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I saw this at Buc-ee's on I-75N. It's a slightly different towing scenario than we are discussing, but definitely sketcy the way its strapped down. Hope he doesn't have to slam on his brakes or he may find that truck in the back of that camper.
I maintain my previous comments, that you can get a F150 with the tow and cargo ratings to allow it to pull those 11K trailers, and it doesn't have to be a base xl.
And, yes, was comparing to a diesel F250 for cargo, but not tow ratings.
Base model Lariat is as far as you'll go in trim level before the numbers dont support 20% pin weight of a fiver. Bumper pull, but then the factory hitch doesn't support the 10% tongue weight. Either way you go about it outside an XL or very basic XLT/Lariat you're pretty much in the wrong truck trying to tow above 10k with an F150.
Just like what's becoming of the SD trucks, hardly any private party is buying anything less than a fully loaded up XLT crew cab for personal use.
Base model Lariat is as far as you'll go in trim level before the numbers dont support 20% pin weight of a fiver. Bumper pull, but then the factory hitch doesn't support the 10% tongue weight. Either way you go about it outside an XL or very basic XLT/Lariat you're pretty much in the wrong truck trying to tow above 10k with an F150.
Just like what's becoming of the SD trucks, hardly any private party is buying anything less than a fully loaded up XLT crew cab for personal use.
10k load being towed by a truck weighing half that much, makes perfect sense!
I have just about the largest Grand Design made. 44' long 398 toy hauler behind a 350 SRW LB.
The truck rides nice and level, but I added Sumo bump stop springs and longer Sumo Stops above the factory overload springs anyway.
Motor makes plenty of power and the long wheel base makes it seem very smooth, and that makes it deceptive I guess.
I am usually 200 to 300 pounds over the rear tire capacity and rear axle rating. If I loaded a toy in the garage it might not be over on the truck axle and rear tires, but I pull it hundreds of miles at 70 mph like this, while waiting on a F450 to show up.
I monitor tire pressure and temps on everything, and my tires all around are brand new.
It's not ideal, but it's not more than about 5% over
I haven't weighed mine, but pulling a 395 Momentum with srw 350. Pulls it real nice, and I too, have a 450 on order.
10k load being towed by a truck weighing half that much, makes perfect sense!
Almost every loaded trailer is towed by a truck that weighs much less than half the trailer weight.
20K 5th wheel toy haulers are mostly towed by F350's that weigh less than half that trailer weight.
18 wheelers gross 80K, and the truck pulling the trailer is only a 1/4 or less than the trailer weight, way far from weighing half the trailer weight.
Almost every loaded trailer is towed by a truck that weighs much less than half the trailer weight.
20K 5th wheel toy haulers are mostly towed by F350's that weigh less than half that trailer weight.
18 wheelers gross 80K, and the truck pulling the trailer is only a 1/4 or less than the trailer weight, way far from weighing half the trailer weight.
You're right, the only difference is an SD is built for it, a half ton isn't. SD = Super Duty, half ton = light duty.....
By your logic my F150 was perfectly fine pulling my 38 ft bumper pull weighing in at ~8k lbs loaded and it was for most places we went, just got a little sketchy on interstates.... I was within the limits of the truck but doesn't mean it should have been done. I know the point you're attempting to prove though and understand what you're saying, but an F150 is in a total different category of trucks with the ones you mentioned.
We can agree to disagree on this point though if you'd like, like we normally do .
The guy with the u-haul rental figures if he breaks the truck, it isn't his so he doesn't care, not even considering safe towing.
I know what my truck can handle safely, and don't exceed that.
A few weeks ago the company was begging me to tow a 20K 3-axle toy hauler and I told them no way, and they kept saying "can't you do it for us, it only needs to go across town..."
NOPE, sorry, not me.
30k behind my f350 srw. I always use my f450, but have used my f350 once. Tows great, same as towing 15k.
But people don't realize an rv, race trailer, etc. Completely different ball game, and length at that is a huge factor of limitations. Wind is key, and load distribution. If this trailer was a box, I couldn't safely tow it, as it would sway, also load displacement is a huge factor.
Another factor is axles capacity to brake diameter. Rvs have usually 7k axles for 14k work of braking. But exceed that. Which is perfectly fine, the truck will stop the excess, but you dont have overkill. Where alot do flatbed have 15k axles for 30k of braking, and a gross if 30k so it will stop its own weight. Huge factor when towing with a srw.
Well, not exactly how it is.
A properly optioned F150 will have a tow capacity AND a cargo capacity to match, higher cargo capacity rating than a F250(which has an artificially low rating).
This allows that F150 to properly tow that 11K GVWR 5th wheel.
But, most F150's you find on a dealer lot are not properly optioned for such a towing job, but you can get one that is.
I almost always exceed the cargo rating of my F250 when towing, and it doesn't bother me a bit because I know I am not exceeding the tire or axle ratings. The cargo rating of the F250 is very low due to its artificially low GVWR, set that way to avoid commercial license ratings and tax entanglements in some situations.
on an srw.on an srw you will expire on tire capacity long before axle capacity. You can also get tires that have a higher capacity them the factory 20" michelins at (7500lbs). This tire upgrade will place you at 8200lbs total.
My first RV was a Open Range 28ft bumper pull. It was about 7K or so loaded. I pulled it with a 1500 Ram. It was fine on flat ground but it hunted for gears on mountain climbs etc. I got rid of the 1500 and got a Ram 2500. It was so much nicer towing with the 3/4 ton - I eventually for a 34 foot Grand Design reflection which was about 10K loaded. Still nice to pull with the 3/4 ton. I later went to a 3500 SRW and eventually went to a 3500 DRW when I started transporting for travel nurses etc. One thing I always say - its better to have more truck than not enough. I find that the problem is not always what the truck can pull, but payload capacity. I know a lot of guys who have 3/4 ton trucks pulling big toy haulers with heavy pin weights. They are literally maxed out on payload if not 500 lbs over etc...
My Jayco Pinnacle is 16K loaded with a pin weight of 3,200 lbs. For a 3/4 ton truck that is generally over payload capacity, at least on Rams - not sure about the F250 - I am not as familiar with their weight ratings.
Ford says my payload max is 5,254lbs and max tow of 32,500. They also list a max tounge load for a 5th wheel hitch as 4,875 lbs - I am guessing that total pin weight?
I prefer a DRW over a SRW for towing any day - less sway and just a better tow all the way around. On my Reflection I stopped using the sway bar on the WDH with the dually altogether.
The Pinnacle we just got pulls really nice with the F350 - I am really glad I gave Ford a try. That's hard to say having been a RAM guy for 20+ years!
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