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mcsandman's avatar
mcsandman
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014

Will this vehicle safely do the job?

Going to by a 2015 f150, which will weigh 5,000# and will tow in excess of 11,000#. I want to know, in ya'lls opinions, if that truck would do fine pulling a TT with these specs:
Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 5375
Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 670
Net Carrying Capacity: 3955
Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 6045
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 10000
Exterior Length (approx. w / hitch): 27'3"

66 Replies

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  • Mvander's avatar
    Mvander
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    Huntindog wrote:
    mcsandman wrote:
    Going to by a 2015 f150, which will weigh 5,000# and will tow in excess of 11,000#. I want to know, in ya'lls opinions, if that truck would do fine pulling a TT with these specs:
    Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 5375
    Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 670
    Net Carrying Capacity: 3955
    Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 6045
    Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 10000
    Exterior Length (approx. w / hitch): 27'3"

    First off, some of these numbers are unrealistic.

    You state the F150 WILL weigh 5000#. How do you know? Is that a brochure number of a base model? Or have you actually weighed the one you are buying? There can be a BIG difference.
    You state a 8200# GVWR for the F150. That would make for a 3200# cargo capacity for the F150.. That's not gonna happen.

    As for the TT. You need a minimum of 10% TW. So the brochure weight of 670 is barely enough. It needs to go up as you load it. Recommendations are 10 to 15% TW. The reason is that on a TT, weights can move around quite a bit during a trip.
    Freshwater gets used, and ends up in the waste tanks, food and drink the same. Propane gets used and disappears. clean clothing gets dirty and goes it the laundry chute. Some other things may just end up if different places than where they started. So it is pretty easy for a TT to have 15% TW at the some point of a trip, and much less at other points. Due to all the different TTs out there, coupled with all of the different usages, it is impossible for anyone to say just what your weights will be. So the safe assumption is to figure on 15% of the GVW... Which leads me to the next issue. This TT has a LOT of cargo capacity. Would this happen to be some sort of hybrid toyhauler?
    At any rate, you need to decide just what is the MOST that this TT will ever weigh, and use that as the basis for the 15% TW calculation.

    For illustration purposes a worst case would be 10000X .15 for 1500% of TW. Now IF this F150 really has 3200# of cargo capacity, it may work, if the receiver is up to the job, and Ford says that it's OK as far as other things like frame strength go.. But realistically this scenario would be firmly out of a 1/2 tons ability.

    So to really say for sure, you need more accurate numbers.

    FWIW.. When it comes to 1/2 tons, the factory tow rating can never be achieved towing a RV. It is a pie in the sky advertising number.


    Im not sure the numbers are too far off. I have a 14' f150 8200gvwr and it has 20# shy of 2600# payload according to the door sticker. If the new aluminium trucks are 4-500# lighter then 3100# payload is possible. Mine is a crew 6.5 box 2wd. The 4wd are a little heavier.
  • chr_'s avatar
    chr_
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    Hybridhunter wrote:
    Good Lord. Now an F150 can't tow a 6000# trailer. Don't we all have small man syndrome....
    The most basic (3.7l V6) F150 can tow that, and move it faster than the poster with the F350 7.3 diesel. And stop, turn, ride, and handle better.
    This site is has gotten so ridiculous.


    I tow a 25 ft 4,500 lb dry nomad (about 6,000 lbs wet) with a 4.6L V8 Explorer Sport Trac. Yeah, that F150 can do it. We pulled heavier trailers in the 80's with 150HP 4BBL 305's in half ton chevy trucks with no problems either...
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    mcsandman wrote:
    Going to by a 2015 f150, which will weigh 5,000# and will tow in excess of 11,000#. I want to know, in ya'lls opinions, if that truck would do fine pulling a TT with these specs:
    Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 5375
    Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 670
    Net Carrying Capacity: 3955
    Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 6045
    Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 10000
    Exterior Length (approx. w / hitch): 27'3"

    First off, some of these numbers are unrealistic.

    You state the F150 WILL weigh 5000#. How do you know? Is that a brochure number of a base model? Or have you actually weighed the one you are buying? There can be a BIG difference.
    You state a 8200# GVWR for the F150. That would make for a 3200# cargo capacity for the F150.. That's not gonna happen.

    As for the TT. You need a minimum of 10% TW. So the brochure weight of 670 is barely enough. It needs to go up as you load it. Recommendations are 10 to 15% TW. The reason is that on a TT, weights can move around quite a bit during a trip.
    Freshwater gets used, and ends up in the waste tanks, food and drink the same. Propane gets used and disappears. clean clothing gets dirty and goes it the laundry chute. Some other things may just end up if different places than where they started. So it is pretty easy for a TT to have 15% TW at the some point of a trip, and much less at other points. Due to all the different TTs out there, coupled with all of the different usages, it is impossible for anyone to say just what your weights will be. So the safe assumption is to figure on 15% of the GVW... Which leads me to the next issue. This TT has a LOT of cargo capacity. Would this happen to be some sort of hybrid toyhauler?
    At any rate, you need to decide just what is the MOST that this TT will ever weigh, and use that as the basis for the 15% TW calculation.

    For illustration purposes a worst case would be 10000X .15 for 1500% of TW. Now IF this F150 really has 3200# of cargo capacity, it may work, if the receiver is up to the job, and Ford says that it's OK as far as other things like frame strength go.. But realistically this scenario would be firmly out of a 1/2 tons ability.

