Can I Tow It?
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Senior User
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From: south carolina
Can I Tow It?
I have a 2005 F-150 4x4 super crew with a 3.73 rearend. I am looking at a 30ft. travel trailer. The GVWR on the camper is about 9700 lbs. I live in SC and we take trips to the beach, lake and would like to camp in the NC/TN mountains occasionally. Can my truck tow this camper safely?
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RE: can I tow it...?
Many folks get away with this combination but you're towing at the limits of the tow vehicle. Besides, the tongue weight of the trailer is likely to be ~10-15% of the GVW or about 900-1400# -- a tad much for an F150 suspension. And the loaded trailer will outweigh your truck by several 1000 #'s too. You'd probably be happier with an F-250 or 350 duallie if $$ allow....
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: south carolina
Many folks get away with this combination but you're towing at the limits of the tow vehicle. Besides, the tongue weight of the trailer is likely to be ~10-15% of the GVW or about 900-1400# -- a tad much for an F150 suspension. And the loaded trailer will outweigh your truck by several 1000 #'s too. You'd probably be happier with an F-250 or 350 duallie if $$ allow....
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I am sorry to be the wet blanket, but you are not going to like that experience at all. Of course, you can tow that load with that rig, but it will be no fun, you will risk breakdown, and it will be unsafe at normal highway speeds.
By the time you get you beach gear and groceries in there and load the truck up with kids, you are way over the ratings CGWR and the 5.4 motor will be squeeling like a stuck pig on either NC or SC highways.
A case could be made for hauling that load down I95 from NJ to Florida, but going east to west in your part of the country is just as challenging as the western mountains. I've driven it dozens of times with and without towed loads.
Let me suggest that if you add another couple of thousand $$ to the budget, you can get rid of that light duty truck and get one that fits the job of hauling a 30 ft. trailer and your family.
By the time you get you beach gear and groceries in there and load the truck up with kids, you are way over the ratings CGWR and the 5.4 motor will be squeeling like a stuck pig on either NC or SC highways.
A case could be made for hauling that load down I95 from NJ to Florida, but going east to west in your part of the country is just as challenging as the western mountains. I've driven it dozens of times with and without towed loads.
Let me suggest that if you add another couple of thousand $$ to the budget, you can get rid of that light duty truck and get one that fits the job of hauling a 30 ft. trailer and your family.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
what motor? If it is the 5.4 then yes you can manage. But if it is the 4.6 then no.
Check out the towing guide here:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...05_default.asp
Check out the towing guide here:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...05_default.asp
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Calgary Canada
I'm going to go against the crowd here and say you probably CAN tow that a few times a year.
He says the GROSS rating of the trailer is 9700 lbs, but we don't know the actual weight. Those gross ratings include a lot of gear, plus some water in all three tanks.
If it was me, I'd find out the dry weight of the trailer, and then see if I could tow it without anything in the tanks. Most places I camp I can get water pretty close to the destination, so you aren't pulling all that water down the road the entire way.
The engine might have to work pretty hard, but that's the least of your worries.
He says the GROSS rating of the trailer is 9700 lbs, but we don't know the actual weight. Those gross ratings include a lot of gear, plus some water in all three tanks.
If it was me, I'd find out the dry weight of the trailer, and then see if I could tow it without anything in the tanks. Most places I camp I can get water pretty close to the destination, so you aren't pulling all that water down the road the entire way.
The engine might have to work pretty hard, but that's the least of your worries.
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If you cannot afford a F250 or 350 I would spend some money and set up the F150 properly, which would include:
Gears- 4:30's. This change will help your transmission live a little longer.
Gauges-trans temp gauge, coolant temp gauge and oil temp if applicable.
Maintenance-trans flush, coolant flush, and of course oil change and filters.
Hitch-if you don't already have one, I would recommend a Reese Dual Cam weight distributing hitch, and a Hensley would be even better but very expensive.
And as has already been mentioned, you will need the 5.4, don't even try it with the 4.6
Gears- 4:30's. This change will help your transmission live a little longer.
Gauges-trans temp gauge, coolant temp gauge and oil temp if applicable.
Maintenance-trans flush, coolant flush, and of course oil change and filters.
Hitch-if you don't already have one, I would recommend a Reese Dual Cam weight distributing hitch, and a Hensley would be even better but very expensive.
And as has already been mentioned, you will need the 5.4, don't even try it with the 4.6
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Senior User
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From: south carolina
Yes it is the 5.4. I think dry weight is about 7500 lbs. It is my uncles camper and we are gonna hook it up to my truck tomorrow and take it down a very hilly road near my home to see what she can do. I don't think I will ever tow water in my camper. I always go where there are water hookups, so that not gonna be a problem.
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Posting Guru
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I'd advocate keeping the speed reasonable as well. I do just over 55 on blacktop and around 65 on the interstate (70 & 75 mph limits where I travel) with my camper. It's what I'm comfortable with for stopping distances and that's with my F250.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
That's another thing about people, most people want a truck so powerful, that it's going to haul there 30 something foot long trailer up a 5% grade, on cruise control at 65-70mph without loosing speed.
Not going to happen! Look at transport trucks, they all loose alot of speed if loaded up on hills, no matter what they got under the doghouse.
Most important thing is not speed when towing, it's, "is the vehicle able to STOP the load?"
Another important one when towing with an auto trans., can you keep the tranny cool enough? Usually F150's don't have big enough tranny coolers for towing anything, so that's a needed upgrade for towing with a half ton.
But for those who tow a camper a few times a year, it's ok a small truck, but for someone who travels alot like me, and does alot of mileage, a bigger truck will live alot longer pulling a trailer than a half ton will.
Not going to happen! Look at transport trucks, they all loose alot of speed if loaded up on hills, no matter what they got under the doghouse.
Most important thing is not speed when towing, it's, "is the vehicle able to STOP the load?"
Another important one when towing with an auto trans., can you keep the tranny cool enough? Usually F150's don't have big enough tranny coolers for towing anything, so that's a needed upgrade for towing with a half ton.
But for those who tow a camper a few times a year, it's ok a small truck, but for someone who travels alot like me, and does alot of mileage, a bigger truck will live alot longer pulling a trailer than a half ton will.
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From: Frederick, MD
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
You would not love my non turbo 12k lbs motorhome then 
It's slow on hills and looses speed pretty easily, with the fan clutch lock in, and A/C going. And won't cruise nicely over 60mph, so I always do 55-60 with it.
It's slow on hills and looses speed pretty easily, with the fan clutch lock in, and A/C going. And won't cruise nicely over 60mph, so I always do 55-60 with it.
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From: Frederick, MD
Actually there is nothing wrong with that at all. Simple and reliable.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
So install the Banks Turbo Kit on it..... I did it to my old 92 F250 NA diesel. A world of difference. That engine would pull the Empire State building if ya laid it down and installed wheels!