So Confused

Bumpyroad wrote:
the only weight figure that counts is the original dry weight, plus liquids, plus stuff. if that is under the max tow weight by an adequate amount, you are good to go.
don't let a high GVWR deter you.
JMHO
bumpy

That's not true at all. You have to meet the TV GVWR and the GCVWR. Both are important. Further, you should not exceed 90% of either. Max tow weight/rating means nothing.

I have a 2012 3.7 and a R-Vision 189 that weighs empty around 2600 lbs.
I towed it to Charleston S.C. and back. No W/D but I do have a anti sway bar.
Had to play with the sway bar a bit, but all went well. We never got below 11 mpg and got as high as 14mpg. Our truck is 126" wheel base.
I was used to pulling a fifth wheel with a 7.3 but I am very happy.
Just my .02

Westend is correct the max towing is 9800 lbs. with a WD Hitch. It is 5800 without a WD hitch. As also stated, you will most likely run out of cargo capacity before you run out of towing capacity.

The sticker on my F-150 4x4 says Max Cargo is 1411 lbs. This is the important number!!!

The tongue weight on my 5000 lb. TT is 487 lbs. unloaded, add 1000 lbs. food water and other supplies and I now have almost 600 lbs. on the tongue figured at 10%.

Yes the WD hitch does increase the allowable tongue weight but it does not increase the Max Cargo. I add 500 lbs. for two adults and a dog and 200# for my truck cap and I have used 1300 of my 1411 max cargo. This is the dilemma that most people with kids and toys face.

Horsepower can also be a factor; my previous F-150 has a small 200 hp engine which made almost any hill a chalenge.

I hope we have informed not confused. If not ask again, understanding this stuff is important.

A 300 hp vehicle can EASILY handle a little bitty 6000 lb travel trailer.

This model has 3.73 gears and more power than the mighty big blocks of the 90's.

Yea, it's weak. Lol lol lol.

scool191 wrote:
I am so confused by all of this.

I am looking to buy a new travel trailer. I drive a 2011 Ford F150 Supercrew V6 3.73. Per Ford the max tow weight is 5700 pounds.

The trailers I'm looking at have a unloaded weight of 4500 pounds. They very in Grvw from 5800-6800.

So can I get these trailers based on UVW? Or should I look at GRVW.

scool191, this page should help you get started:
http://www.learntorv.com/p/what-can-i-tow.html

APT wrote:
While payload is often the limit for half tons, I think it will be acceleration and power for your truck.

Concur.

Not sure what the HP output of the OP's engine is, but 5700 lb tow capacity is what it is. Our own BTDT experience:

We used to tow a 20' TT with a loaded weight of 5000 lbs with an F150 with a V6 (non-ecoboost). It was rated to tow 5500 lbs, not far off the OP's capacity. The TT had a UVW of 3800 lbs and ended up weighing 5000 lbs after all mods and loaded up for camping.

The combination towed like a pig. It was slooow to accelerate. Driving into strong headwinds was awful - it could not maintain a steady speed. Worst of all, on steep hills, it could only make 30 - 35 mph flat out, pedal to the metal. On the interstate on steep sections, we were on the right shoulder with the semis crawling up as low as 30 mph. The engine was always running at high rpms to make enough power. Gas mileage was terrible and as low as 5.6 mpg. On an 1800 mile trip, we had to stop at 3 Ford dealerships to get engine work done because it was so over-worked. The down-time put a big damper on the trip too.

Don't want to rain on someone's parade, but I see several options IMO - only go on short local trips and avoid hills; get a very small & light TT or pop-up; upgrade the truck. If the OP intends to get into frequent camping, I would upgrade the truck and even go to a 3/4 ton like we did. Our 20' TT (brand new) only lasted 1 season and we upgraded to a 29 footer along with a 3/4 ton truck. Now on our 2nd season with a 3/4 ton (and 3rd TT) and love it. We even get better gas mileage with a V10 and heavier truck and heavier TT.

Regardless of a truck and engine's spec's and payload capacity, towing near the max. tow capacity is just not a great idea.

donn0128 wrote:


Stop putting words in my mouth would you! I never said that. I was saying that since the OP does not have a trailer yet and is trying to make an educated guess what he might safely tow to use the GVWR

so if the dry weight (actual) of a TT is 3,000 lbs. under his towing capacity and the TT has a GVWR of 1,000 lbs. over his rated towing capacity you think that he should eliminate that trailer?
I don't think so.
bumpy

I don't think you are going to be too happy pulling a 5000 pound trailer with a V-6 F-150
I had a F-150 V-6, and when we went to a 5000 pound trailer, It didn't cut it and I had to trade up to a V-8.

