Towing a Toy Hauler with a F150 Ecoboost

[MarkandDeb]

Ok I know I am going to open a can of worms here. If you have not driven this truck your missing out. I have never experienced a truck with this kind of power or acceleration. Yes the truck is a 2013 F150 Ecoboost. The towing numbers are a little different depending on where you are getting them from but here they are;
The truck weighs 5400, GCVWR is 14000 in the owners manual but 15000 on the Ford tow guide. We are in love with a KZ 312 Toy Hauler (we have a Harley) My wife prefers the TT over a 5th wheel and although I know the 5th wheel tows much better I have been pulling around 5-6K TT for about 25 years now. Never had a problem and it does not bother me. The KZ 312 weighs in at 6800 and is 34' long. It is rated to take on another 2500 but we will never load that much. Our added loaded weight will be about 1000.
Now yes according to Ford we could safely tow this vehicle, but we are getting close to it's max tow rating. Now you could say just find a smaller lighter TH but if you have looked at them most are quite small inside due to the garage. We would have a hard time going any smaller and this model has it all for only 6800lbs. And the truck is going no where without me so I hope you can see our dilemma. Lets hear your opinions is this simply too much for the truck or ok? We tow a 5K TT now and I can hardly even tell it's behind me.But this new TH would be about 3000 more when loaded and about 6-7 feet longer.

[Y-Guy]

And we're done here. Horse has been beat to death.

Thread Closed

[sptrucksbyed]

MarkandDeb wrote:
People just can't help taking jabs at me because I opened a discussion on F150 towing. Do you really think I'll let someone take a jab at me and not respond??
What really pisses me off is when certain people say ******* about killing someone because I am unsafe. It's real easy for you guys with big bucks and big rigs to pick on the guys with the little trucks isn't it? Am I now taking a jab at you guys? yes I am, because I don't hear anything negative from the guys in my category. For the 3rd time, if I had a fat wallet of course I would buy a diesel! They are the biggest baddest trucks on the road. I already know that!
You don't don't need to go negative just because I can't tow what you do. I maxed my limited budget on a loaded F150. I'm so very sorry that I'm not better off! As an inspector your right maybe I shouldn't ask here, I know safety better than most. Just thought I would try a forum and talk trucks with a few guys, now I know that was a mistake. When you tell me that I'm putting someone in danger it's you stepping over the line. I would not even consider what I'm doing if I thought for 1 second that it was a dangerous move And yes I probably know better than anyone. I've already towed the trailer home and it presented 0 problems. On my usual trips I will only be loading about 1K in the camper. I never carry water and suggest you don't either. It makes for an unstable load. Fill it if you must when you get close to your destination. If my TH ever presents a problem I'll sell the trailer. This is the 3rd one from the same dealer. I'm sure they wold love to sell me another. But from what the professionals have said it is very doubtful I will have a problem. I thought maybe I could have a constructive conversation on this forum, but unfortunately a few select had to make it personal. If you knew me better you would know I'm not the kind of guy you get away with making smart ass below the belt comments, or tell me I'm unsafe. Again I'm finding out some people talk big when they are behind a keyboard. Your absolutely right I don't need you guys to help me make a decision, just thought it would be nice to talk it over with a few new friends. Just wanted a friendly discussion. From the beginning I asked to keep this civil, but some just can't help themselves. Don't ask me not to respond when someone goes negative.

YOU ASKED , WE TOLD , YOU DON'T LIKE IT

[Dannyabear1]

A Harley owner who wants a trailer to haul it in........nuff said!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Francesca_Knowl]

I'm sorta confused as to the level of belligerence yer comin' off with, O.P. MarkandDeb. Below is the question contained in your opening post:

MarkandDeb wrote:
Lets hear your opinions is this simply too much for the truck or ok? We tow a 5K TT now and I can hardly even tell it's behind me.But this new TH would be about 3000 more when loaded and about 6-7 feet longer.

