I have a curious question so i am trying to refresh my memory. I used to live in california like 10 years ago. This is all hearsay so bear with me. I could have something backwards or mixed up.
Someone there told me that its illegal to pull a trailer or a big trailer or something like that with a 5 lug F150 because its classified like a car and you will be ticketed. But you can tow with the 6 lug F150 in california.
Has anyone ever heard of this. Is it even true or did I just start my own urban legend?

 

Not true, I had a 7x16 dual axle that I used in California.
97 F150 5 lug.

 

Is your answer a fact or just based on the fact that you never been pulled over by pulling with a 5 lug F150. I hope someone else can shed some light on this subject because I've been thinking about this for many years everytime i see a 6 lug truck. I'd like to put it to rest mentally.

 

One ay to be 100% sure, call 1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247).

 

You can legally tow with a car in Kalifornia so the lug count does not matter. What matters is the tow weight the vehicle is rated to tow, the hitch rating, etc. Almost all street legal vehicles have a tow rating.

From the CHP website: http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/recvehicles.html

 

I dont think exceding the factory tow ratings is even illegal is it? The only way you can technically get in trouble is going over the weight your vehicle is licensed for, or the class you are licensed for.

Maybe im wrong, but i swear i thought that the manufactures ratings where just that ratings, not laws..

 

A quick search of CA law shows no such limitation or reference to axle lug requirements or makes of trucks.
As always there is a lot of law to look at so it could have been missed.
A mfgers gross combine weight rateing is used as a basis for total towing loads and always subject to change per the 'specific' equippage of the towing vehichle, and that is subject to change by owner actions.
An example of this is tires. A truck with P rated tires for legal purposes is derated 10% in GCWR here in Pa. P rated tires is what many PU come equipped with so it makes a difference, at times. P rated tires do not have the side wall ply rating of a specific truck duty tire.
Also there is a lot of misunderstanding about how much weight a peticular truck can legally tow because everyone just assumes the weight thrown around in the owners manuel is the the last word, it's not. There is a lot to it that is not known so the weight given becomes partly a sales pitch.
Your welcome to do an internet search of CA law and find out.
Good luck.