Any Class C gas MH flat towing a F-150?

[Funengineer]

We own a 2017 F150 that I pull our Flagstaff 25FLBS with. My wife and I love the comfortable ride and space of the F-150 and are researching flat towing it.

I am seriously considering going to a gas Class C on a Ford 450 chassis and am considering flat towing the F-150. Is anyone flat towing an F-150 behind their Class C?

Any recommendations or thoughts are appreciated.

[twinboat]

Not exactly what you propose to do, but I dolly tow a 5000 lb Honda Ridgeline with my 2017, E450, Axis, A small class A.

Its rated to tow 7500 lbs and tows it well.

[oldtymer]

Hi Funengineer, I flat tow a 2015 F150 with my class c outlaw. The class c outlaw has the e450 engine and is rated at 8000 pounds towing capacity. I recently travelled from Tennessee to California and back towing the F150 through all kings of terrain and had no problems. Towing this setup over the mountains slows me down a little but I can still maintain reasonable speed. I have a braking system installed in the f150 when I am towing that works well to maintain braking on long steep downhill situations. My truck tows well behind the motorhome.

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by oldtymer

Hi Funengineer, I flat tow a 2015 F150 with my class c outlaw. The class c outlaw has the e450 engine and is rated at 8000 pounds towing capacity. I recently travelled from Tennessee to California and back towing the F150 through all kings of terrain and had no problems. Towing this setup over the mountains slows me down a little but I can still maintain reasonable speed. I have a braking system installed in the f150 when I am towing that works well to maintain braking on long steep downhill situations. My truck tows well behind the motorhome.

Thanks oldtymer this is very helpful.
What brand are you using for a baseplate, towbar and brake system?

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Not exactly what you propose to do, but I dolly tow a 5000 lb Honda Ridgeline with my 2017, E450, Axis, A small class A.

Its rated to tow 7500 lbs and tows it well.

Thanks twinboat. Yes, not really what I hope to do but good to know. Do you find it a problem to deal with ramps and straps? What about dolly storage at a campsite?

[DirtRider]

I'm not flat towing--I'm towing toys on a trailer. My heaviest setup is 7k. The only problem with it is tongue weight pulls weight off the steers, so handling suffers a bit with the heavy setup. My normal setup is maybe 4k on a trailer, and it's an absolute breeze.

The point being--these class C's tow just fine. With a trailer, I had to be very selective about the unit I bought to keep the rear overhang down. With a flat tow, that shouldn't even be a problem.

I've never driven a 5-speed version, but it doesn't seem to be as liked as the 6-speed for this sort of stuff. It's not a requirement or anything, but I would be looking for a 6-speed unit.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Funengineer

Thanks twinboat. Yes, not really what I hope to do but good to know. Do you find it a problem to deal with ramps and straps? What about dolly storage at a campsite?

Our dolly has fixed ramps and we can load up and strap it down in 5 to 10 minutes. We have over 30,000 miles doing it and its just routine. I tighten the straps as tight as I can and have never had one fall off.

With a 25 foot MH, most sites are long enough to just back it in, connected.
With shorter sites, we back it in, drop it off the ball, and back over the tongue.

At some real short sites, we unhitch and roll it onto the site. I have added a 3 inch caster wheel under the coupler. The DW and I each push a fender to steer it where it needs to go.

We have gone thru 3 vehicles in 7 years towing, so the dolly gives us lots of choices.

[jesslinger1]

I flat tow a 2018 F150 diesel super crew 4x4 behind my 2029 Jayco Seneca. Blue ox baseplate and tow bar. M&G engineering brake system. M&G system works off my air brakes. I would have used the Air Force one, but I have adjustable pedals and I would probably forget to set the pedal in the extended position for braking, and the AF1 would not work.

[jesslinger1]

Sorry typo. 2019 Seneca[emoji2]

[Calson]

I would also look at the Class C using the Ram penstar gas V-6 that is designed to provide a lot of torque and would be good for towing. If you can get them, the GVWR provides information on the total load the drivetraina and frame are engineered to handle.



The advantage of a diesel engine is more torque at lower RPM's and more range on a tank of fuel. With the small fuel tanks put in Class C motorhomes this is important.

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by Calson

I would also look at the Class C using the Ram penstar gas V-6 that is designed to provide a lot of torque and would be good for towing. If you can get them, the GVWR provides information on the total load the drivetraina and frame are engineered to handle.



The advantage of a diesel engine is more torque at lower RPM's and more range on a tank of fuel. With the small fuel tanks put in Class C motorhomes this is important.

Pretty sure the tow capacity of those small Ram chassis is 2000 lbs. It doesn’t figure in here—if you’re towing a half ton with a class C, it’s a Ford 450 or a Chevy 4500.

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

Pretty sure the tow capacity of those small Ram chassis is 2000 lbs. It doesn’t figure in here—if you’re towing a half ton with a class C, it’s a Ford 450 or a Chevy 4500.

Yes, the smaller MB and Ram Class C are not in the running. Too small to meet our needs.

[Funengineer]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Our dolly has fixed ramps and we can load up and strap it down in 5 to 10 minutes. We have over 30,000 miles doing it and its just routine. I tighten the straps as tight as I can and have never had one fall off.

We have gone thru 3 vehicles in 7 years towing, so the dolly gives us lots of choices.

I watched a couple of videos loading a dolly and I was surprised at how easy it was. Thanks for the information we will now consider this option. To bad our CR-V is all wheel drive. [emoji853]

[Shutterbug57]

Originally Posted by jesslinger1

I flat tow a 2018 F150 diesel super crew 4x4 behind my 2029 Jayco Seneca. Blue ox baseplate and tow bar. M&G engineering brake system. M&G system works off my air brakes. I would have used the Air Force one, but I have adjustable pedals and I would probably forget to set the pedal in the extended position for braking, and the AF1 would not work.

I have the AF1 and adjustable pedals. It’s just a checklist item followed by verifying the light comes on when the coach brakes are applied.