F150 5th wheel towing possible ugrades

[XL105]

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 3.73
Max tow package
LT275/65 r18
GCWR 17100
GVWR 7700
Curb weight 5866
Payload 1770
FGAWR 3750
RGAWR 4050
Tow capacity 11100
Gas Cargo 2 adults 2 dogs 700

5th Airborne sidewinder 176

2014 Keystone Springdale 242fwrlssr
Dry 6200
Payload 1855
Hitch weight 1055

I 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

[Winnebago_Bob]

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]

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]

smkettner wrote:
Good to go IMO.

X2

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

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]

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]

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]

Load it up and head to the scales. That way you won't be guessing.

[rhagfo]

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]

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]

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

[spud1957]

Your GAWR of 4050lbs is going to be your issue. With your 5th wheel hitch in your bed you have about 2800lbs on your rear axle. Pretty well 100% of your trailer pin weight will sit there. So 4050-2800=1250lbs.

Without any occupants or gear in your truck you have 1250lbs of pin weight available to you IF you don't want to exceed your truck official GAWR.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

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?

🙂 Hi, the only thing that I can think of is to remove the bed so your truck is virtually a cab and chassis; Mount the fifth wheel hitch directly to the frame and add mud flaps.

[time2roll]

And leave the tailgate at home.

[Flapper]

I do have the HD payload, and am pulling a slightly bigger 5th than yours. I have scaled mine, and I'm right on the max. payload line. As others have said, the big issues are tires and axle. You could investigate bigger wheels, but I'd think that that is not as easy as just rim and tire replacement. Other mods to the truck - nothing you can do, except mod the whole thing by buying a different one.

Everything helps at this point, so load what you can that is heavy in the rear of the RV. If your water and waste tanks are behind the wheels, fill them! Yes, it all adds weight, but it helps reduce the pin weight a little! Strip out anything in the truck you can.
Shop for the lightest hitch you can find.
Maybe install a rear hitch on the 5th, get a hitch tray, and a big generator to go on it?

Strongly not advised, but there could be a passenger left behind...but never the dogs!