The age old "How much can I tow question".

[LIseverewx]

Hi guys,

Really am learning a lot of this forum. I have a Ford F150 3.5L Ecoboost 10 speed transmission truck that will be my TV. I have already downsized my expectations of what I can safely tow. Just to give some details on truck setup...

3.55 electronic lock rear axle
7,000# gvwr package
Max trailer tow package
145" wheel base

sticker on doors says combined weight of occupants and cargo not to exceed 1,638 lbs.


What would you guys say max GVWR and length for my travel trailer? It would really help me narrow down my TT decision. I'd like to know what my options are for length and weight for biggest I could safely tow and take it from there.

I was looking at some Jayco models like the X23E and X213. Can I safely tow something a little longer and heavier than these? Is a Jayco Jay Feather 22RB or a Jayco White Hawk 24MBH too much trailer?

Most camping will be local within 20-40 miles away. Further trips would be less frequent and probably 150-300 miles away in North East part of US.



Thank you so much everyone!

[move on]

It all depends on what type of trip you want to make. If you're only going a couple of hundred miles and you're satisfied to keep your speed below 60 MPH then you might get away with towing a 7000 lb trailer. If you're going cross country you will need to travel at faster speeds up to 80 mph. Then youll need to keep the trailer below 5000 lbs.

[LIseverewx]

Originally Posted by move on

It all depends on what type of trip you want to make. If you're only going a couple of hundred miles and you're satisfied to keep your speed below 60 MPH then you might get away with towing a 7000 lb trailer. If you're going cross country you will need to travel at faster speeds up to 80 mph. Then youll need to keep the trailer below 5000 lbs.

Hi...thanks for the reply. I edited my post. Most camping will be local about 20-40 miles away from home. I would like to eventually take RV on some further trips but probably not more than 200-400 miles max away.

[TXiceman]

No way should you travel at 80 mph with a trailer in tow. The majority of the trailers come with tires that are limited by by a tire that is rated at 65 mph.

As for what to tow, your first limit is the payload capacity of the truck. You noted 1638# per the door sticker on the truck. This is all passenger, cargo, hitch and also the tongue weight of the trailer. Us 12% of the trailers GVWR as you estimated tongue weight for a loaded trailer. Also, DO NOT use the brochure dry weights.

Get Ford's Towing guide which explains all of the towing terms and limits for each truck and configuration.

Have fun.

Ken

[move on]

A decent ST tire is rated at 87 MPH.

[sirtate]

Originally Posted by move on

A decent ST tire is rated at 87 MPH.

Are the tires on the trailer 'decent'?

80mph with a trailer is at the very least going to burn 30% more fuel...
At worse, be a safety issue...

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by move on

A decent ST tire is rated at 87 MPH.

If he switches to properly rated LT tires on the TT can he tow at a 100 mph without a WDH?

[move on]

Yes. The trailer tow speed record is 142 mph. Not sure what type of tires he used, but no WD hitch of course. A WD hitch would be too destabilizing. The truck was a 1 ton with a modified diesel engine. There's a clip on youtube.

[LIseverewx]

I don't plan on driving over 65MPH. So with that being said what do you guys think?

[move on]

A good rule of thumb is that your tow vehicle should weigh more than your trailer for maximum safety and stability.

Originally Posted by LIseverewx

I don't plan on driving over 65MPH. So with that being said what do you guys think?

[Dave Pelletier]

I'd echo TXiceman's comments; for a rough idea compare the proposed trailers tongue weight at 12% of GVWR against the payload and what you expect to haul. Actual measurement on a scale will be the only way to know 100%.

1638 of payload minus 738 lbs (12% of 6,150 for the X23E) leaves you with about 900 lbs for passenger, gear and anything else you put in the truck....not too bad though the 27' overall length is getting up there...the X213 looks like a bitter better fit to me; my "line in the sand" for half tons, is around 6,000 lbs and 25' in length......many people go well above this, of course, but at some point it's just not enough truck.

2 cents,
Dave

[tuffr2]

'move on' is right. You need to keep up with right lane traffic when on the highway. My non scientific research says this is 68mph to 74mph.

I am not sure 'move on' is right about the WD hitch. I do like his philosoply however. A big enough truck does not need a WD hitch. I like a WD to reduce the bouncing.

All that being said I know for a fact you can tow a 5,500lb 26.5' travel trailer comfortably. I have done that with a F-150.
Very comfortably at 72mph.

I am thinking those trailers you listed would be good.

Not sure where the comfort limit stops. Maybe at 6,500lbs, maybe at 7,000lbs.

150 - 300 miles is a long long way to tow a trailer that the truck can not control.

I used a little Honda Ridgeline to tow this same trailer and set-up locally on back roads at 35 - 45 mph easy. But when I tried to tow it on the highway at 65 - 70mph it was white knuckle diving with all the sway.

[jrollf]

Originally Posted by move on

A good rule of thumb is that your tow vehicle should weigh more than your trailer for maximum safety and stability.

So you are saying my 1 ton 4 door dually diesel with a curb weight of about 6,500 lbs should only pull less than 6,500 lb trailer?

Man, you would need a comercial HDT just to pull a 10k trailer.... a basic F-650 MDT only weighs around 9,000 lbs.

You are saying I need the pictured MDT to pull a 9,000 lb trailer.

This is not a practicle statement.
Attachment 318882

[tuffr2]

A 4 door dually will weigh 8,500lbs not 6,500lbs.

Agree that 'move on' is taking it a bit to extreme. But is right for ultimate safety but does not face the reality of real life towing.

Case in point - a 8,500lb dually can pull a 10,000lb travel trailer safely.