Newbie Question on 2016 F150 2.7L SuperCab 3.55 4x4

brulaz wrote:

cliiff wrote:

...
I just bought the truck about a month ago. So I guess I am stuck at 5100#.
Unless there is a way I can add additional cooling to my existing truck (not sure if this is feasible or not)
...

This is very feasible and often done on older trucks.

There are aftermarket parts available, but probably the safest (and most expensive) route is to just take it into a dealer. I'm sure they'll be glad to do it, but it could cost more than if you had ordered that option from the factory.

Not sure if you can get the fancy electronic rear view stuff and the big tow mirrors that way, but I'm sure you can get what's important: the additional cooling for the engine and tranny.

Thank you Brulaz
Slowly, but surely, I am starting to put this together!

Your truck has a tow rating of 7600lbs. You will be using a WDH for the trailer you are considering which is under THE HITCH RATING. Your hitch is rated for up to 11k, but your truck, as built, is not. That sticker comes with the hitch no matter which truck it is installed on.

You will be fine pulling the trailer you are looking at.

Go to page 16.

Ford Towing Guide

cliiff wrote:

...
I just looked at my hitch sticker, and it says this:
http://www.tekfix.net/2015-f-150-hitch-sticker/trailerhitchsticker/

I do not fully understand what this sticker means.
What does the 'Weight Distribution' Max Gross Trailer Weight of 11,000 mean?

Just to clarify, these are the ratings for the hitch receiver on this truck. Not for the truck as a whole.

With a Weight Distribution Hitch mounted in this receiver, it can handle towing up to 11,000#, but your truck cannot. It is limited by the lack of engine and tranny cooling.

cliiff wrote:

...
I just bought the truck about a month ago. So I guess I am stuck at 5100#.
Unless there is a way I can add additional cooling to my existing truck (not sure if this is feasible or not)
...

This is very feasible and often done on older trucks.

There are aftermarket parts available, but probably the safest (and most expensive) route is to just take it into a dealer. I'm sure they'll be glad to do it, but it could cost more than if you had ordered that option from the factory.

Not sure if you can get the fancy electronic rear view stuff and the big tow mirrors that way, but I'm sure you can get what's important: the additional cooling for the engine and tranny.

A Hitch receiver is that piece of steel with a 2" square hole mounted under your bumper. Pretty much all F150 hitch receivers have the 5000# weight carrying restriction. To tow anything more, Ford wants you to use a Weight Distribution Hitch in that hitch receiver.

You can also just mount a ball on your rear bumper and ignore the hitch receiver. That's a true bumper-mount and also limits you to ~5000# IIRC.

Anyway, your hitch receiver is not what's limiting your tow cpacity, assuming you use a Weight Distribution Hitch.

brulaz wrote:

cliiff wrote:

brulaz wrote:
Are you sure about that 5100# in the manual?

The only 5100# F150 tow capacity I see in the brochure is for the normally aspirated V6. All the 2.7L EcoBoosts are at least 7600#.

I think you mid-read the manual and have at least 7600# tow capacity.

Hi Brulaz,
This is the way I understand it....
2015 F-150 Owner's Manual
Page 254
Footnote #1 -> "Do not exceed a trailer weight of 5100 pounds unless the vehicle is equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package".

So my understanding is that if I have the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package, then my Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight is 7600 pounds.
If I do not have the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package, then the 5100 pound limit takes precedence.

I see.

The options are labelled differently in Canada versus the US. If I'm reading things right, in Canada we have "Trailer Tow Package" that is required to tow over 5000#, but you Americans have the "Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package" that does the same.

Both seem to have the tranny cooler, larger radiator and other bits
that allow the higher tow rating.

Or you can just get the Class IV hitch and wiring which limits you to 5100# or under. This seems to be what you have, which is too bad as that engine/tranny should easily handle 7600# with the proper cooling.

Have you considered upgrading to the larger radiator and tranny cooler?

Hi Brulaz,
I just bought the truck about a month ago. So I guess I am stuck at 5100#.
Unless there is a way I can add additional cooling to my existing truck (not sure if this is feasible or not) and/or upgrade to better hitch.

