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Old 06-11-2017, 12:48 PM   #1
limit4
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2017 ford F150

Will a 2017 Ford F150 V8 with all the towing goodies handle my Cougar xlite 5th wheel. Dry Wt. 6964, GVWR 9990, Hitch wt 1190. Will I be happy with this combo? Oh I would go with short bed 4 wheel drive.Thanks.
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Old 06-11-2017, 12:55 PM   #2
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Will a 2017 Ford F150 V8 with all the towing goodies handle my Cougar xlite. Dry Wt. 6964, GVWR 9990, Hitch wt 1190. Will I be happy with this combo? Oh I would go with short bed 4 wheel drive.Thanks.
Probably not.

Most 1/2 tons hit their limits at 7000 GVWR and a 25 foot long box due to relatively low payload capacity, short wheel base and P tires. Both the truck and trailer dealers will say it can, but the "numbers" and many on this and other forums have experienced otherwise.

And if your rig is a FW: The V8 in the F150 will be working hard against the wind.
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Old 06-11-2017, 02:00 PM   #3
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Simply put, no. Go up one to the F250 and relax.
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Old 06-11-2017, 02:23 PM   #4
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Go with the 250/2500 size at least as suggested above. You'll be much happier, as it appears you are still on the fence thinking about it. The 150 just doesn't have the capacity you'd like to have. Many on here have been in the same place you are and convinced themselves the 150/1500 was ok. They have changed their minds and moved up in truck size, me included. If you do a search on here you'll find more discussions about this than you can read in a night. Make wise choices, you won't be disappointed.

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Old 06-11-2017, 02:53 PM   #5
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Will a 2017 Ford F150 V8 with all the towing goodies handle my Cougar xlite 5th wheel. Dry Wt. 6964, GVWR 9990, Hitch wt 1190. Will I be happy with this combo? Oh I would go with short bed 4 wheel drive.Thanks.
F-250 with the 6-3/4 bed with gas or diesel would handle this load a lot better.
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Old 06-11-2017, 03:13 PM   #6
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A trailer with a gvw of 9990 is out of the realm of a 1/2 ton period IMO. Been there, done that. When you add the fact that the 5vr is taller (catches more wind) a 1/2 ton with a V8 will struggle greatly.......plus I think you will find that you exceed one, and probably more, of your weight limits.

Note: Are you certain about those trailer numbers? The dry weight vs the gvw sure gives a trailer that weight a LOT of payload. What model is it?
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Old 06-11-2017, 03:39 PM   #7
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Sadly but no. It seems that most 1/2 tons now a days are just grocery getters and meant for zipping around town. You'd be putting yourself and others in danger on the road and it's not worth it. A 250 would be the way to go or any other truck that's equivalent to it.
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Old 06-11-2017, 04:28 PM   #8
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Limit4,

Let's look at the numbers for your 2013 XLite 26SAB and try to "anticipate" where your pin weight will be at GVW. Yes, you'll very likely be towing at or very near GVW, even though you may think at this time that you'll never be able to pack 2900 pounds of "stuff" into that small of a box.... I have a 27RKS and I can assure you that by the time you get camping gear, a couple of batteries, half a tank of fresh water and "almost full waste tanks", along with a tool box, a grill, some camping chairs, an awning mat, pots, pans, dishes, silverware, bedding, clothing, camping games, supplies like hoses, regulators, holding tank dump hoses, chocks, blocks, jack, spare tire, torque wrench, ... Oh and we haven't included the hitch, family, pets, a cooler, stuff for in the truck during the trip, and the list goes on and on.....

So, let's look at a few numbers: The 26SAB empty weight is 7047, cargo capacity is 2943 and pin weight (empty) is 1190. That's 17% of the empty weight, so at GVW, assuming you can load "equally" to the empty weight, your pin will weigh 1700 pounds (9990 x 0.17 = 1698). That doesn't include the hitch weight which if you have a 5.5' bed you'll need a sliding hitch at 175 pounds and if you have a 6.5' bed you can "skate by" with a conventional hitch at about 125 pounds.

So, let's look at the payload of the "typical" F150 V8 (heavier than the EcoBoost version). It will be for the short bed XLT equipped model around 1675 pounds and for the standard bed XLT version, about 1620 pounds.

