What can I safely pull?

bgitler wrote:
Hello,

I have been trolling towing capacity forums for several weeks because I decided to purchase a tt and need a vehicle to tow it. I have narrowed my vehicle search down to a 2004 Ford f150 Crew Cab 5.4 L V8 4x4 (Towing Capacity 7,700 lbs) and a 2004 Avalanche 5.4 L v8 4x4 (Towing Capacity 7,100 lbs). Most people list their vehicle and tt and ask if it is safe to pull. However, I'd like to hear from all of you how much weight would be safe for me to pull, and your opinion of these 2 vehicles.

Thank you in advance, the snow is melting and I'm getting itchy to go camping!

Ben

The problem you're going to have is the tongue wt and your small 1500lb load capacity. With over 400lbs of passengers to start with and about 100lbs for a WDH you are going to have to have an empty bed, no cargo in the truck and limit your tongue wt. to under 1,000lbs. At 13% that equates to a TT wt. of 7,000 with an empty wt. in the neighborhood of 5500 allowing about 1500lbs for all the TT cargo and for a family of 4 IMO that's not unreasonable. This leaves almost ZERO excess.

A lot recommend around a 4 to 5K dry wt. for 1/2Ts with the smaller payloads such as your 1500lbs.

Of course it still amazes me how someone can run around towing a trailer with an empty and basically useless truck bed which is often one of the reasons one buys a truck to use. OH WELL:h

Larry