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Old 08-22-2016, 09:52 AM   #1
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New Here- Questions on Hitch Install

Hello, everyone. I recently purchased a 2015 F150 (Super Crew, 5.0L, 5.5' bed, 4x4). It was a rental, and has no trailer hitch. My wife and I would like to purchase our first RV this year, and we want to make sure that the hitch will tow as much as the vehicle is capable of. I thought about going through U Haul (I will not be installing it), but the best hitch for my truck is rated at only 6,000lbs. As best I can tell, my truck is rated at right around 9,000lbs. I have been looking, and on Amazon I found this hitch rated at 10,00lbs. Is this a good option? Prices at my local dealer are higher than Amazon, and their tow ratings are not this high. Any suggestions, or ideas of what my best option may be, without breaking the bank? Thanks in advance for any ideas!
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Old 08-22-2016, 10:01 AM   #2
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Your towing capacity for an RV is limited more by payload and not by GCWR. What is the payload capacity of your pickup?
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Old 08-22-2016, 10:34 AM   #3
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I had no idea. I am glad I came here for info! As best I can tell, it is a little over 1,700lbs.
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Old 08-22-2016, 10:38 AM   #4
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Ok, take that number, subtract the weight of yourself, your passengers, the dog, the cooler full of sodas and lunch, all your fishing gear, the generator, gas cans, etc., and that is your max allowable toungue weight. Are you with me so far?
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Old 08-22-2016, 10:56 AM   #5
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That receiver will work fine for any trailer that won't exceed the payload capacity of your F-150. However it's not the same design as the Ford OEM receiver. And ignore than 1,000 pounds hitch weight capacity with a weight-carrying (WC) hitch. The receiver is rated for that much, but your truck is rated for only 500 pounds max TW without a WD hitch. So if you install that hitch then limit TW to 500 pounds with a WC hitch or 1,200 pounds with a WD hitch.

The Ford OEM receiver is part of your rear step bumper. You can add it by replacing the bumper's center "reinforcement" section with one that includes the receiver.

Ford says you should never tow a trailer that has more than 500 pounds tongue weight (TW) without a weight-distributing (WD) hitch. 500 pounds tongue weight is a tandem-axle trailer that grosses about 3,850 pounds.

The OEM receiver has max TW of 500 pounds without a WD hitch, or over 1,000 pounds TW with a WD hitch. For your truck I would install the Ford OEM receiver, then beef up the other items on the truck that were included in the regular heavy duty towing package. That means adding the auxiliary tranny cooling system and the 4-pin + 7-pin wiring harness.

The rear step bumper on your F-150 has three sections = left, right and center. You want to replace the center section with the part that includes the receiver hitch. Note on the following link it's called the "reinforcement" and it costs $232.55 from that discount Ford dealer.
BUMPER & COMPONENTS - REAR for 2015 Ford F-150

Surf around on that site and you can find at discount prices the trailer wiring harness, tranny cooler parts and the integrated trailer brake controller (ITBC) you also need for towing.
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Old 08-22-2016, 04:02 PM   #6
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SmokeyWren, you give some great information. I guess there is a good reason why the OEM part is more costly, at least in this case. Well, I will be calling my Ford garage tomorrow for a quote on the install. Thank you for the advice!
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