Best TT for F150 Ecoboost Shortbox?

I would consider our 145" WB as a pickup standard wheelbase. Normally longer than many extended cab, standard box trucks (Except F150 Extended which is the same). The longest is normally an extended cab 8' box. Most 1/2 ton trucks don't offer 6.5' or 8' boxes on a crew cab. More are offering 6.5' boxes as Ford and the new 2014 Chevy.

You normally get into longer wheelbases on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks where you can get a 6.5' and 8' bed on a Crew Cab. After driving crew cab 8' bed trucks, these are normally only used in construction and farming as they are a real pain to park and maneuver in town. When towns put those turn lane white lines way back from the straight lane, it's for a reason. So those long WB trucks can swing out in front to get around the corner. BUT those city slickers think it's their right to go a full car length past the line. I usually am just forced to sit there until the idiot backs up or gets out of my way.

So if your use your truck for other things than just pulling your trailer, you may want to stick to a Crew Cab short bed (145" WB) or at worst a 6.5' bed (157" WB which can also be a problem if you use your truck as a daily commuter/driver).

For a 145" Crew Cab Short Box truck, I'd consider 31' (not box but full trailer length), the max I'd feel comfortable with. The extra long monsters are made to be pulled by much heavier and longer 3/4 or 1 ton trucks.

Also with trailer length, don't forget about needing to get it into the campsite. WIth my longer 29' trailer, I found that I can't get into a lot of campsites anymore. If I didn't need bunks for the kids, I would had kept it down to 26' or 27' max.

pappcam wrote:
I have a 2011 F-150 with the tow package and I tow the 27 foot trailer in my signature that weighs around 6000-6200 pounds loaded and it pulls it nicely, even in hilly terrain. I would not go heavier or bigger than that with my current truck.

27'?

Your link shows Forest River's specs and clearly states that the length is 31'11" or nearly 32'. A far cry from a much shorter 27'.

Hek, my trailer is 29' and yours is clearly longer.

Sorry, I was wrong. our trailer length is 33', not 31.5" that I stated above.

Sorry, I was wrong. ur trailer length is 33', not 31.5" that I stated above.

I'm finally going to throw my 2 pesos in...I have a 2010 F150 Supercrew 4X4 with tow package. I recently purchased a 2009 Laredo TT (31.5', hitch to bumper). It is listed as 6400 lbs with a payload of 1500 lbs. I have read most of these threads about towing limits, etc. Frankly, I'm almost afraid to hook up! Just kidding. We have a EZ Lift WDH with two friction sway bars.

We just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, from Nebraska. I was anxious about the trip...I have the 5.4L and 3.55, limited slip. I had absolutely no problems. We even had a time of 30-40 mph cross winds and no issues. I was proud as a peacock with how my little half ton did!

To add another note, we are headed out again next week-end and I do plan on going to our local weigh station to get actual weights because these threads have scared me to death! But our experience has been great so far!

Sounds like you're asking about how the wheelbase of the truck effects the length of the trailer you can safely tow due to sway, do you know the wheelbase of the truck you're thinking about? F150s range from 126" to 163", Here's a book that has a table on page 18 that shows safe trailer lengths vs wheelbase. Mine is 163" so they claim the truck can safely handle the sway of a 33' trailer, with the max tow and HD I can go up to 2200 lbs payload (not including what's in the truck) and a trailer max weight of 11100, yours will differ. Ford.com has the specs for the F150's.

2012 offered the HD payload package on a Crew Cab but it must have the 6.5' bed (157" WB). Also only axle available for this package is the limited slip, no locking axle option. Again, only tire options are the little LT245 17", no larger tire option. And no chrome option but the chrome side steps can be purchased separately if it's a must for your wife, as mine.

I wouldn't pull a 5th wheel with the HD payload option. While they up the rear axle to 4800 lbs, the front axle stays at a low 4050 lbs. That's only 150 lbs more than the standard 3900 lbs front axle of a 6.5' bed 7350 GVWR Ecoboost truck. For a 5th wheel, get a F250 and have some real axle ratings.

