Can I tow a small raptor?

green18 · 08-22-2013, 05:33 AM

I am debating whether I can handle a toy hauler with my half-ton. Let me say first of all that I want the toy hauler for the open floor plan and easy blow out of lab hair as well as being able to throw my canoe in the back. No heavy toys. No generator.

Truck is the fx4 ecoboost crew cab regular tow package. Toy hauler in question is the Raptor 22fs. Hitch is the equalizer 4 point.

If the weights are accurate I would "think" I would be fine. 650 hitch and 5500 pounds is basically the same weights I am seeing on most of the mid-20 length travel trailers I am shopping (non-toy haulers). In fact I would think the toy hauler would be better because I could put cooler, fishing gear, etc. in the back and not load them in a front compartment like the TT's. Of course I realize the Raptor is a bit taller and wider and that does count. It is also only 26 feet which should be of some advantage as most TT's I look at are 27-28 feet.

Dealer says its a no-brainer I can do it. My brain says it is a little less clear. I welcome honest assessment from experienced folks like you that have no investment in the decision. Thanks much!

crash · 08-22-2013, 10:22 AM

You should be ok,but beware of some of the dealers out there they will tell you anything that you want to hear just to make the sale

SAABDOCTOR · 08-22-2013, 11:15 AM

remember hitch weight is added to the cargo cap of the truck which includes you passengers (dogs) stuff. is that hitch weight dry? it will go up fast when you add stuff battery(s) propane etc. you did not give the cap of the truck that info should be on the drivers side front door post. gather up all the if the post again and you will get much more bestus advice from the group. have a great one

and yes the dealer will tell you you could tow the brooklyn bridge if it means a sale.

RaptyJon · 08-22-2013, 11:39 AM

I don't know if yours in a 2013 but here's a good pdf outlining the tow capability/specs: http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...rv&tt_f150.pdf - can also reference the stickers on the inside of your door. My GVWR is 7650, combined weight of occupants/cargo not to exceed 1576lbs.

labs4life · 08-22-2013, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaptyJon

I don't know if yours in a 2013 but here's a good pdf outlining the tow capability/specs: http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...rv&tt_f150.pdf - can also reference the stickers on the inside of your door. My GVWR is 7650, combined weight of occupants/cargo not to exceed 1576lbs.

That 1576 also includes pin weight and the weight of the hitch. Let me tell you, it adds up quick!! I am closer than I thought I would be towing a 9400lb TT with the DW and 2 curtain climbers in the truck. I have a 10k GVWR truck as well. They also come with carseats and such so that does not help either.

Good luck in your decision and let us know your trucks specs and we may be able to give more advise.....whether you want it or not.

tileman · 08-22-2013, 04:18 PM

Please anybody do not take this wrong.

We went to go off a few days ago with our 5th wheel and my wife's truck started making a strange noise around mid cab of the truck.
Took the trailer off and noise is still there but not as loud its in the shop now.
Its a 2010 DRW 4x4 3500 dodge.

We had to rent a truck to pull our motocross trailer to GA.
Had 3 bikes ton of gear and such. Trailer is 16'x8' runs about 2,100lbs
+ all the stuff we had in there so around 3,500lbs

We got a 2013 ford f150 from the lot to use only had 1,640 miles on it.
The truck was nice great ride but you could tell that the trailer we was pulling was there. And it was only getting 9.6 mpg and I was in tow/mode and running around 60-65 mph.

I was looking at the tow capability/specs and it was saying 10,000lbs
I would hate to see how that works when I was only pulling 3,500lbs and could feel it back there.

If I was to go with a ford I would shoot for a 2500 or so.
Please do not take this in a bad way it was just what I felt as pulling with this truck.

When we pull the same trailer with the dodge we get around 13mpg maybe cause its a diesel engine. With the 5th wheel the cat scales say 14,140 for the trailer and we get around 9.5 to 10mpg at 60-65mph.

green18 · 08-22-2013, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys. I am going to give it a try. If in the next couple months the truck seems overmatched I will upgrade next spring to a 2500. I am taking short trips. I keep researching and outside of hybrids I am not finding things significantly lighter. I can find a slightly lighter hitch but they are all cargo up front. I told myself to stay under 28 feet, under 700 hitch dry and under 6k. I am confident I can do that if I am careful. I do not expect my family to be in the truck when towing as I usually head out before. Feel free to continue to share thoughts. I just hate to shy away from a toy hauler because its a toy hauler if the weights are the same.