Maybe this is another area where the 5000# limit comes in. The hitch sticker on my truck says there is a Weight Carrying Capacity of 5000#.
http://www.tekfix.net/2015-f-150-hitch-sticker/trailerhitchsticker/

Maybe the limit is not only based on the Tow Package, as the manual says; maybe it is also based on the hitch rating.
As we know, the manual says the limit is 5100 #s because of no Heavy Duty or MAX Tow Package.

A towing chart from the Ford website says the max is 5000#s if is a bumper-pull only. You can see this in the NOTES section in the link below.
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/15RV&TT_Ford_F150_r1_Jan12.pdf

From the towing chart:'Do not exceed trailer weight of 5,000 lbs. when towing with bumper only' only.
What else am I going to pull it with, a 5th wheel mechanism??


But the same towing chart says my Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (lbs.) is 7600#.

Why would they have a 7600# Max Trailer Loaded Weight, and then whack of 2600#s because it is only a 5000# 'bumper-pull" or you do not have Heavy Duty Trailer Capacity or Max Duty Trailer Capacity???


I just looked at my hitch sticker, and it says this:
http://www.tekfix.net/2015-f-150-hitch-sticker/trailerhitchsticker/

I do not fully understand what this sticker means.
What does the 'Weight Distribution' Max Gross Trailer Weight of 11,000 mean?

cliiff wrote:

brulaz wrote:
Are you sure about that 5100# in the manual?

The only 5100# F150 tow capacity I see in the brochure is for the normally aspirated V6. All the 2.7L EcoBoosts are at least 7600#.

I think you mid-read the manual and have at least 7600# tow capacity.

Hi Brulaz,
This is the way I understand it....
2015 F-150 Owner's Manual
Page 254
Footnote #1 -> "Do not exceed a trailer weight of 5100 pounds unless the vehicle is equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package".

So my understanding is that if I have the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package, then my Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight is 7600 pounds.
If I do not have the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package or the MAX Trailer Tow Package, then the 5100 pound limit takes precedence.

I see.

The options are labelled differently in Canada versus the US. If I'm reading things right, in Canada we have "Trailer Tow Package" that is required to tow over 5000#, but you Americans have the "Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package" that does the same.

Both seem to have the tranny cooler, larger radiator and other bits
that allow the higher tow rating.

Or you can just get the Class IV hitch and wiring which limits you to 5100# or under. This seems to be what you have, which is too bad as that engine/tranny should easily handle 7600# with the proper cooling.

Have you considered upgrading to the larger radiator and tranny cooler?

cliif wrote:
I wish I could stow more gear in the Toy Hauler, but the tow limit of 5100 lbs is forcing me to stow gear in the vehicle rather than the trailer.

As long as your aren't exceeding hitch or axle ratings, your truck doesn't care whether the gear is in the truck or trailer. The drivetrain has to move the same weight either way. A couple other points- a toy hauler has the garage toward the rear of the trailer, correct? Adding weight to the garage actually reduces tongue weight slightly. Toy haulers are built tongue-heavy when empty on purpose so they balance well when loaded. A point about weight distributing hitches, they do just that, they distribute weight. If your hitch weight is 1000 pounds, some of the weight gets transferred onto the front axle of the truck and some of it gets transferred onto the trailer axles. Your effective hitch weight will be somewhat less than 1000 pounds. The only way to know for sure is to weigh each axle when loaded and the WD hitch adjusted. So, not every single pound of hitch weight is not carried by the truck if you use a properly adjusted WD hitch.

cliiff wrote:
Thanks all for the responses!

So I am currently looking at a Grey Wolf 25RR.
It has a dry weight of 4874 pounds.
Since my Tow Limit (based on hitch strength??) is 5100 pounds, based on a Medium Towing Package, I would only stow my dirt bike of 240 pounds in the Toy Hauler.

This would make my Towing Weight = 5,024 lbs. (4784 lbs + 240 lbs).

Don't look at DRY weights, they are super misleading. When you are looking at weights, look at the GVWR. A DRY weight might not include air conditioner, propane tanks, batteries, etc. Adding those can be a couple hundred lbs. Dishes, clothing, sheets, towels, supplies will increase your weights as well.

You will find yourself limited with only a 5100 tow rating. I can't imagine any toy hauler falling under those weights...

Thank you Golden_HVAC.
I wasn't sure if the limiting factor was the engine or the hitch.

If the limiting factor is the engine, than I guess the 2.7L EcoBoost does not have the Heavy Duty Towing Package or MAX Duty Towing Package option then....