What does 11,000 lbs of towing capacity mean?

mcsandman wrote:
I'd like to buy a F-150 eco-boost while trying hard to understand all these spec numbers (for an Arctic Fox 27-5L): In a nutshell, can that truck safely do it?
Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 7782
Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 1868
Net Carrying Capacity: 3750
Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 9650
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 13400

While the F-150 can tow a "Lot" - it can not carry a lot in the bed, or take on a heavy pin weight of a fifth wheel. That is better left to the F-350 trucks with full floating rear axle, and 6,500 pound rear axle capacity.

If you are looking at a travel trailer, then the F-150 Ecoboost is a good pick for a 8,000 - 9,000 empty weight trailer, with about 1,000 pounds of expected "Loaded" hitch weight.

The F-150 maximum cargo rating is around 2,300 pounds. However that does not mean you can install a 150 pound fifth wheel hitch and then carry 2,000 pound pin weight without going way over the GVWR of the F-150, because normal families take people in the cab on vacations.

Manufactures rate the "Maximum towing" capacity without passengers, afterall you are asking about "Maximum" so they include minimum amount of weight in the new truck. No factory installed options, or extra weight of passengers.

The GVWR is much higher than the empty weight on this RV. That does sound unusual, I wonder how accurate the empty weight is.

Fred.

Hybridhunter wrote:

mbopp wrote:
Even with the Max Payload package the F150 won't cut it.

Some max payload packages have around 3000# capacity. So as the numbers go, a HD F150 Eco could definitely tow it.

Stopping? - The trailer brakes stop the trailer, and the truck brakes stop the truck
Power? - The Eco and the 6 speed puts as much or more power to the wheels than most HD gas trucks have EVER have. Only current trucks would have the same or more.
Handling? - Again, the HD comes with LT E rated tires, a thicker stronger frame, upgraded shocks and so on. Having driven a badly overloaded F150 HD in our fleet, I can attest to it's robust strength.

I am not suggesting it would be a good setup for full timers, but for the odd trip, it would probably work fine.

What is the max GCWR of the HD. 13,400 plus 6000 or so for the truck is most like way over the GCWR. Chris

That would be a great way to destroy a new F150 EB!
There are many on the forum that feel that for a 13,000 5er you need a 350/3500 DRW! This could be towed with a 350/3500 SRW, but never with a F150!! While that 5er is smaller Article Foxes are heavy and pin heavy!!!

lbrjet wrote:

Hybridhunter wrote:

mbopp wrote:
Even with the Max Payload package the F150 won't cut it.

Some max payload packages have around 3000# capacity. So as the numbers go, a HD F150 Eco could definitely tow it.

Stopping? - The trailer brakes stop the trailer, and the truck brakes stop the truck
Power? - The Eco and the 6 speed puts as much or more power to the wheels than most HD gas trucks have EVER have. Only current trucks would have the same or more.
Handling? - Again, the HD comes with LT E rated tires, a thicker stronger frame, upgraded shocks and so on. Having driven a badly overloaded F150 HD in our fleet, I can attest to it's robust strength.

I am not suggesting it would be a good setup for full timers, but for the odd trip, it would probably work fine.

Pay 35 grand for a stripped down regular cab 2 wheel drive pickup for an odd trip once in a while? Maybe you would, but I wouldn't.

Agreed.
Also the trailer brakes stop the trailer IF they are adjusted properly and IF the driver plans ahead so no emergency or even hard stops.

The eco does put out the power but small turbo charged engines have many small red hot parts going very fast in different directions. They have to be managed very well to put out that power without eating themselves up over time. For example keep the RPM way up, don't let it shift up and down on hills, hold it in gear until you are at the top or bottom and most importantly let the thing idle for 10 minutes or so after you get to your destination with a trailer so the turbo has a chance to spool down and cool down while getting lubrication.

The lighter 1/2 ton suspension will work but will be more susceptible to sway or a tail wagging the dog issue regardless of tires. Especially if the driver does anything erratic.

As I said I drive a 7k trailer with a Tahoe almost all in the Colorado Rockies but I am rarely relaxed and always planning way ahead for power, stops, turns etc. I have a lot of experience pulling trailers but would not recommend it for a new trailer driver with a new trailer. I'm looking forward to upgrading.