Unless they've been removed by a Mod, I don't see anything equating to feelings of superiority in the responses to the question so far...

No offense intended, but:

Was that a real question, or were you just itching for a fight????

[MarkandDeb]

To janojeno I know exactly what the the trailer is suppose to weigh. When I get to a scale in the spring I will know exactly, but my last 2 KZ trailers were with 200 lbs. Can't speak for other manufacturers.

[MarkandDeb]

People just can't help taking jabs at me because I opened a discussion on F150 towing. Do you really think I'll let someone take a jab at me and not respond??
What really pisses me off is when certain people say ******* about killing someone because I am unsafe. It's real easy for you guys with big bucks and big rigs to pick on the guys with the little trucks isn't it? Am I now taking a jab at you guys? yes I am, because I don't hear anything negative from the guys in my category. For the 3rd time, if I had a fat wallet of course I would buy a diesel! They are the biggest baddest trucks on the road. I already know that!
You don't don't need to go negative just because I can't tow what you do. I maxed my limited budget on a loaded F150. I'm so very sorry that I'm not better off! As an inspector your right maybe I shouldn't ask here, I know safety better than most. Just thought I would try a forum and talk trucks with a few guys, now I know that was a mistake. When you tell me that I'm putting someone in danger it's you stepping over the line. I would not even consider what I'm doing if I thought for 1 second that it was a dangerous move And yes I probably know better than anyone. I've already towed the trailer home and it presented 0 problems. On my usual trips I will only be loading about 1K in the camper. I never carry water and suggest you don't either. It makes for an unstable load. Fill it if you must when you get close to your destination. If my TH ever presents a problem I'll sell the trailer. This is the 3rd one from the same dealer. I'm sure they wold love to sell me another. But from what the professionals have said it is very doubtful I will have a problem. I thought maybe I could have a constructive conversation on this forum, but unfortunately a few select had to make it personal. If you knew me better you would know I'm not the kind of guy you get away with making smart ass below the belt comments, or tell me I'm unsafe. Again I'm finding out some people talk big when they are behind a keyboard. Your absolutely right I don't need you guys to help me make a decision, just thought it would be nice to talk it over with a few new friends. Just wanted a friendly discussion. From the beginning I asked to keep this civil, but some just can't help themselves. Don't ask me not to respond when someone goes negative.

[Texas_Hauler]

I have a 2013 MXT 312 and we have really enjoyed it. I pull it with a 3/4 ton and a Reese dual cam hitch and it tows great. Would I pull it with a 1/2 ton truck, no way.

[Flanz]

MarkandDeb wrote:
keep your offensive comments to yourself. People like you are why some people don't like and won't go on these forums. Your welcome to give your opinion but don't play tough guy from behind a keyboard OK? I'm 56 and have been pulling TT for the past 27 years without an accident. I'm also a Commercial Vehicle inspector. I've done a ton of research and spoken to a lot of well informed people. I'll take the advise of Ford and the RV retailer over yours any day thank you very much.

Hmmmm, your 57yrs old, so that automatically makes you KNOW everything? Sounds like most of the younger generation coming up today! You also state that your a "Commercial Vehicle Inspector", so why would you need the opinion of this group? Have done "tons of research and have spoken to a lot of well informed people". Then why are you here? You have obviously made your mind up. I see no point in wasting your time here.....Just do it and report back here on your findings. OR - you just don't understand what has been told to you so you need to keep reading here from people you don't know and are most likely guessing at your situation. I'll state it again, 80 - 90% of the people who have some form of an RV are OVERWEIGHT and either don't know it OR think that it's okay. And yes this is what I've read and heard - I only go out on weekends and it's not like I drive 300 or 400 miles to get where I'm going.

If your overweight, you'll be putting many peoples lives in jeopardy. Don't just go onto forums looking for the blessings of people you don't know. And calling people Aholes and names shows doesn't help your case.....