LittleJoe · 08-24-2013, 04:02 PM

Toyhaulers are generally set up to accommodate extra weight in the rear and have a higher pin weight or I am assuming here......higher tongue weight IF there are no "toys" on board, to offset some of weight to the rear.

Cnc_hemi · 09-18-2013, 06:40 PM

For sure a diesel will pull it better and a TH that size is no prob for any of the three big names. I own a 2012 GMC sierra HD 2500 duramax. And it has no prob pulling my fuzion 310 5er. I get 18/19 everyday and 12 pulling at 65 loaded. I was told by a dealer on my first camper your 1500 truck can pull it prob. Well it could but on flat ground only. Any big bridges are overpasses it had issues. Then I made another mistake. I moved up to a 3/4 ton but a gas burner. Lol helped but still had problems on large hills. Take in mind the dry weight was only 7800 on the Laredo 256rl. It was even a 1/2 ton edition camper. Then after a year of that I made the jump to my first diesel and boy did my world change towing. So take it easy on that 1/2 ton.

duhameister · 09-19-2013, 08:45 PM

I towed my 24' megalite by extreme for years with a 1/2 ton 1500 dodge ram with the Hemi. The issue isn't will the truck tow it, it will. It will ususally stop it with no issue too, in most cases. That being said, it's a 1/2 ton. The stability isn't there, it'll shift a lot and in emergency situations you'll be white knuckling it. If the trailer brakes fail, the truck will stop it, but not very well.

If your getting over the 5k mark unloaded look into a diesel or a smaller trailer. Just my .02$

Adventurider · 09-20-2013, 03:01 PM

I had a 1500 Hemi Quad cab towing a 23ft bumper tow, it stopped it fine, pulled it fine. Hills were a bit of a bitch, gas mileage sucked.

I hear really good things about the ecoboost towing. (coming from a Doge guy too!)

I'd say do it, maybe swap out the brake pads with something better and change the trans fluid often.

duhameister · 09-20-2013, 05:46 PM

Oh I loved my Hemi 1500, it towed like a champ, it worked hard and did a great job. Now that I have a diesel, 4 years later, I realize how much easier the job is and how much safer things are.

I'd buy it too and enjoy!

rnkburg · 09-21-2013, 05:18 AM

I have a 13 ecoboost and I have never been so impressed with a v6 towing. It tows better than any 5.4 I have ever been in and I would put it up against an older diesel . I believe it would toy the trailer in ? Just fine but I don't know that I would want to go with the bigger unit. I almost bought the fusion 300 tag but was on the limits so ended up with the 300mp raptor 5th wheel pulling with a dually duramax. I haven't looked back and it wasn't much more at all

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duhameister · 09-21-2013, 05:45 AM

Good choice. Pulling a fuzion 300 with a 1/2 ton is very bad idea. That thing is heavy, makes my diesel work and I'm pumping 830lbs of torque. Thinking about it, there's now way I'd even entertain pulling a 8.5k hauler with my last 1500. It's just not safe and you'd be fighting with that thing on the road.

I've heard some good things about the ecoboost though.

rnkburg · 09-21-2013, 05:41 PM

That was my thoughts, fighting the sway and maxed out weight. Pulling the 5er is so much better and having them in the past it didn't take much to push me back to one. Plus the dually handles it great.

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kellydog98 · 09-26-2013, 05:58 PM

Pulling your rig isn't as much of a 'no-brainer' as what I am about to suggest. Your tow
vehicle MUST be able to STOP the rig and all as safely as possible. Yes, you can tow almost anything, but its your stopping power that sets you apart from all else. Good luck and safe trailering.

danimal · 09-26-2013, 06:47 PM

I really think that his ecoboost truck will pull that trailer safely just fine and I am usually the guy saying get a bigger truck. He's not going to load 4 harley's in it and max it out. Based on what he said he plans on hauling I doubt the overall trailer weight will exceed 7500 lbs. Sure a 3/4 ton would tow it better and has bigger brakes, stronger transmission, frame and suspension but I don't think it necessary in this situation.

green18 · 10-03-2013, 07:27 AM

I never did get a chance to thank everyone for their feedback. I ended up getting nearly the same thing but I went with the Forest River XLR 24. The weights were about the same in both tongue and total weight but I felt better about it being a foot narrower and not as tall. I do think I would have been fine with the Raptor based on how the XLR is towing but having less frontal area gave me a little more peace of mind.

I hope to upgrade to a larger truck in 3-5 years and will be back looking at the larger Raptors at that point, hopefully a 5th wheel.

Thanks again!

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