Hi everyone.I Know this question has been asked a thousand times. But asking you to help me and many others who will try to responsibly and safely pull this off. No pun intended.I see people asking this question half ton pulling a 30' plus 5th wheel.Even I know thats asking to much.Here is my setup.2011 F150 Lariat 145" 6.2l 3.73Max tow packageLT275/65 r18GCWR 17100GVWR 7700Curb weight 5866Payload 1770FGAWR 3750RGAWR 4050Tow capacity 11100Gas Cargo 2 adults 2 dogs 7005th Airborne sidewinder 1762014 Keystone Springdale 242fwrlssrDry 6200Payload 1855Hitch weight 1055I have Not been a scale YET!So these numbers are only what I used to determine that I could safely with confidently run this setup.Having said that.... I wouldnt been asking the question if I didnt have some thoughts on How do I go about this.I have the best rated half ton for pulling heavy loads. I bought one of the shortest n lightest 5th wheel I could find in the setup we were looking for.But Im riding the edge of max payload capacity in the truck. I know I can load the trailer with all the gear needed for trips and still be under GCWR and tow and trailer payload capacity. My questions are.Am I Wrong?Can I take some of hitch pin weight off by loading trailer accordingly?Can I change/add suspension parts to help payload? If so what?I think OEM brake setup is more the adequate. (assuming that I stay under GCWR). If not why and what do I change?Any other related thoughts are welcome.I understand that bigger is always better talking about tow vehicle!But there are going to more n more half tons pulling 5th wheels. Truck manufactors are loading up these trucks with hp, HD brakes, suspensions etc. These trucks specs rival 3/4 tons of years past.So Please help me and others who are attempting to pull Reasonable weighted and length 5th wheels.Ok all yours

You have 1900 od load on truck only 1770 payload slight proplem, you make op your mind if you are happy. Many will say you are God to go as long as not ower rear axle and tyer rating.Frank.

XL105 wrote:Payload 1770Gas Cargo 2 adults 2 dogs 7005th Airborne sidewinder 176Hitch weight 1055Can I take some of hitch pin weight off by loading trailer accordingly?Can I change/add suspension parts to help payload? If so what?You should confirm that payload by checking the tire and loading sticker on the driver's door. That seems high for a 6.2L Lariat. Maybe 2WD Supercab?If true:1770-700 bodies and cargo-1055 dry pin weight=15 pounds left for the receiver and any other cargo. I expect you'll be at least 500 pounds over GVWR if you truely have 1770 pounds, or closer to 1000 pounds over with a loaded RV and truck for long weekend. If that isn't important to you, you have plenty of power to move the weight.You can in theory shift weight to remove pin weight. However, it is not practically possible. Any weight added to the trailer behind the axles removes pin weight. Any weight added to in front of the trailer axles increases pin weight. How much is a factor of distance between pin and axles and weight added. But practically, there is far more storage in 5th wheels in front of the axles which will increase pin weight, probably by about 400 pounds.

Good answers from Frank, and APT.Yes, you will be over GVWR, and you will be close, or over on RAWR.You can load the trailer to help some, but only a scale, will give axle weight, ready to camp.I have seen worse overloads, with 1/2 tons, that are not as capable as yours. You will have to make the final decision.Jerry

XL105 wrote: ... I have the best rated half ton for pulling heavy loads... No you don't, unless you have the factory HD Payload package in addition to the Max Tow package. Very very few F150's have this combination.

Put simple, you have a 8,000# gross on the 5er. 20% pin weight is 1,600# plus 100# or so for a hitch and you are out capacity before you add your estimated 700#. Not enough truck.

F150 5th wheel towing possible ugrades | Good Sam Community

Winnebago_Bob
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
XL105 wrote:
Well boys and girls. I took your advice... Sort of. I love my truck. To early to trade it in. So..We had put money down on the 5th wheel that we have talked about. After all the reading and the good advice here. We talked to dealership and told them its just not going to work. I wouldn't mind it so much if we were the campers that stayed close to home. But we haven't been and don't plan on being now.
They had an 2014 Keystone Bullet 285RLS hold over. They gave a great price. Its light weight Lil longer then we had planned on buying. But has Everything we wanted and more. We are back to being TT people.
Thanks for all the advice.
See you all on the road.

Congrats on what appears to be a really nice camper.

