Bellavance wrote:
My new trailer (Keystone 26RBS) weighs only 6600 lbs + cargo.
I’m about to order a 2021 Ford F-150 equipped as follows:
V6 3.5 engine
Standard (not Max) Trailer Towing Package.
This truck has a 10-speed auto transmission, and can tow 10,500 lbs and the same 16,200 lbs GCWR with EITHER the 3.31 or 3.55 AXLE RATIO, according to Ford.
I was thinking about ordering the 3.31 axle ratio for fuel economy on flat highways, and pulling the trailer in 9th or 8th gear if necessary, which would raise the axle ratio as needed.
Can anyone help with this decision?
Thanks.
Pierre
You don't mention what cab size and trim level you are planning on buying, those are very important factors that will greatly affect your actual towing capacity.
Towing capacity is limited to the leftover available payload you have when you subtract the curb weight, passenger weight, fuel weight and OPTIONS above the BASE model level of the vehicle.. Factory and aftermarket options add more curb weight and that reduces your over all payload.
The numbers you fished out are for BASE model (regular cab, short bed, 4x2, XL trim).
Move to Crew cab, long bed, 4x4, Platinum trim and you WILL need Max Tow/Payload option in order to get you a high enough payload for the trailer weight you are planning..
You are starting out pretty darn heavy at 6600 lbs EMPTY, put in say 1,000 lbs of cargo in the trailer, plus add a passenger or two to the vehicle and perhaps a few items in the truck bed and you could be easily north of 8,000 lbs..
Trailer tongue becomes "cargo" of your tow vehicle, 6600 lbs of empty trailer at 15% tongue weight is 990 lbs alone that your truck needs to be able to support.
7600 lbs (6600+1000 of cargo in trailer) at 15% is 1140 lbs of cargo needed.
So, 1140 lbs of trailer tongue, add 100 lbs for WD hitch, driver plus passenger 400 lbs, 200 lbs of stuff in the bed..
That comes to 1840 lbs of "cargo" your truck needs to handle..
A loaded Crew cab F150 Platinum 4x4 without Max Tow/Haul option might get you barely 2000 lbs of cargo.. In times past you were lucky to get 1600 lbs of cargo in that configuration..
I might also add, for the money you are about to part with on a F150, you might be able to get into a pretty nicely setup F250 and enjoy considerably MORE cargo capacity for nearly the same amount of money..
A fully loaded Platinum F150 4x4 (Eco, Max tow/Payload and all the bells and whistles) can go for more than $60K US.
The trick here is ordering exactly the way you want with only the optional items you want.
I ordered a 2020 F250 Basic XLT package Super cab short bed with 6.2, 7.3 ratio with electronic locking axle. This combo gives me 3800 lbs of cargo. Cost out the door with no trade in was under $45K US
Yeah, I get it, mileage may not be as good empty, but it IS better than you think.. Currently my 2020 is getting me 16.5 empty, have seen that as high as 17.0.. At 16.5 MPG, my 34 gallon fuel tank gets me around 500 miles per fill up..
When towing the mileage on my 2020 drops to 10-11 MPG but so will the Eco F150..
Eco F150 might get you 20-22 MPG empty AND you will need to drive it like you are walking on egg shells to keep out of the turbo to get that.. so we are talking not all that much more cost to drive per mile in a F250 and you do not have to get 20" tires to get nearly 4000 lbs of cargo capacity..
