Fifth Wheel
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Fifth Wheel
I think a lot of people think I am crazy with this post but I was looking to do a fifth wheel with my 09 150. I would be doing a super light trailer that weighs 9800 pounds dry. when loaded about 11,000. all of the driving would be done on for the most part very flat roads and no real hills. My biggest concern with doing it is that I have the 5.5 ft bed. The super glide hitch can take care of the turning, it is the wheelbase that I am more concerned about and the truck getting pushed around because the trailer is 35 ft long. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
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You'd most likely be over many of the ratings. One of the problems will be the pin weight (2,000 lbs?). What else / how many people will be in the truck, and what does the door jamb sticker say for payload?
I doubt that would be "happy towing".
I doubt that would be "happy towing".
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My truck and trailer total weight capacity is 17,200 lbs. That came from Ford when I called up with the vin number. Also according to the door jamb sticker the rear axle can take 4000 lbs over it. The trailer is about 1875 lbs pin weight.
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Not that something will necessarily break right away, but a super duty would be better, and going over the ratings *could* trigger legal problems *should* something happen.
In the end it's your decision, this is just my opinion.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
My neighbor has a 2011 Silverado, extended cab 6.5' bed and pulls a fiver around pretty easily. The truck sit's level and seems to be perfectly comfortable.
Now doubt that your '09 will do fine assuming you have the 5.4L, 3.73 axles and max tow package with trailer brake controller.
Now doubt that your '09 will do fine assuming you have the 5.4L, 3.73 axles and max tow package with trailer brake controller.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SE Georgia
will it pull it? yep
will it be a scary ride? yep
are you going to be legal? no
instead of relying on the axle weight sticker, what does the GVW and GCWR rating on the sticker say?
then go weight your truck at a weigh station and see how much room you have left. Unless you have at least 2,500 lbs of room left over, I wouldn't do it. When Ford rates the trucks, they factor the driver at 150 lbs with no equipment or passengers.
Your pin weight alone is going to put you over GVW. add 1-2 passengers and stuff in the truck trailer and you will easily be 1,000+ lbs over GCVR
will it be a scary ride? yep
are you going to be legal? no
instead of relying on the axle weight sticker, what does the GVW and GCWR rating on the sticker say?
then go weight your truck at a weigh station and see how much room you have left. Unless you have at least 2,500 lbs of room left over, I wouldn't do it. When Ford rates the trucks, they factor the driver at 150 lbs with no equipment or passengers.
Your pin weight alone is going to put you over GVW. add 1-2 passengers and stuff in the truck trailer and you will easily be 1,000+ lbs over GCVR
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Pacific NW
I don't recall who, but there's someone tooling around with an 09' or 10' with 5th wheel and a small boat towed behind the fiver at the same time. This was the first time I learned that us civies could tandem tow if you don't live in the west cost or the eastern seaboard. I'm personally torn between a boat or fiver, they make some light weight ones that would be usable with our f150's, They tend to be around 1,000 lbs at pin weight when loaded, and I know I have a payload capacity of about 1500 lbs with myself and a full tank of fuel included on the truck. 500 lbs for the wife and dog is more than enough, it's enough for a couple of kids as well. Just make sure that you load everything extra into the fiver, not the bed of your truck or else you may exceed your truck's GVWR.
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MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
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From: SE Georgia
I don't recall who, but there's someone tooling around with an 09' or 10' with 5th wheel and a small boat towed behind the fiver at the same time. This was the first time I learned that us civies could tandem tow if you don't live in the west cost or the eastern seaboard. I'm personally torn between a boat or fiver, they make some light weight ones that would be usable with our f150's, They tend to be around 1,000 lbs at pin weight when loaded, and I know I have a payload capacity of about 1500 lbs with myself and a full tank of fuel included on the truck. 500 lbs for the wife and dog is more than enough, it's enough for a couple of kids as well. Just make sure that you load everything extra into the fiver, not the bed of your truck or else you may exceed your truck's GVWR.
as far as loading up the 5th wheel...that isn't really an option either. You can shift weight to the 5th...but ultimately it won't gain you anything. You will still be placing a % of that weight onto the truck connection.
unfortunately, it's just isn't an option to run a 30+ ft trailer with a F-150 and stay within your limits. These new trucks are so heavy to begin with that you have very little room left for cargo/trailer pin weight/passengers
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From: Maine, Virginia
[QUOTE=tylus;10837412]tandem towing is only legal in a handful of states. and those that do allow it, some require a special liscence you must purchase. be very careful and research the route you will drive if you do this.
as far as loading up the 5th wheel...that isn't really an option either. You can shift weight to the 5th...but ultimately it won't gain you anything. You will still be placing a % of that weight onto the truck connection.
unfortunately, it's just isn't an option to run a 30+ ft trailer with a F-150 and stay within your limits. These new trucks are so heavy to begin with that you have very little room left for cargo/trailer pin weight/passengers[/QUOTE]
My 2011 weighs just shy of 5400, my '88 weighed around 3800. My '88 had a 1400 LB payload and my '11 has a 1600 lb payload. The trucks are heavier but Ford has compensated for that.
Had my '88 been an Scab, it's payload may have dropped to 1200 making it far less capable than my new Scab 4x4.
Now that we're seeing more and more built in features and aftermarket options such as TBC's, anti sway mechanisms and factory fifth wheel ratings, more half ton trucks are pulling heavier loads.