So, "doing the numbers" it's pretty clear that you "might" be OK when the trailer is new (and empty) and before you gather "all your stuff" to take camping, but as you travel, as you camp, your "numbers" will approach the payload of your truck, but you've still got to add that hitch and the family to the mix. So, do you leave the generator home or do you leave the kid's bikes home or do you leave them both home and take the DW with you? You'll be facing decisions about what to take out and leave at home rather than loading what you need for the trip with the things you also want along for enjoyment....

To answer your initial question: "Will a 2017 Ford F150 V8 with all the towing goodies handle my Cougar xlite 5th wheel?" the short answer is: When you leave the dealership, probably yes, but after you equip your RV for camping and decide to take along the things that make camping enjoyable and rewarding: Then no, your truck will be overloaded and you won't enjoy towing. Every bump, every pothole, every railroad crossing will "make you pucker" and you'll grow tired of towing like that. For most of us it took just one camping season before we "upgraded" tow vehicles... I'm guessing if you do buy a new F150 and that trailer, come next April you'll be "taking it in the shorts" when you trade for an F250. Just do it now and avoid the financial losses as well as the year of "bad towing"....
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Old 06-11-2017, 05:01 PM   #9
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For reference, I have a 2016 F-150 XLT Gas V8 SuperCab 6.5' bed. Payload sticker says 1935 lbs. If you use 20% pin weight, that exceeds the 1935 by itself. The F-150 is not the right truck. I ended up having to keep the 2016 F-150 because we would have lost too much trading up when I bought the 2017 F-350 diesel dually back in May.

One thing you should consider is whether you will keep the current 5er for several years, or do you see yourself upgrading that in the not too distant future? If so, go right to a truck that can handle what you think your next 5er would be (size/weight). It may make sense to consider a 350 over a 250, and diesel over gas, and DRW over SRW.
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Old 06-11-2017, 06:02 PM   #10
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Sadly but no. It seems that most 1/2 tons now a days are just grocery getters and meant for zipping around town. You'd be putting yourself and others in danger on the road and it's not worth it. A 250 would be the way to go or any other truck that's equivalent to it.
Each truck or car has design limits; many of us on this forum have 1/2-ton trucks that we purchased as tow vehicles. When the truck meets the numbers and does the job for which it was purchased at a cost we can afford and has the ability to pick up the groceries in comfort then we have the correct vehicle. When the load gets heaver then its time to move up in truck capacity. It is a balance to choose the truck that meets your needs and pocket book. You do not always need a sledgehammer to pound in a 10 Penney nail.
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Old 06-11-2017, 06:07 PM   #11
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Sourdough, This is a 2013 Cougar Xlite 26SAB. The weight numbers are off the little metal tag on the camper and the hitch weight is from a website. By the way we went to Destin with our new tires and they were great.
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Old 06-12-2017, 10:22 AM   #12
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Sourdough, This is a 2013 Cougar Xlite 26SAB. The weight numbers are off the little metal tag on the camper and the hitch weight is from a website. By the way we went to Destin with our new tires and they were great.

Thanks. It DOES have a big payload.

I'm glad the new Maxxis tires worked good for you. They are good tires. And Destin? Don't know when you went but we always like it there - it's a pretty place and we love the water and beach (we aren't "beach" people - just the white sand and blue water). Hope you had fun - it can be a pretty hectic place.

As far as the truck and trailer combo John (JRTJH) gave you some excellent advice. I tried pulling a bumper pull 10k gvw with a 1/2 ton Ram hemi. The truck was over on payload by about 200 and that was with us trimming stuff back, not taking most things we wanted to take etc. then struggling across the country and back. Traded the truck in for a new HD as soon as we got back and it was just several months old. There is no need to try to "stretch" a truck to its limits and beyond to end up unhappy and worried for the whole trip. It's not much more to just get a 3/4 or one ton.

My guidelines are something like this; 1/2 ton up to about 7-8k(gas/big hp/torque), 3/4 ton gas up to about 10k, over 10k needs to be a diesel and it warrants at least a 3/4 ton. After my last purchase I've just about decided that my next truck will be a 1 ton even if I don't upgrade to a bigger trailer - just because. The bad ride kicks in with the 3/4 HD and the one ton isn't much worse so figure I will go with that since I'm not going back to a 1/2 ton as long as I pull a trailer as large as ours. JMO
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Old 06-12-2017, 03:25 PM   #13
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I pulled a 5500lb TT last year with my 2013 V8 F-150 from eastern Ontario through to southern Nova Scotia, and in the hilly parts of eastern Quebec through NS that motor screamed the whole way. Handling with the Husky Centerline was zero issue vis-ŕ-vis control even in high wind, but we traded for a Ram 2500 diesel a month after we got back. I couldn't do that to a perfectly good half-ton again.