Hybridhunter wrote:

mbopp wrote:
Even with the Max Payload package the F150 won't cut it.

Some max payload packages have around 3000# capacity. So as the numbers go, a HD F150 Eco could definitely tow it.

Stopping? - The trailer brakes stop the trailer, and the truck brakes stop the truck
Power? - The Eco and the 6 speed puts as much or more power to the wheels than most HD gas trucks have EVER have. Only current trucks would have the same or more.
Handling? - Again, the HD comes with LT E rated tires, a thicker stronger frame, upgraded shocks and so on. Having driven a badly overloaded F150 HD in our fleet, I can attest to it's robust strength.

I am not suggesting it would be a good setup for full timers, but for the odd trip, it would probably work fine.

Pay 35 grand for a stripped down regular cab 2 wheel drive pickup for an odd trip once in a while? Maybe you would, but I wouldn't.

I would guess that the trucks no longer have a frontal area deduction because power is no longer a limiting factor in towing performance. In 92 a 454 or 460 probably made 230 horse a diesel made probably 180 or so. Now a base v6 makes 300 horse and a respectable towing engine is 350 to 400+. The limiting factor now has more to do with payload, stopping power, and stability than horsepower.

mbopp wrote:
Even with the Max Payload package the F150 won't cut it.

Some max payload packages have around 3000# capacity. So as the numbers go, a HD F150 Eco could definitely tow it.

Stopping? - The trailer brakes stop the trailer, and the truck brakes stop the truck
Power? - The Eco and the 6 speed puts as much or more power to the wheels than most HD gas trucks have EVER have. Only current trucks would have the same or more.
Handling? - Again, the HD comes with LT E rated tires, a thicker stronger frame, upgraded shocks and so on. Having driven a badly overloaded F150 HD in our fleet, I can attest to it's robust strength.

I am not suggesting it would be a good setup for full timers, but for the odd trip, it would probably work fine.

Think of this as a great opportunity to check out the Ram 2500 with the 6.4. ; )

Good luck,
Stu

dodge guy wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

dockmasterdave wrote:
For a travel trailer, reduce the manufacturer's rating by at least 1/3.

I've recently discovered how much wind drag isn't figured into those numbers. I'd guess a TT about 8,000 would be a comfortable tow.

Ford figures their tow capacities with a 60 SQ foot front wall..

Is that the entire front surface, or just what is protruding up around the cab?

This would be the entire face showing to the wind in front of you, truck, trailer etc. If the trailer falls with in the frontal area of the TV, then generally speaking, the trailer does not add a lot of resistance per say. If the trailer face is wider, or taller than the truck, that is the area to be used for frontal area.

An older setups I used to have, one was pulling an equipment trailer total 15K gcw, with 70 sq ft of frontal area, needed about 105hp to motor down the freeway at 60 mph. Change the frontal area to my TT ie 90 sq ft, I needed around 135hp to go 60 mph. Same 135hp as a 25K rig with 70sq ft of frontal.

In 92 when I bought my TT, in the rv dealers showroom was a tow rating poster for Ford trucks. You got the max tow rating of 10K at the time IF you kept the FA to under 80 sqft, If 81-100, it was deducted 2500 lbs to 7500, 101-120 was down to 5K lbs total trailer wt. For the Aerostar van and Ranger pickup, max was 5000 lbs to 60 sq ft, 61-70 reduced 1000lbs, and 71-80 reduced 2000 lbs, over 80 or 120 for these rigs was not recomended you tow a trailer with your Ford truck.

The new specs do not include this kind of deduction, nor do you get a deduction if you need to start on a grade steeper than 12%. My sister has an 18% grade in front of her house, my drive way in an older home was just over 20, a client had one that was 33%! One can not pull those hills at max gcwr without literally stalling your rig out, blowing up a trans etc..........

The tow ratings need to include deductions for this type of issue.

A fellow that I have not seen post in awhile, delivers RV trailers. WORST mpg is a sts TT with aluminum siding, then a fiberglass version, then a front bedroom slide 5W, then an aluminum sided non front bedroom slide 5W, smooth fiberglass non bedroom slide 5W, best was an airstream, or at least on par with the fiberglss sided mid sized 5W.

Marty

Fact is there's only 1 or 2 AF 5'ers that you can tow with a 3/4 ton truck. No way a 1/2 ton can tow either AF 5'er.