Tow vehicle question

[Truckerjt]

So I’m having a hard time understanding how to figure this out.

I have a 2017 f150 5.0 v8 with 3.31 axle. Trying to find out if I’m good to tow a slx 287 bhsw with it. I’m getting all kinds of different answers from dealers and such. Any help would be great.

Truck
GCWR 13000
Gvwr 7000

Trailer
Gvwr 7500
Empty weight 6113

[B5 GTX]

You left out a couple variables that factor into things. Cab configuration, bed length, and 2x4 vs 4x4 all influence tow rating. Here is a chart I found that might help you out.
http://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-c...ng-chart_o.jpg

[Truckerjt]

Thanks I have seen that chart and I’m so confused.. the dealer says I am fine to tow the 7000lbs trailer with around 1000lbs in the truck but u see other people say more like 5000. I have the super cab 4x4 with the 3.31 axle. I have no clue . I know the truck can tow it but not sure if I’m legal.

[DonaandDon]

Do you have a sticker in the drivers door jam? Should be a line item that has the GVWR rating... Good place to start. Keep in mind with "P" type tires. Sidewall flex is critical when towing. Like a very bad thing. Pics show cracks in sidewall on my Trundra and close to tread separation. The things we do to learn.. Keep max inflation when towing.

[ttavasc]

When looking for the GVWR from the drivers door sticker also look for the payload or tire and loading sticker. Find the phrase "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXXX" and post that figure as well. This will tell you how much cargo your truck can carry as configured from the factory. Cab size, bed length, 4x4, factory options all affect how much payload you can carry. If you have added other items after market such as a bed topper or cover or side steps the weight of those items needs to be subtracted from the value on the payload sticker. The truck needs to be able to carry all passengers and cargo you intend to load in it plus the tongue weight of the trailer, between 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight. This would also include the weight of the weight distributing hitch - usually around 75-100lbs.

If you expect the loaded trailer to weigh 7000lbs, using 13% to estimate tongue weight that would be 910lbs. Add the 1000lb of passengers/cargo mentioned that would be about 2000lbs of payload required. Comparing that to the payload value from your door sticker is a good place to start with determining whether a particular trailer is a good fit for your truck.

[Truckerjt]

Payload is 1850 and gvwr is 7000

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Truckerjt

Payload is 1850 and gvwr is 7000

Is the 1000lb of cargo in the truck a reasonable estimate? If so then at 7000lbs the tongue weight of the trailer puts you over available payload. If not, then try and come up with a more reasonable estimate of what you will be loading in the truck to use. If you want to be certain you can load up the truck with everything and everyone you would have when towing and run the truck over a CAT scale. The difference between the GVWR of the truck and the scale weight would be what you have left for the tongue and weight distributing hitch weight. While the range of recommended tongue weight is 10-15% most travel trailers tend to tow better in the 12-15% range which is why I use 13% for estimating purposes.

[Truckerjt]

I put nothing in the truck other than people so probably more around 5 or 6 hundred but aim high just to be sure. Both ford and the dealership say I’m good but for some reason I just don’t trust them. The nearest scale for me is 5hrs away so it’s not easy for me to do.

[Truckerjt]

They say my max trailer tow weight is 9000 lbs and long as my tounge weight stays below 1000 I’m good to go.

[ttavasc]

Assuming 600lb passengers/cargo in the truck, 910lb for the estimated 13% tongue weight of the 7000lb load trailer and 100lbs for weight distributing hitch you are at approximately 1610lbs of payload - under the max by almost 250lbs. From a payload perspective those numbers would seem to work though there are other factors to consider. That model is just over 33' in length. You may want to check the wheelbase on the truck - recommended wheelbase would be 162" or more based on the attached chart:

[Truckerjt]

My wheel base is 145, I know it is a huge trailer and we do not travel all the far with it. Just want to make sure I’m legal to tow it.

[ttavasc]

The wheelbase chart I attached is a "recommended guideline" and in no way indicative of any legal requirements. From a weight perspective it appears that this combination will fit within the available payload based on estimated loading. A good quality weight distributing hitch with sway control will be a key component. Is a hitch being included, and if so, what kind? Hopefully somebody that has or has had a combination that more closely resembles what you are looking at can provide some input from their experiences.

[Truckerjt]

No there is not one included but I will definitely be getting one. I have one on my 20ft x213 and it makes a word of difference. I’d love to hear what ones work best from someone with a similar set up as I will have with the 33 ft tt.

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by Truckerjt

So I’m having a hard time understanding how to figure this out.

I have a 2017 f150 5.0 v8 with 3.31 axle. Trying to find out if I’m good to tow a slx 287 bhsw with it. I’m getting all kinds of different answers from dealers and such. Any help would be great.

Truck
GCWR 13000
Gvwr 7000

Trailer
Gvwr 7500
Empty weight 6113

Well, it looks like you may have all the numbers you need. Take a look at your truck's GCWR of 13,000 lb. Add the truck and trailer's GVWR numbers, and you get 14,500. I'm thinking you've got a big NOPE there.

Your loaded weights (combined GVWR numbers) are 1500 lb over the safe combined weight your truck can handle. Unless you tow with the truck and the trailer empty, you're out of luck. The truck is designed for only so much load. Beyond that you're abusing the engine, transmission and drive train. How about stopping that load? The brakes are designed to handle no more than the GCWR, too.

