonsense number {much like dry weights}. Having 1,100+# of tongue weight doesn't leave much for bodies and gear so unless you are prepared to leave just about everything/everyone home.... yes, you might want to consider a lighter trailer.As always.... Opinions and YMMV.:C

You could put a 7000# car on a car dolly and tow that, tongue weight should be fairly light. Tow ratings are just that, tow ratings.. what you can tow.. NOT what you can carry which has to be factored in.It's not really a nonsense number IMO, just that people misinterpret what it means (and I'm sure the auto industry doesn't help with that).

Keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating for best results.

Unless you get the truck weighed in camping configuration with the hitch, gear and passengers you're only guessing at the weight.My bet is you'll be over on the rear axle.Engine-wise, I've got the 3.5EB and would not want anything less for the TT in my sig.

Towing Advice | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

braindead0
Explorer
Sep 27, 2016
You could put a 7000# car on a car dolly and tow that, tongue weight should be fairly light. Tow ratings are just that, tow ratings.. what you can tow.. NOT what you can carry which has to be factored in.

It's not really a nonsense number IMO, just that people misinterpret what it means (and I'm sure the auto industry doesn't help with that).
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Sep 27, 2016
Loaded that trailer will be pretty close to 8,000# or more. This means a tongue weight of over 1,100# {including the WDH}. Your hitch probably is not rated for that and you'll probably be over your rear axle limits as well. The biggest problem will be running out of payload. Most 4X4 half tons are notoriously short in that category{especially if they are crew cabs}, and very few can actually tow their "towing capacity" a nonsense number {much like dry weights}.

Having 1,100+# of tongue weight doesn't leave much for bodies and gear so unless you are prepared to leave just about everything/everyone home.... yes, you might want to consider a lighter trailer.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

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