I have an '07 F150 and I've spoken with the service manager at my dealership who also tows with an F150. The bottom line is that the truck is rated to tow 9200lbs, but that doesn't include payload and other factors. His short answer to me was to subtract 20%-30% from the tow rating and keep your loaded trailer at that weight. For me, 20-30% subtracted from my tow rating gives me a max trailer weight of 6500-7000lbs loaded. I plan to obey that.
Thanks for all the input it is great to talk to people that have experienced pulling a travel trailer with a f-150.Will post and let you know what i buy.
We're in a similar position and are about to purchase a Gulfstream Kingsport 236RB. Dry it's 4,820 with a net carrying capacity of 2,690. So that puts us at a max of 7510. With the truck (2002 f-150SC 5.7 w/ tow package) rated to tow 8000 lbs, I figure we should be fine. This will be the most weight I've ever towed with this truck, not to mention the wind resistance. It's one of the few trailers of this size we found that comes in at a good weight.
Is it time to go home already?
2008 Gulfstream Kingsport 236 RB
2002 Ford F-150 5.4L Supercrew
I towed our 6000lb trailer with our '99 5.4L F-150. Yeesh. No power no braking and dreaded the trip. Bought a '07 5.7L Tundra. BIG difference. Power to spare, incredible braking and total comfort and control.6spd tranny is silky smooth and love the engine braking. And I get 20MPG (Hwy @70mph) when not towing and 10 when towing.
We use a similar truck which gets maxed out on truck GVWR for trips (about 7400). The TT is only 5900 GVWR and that's what it weighs packed. We end up 13k GCW (gross combined weight) on a rated 14k GCWR (gross combined weight rating) and that's just as much as I'd tow with the truck. It does fine and there is no tail wagging dog effect since the truck has the long wheelbase and outweighs the TT. Only on really windy days can I tell the trailer is there, but no real problems. I'd say keep it under 6500 trailer GVWR. (not UVW, which is dry before options, fuel, and cargo which can be over 1,000lbs)
05 F150 FX4 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 LS, Jordan Ultima 2020 Brake Controller,
04 TrailCruiser 30QBSS, Battery Disconnect,
Dual Cam HP, Ultra Fab Power Tongue Jack, Bal Lockarm Stabilizers
Look at my sig picture. I`m towing 8100 lbs loaded and 7000 on the truck. Is it within the numbers? Barely. Is it stable? Yes! Will you forget it`s back there? Not only "no", but "Hell no!" Would I tow it across the USA and back? I may have to, because I can`t find a V-10 250/350 to trade up to. Hens teeth!!!
A lot of the wear and tear issues can be lessened by how you drive. If you "mash and trash", you`ll see increased wear. If you baby it, ie., come out of the hole easy every time, don`t bury the peddle all the time, hoping for more. Use your momentum, look far ahead and brake early, etc., you`ll make out better. I won`t run your numbers, that`s up to you to handle as part of the responsibility of towing. Suffice it to say, I`m looking to trade up cause I`m really close to max. And if I have to do it on the way, that`ll work too..... if the price is right.
Best wishes and be safe.
"It`s not important that you know all the answers, it`s only important to know where to get all the answers" Arone Kleamyck
"...An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Sunset Creek 298 BH
Just a quick PS: Ford got this truck right! It ain`t perfect, but it`s darned close. I`m going to hate to see it go. A little more midrange engine and a closer 5 or 6 speed trans would make this the ultimate welterweight tow monster, IMNTBHO.
I have a 6500 dry weight camper. I got it in march and have pulled it several times so far this year. It handles about the same as my 5500 pound dry weight camper. Both of them were about the same length. The only Problems I have run into is the 8 mile 8% upgrade on 421 going into Boone, NC. My truck will not go more than 35 up that hill with the camper
I've been looking at 1/2 tons for awile now and while I like the F150 Ford really needs to upgrade the engine for mountain towing, just not enough power. I suspect the Chevy with the 6.0 or the Dodge with a HEMI would solve a lot of those problems.
Conceptionally, any of the 1/2 tons should pull your TT, just need more power.
Dick
2008 Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited TRD
2009 Cougar 268 RLS ~8400 lbs road wt
Equal-i-zer 12,000 lb hitch, Prodigy BC.
2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel.....TV in Training
2005 Jeep GC 5.7 HEMI,(retired)
2005 Jayco Jay Feather 25Z, 4" lift (Retired)
My truck is in my sig. My TT (this is a high estimate guess) is about 5000 lbs loaded. We also put another couple hundred in the bed. Honestly, I wouldn't want to tow much more than that. Maybe up to 6 or 7 thousand loaded. After that, I think it's a bit much for the stock set up.
Our trucks' resale/trade-in is not all that great right now. If you can afford the financial hit, get a 3/4 ton with a big engine. Or, change out the gearing to 4:30 and have a shift kit put in the tranny. Otherwise, I'd recommend a lighter TT.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
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