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Old 06-12-2017, 06:27 PM   #14
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I want to thank you all for your comments. I have been pulling this unit with a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 V10. I own a S10 to run around in at home. My hopes was to go to one pickup. I am sure the newer 250 or 2500s would get better milage. So I am in the market for a new or near new 3Quarter ton. My neighbor, a30 yr man at our local Dodge dealer tells me the V10 has to go NOW. Thanks again.
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Old 06-15-2017, 04:08 PM   #15
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Each truck or car has design limits; many of us on this forum have 1/2-ton trucks that we purchased as tow vehicles. When the truck meets the numbers and does the job for which it was purchased at a cost we can afford and has the ability to pick up the groceries in comfort then we have the correct vehicle. When the load gets heaver then its time to move up in truck capacity. It is a balance to choose the truck that meets your needs and pocket book. You do not always need a sledgehammer to pound in a 10 Penney nail.
Oh I'm not going to disagree with your post, my thoughts are with being on the road when you're just pushing the limits. Most of what people get to read is through spec sheets, or by what the shady tells you after you've paid for your trailer.
I was told knowingly sold to me to in a huge lie that the sales guys told me that my Tundra would have no problems pulling and I just smiled the whole time.
I did take it out on few local to me trips though and those Tundra's do have some power and even pretty good brakes. But we both knew that we'd have to step up and buy something a little bigger. The F-350, dually 4x4 was overkill but I bought that purposely as I knew that one day we'd be looking again. Actually it's just me and my dog now.
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Old 06-15-2017, 04:16 PM   #16
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I want to thank you all for your comments. I have been pulling this unit with a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 V10. I own a S10 to run around in at home. My hopes was to go to one pickup. I am sure the newer 250 or 2500s would get better milage. So I am in the market for a new or near new 3Quarter ton. My neighbor, a30 yr man at our local Dodge dealer tells me the V10 has to go NOW. Thanks again.

If you are pulling with the old V10 your guy at the dealership is right!! The V10s got/get terrible mileage and the new trucks will be a great improvement. Your thoughts on the 3/4 ton is on the money for that trailer - if you don't plan on upsizing. If you do and still get the 3/4 just realize you will probably want to buy a bigger truck then as well. You're headed in the right direction - good luck.
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Old 06-19-2017, 09:41 AM   #17
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I think not. We have a 2016 F-150 Sport with the 385 HP 5.0 litre V-8 and 3.55 rear axle. We trusted the recommended towing maximum of 9,000 lbs and purchased a Cougar 29 BHS with a dry weight of 6,740. With a full fresh water tank and camp gear, we're probably pulling 7,500 lbs. On completely flat highways, the truck pulls OK. On any grade over 2%, it struggles quite a bit and drops down to 4th gear. We hit some steep grades in Arkansas that had us dropping down to first gear at a maximum speed of 2 mph. We discovered the hard way that torque is far more important than horsepower in a tow vehicle. We're currently shopping for a F-250 diesel.
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Old 06-19-2017, 12:28 PM   #18
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Not pushing one way or another and others on a different post gave a thumbs up to the gas option. That said, and others will disagree, the cost difference between the 250 and 350 is slight. Just food for thought.

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Old 06-19-2017, 03:59 PM   #19
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What Bruce said^^^^. Any of the big three the difference is in the neighborhood of $600 to $1000. We already argue the diesel point enough on here. If I had my way we'd be pulling the Raptor with a small Volvo single screw tractor, but mama said "nugatory, big mama."
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Old 06-19-2017, 04:24 PM   #20
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Will a 2017 Ford F150 V8 with all the towing goodies handle my Cougar xlite 5th wheel. Dry Wt. 6964, GVWR 9990, Hitch wt 1190. Will I be happy with this combo? Oh I would go with short bed 4 wheel drive.Thanks.
Have you considered a F150 EcoBoost? More power all the time and more payload. I believe the 2017's with the Max/Max tow and payloads top out at 7,800# GVWR, haven't looked at the payload numbers, will a bit later. That said some F150 with good trim have Payloads as good or better than 250/2500's.
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