NO DOUBT you'll enjoy pulling the new rig more than you would the fiver.

Hey - we drive a 1-ton and we're travel trailer people. LOL!
colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2015
XL105 wrote:
Well boys and girls. I took your advice... Sort of. I love my truck. To early to trade it in. So..We had put money down on the 5th wheel that we have talked about. After all the reading and the good advice here. We talked to dealership and told them its just not going to work. I wouldn't mind it so much if we were the campers that stayed close to home. But we haven't been and don't plan on being now.
They had an 2014 Keystone Bullet 285RLS hold over. They gave a great price. Its light weight Lil longer then we had planned on buying. But has Everything we wanted and more. We are back to being TT people.
Thanks for all the advice.
See you all on the road.
At least you asked before you bought instead of after. Enjoy the new rig.
LimogesMan
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
smkettner wrote:
Good to go IMO.

X2
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
Congratulations on the new TT. And credit to you sir for asking questions before you brought the fifth wheel home.

The trailer you picked has a nice floor plan and your truck will tow it well. You have a nice truck and now a nicely matched trailer. When you head down the road you do not have to worry if you have finessed your load just right because you are over or pushing limits. That makes the trip much more enjoyable.

As Jeremiah suggested continue with your research and pick a good weight distribution hitch with sway control.

Good luck and many happy miles,
Stu
jerem0621
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2015
XL105 wrote:
Well boys and girls. I took your advice... Sort of. I love my truck. To early to trade it in. So..We had put money down on the 5th wheel that we have talked about. After all the reading and the good advice here. We talked to dealership and told them its just not going to work. I wouldn't mind it so much if we were the campers that stayed close to home. But we haven't been and don't plan on being now.
They had an 2014 Keystone Bullet 285RLS hold over. They gave a great price. Its light weight Lil longer then we had planned on buying. But has Everything we wanted and more. We are back to being TT people.
Thanks for all the advice.
See you all on the road.

Great choice! I recommend investing in a good weight distribution hitch and setting it up properly.

Enjoy the new rig!

Thanks!

Jeremiah
XL105
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
Well boys and girls. I took your advice... Sort of. I love my truck. To early to trade it in. So..We had put money down on the 5th wheel that we have talked about. After all the reading and the good advice here. We talked to dealership and told them its just not going to work. I wouldn't mind it so much if we were the campers that stayed close to home. But we haven't been and don't plan on being now.
They had an 2014 Keystone Bullet 285RLS hold over. They gave a great price. Its light weight Lil longer then we had planned on buying. But has Everything we wanted and more. We are back to being TT people.
Thanks for all the advice.
See you all on the road.
goducks10
Explorer
Apr 13, 2015
Load it up and head to the scales. That way you won't be guessing.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 13, 2015
AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
XL105 wrote:
crcr wrote:
XL105 wrote:
... I have the best rated half ton for pulling heavy loads...

No you don't, unless you have the factory HD Payload package in addition to the Max Tow package. Very very few F150's have this combination.

I still believe I do. HD payload wasn't available with the 6.2l. I will take the displacement.

max payload is 1719 not 1770.
I put the LT tires to help with payload.
Is there anything else I can do to "increase" max payload?

Not to sound unhelpful, but no, you can't. Airbags, shocks and tires will not increase your RAWR.

X2!

You need more truck! Yep BIG engine weak a$$ 6lug semi floating rear axle!

The total of your axle ratings is ONLY 7,800#, that means that you will likely be over your rear axle rating EVERY Pound you are over your GVWR PLUS about 200# to 300# you are under on the front.

Do you really want to run the semi floater close to 1,000# over weight?
2112
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2015
Your limiting factor is your rear axle. Moving up to the HD 7 lug axle is not an easy task unless you keep the 6 lugs on the front. You may require a sliding hitch which can weigh close to 200lbs.

You can either tow what you have knowing you are destroying your rear axle, strip the truck and FW to get your weight down or get a more capable truck.

If you stay with what you have put some Timbrens on the rear to help with sag and stability.

BTW: My payload is 2084lbs and it is not the most capable 1/2 ton out there. Your 1700lb is average to a little above.
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 13, 2015
I do not have an Andersen Ultimate hitch, but from what I have read, this would be a good alternative, for your situation.

It would be a 30# hitch, compared to 150-200# hitch, sitting right over your rear axle. I would suggest the rail version.

Jerry