    So to really say for sure, you need more accurate numbers.

    FWIW.. When it comes to 1/2 tons, the factory tow rating can never be achieved towing a RV. It is a pie in the sky advertising number.
  • Hybridhunter's avatar
    Hybridhunter
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    majorgator wrote:
    .....
    F150 pulls 6K pounds: sure, I just said my 1/2 ton Chevy could. I wouldn't want to do it with the V6 though
    Faster than my F350 w/ 7.3: NOT A CHANCE. My 7.3 is flat out fast. A few mods here and there, of course.
    Stop better than the F350: with trailer brakes there may not be much of a difference. But I still think the bigger truck with bigger/better brakes will stop better with load.
    Turn better than the F350: sure, smaller trucks turn better than big trucks
    Ride better than the F350: yep, the OBS F350 rides like a tank
    Handle better than the F350: can't buy that one either

    Point is, though, that yes, the F150 should be more than capable.


    I don't think 215/225hp is going anywhere all that quickly in a 6000# truck with a 4 speed auto. If you want to talk mods, well the sky is the limit and that's all whole Oprah right there. My father in law has a chipped 1999, so I know how they roll. No dig intended, your talking an industrial grade truck vs a consumer grade truck, for a consumer.....

    As for the handling, look, I've driven both, the F350 of that era is a sloppy handling, ill riding, noisy tank with questionable brakes and no ABS, Stability Control, traction control etc. The Brakes especially on the new F150 are in a different league with ABS and proportioning.
    There is no doubt the 350 is a tough, industrial truck, and in the world of logging, oil fields or industry will put up with stuff will ruin a 150. The right tool for the job, or the job will not be pleasant. And yes, the F350 is a mans truck, sissies need not apply. I drove a 350 for 7 years, newer hardware, but it increased my appreciation for right sizing for the job.
  • majorgator's avatar
    majorgator
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2014
    The most basic (3.7l V6) F150 can tow that, and move it faster than the poster with the F350 7.3 diesel. And stop, turn, ride, and handle better.

    Trying to figure out if this is a dig or not...so let me clear up some of these statements.
    F150 pulls 6K pounds: sure, I just said my 1/2 ton Chevy could. I wouldn't want to do it with the V6 though
    Faster than my F350 w/ 7.3: NOT A CHANCE. My 7.3 is flat out fast. A few mods here and there, of course.
    Stop better than the F350: with trailer brakes there may not be much of a difference. But I still think the bigger truck with bigger/better brakes will stop better with load.
    Turn better than the F350: sure, smaller trucks turn better than big trucks
    Ride better than the F350: yep, the OBS F350 rides like a tank
    Handle better than the F350: can't buy that one either

    Point is, though, that yes, the F150 should be more than capable.
  • Hybridhunter's avatar
    Hybridhunter
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2014
    Good Lord. Now an F150 can't tow a 6000# trailer. Don't we all have small man syndrome....
    The most basic (3.7l V6) F150 can tow that, and move it faster than the poster with the F350 7.3 diesel. And stop, turn, ride, and handle better.
    This site is has gotten so ridiculous.
  • easycamper's avatar
    easycamper
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2014
    mcsandman wrote:
    Going to by a 2015 f150, which will weigh 5,000# and will tow in excess of 11,000#. I want to know, in ya'lls opinions, if that truck would do fine pulling a TT with these specs:
    Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 5375
    Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 670
    Net Carrying Capacity: 3955
    Gross Dry Weight - Lbs.: 6045
    Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) - Lbs.: 10000
    Exterior Length (approx. w / hitch): 27'3"

    mcsandman wrote:
    Re: the question: Didn't mention the 5,500 lb. F150 i'm ordering will have a GVWR of 8200+ lbs. within a "maximum tow package," inclusive of "High capacity 17-inch, 7 lug aluminum wheels," if that means anything.

    Will this vehicle safely do the job? Yes.
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer III
    Jul 25, 2014
    Sounds like you are getting the elusive "max payload" package. Forget tow ratings, in the RV world trucks run out of GVWR before you ever get to the tow limits. You have to carry the hitch weight of the trailer plus passengers plus whatever you want to put ion the bed. That 670 dry hitch weight could easily be 850+ with full propane and an extra battery or two.

    If you plan to load the trailer and travel with kids in teh back seat and minimal stuff in the truck bed, you should be fine with that truck. If you have heavy stuff you plan on hauling in the truck bed while you are towing, 8200 lbs sounds like a lot but adds up quick.

    The new 150's are very capable trucks within their limits.

    Not sure if you have looked at 250's or not, but many times you can get a loaded 250 with an 8600 or 9200 GVWR off the dealer's lot for less that you would pay to special order the 150 with the HD payload package.
  • majorgator's avatar
    majorgator
    Explorer
    Jul 25, 2014
    While I'm a newbie to TT's, I'm not a newbie to heavy hauling. I'll be pulling my TT with the rig in my sig line, which is more than capable of handling anything I can throw at it. However, I also have a 2007 Chevy OBS 1/2 ton with the 5.3. I would not hesitate for 1 second to put a 6K TT behind it. 7K would be pushing it, but I'd still do it if needed. As long as the load is distributed correctly, you'll still have enough front braking power to be able to control it. You're not going fast anyway. And for the record, I have safely pulled in excess of 6K lbs with my 1/2 ton on multiple occasions. My 1 ton does it better, of course, but the 1/2 ton didn't back down.

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