OK I've done a search and I'm sure it's on here but I didn't find it. So what is the maximum weight of a bumper pull travel trailer that I can pull? I know it's all about the brakes and stopping but what is the max weight that I am legally allowed to tow? I have a 2016 F250 Super Duty SRW King Ranch FX4. I have seen what appear to be official Ford documentation that is showing different numbers. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

We need more information to help you out.

What cab configuration? Which engine? What gear ratio?

From there we can get a pretty good idea of where Ford says you should be.

Looking at the tow ratings Ford has listed, I don't see one lower than 12,200 lbs.
How big of a trailer are you needing or wanting to pull?

 

it should be on the yellow sticker on your drivers door.

King Ranch is less
4x4 is less.
engine?
final gear ratio?

as stated.. way to Little information offered.

 

This is my sticker. It's a Crewcab and 6.7L diesel. I don't know the gear ratios off hand. I think it was just explained in the 5th wheel forum that it's about the tongue weight size and nothing to do with the trailer weight size?d Not sure if I understood that correctly or not.

 

Ford doesn't make this easy. If they were to provide the GCWR then you could figure out how much trailer is possible.

I don't know your specific rating, but when I was looking at 2016 F-350 models I wasn't finding many on the lot that had more than 11,500 lbs bumper pull. If found one or two that could do 12K but those were stripped down models as I recall.

Take a look at this document from Ford: https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/...u_r1_nov12.pdf

The ratings you see on page 3 are absolutely the most optimal towing capacity you'll ever have, if you have a base model truck. Once you start adding options and moving up to higher level models it reduces the trailering capacity.

 

I have seen that document. It was still confusing because it shows a weight of let's say 14000 lbs. I wasn't (and still not 100%) sure if that meant the trailer can be up to 1400 lbs because if my rear axle says 6100 lbs how do they relate? I'm like you, there should be a much easier way of knowing "here, you can carry this trailer)! lol

 

There should be another sticker that is white and yellow. it has your tire info and your payload capacity. Max trailer weight for your truck is 14K. you need to know the tongue weight of the trailer and how it will impact your payload capacity. 12% - 14% of your trailer weight should be about your tongue weight. You typically run out of payload capacity before you get to max trailer weight. everything you add to the truck with the exception of a full tank of gas must be subtracted from the payload capacity. so all cargo, passengers, tongue weight and WD hitches must come off the payload capacity.

 

Yes this is all very confusing. That is the only sticker though, I believe. That sticker has the tire info and GVWR/GAWR. I'll double check again later and see if there is another sticker but I believe that's it.

 

Like I said, what you see in that document is the most optimistic capacity that you'll ever get out of a Superduty if you have a bare bones base model. Take that 14K capacity and add up the weight of all your options and you'll get the actual trailer capacity. The 2016 models I was looking at on the lot were never less than a Lariat so none of them came in at more than 12K and usually at 11.5K.

The only relation between axle rating and trailer capacity is tongue weight.

Rear Axle Rating - cargo weight = amount left over for tongue weight
(The is a general formula. A WDH can move some of the weight to the front axle, blah, blah, blah...)

In other words, the more crap you put in the truck the lower your available tongue weight capacity is. It's not unusual to find a truck bed/cab completely empty and the trailer completely full. Shifting the cargo to the trailer is one way of staying within the rear axle rating, assuming of course you're not a complete idiot and loaded everything at the front of the trailer which would raise your tongue weight. It's a huge trade-off as you have to ensure you don't lighten the tongue too much (not less than 10% of the trailer weight) to avoid sway.

 

it should look like this

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...d=242869&.jpg=

 

OK, I think I'm starting to get a basic understanding. Thanks for all the help. I'll start looking at my numbers and see what I come up with. This is just a learning process right now. I don't have intentions of buying a trailer anytime soon but when that time gets here I want to make sure I'm doing it safely! Thanks again.

 

OK found it. So I take the weight of a fully loaded truck + the tongue weight of the trailer, make sure that is not over 2012 lbs, then beyond that the trailer weight doesn't matter as long as it's not over 14000 lbs since that is my max tow weight of a travel trailer. If I took the safe route of 14% then the trailer would be much smaller than 14k anyway. I think I understand now.

 

Take anything the trailer sales folks say with a grain of salt. Assume that they don't know jack and they're just trying to sell you whatever they can.

For comparison, the 2017 F-350 has a bumper pull trailer capacity of 18K. Mine is lower than that because I optioned it to the max. What is my actual towing capacity? Beats me, I just know that if it starts at a maximum of 18K then my 11K GVWR trailer is going to be just fine.

 

Yeah, that's the point I'm trying to get to. I just want to know that when I say "yes I want that trailer" that it's going to be fine as well. By the time I buy a trailer I'll have this all figured out and we'll be good! lol

 

just to add a little Oh, oh...

my trailer has 2 weight tags. one inside an one outside.. both say its 7,500 pounds...

well its real weight is 8,300 Empty.. I was sure the Cat scale was wrong.. drove another 40 miles and had it weighted again.. yep.. 8,300 pounds (the same).

turns out the weight is for basic trailer... no batteries, no propane tanks.. maybe no bed.. or chairs... no television. ...BASIC....

to ADD. this is NOT true of all manufacturers ...some.

for me, its not an issue... as I have an "XL" 2 wheel drive.. with Tow and slide in camper options.
I can carry in bed 3,600, minus the 1,100 trailer tongue weight = ( 2,500 ). and tow 10,000.
my total rolling weight is 17,000 pounds.. truck/cargo/motorcycle/fuel/people/trailer.
truck numbers say I can do 19,000 pounds.
my trailer hitch is rated 12,500...
. but if I change the final gear set to 4.30.. I can add 2,000 pounds to towing.
.