Jack L

I just went through this with my 2010 F150 this past fall - let me share what happened (nothing catastrophic)

There are a few different numbers you need to know. First, there is the weight on the VIN plate on the camper (mine is on the outer shell). It said something like 5300 (i forget offhand, but could look if you need it). I said OK, 5300, my truck lists 8600 as the max, cool, I am WELL in the safe zone..

Nope.

Inside the cabinet door in the camper, there was a notification page. Basically, it said that the 5300 was without anything installed - like tanks, A/C, fridge, etc. In actuality, it was 7130. Guess when that nugget of info hit me? Yup, after the papers were signed, and I had just gotten home from a white-knuckle ride from the dealer.

Oh, and that 7130 does not include food, clothing, gear, water, propane, anything. Mind you, this is on a 32' Prowler, with only one slideout.

I tried running the F150 and yes it worked, but it worked HARD - was too sluggish to get on/off ramps, not able to safely accelerate onto roads, etc.

After one trip I upgraded the tow vehicle to an F350 diesel - is it for everyone? No, but I like diesel trucks personally, and I got it for a steal. But be careful. Don't get sucked into the math game. It's in the salesman's best interest to make the numbers work in his favor, and since "Ford (or Chevy, whatever) says it can handle that" is an excuse you can't hang on his neck, only you suffer.

In my case, the F150 worked WAY too hard. Brakes overheating, engine running warm, suspension way too soft. I could have kept it, but I would have ended up burning it up too fast. So far this year I have been out twice, and I barely know the trailer is back there, and we have a 1600 mile trip coming up!

scool191 wrote:
I am so confused by all of this.

I am looking to buy a new travel trailer. I drive a 2011 Ford F150 Supercrew V6 3.73. Per Ford the max tow weight is 5700 pounds.

The trailers I'm looking at have a unloaded weight of 4500 pounds. They very in Grvw from 5800-6800.

So can I get these trailers based on UVW? Or should I look at GRVW.

Guessing trailer weights for F150's, is a scary proposition. Ford built so many different versions. Some with payloads down at 750 lbs, and some over 3000 lbs. Some with tow capacities over 10,000 lbs and some down around 5000 lbs.

That 5700 lb tow capacity number, is only one of the several ratings on your truck. It also indicates your payload may be somewhat low. You need to find out what the rest of your ratings are, and ensure your loading and towing weights stay under all of them. Read the fine print in Ford's towing information. You'll see statements similar to "when properly equipped", "max tow capacity is limited to the weakest link in vehicles ratings", or "towing weights must be within all ratings of the vehicle".

GCVWR - Is combined max weight rating for truck and trailer. Subtract 5700, from this number, and you will probably see your GVWR number.

GVWR - Is max weight on the truck.

Cargo Carrying Capacity (payload) - Is max weight for added accessories (bed liners, bed covering, nerf bars, etc), fuel, passengers, cargo, weight distribution hitch, and trailer tongue weight.

Hitch rating - Is max load on the veicle's hitch, with or without weight distribution.

Should be a sticker on your drivers side door post. It will show tire and loading information.

Find out your payload (it varies from one truck to another) number or cargo carrying capacity (CCC). Take your specific payload number, then figure everything that has been added (aftermarket accessories, bed liner, etc) to the truck, subtract its weight. Then figure everything and everybody, you plan to load into the truck, subtract that weight. Then subtract 100 lbs for a weight distributing hitch. Nobody here, can tell you what that number is going to be. We have no clue, as to what or who you will be carrying, what may have been added to your truck, or what your actual payload number is.
Whatever is left, is payload available for trailer tongue (hitch) weight. You need an available payload number in the area of 750 lbs to handle the trailers you are looking at.

When you know what your available payload is, divide that number by .13. The result is a ball park of what loaded (not UVW) trailer weight will put you at max weight on the truck. If that number is 400 lbs, your max loaded trailer would be about 3077 lbs (400/.13).

Next, check the hitch itself. Look for a sticker, or a stamp, showing its weight ratings. Its not unusual to see a hitch rating that is one tenth of your tow capacity number. In your case, that could be 570 lbs.

Too many people (including RV sales eople), get tunnel vision when looking a max tow capacity numbers. They forget about the fact that everything and everybody loaded into or on the truck, takes away payload and tow capacity, pound for pound, and normally, payload is gone first.

Now for the trailers:

GVWR - Gross weight on the trailer

UVW - Unloaded weight (before dealer installed options, batteries, and propane)

Unloaded hitch weight - Also before the dealer touches the trailer.

Hitch weight - Also termed tongue weight. Averages 12 - 13 percent of loaded trailer weight.

Average camping load (pots and pans, dishes, bedding, camping gear, groceries, and water) runs about 700 to 1000 lbs.

NOTE: Towing at or above max weight (doesn't matter if it is payload or tow capacity weight), can be very unpleasant. Possibly unsafe.