You could play with other numbers, like the truck's payload capacity and the probable tongue weight of the trailer that must be within the truck's payload capacity, but it's still not looking good. The trailer is going to put somewhere around 1000 pounds on the truck's bumper, maybe more if it's fully loaded. Passengers, luggage, fuel, hitch assembly, other cargo, all count against the truck's payload. 2 adults are 400 pounds or more. You're still in "oops" territory with a half-ton pickup.

I'm towing with a 2010 F150 that has a payload capacity of about 1500 lb, but my trailer's GVWR is only 5950. Even then I'm pretty sure I sometimes overload it with passengers and cargo.

Good luck!

Roger

[Truckerjt]

Really I think I should be good. Max combined weight is 13000. So I’m saying trailer will be no more than 7000 lbs... that leaves me 6000lbs I can not exceed 1800 and change for payload so say 900 tounge weight... that leaves me 900 ish for weight in the truck.. long as I don’t load a lot of gear in the truck keeping it around 500-600lbs and no more then 7000 in the trailer I can’t see where I’m over

[RedHorse1]

I would expect a TW around 1000# and I expect you will max the rear axle before that. A trip to the CAT Scale will yield the weight on the rear. The difference between the Rear GAWR and the weight from the scale divided by 0.15 (15%) would be an estimate of the max TT GVW for your TV.
The CAT Scale is your friend.

[wabirch]

Had not seen that chart, appreciate it. Good thread here, thanks.

Cat scale is in my plans this Spring.

[SkyBound]

Your GVWR for the truck is 7000lbs and your payload is 1850, which means the truck weighs 5150lbs empty. GCWR of 13,000lbs subtract your truck leaves 7850 for max trailer weight. With a fully loaded trailer at 7500lbs you can only put 350lbs in the truck to stay within GCWR, and this includes the weight of your hitch as well as tonneau cover or any extras you added.

A trailer of that weight will have a tongue weight around 1000lbs depending on how and what's loaded. I come in just under 7K loaded with a 920lb tongue.

Depending on your RAWR that could be an issue. Mine is rated at 4050lbs and I have to watch what I haul in the truck bed to not exceed it.

I think you will be alright number wise if you load the trailer lightly, only have 1 or 2 people in the truck with next to no extra cargo in the truck. If you need to bring more people and some gear, it won't work. I believe Ford includes the weight of a full tank of fuel in the payload calculator and does not include the weight allowance of a driver.

Even if your numbers work, the 3.31 axle with the 5.0L isn't ideal for heavy towing depending on terrain. Northern Ontario is full of hilly towing challenges. Your payload is actually quite good, it's the low GCWR that's hurting you, probably a result of your drive line mentioned above.

[Ottawasteve]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

Assuming 600lb passengers/cargo in the truck, 910lb for the estimated 13% tongue weight of the 7000lb load trailer and 100lbs for weight distributing hitch you are at approximately 1610lbs of payload - under the max by almost 250lbs. From a payload perspective those numbers would seem to work though there are other factors to consider. That model is just over 33' in length. You may want to check the wheelbase on the truck - recommended wheelbase would be 162" or more based on the attached chart:

You do not need to add the weight of your hitch, propane tanks etc. to the recommended 13% tongue weight (TW). This is a common mistake. The weight of the WD hitch will be included in the recommended 12-15% TW. An increase to 13% tongue weight from 12% will increase your actual tongue weight by approximately 10% (7000*0.12=840lbs vs 7000 *0.13=910 lbs)

No matter how you slice it, you will be in the upper limits of your TV ratings, particularly payload. Invest in a good quality WD hitch with sway control. Some who tow similar weights have had stability issues and claim you gotta have a 250/2500 on the side of the truck to tow. I suspect their problems were due to inexperience and the inability to set up their hitches properly or maybe just a poor quality hitch. Myself and many others have had many years of flawless towing similar TV/TT combos with Propride and Hensley Arrow hitches. Have tugged my combo all over Ontario and the Eastern Coast since 2014.


3.31 gears are not ideal for towing and you probably do not have the Max Tow trailer towing packages (usually with the 3.55 or 3.73 gears depending on motor) on your truck and you may want to look into whether there were larger transmission coolers for you model year and at the very least have a good transmission temp gauge to keep an eye on your temps while towing. Your 5.0 will have to rev a bit on some of the hills in northern Ontario and look into a tuner with a good custom tow tune if you are nearing the end of your manufacturer warranty. A new diesel will tow your TT up the hill faster if you are willing to take on the associated mortgage payments

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Ottawasteve

You do not need to add the weight of your hitch, propane tanks etc. to the recommended 13% tongue weight (TW). This is a common mistake. The weight of the WD hitch will be included in the recommended 12-15% TW. An increase to 13% tongue weight from 12% will increase your actual tongue weight by approximately 10% (7000*0.12=840lbs vs 7000 *0.13=910 lbs)

Unless I'm missing something here I'm not sure how the weight of the hitch itself gets included in the estimated tongue weight figure as that is based on "loaded trailer weight" only. The hitch is carried by the TV so it counts against payload but wouldn't be part of the "loaded trailer weight" value used to estimate tongue weight.