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4ofUs's avatar
4ofUs
Explorer
Jul 13, 2015

Double check the math. Not sure exactly how much I can tow!

Hey all, finally deciding to take the plunge and get ourselves a travel trailer. I have grown up camping in them, from travel trailers to fifth wheels to the classes, but now it's time I get my own.

I've spent all day doing the math on towing capability, and I was wondering if someone could double check my math and see if I'm doing this right.

I own a 2008 F250 5.4L (gasser, I know), Crew cab with tow package and 4.10 axl ratio. The numbers I have gathered are below:

GVWR: 9400 lbs
GCWR: 18,000 lbs
Max Loaded Trailer Weight: 11,700 lbs
RAWR: 6100 lbs

At this time I do not know the exact weight of my truck but I have no tool boxes or other additions.

I used the calculator at http://changingears.com, which told me that the max trailer weight should be around 8600. Adding in safety margins of 10% that would put me around 7740 max trailer weight.

At first I thought this was low, but the more I'm reading it might be accurate? I've tried to provide as much information as I could that I know, do these numbers make sense to anyone else? I've also seen plenty of people that towed more weight, but I plan on being safe and staying within my limits so I don't want to just overload it because I can.

19 Replies

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  • rvsixer's avatar
    rvsixer
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    2303lb payload less (4ofUs with gear and other******in cab guestimate of 853 lbs less guestimate WD hitch 100lb) = 1350 left for trailer tongue weight.

    1350lb tongue weight (and assuming it will be a max of 15% trailer weight) = 1350lb * 100/15 = 9000lb max trailer weight.

    Replace guestimates/assumptions with your own measured values for accurate numbers, but this should be in the ballpark. Personally with the gasser, as others have mentioned I would limit to well below 9000 lbs as well (speaking from experience having towed with gas and diesel).
  • handye9's avatar
    handye9
    Explorer II
    Jul 13, 2015
    4ofUs wrote:
    Thanks, one good thing is we live in south Florida so most of the driving will be flat, we'll have wind, but not much else!

    Is the 8000lb limiting factor on weight safety, or just getting horrible MPG? I mean, I would like to know how much I can safely tow minus all other considerations, and then take efficiency, MPG, and work my way down from there.


    The 8000lb is a recommendation due to the horse power and torque of the engine. It's more about how pleasant your towing experience will be. Your truck is actually rated to tow higher weight, but, it would struggle to do it.

    I have the same year/make/model/engine/gears. Dry weight on my trailer is 7200 lbs. Loaded weight is a little over 8000. The truck has been getting the job done, for seven years.

    If you're looking at travel trailers, there are lot of choices in 7000 lb unloaded weight range. When you load it up (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camping gear, BBQ, water, groceries, etc) for camping, it will be around 8000 with about 1000 lbs of tongue weight.

    My truck likes gas, no matter what I'm doing with it. Unloaded it gets 12 MPG, maybe 12.5 with a tail wind. With the trailer it gets 9 - 10 MPG.
  • 4ofUs's avatar
    4ofUs
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    MFL wrote:
    I think you will have enough payload, the 250 makes a good TV for a TT. I think the limiting factor will be the 5.4 engine. It will help to have the 4.10 gears, but in the wind, and big hills, maybe mountains, you will be under powered with a TT much over 8,000 lbs. loaded to camp.

    The 5.4 is a good engine, just not a strong puller.

    Jerry


    Thanks, one good thing is we live in south Florida so most of the driving will be flat, we'll have wind, but not much else!

    Is the 8000lb limiting factor on weight safety, or just getting horrible MPG? I mean, I would like to know how much I can safely tow minus all other considerations, and then take efficiency, MPG, and work my way down from there.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jul 13, 2015
    I think you will have enough payload, the 250 makes a good TV for a TT. I think the limiting factor will be the 5.4 engine. It will help to have the 4.10 gears, but in the wind, and big hills, maybe mountains, you will be under powered with a TT much over 8,000 lbs. loaded to camp.

    The 5.4 is a good engine, just not a strong puller.

    Jerry
  • 4ofUs's avatar
    4ofUs
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    westend wrote:
    4ofUs wrote:
    westend wrote:
    What is your payload rating?
    It will have more effect on what you can tow than anything else.


    If that is the max payload capacity, I just looked it up and it showed 2850.

    Do you have the camper package? Regardless, the weight sticker should be on the driver's side door jamb. F250's are all over the map, depending on what you have. I have 4x4 and that derates the cargo capacity significantly. I also have a 3.73 rear end so my towing weights will be less than yours.


    Ok went outside and look, max payload capacity was 2303 lbs (max capacity of all cargo and passengers).
  • TomG2's avatar
    TomG2
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    You have a chassis capable of towing more, but I would limit loaded trailer weight to under 7,000 pounds with that engine. I owned three late model 5.4's and they are just okay at that weight.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    4ofUs wrote:
    westend wrote:
    What is your payload rating?
    It will have more effect on what you can tow than anything else.


    If that is the max payload capacity, I just looked it up and it showed 2850.

    Do you have the camper package? Regardless, the weight sticker should be on the driver's side door jamb. F250's are all over the map, depending on what you have. I have 4x4 and that derates the cargo capacity significantly. I also have a 3.73 rear end so my towing weights will be less than yours.
  • 4ofUs's avatar
    4ofUs
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    westend wrote:
    What is your payload rating?
    It will have more effect on what you can tow than anything else.


    If that is the max payload capacity, I just looked it up and it showed 2850.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2015
    What is your payload rating?
    It will have more effect on what you can tow than anything else.

    Edit: According to the Fleet towing guide you should have around 2200 lbs of cargo capacity. Subtract occupants, gear, and the weight of a distribution hitch, and the remainder will be the maximum tongue weight of the trailer.

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