Also payload of the Crew Cab 4WD 5.5' 145" WB Ecoboost is only 7200 lbs while the 5.0L ups the payload 150 lbs to 7350 lbs on a similar Crew Cab 4WD 5.5' bed 145" WB truck.

If you must get an Ecoboost (which I don't recommend), make sure you get the Max Tow package which boosts GVWR on a 5.5' bed to 7650 lbs or 7700 lbs on a 6.5' bed.

Or get the newly offered awesome "XLT" 6.2L option which requires the Max Tow option. Unfortunately it is not available with the HD Payload option.

OR get a F250 6.2L truck if you need the payload and towing power and hitch weight rating (1250 lbs vs F150 Max Tow 1150 lbs vs F150 standard tow 1050 lbs. ), and have the best of all worlds. Now if you commute in your truck as me, the 6.2L is out of the question and why I have a 5.0L.

If you do get an Ecoboost, enjoy and good luck with it.

BTW, remember to keep your trailer weight in check. Hitch weight usually run at the average 13% but can be heavier and most put a "minimum" 1300 lbs of gear, water, clothes, etc in their trailers over the brochure dry weight.

With the standard tow 1050 lbs receiver hitch rating, you'll be limited to a loaded 8077 lbs (6777 lbs dry weight) travel trailer. With the Max Tow 1150 Receiver Hitch rating, you'll be limited to a loaded 8846 lbs (7546 dry weight) travel trailer. With a F250 1250 receiver hitch rating, you'll be limited to a loaded 9615 lbs 8315 dry weight) travel trailer. If you want a heavier trailer, better look at a F350 with a class 5 receiver hitch.

Now the above doesn't even consider payload so your trailer weight will definitely be lighter for the F150 and possibly for the F250 based on a full family and truck bed gear (not even including heavy firewood). With my trailer, I wouldn't want to be any heavier than 7000 lbs loaded so I can stay within all of my trucks ratings.

You don't really need HD payload unless you go to a light 5th wheel. And even there, many are overloaded.

A 4x2 SuperCab Eco with only Max Tow can have 2050# payload like mine. Most 5th wheels would overload my rear axle, even if the payload was ok. But with a TT, a WDH can move 1100# tongue weight around to the front axle and trailer axle to keep the rear axle above its GAWR.

Still, the HD payload is nice 'cause of the heavier suspension and LT tires alone, so definitely worth it if available in the model you want. I ended up beefing the rear springs, upgrading all 4 shocks and switching to LT tires on my FX2 to improve the ride when towing. And that's just with a 4000# loaded trailer and 1000# of gear. A stock F150 without HD payload has a pretty soft suspension.

A bigger trailer that we're thinking of upgrading to has a GVWR of 8100# and will probably weigh around 7600# loaded. Tongue will be about 950#.

The total increase in weight over what I have now (truck+trailer) will be about 32%. After towing our current load all over the continent, I think the truck will handle the heavier trailer just fine, but with more time spent in 5th & 4th gears. Don't think I would go any bigger/heavier though.

If you're looking for trailers that can go off-road, look at Northwood Mfg. (Nash, Artic Fox) and Outdoors RV Mfg. (Timber Ridge, Creekside, BackCountry). They all use Northwood frames with shock absorbers and have good ground clearance and are quite rugged, but heavy.

diver110 wrote:
On another thread, someone with the EB said he went from a TT to a FW due to towing issues. Would that make more sense?

I don't know if you were referring to me but I went from a TT to a FW because my TT was stolen. While looking for a replacement we found a FW that worked for us. However, towing the 35' TT was less than fun at times. It could have been misaligned axles, bent frame, I never found out.

I bought the EB to allow us to buy a larger TT or light FW. I towed a 26' (28.5' bumper to hitch) 5500# dry weight for a year with the EB with no problems. Solid as a rock. Then we went bigger.

I agree with finding the TT of FW you want and buy the TV that will work with it.

I have a 2011 F-150 with the tow package and I tow the 27 foot trailer in my signature that weighs around 6000-6200 pounds loaded and it pulls it nicely, even in hilly terrain. I would not go heavier or bigger than that with my current truck.