Here's the thing that's kinda funny. If the OP were pulling his load with a 1995 F-250, no one would say a word. But the 2009 F-150 has a higher tow rating than the 1995 F-250.
as far as loading up the 5th wheel...that isn't really an option either. You can shift weight to the 5th...but ultimately it won't gain you anything. You will still be placing a % of that weight onto the truck connection.
unfortunately, it's just isn't an option to run a 30+ ft trailer with a F-150 and stay within your limits. These new trucks are so heavy to begin with that you have very little room left for cargo/trailer pin weight/passengers[/QUOTE]
My 2011 weighs just shy of 5400, my '88 weighed around 3800. My '88 had a 1400 LB payload and my '11 has a 1600 lb payload. The trucks are heavier but Ford has compensated for that.
Had my '88 been an Scab, it's payload may have dropped to 1200 making it far less capable than my new Scab 4x4.
Now that we're seeing more and more built in features and aftermarket options such as TBC's, anti sway mechanisms and factory fifth wheel ratings, more half ton trucks are pulling heavier loads.
Here's the thing that's kinda funny. If the OP were pulling his load with a 1995 F-250, no one would say a word. But the 2009 F-150 has a higher tow rating than the 1995 F-250.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Arizona/Texas
[quote=tseekins;10837427]
Exactly!!!
tandem towing is only legal in a handful of states. and those that do allow it, some require a special liscence you must purchase. be very careful and research the route you will drive if you do this.
as far as loading up the 5th wheel...that isn't really an option either. You can shift weight to the 5th...but ultimately it won't gain you anything. You will still be placing a % of that weight onto the truck connection.
unfortunately, it's just isn't an option to run a 30+ ft trailer with a F-150 and stay within your limits. These new trucks are so heavy to begin with that you have very little room left for cargo/trailer pin weight/passengers[/QUOTE]
My 2011 weighs just shy of 5400, my '88 weighed around 3800. My '88 had a 1400 LB payload and my '11 has a 1600 lb payload. The trucks are heavier but Ford has compensated for that.
Had my '88 been an Scab, it's payload may have dropped to 1200 making it far less capable than my new Scab 4x4.
Now that we're seeing more and more built in features and aftermarket options such as TBC's, anti sway mechanisms and factory fifth wheel ratings, more half ton trucks are pulling heavier loads.
Here's the thing that's kinda funny. If the OP were pulling his load with a 1995 F-250, no one would say a word. But the 2009 F-150 has a higher tow rating than the 1995 F-250.
as far as loading up the 5th wheel...that isn't really an option either. You can shift weight to the 5th...but ultimately it won't gain you anything. You will still be placing a % of that weight onto the truck connection.
unfortunately, it's just isn't an option to run a 30+ ft trailer with a F-150 and stay within your limits. These new trucks are so heavy to begin with that you have very little room left for cargo/trailer pin weight/passengers[/QUOTE]
My 2011 weighs just shy of 5400, my '88 weighed around 3800. My '88 had a 1400 LB payload and my '11 has a 1600 lb payload. The trucks are heavier but Ford has compensated for that.
Had my '88 been an Scab, it's payload may have dropped to 1200 making it far less capable than my new Scab 4x4.
Now that we're seeing more and more built in features and aftermarket options such as TBC's, anti sway mechanisms and factory fifth wheel ratings, more half ton trucks are pulling heavier loads.
Here's the thing that's kinda funny. If the OP were pulling his load with a 1995 F-250, no one would say a word. But the 2009 F-150 has a higher tow rating than the 1995 F-250.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
maybe i'm picking nits here, but if we are not supposed to haul a trailer that has more than 1500 lbs in tounge weight (or whatever arbritrary number has been decided by whom ever)
they why do our 3/4 ton trucks come from the factory with 10 ply tires rated to over 3000lbs each? If we were to limit our loads based on the GAWR on the tag, we would only need 6 ply tires which would be rated to 2400lbs each.
maybe i'm missing something?
they why do our 3/4 ton trucks come from the factory with 10 ply tires rated to over 3000lbs each? If we were to limit our loads based on the GAWR on the tag, we would only need 6 ply tires which would be rated to 2400lbs each.
maybe i'm missing something?
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Joined: Sep 2011
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maybe i'm picking nits here, but if we are not supposed to haul a trailer that has more than 1500 lbs in tounge weight (or whatever arbritrary number has been decided by whom ever)
they why do our 3/4 ton trucks come from the factory with 10 ply tires rated to over 3000lbs each? If we were to limit our loads based on the GAWR on the tag, we would only need 6 ply tires which would be rated to 2400lbs each.
maybe i'm missing something?
they why do our 3/4 ton trucks come from the factory with 10 ply tires rated to over 3000lbs each? If we were to limit our loads based on the GAWR on the tag, we would only need 6 ply tires which would be rated to 2400lbs each.
maybe i'm missing something?
One important rating to watch out for is the GVWR. That includes the tongue / pin weight of the trailer and is in most cases the most restrictive of the ratings for a half ton truck like the F150.
The tires are usually sized for quite a bit more. For one, to have some margin as ratings of the tires are done under ideal conditions, like the exact right tire pressure. The average person will just load up the truck, and never fill the tires.
In that case, the tires will be able to take significantly less load than what's printed on them.Besides that, the load is never distributed exactly even, some wheels will always hold more, even if you are within the GVWR.
That's just a few points, but the bottom line is that you should stay within the GVWR of the truck if you want to avoid trouble.
When towing a TT, the HD payload package comes in very handy for that very reason: tongue weight, people and gear can add up quickly to much more than the 1,400lbs - 1,500lbs payload of the standard 4WD screw as an example.
