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What trailer wt could I tow safely?

Snomas
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2018 F150 2WD w/ the 5.0 L V8. Dealer said it can tow 12200 lbs. What Maximun Trailer wt should I consider to tow safely and comfortably?
2006 WINNEBAGO ASPECT 29H Ford E450 Super Duty
2018 F150 Lariat Crew Cab, Coyote 5.0 L RWD
19 REPLIES 19

Jebby14
Explorer
Explorer
prittymuch anything not filled with cement under 20 feet as mentioned will be fine. id shoot for a loaded weight around 6k leaving a bit of wiggle should you go up a bit. also love to see a build sheet for an f150 with 3000 payload.
Q: Whats brown and sticky???

A: A Stick....

johnwoodland
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4wd with the 4 cyl engine. I understand the weight rating issues (full timed for several years with a triple a letter fifth wheel and FL 60 Freightliner) Am looking at one of the small trailers like a TAB. Will meet all weight issues but what should I expect in terms of speed on hills? I don't have any need to be fast but don't want to be a hazard.

APT
Explorer
Explorer
6000 pounds dry is a good number to stay near for the more capable half ton pickups.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2x 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV (Gray and Black Twins)

Bobbo
Explorer II
Explorer II
bob213 wrote:
This estimator may help you.
Calculate

I tried out this calculator. It is actually quite good. This should be posted in a sticky somewhere.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB

rbpru
Explorer II
Explorer II
Well as you can see. What you can carry is vehicle specific. The TV dealer opens up the Towing Guide and quotes what the vehicle can pull. He has no way of knowing what your particular vehicle cargo capacity is.

There are indeed some "1/2" tons that are built by the factory to handle well in excess of 2000 lbs. of cargo. They are rather rare.

If buy "safe towing" you mean within the weight ratings of your vehicle that is an easy number to figure out with the max cargo capacity on the door jamb sticker and the local CAT scales.

However, safe towing also involved the total rig set up.
Twenty six foot 2010 Dutchmen Lite pulled with a 2011 EcoBoost F-150 4x4.

Just right for Grandpa, Grandma and the dog.

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
2edgesword wrote:
Jebby14 wrote:
payload is going to limit you. check your door sticker to get payload, subtract weight of everything in the truck (gear and people) and any aftermarket accessories added, then subtract weight of your hitch (usually 90 ish lbs). whatever is left is approximately your available tongue weight which should be around 13 percent of trailer weight (I say work with 15 for safety factor)

example

1800 lbs payload
- 500 lbs passangers
-200 lbs gear
- 90 lbs hitch
=1010 lbs
1010/.15=6733.3 lbs max loaded trailer weight.

this is a good place to start


Actually there are a number of 2018 F-150 5L configurations that have payloads in the 3,000 lbs range so payload may not be an issue.


True. But, my understanding is that those max payload trucks are hard to find on the dealer's lot. Usually they have to be ordered. Also, you can move up to an F-250 for not much more than a tricked out half ton.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
Snomas wrote:
The TT world is a whole different thing. I really like the lite wt TT's 4Kto 5K 16 to 20 ft size and I think I can make one of those work. I love my new F150 for daily use. The DW and I are really down sizing! LOL


That's quite a "downsize" but if you're serious one couple's model in that size you can easily tow with your F150 is mine - a Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS, has pretty well the same amenities as much larger rigs but in a shorter, easy to tow, easy to park anywhere trailer. Mine is a 2014 model, new ones are even better. Pics are in my gallery. :B
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

Snomas
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for all the info guys, I had a Newmar Dutch Star 33000 lb DP for 15 years towing my 2012 Explorer. The TT world is a whole different thing. I really like the lite wt TT's 4Kto 5K 16 to 20 ft size and I think I can make one of those work. I love my new F150 for daily use. The DW and I are really down sizing! LOL
2006 WINNEBAGO ASPECT 29H Ford E450 Super Duty
2018 F150 Lariat Crew Cab, Coyote 5.0 L RWD

Kavoom
Explorer
Explorer
Unless you like towing a house around, look in the 6K range plus or minus a thousand. You can do that all day with your rig I'm thinking. AND you can drive down the road without worrying about it all the time. Makes the trip much more pleasant.

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
Actually there are a number of 2018 F-150 5L configurations that have payloads in the 3,000 lbs range so payload may not be an issue

That 3000 lb payload is a gvwr based payload.

There is no F150 that has enough RAWR to carry 3000 lb payload in the bed.
About the most the HDPP 4800 RAWR can carry in the bed is in the 2400 lb range depending on cab/drive train selections.

Fords F15o has 19 different GVWRs from 6000 on up to 8200 lbs
F150 has 5 different RAWR from 3300 up to 4800 lbs. Plus all the cab/engine/drivetrain selections.

Like others are asking....we need your trucks GVWR/RAWR/axle ratio/etc to give you a good recommendation on max size TT.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

2edgesword
Explorer
Explorer
Jebby14 wrote:
payload is going to limit you. check your door sticker to get payload, subtract weight of everything in the truck (gear and people) and any aftermarket accessories added, then subtract weight of your hitch (usually 90 ish lbs). whatever is left is approximately your available tongue weight which should be around 13 percent of trailer weight (I say work with 15 for safety factor)

example

1800 lbs payload
- 500 lbs passangers
-200 lbs gear
- 90 lbs hitch
=1010 lbs
1010/.15=6733.3 lbs max loaded trailer weight.

this is a good place to start


Actually there are a number of 2018 F-150 5L configurations that have payloads in the 3,000 lbs range so payload may not be an issue.

sgip2000
Explorer
Explorer
Snomas wrote:
I have a 2018 F150 2WD w/ the 5.0 L V8. Dealer said it can tow 12200 lbs. What Maximun Trailer wt should I consider to tow safely and comfortably?


The tongue weight will likely be the limiting factor.

Jebby14
Explorer
Explorer
payload is going to limit you. check your door sticker to get payload, subtract weight of everything in the truck (gear and people) and any aftermarket accessories added, then subtract weight of your hitch (usually 90 ish lbs). whatever is left is approximately your available tongue weight which should be around 13 percent of trailer weight (I say work with 15 for safety factor)

example

1800 lbs payload
- 500 lbs passangers
-200 lbs gear
- 90 lbs hitch
=1010 lbs
1010/.15=6733.3 lbs max loaded trailer weight.

this is a good place to start
Q: Whats brown and sticky???

A: A Stick....

2edgesword
Explorer
Explorer
I seriously doubt it.

The highest gross combined vehicle rating among all the configurations of 2018 F-150 (combined weight of trailer and truck) is 16,600 lbs. In order not to exceed that rating the weight of the truck with all passengers and gear would have to be 4,400 lbs or less.

The curb weights for all configurations run 4,069 to 5,265 lbs and I'm pretty sure the weight on the 5.0L (largest engine) is going to be closer to the 5,265 lbs number.

So my thinking is no way the truck is towing a 12,200 lbs trailer and not exceeding one or more of the max. weight ratings.