Community Forums

Al1972 · 11-29-2015, 08:59 AM

I have a chance to purchase a 2012 gulf breeze lightweight rv trailer. Under 5000 pounds. Never towed anything this big. Will my 2012 f150 stx with 5.0 engine be enough. Is there any thing I can add to my truck to make capable. Anxiously waiting. Thanks in advance.

Bruce C · 11-29-2015, 09:20 AM

You may have better results if you ask your question in the pull down menu above RV Forums and ask in the TT discussions. Good luck.

denlock · 11-29-2015, 10:45 AM

Wayne M · 11-29-2015, 11:00 AM

Doesn't the manual for your truck state the towing capacities?

Good luck.

MSHappyCampers · 11-29-2015, 12:37 PM

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Old-Biscuit · 11-29-2015, 01:20 PM

Is that under 5000# the GVWR or is that the UVW

(GVWR......Gross Vehicle Weight Rating -----MAX that it can weigh w/o being overloaded)
(UVW........Unladen Vehicle Weight----Dry weight, shipping weight )

2012 F150..........does it have the tow package ?
What is the data on door sticker.......GVWR/Payload etc.
What Diff gearing ?
4 x 2 or 4 x 4?

Roughly F150 with 5.0 V8--------7600# MAX Tow

Check out YOUR F150 PG. 18 http://fifthwheelst.com/documents/fo...VTTgdeMar1.pdf

scottandanna · 11-29-2015, 02:37 PM

Not sure what your truck will feel like pulling a travel trailer, but mine was miserable, shifting up and down and not holding a gear even on flat ground.

I ended up with a superchips FlashPaq and now it is MUCH nicer.

As mentioned above, stay within the limits of what your truck can handle.

dcarver · 11-29-2015, 02:42 PM

If you stay down here in South Texas then ya I think you'll be fine. Make sure that "under 5k" is the GVWR. What gears are in your f150? If you have 3.73 I think you'd be good to 6k with a good weight distribution hitch

SmokeyWren · 11-29-2015, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al1972

I have a chance to purchase a 2012 gulf breeze lightweight rv trailer. Under 5000 pounds.

What is under 5,000 pounds? The GVWR of the trailer? The dry weight of the trailer? The wet and loaded weight of the trailer ready to hit the road?

Quote:

Will my 2012 f150 stx with 5.0 engine be enough.

Depends on exactly how your truck is optioned. 4x4 or 4x2? Regular cab or Supercab? Does it have the factory regular tow package?

If it's a SuperCab 4x2 with standard 3.31 axle ratio, and optional regular tow package, then the "tow rating" is 7,900 pounds. But a more realistic max trailer weight is about 6,000 pounds if you haul nothing in the truck but a skinny driver, and about 5,000 pounds if you haul the normal small family with tools, campfire wood, jack and jack base for changing a flat trailer tire, etc.

The tow rating is based on the GCWR of the truck and is probably NOT the limiter as to max trailer weight you can tow without being overloaded. More than likely, your limiter will be the unused payload capacity available for hitch weight. GVWR of the truck minus the wet and loaded weight of the truck, will tell you the unused payload capacity available for hitch weight. Count on around 625 to 750 pounds of unused payload capacity available for hitch weight, which at the average of 12.5% tongue weight is a tandem-axle trailer that grosses 5,000 to 6,000 pounds,

Quote:

Is there any thing I can add to my truck to make capable.

You cannot legally increase the power output from the engine. But if you tow a trailer that grosses around 5,000 pounds with 700 pounds of tongue weight, then you might want to add air bags in the rear suspension to bring the headlights back down to earth when towing at night.

No, I don't have air bags in my suspension, but then I'm an old guy that doesn't tow at night.

Gordon Dewald · 11-29-2015, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Is that under 5000# the GVWR or is that the UVW

(GVWR......Gross Vehicle Weight Rating -----MAX that it can weigh w/o being overloaded)
(UVW........Unladen Vehicle Weight----Dry weight, shipping weight )

2012 F150..........does it have the tow package ?
What is the data on door sticker.......GVWR/Payload etc.
What Diff gearing ?
4 x 2 or 4 x 4?

Roughly F150 with 5.0 V8--------7600# MAX Tow

Check out YOUR F150 PG. 18 http://fifthwheelst.com/documents/fo...VTTgdeMar1.pdf

The proof is written in the numbers on the door sticker.

Weigh the truck loaded up with full fuel, tool box, family, pets, grill and all the stuff you will carry.

Subtract the rear axle weight from the GAWR (rear). Subtract another 100 lbs for the hitch. Take the remaining number and divide it by .1 or .15. That will give you the approximate GVWR of the maximum trailer you should tow.

Add the loaded weight of the truck and the GVWR of the trailer. Add 100 lbs for the hitch. If this number is larger than the GCWR of the truck you are overloaded.

Do not look at towing capacity. This is a bogus number for the lightest truck with partial fuel and a jockey driving.

Good luck with matching the trailer and the truck.

Highway 4x4 · 11-29-2015, 10:36 PM

We need more info on the truck and the trailer.

wandering1 · 11-30-2015, 07:51 AM

Its your legal responsibility to have an adequate tow vehicle. The only valid info for the trucks towing capability is the towing specs for your truck published by ford. Get the facts, contact ford for the specs and read it. Dont rely on personal opinions or magazine articles.

justafordguy · 11-30-2015, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

You cannot legally increase the power output from the engine.

Hey Smokey, what do you mean by this? There are a lot of ways to increase the power output and stay legal, some will even maintain the factory warranty.

Al1972, With the 5.0 you may not need more power for such a small trailer because it is a great engine but if you do there are a lot of ways to do it.