-paul

[upontheridge]

I think the truck manufacturers and the RV folks both do a big disservice to the consumer with all the 1/2 towable ads and pushing Towing capacity. I bought my F150 thinking I could tow 11,000+ pounds and I guess I could if I was pulling a tow sled tied to a cable!!!. I had thought about a F250 but just didn't want to drive the F250 on a daily basis and never thought I would ever approach the max tow capacity of the F150 and I never will. However, once I started really looking at trailers and all of the specs on payload, tongue weight, hitch weight, and all of the posts on forums like this I became really frustrated that maybe I had bought the wrong truck. I had to search long and hard for a solution and was fortunate that the KZ MXT 303 would meet my minimum needs for hauling and with a GVW of 8,800 would keep me just inside all of the legal weight specs. Yes I can't put anything in the truck other than myself, wife and son but it works and none of us can gain any weight. If I had it to do over again, yes I would have probably gone with a bigger truck. But I trade vehicles about every 6 to 10 years so no way was I going to dump a 6 month old F150 that is a great truck to move up to the F250.

[danojeno]

M&D, you don't even know what your trailer weight is. If you don't know, how is the mechanic going to know? And yes, videos lie all the time...not saying the ones you watched did, but.... I honestly don't care if you tow it with a Frontier, but be honest about what was said here. Bottom line is that the truck will probably pull the trailer just fine but your attitude is a sour one. A couple of diesel jabs sent you over the edge.

[Shawnattitude20]

Ah yes, the battle of the trucks...and yes it typically does open a can of worms.

Here is some real life experience-

My trailer-2013 Attitude 27CBG toyhauler. Length 32'. Claimed dry weight 6800 and tongue weight 1050. Loaded with 100 gallons of water, a couple quads, food, etc probably looking at 9000 plus/minus.

First tow vehicle-2011 Ford F150 Eco with max tow. Rated at 11300 tow capacity.
Second tow vehicle-2014 RAM 2500 Diesel. Rated at 17000 tow capacity

On the F150, I used a WD hitch with sway control. I also put E rated tires on it. I did not have any issues power wise. The twin turbo V6 generates great power. Where I did notice concern was in windy areas and when being passed by semis-a few white knuckle situations to say the least. Can the F150 handle it? Yes, but it is a lot of weight behind a 1/2 ton truck and there is, in my opinion, increased opportunity for a lost control situation at the weight I was towing.

On the RAM, again I use a WD hitch and sway control. In comparing the 2, I feel the bigger tow vehicle handles the weight better without feeling the trailer pushing the truck around. Torque wise, hard to beat 800 lbs but comparing a gas turbo V6 vs a Cummings diesel is like comparing apples to oranges.

So why did I replace the F150 with the RAM? The F150 developed a whining noise upon acceleration and after having it at 2 different Ford dealers for over a total of 40 days without them being able to diagnose and repair, I decided to go with a different truck, the RAM.

Both are good products and even with my issue with the F150, overall I think it was a good truck. I think the F150 would be great with a 25' area trailer with loaded weight in the 7000 area.

On the point of cost, there was only about 10k difference between what I paid for the F150 and the RAM...not a small amount but again not like the difference between a Civic and a Porsche!!!

Good luck.

[upontheridge]

Haul a Polaris RZR 800 and two Honda CRF 250's in the garage.

[MarkandDeb]

Thanks for the post! We looked at the 303 as well. Very nice!
It was good to hear it towed well. Did you have 2 bikes in it?

[upontheridge]

I tow a KZ MXT 303 toy hauler with a 2012 F150 Ecoboost Platinum with Max Tow. I am in spec all they way around on the weights, payload, rear axle, tongue weight etc. We did a 4,000 mile trip from NC to Utah. I forgot I had a trailer at times. No problems going over the mountains. The truck towed the KZ great. have an equalizer hitch. Only issue I had was wind blowing me around a bit in the wide open plains. the 303 is 30 feet long and makes for a pretty good sail behind the F150. The equalizer will let the trailer move but it brings it right back in line.