Towing maxed-out or OK?

[Swampdollar]

Hi folks,
I have a F150 4X4 Super-crew V8 w/ 3.55 Gear Ratio and a 7000# hitch with 700lbs Tongue weight capacity. The Chart says max towing = 9,100 lbs, which is B.S. in my opinion, I'm thinking 7,000 w/ max of 700 tongue weight.



That being said, the heaviest RV in our top 8 picks is an Outback 299URL.

It's Specs are...
Shipping Weight 6245

Carrying Capacity 1495

Hitch 745

Length 29' 7" I'm thinking about dropping it off the list because of the 745, I'd love your input on this!

[QCMan]

Hi. To start with you are 740 pounds over your hitch rating when maxed out and most folks will come close to max weight at some time if not all the time. Dry weight means nothing and tongue weight is a guess as you will not know that until you are loaded. I am sure the weight police will follow up on this but you will never be able to tow 9100 pounds with a 7000 pound hitch. Are you sure of that tow rating for your exact truck?

[NH_Bulldog]

You can throw out any manufacturer tongue weight “spec”. Ours was stated at 550 lbs and actual loaded weight was close to 900 lbs. which is no issue for our set-up.

What year is your SCrew? You can usually find towing specs in the towing guide Ford publishes each year. There are 2 hitch receiver ratings on the truck; weight carrying and weight distribution. On my 2015 SCrew the tow capacity is 5,000 lbs with a tongue weight of 500 lbs. But with weight distribution, my tow capacity goes up to 12,200 lbs and a tongue weight of 1,220 lbs. Your limiting factor will likely be the truck cargo capacity rating which you didn’t share. If you are shopping, as a rule of thumb take published tongue weight, multiply x 1.6 to get a realistic weight on the tongue and then figure out what you have left for people, pets and accessories.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t go any bigger than the 24’ I have towing with an F150.

[chuckster57]

As stated, shipping weight doesn’t mean squat once the transporter drops it off at the dealership. GVWR is the number you want, even if you say “I’ll never be that heavy”.

Use that number and then use 12-15 percent for realistic tongue weight. Add about 75 more pounds for the WD and sway and how much is that?

Then look at the label in your truck that says “max weight of persons and cargo—“, subtract the previous number and how much is left for people, and cargo?

[sourdough]

I posted this in your other thread but what are the numbers from the yellow/white "carrying capacity" sticker and the gray/black one that gives gawrs etc.? Those numbers guide you in what you can do with YOUR truck and not a brochure.

[markcee]

As mentioned, you should post further details on your truck:

- If your tongue weight is limited to 700 lbs, it sounds like you just have Tow Package 53B (Trailer Tow Hitch) and no trailer brake controller. Did you get this from the sticker on the bottom of the hitch receiver?

- What is the payload capacity from the yellow/white sticker on the driver's side door pillar? ("Weight of Cargo and passengers should not exceed.....") Provided you have some type of tow package, available payload will probably be your limiting factor.


As stated, published/dry weights of trailers and tongue weights are meaningless. Generally, calculating 13% of the trailer's GVWR will give you a good idea of the trailer's actual tongue weight. This figure will come right off your truck's available payload. What weight is left is for you, any other passengers, pets, gear etc. that you put in the truck. Keep in mind that the posted payload does not include anything added after the vehicle left the factory. So, if you added a toolbox and a tonneau cover, that will also need to be deducted from the remaining payload. You will also need a weight distributing hitch when towing over 5K, that will be another 100 lbs or so that will need to be deducted from remaining payload.

[Campermike]

Pretty much what everyone else has said... You will probably find that a 24' or so box is the max for that truck... And even some that size will have too much tongue weight for your truck/payload limitations. If you want a larger trailer you'll need a more capable truck.

[Wyldfire]

That 745 dry hitch weight will be >1000 lbs after batteries, propane and stuff put in front pass through.

[tech740]

Realistically to stay under 700lbs hitch weight you need to stay between 4500-5000lbs GVW for the trailer. If you have 15% tounge weight you will be out of hitch rating before payload or max towing.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Swampdollar

Hi folks,
I have a F150 4X4 Super-crew V8 w/ 3.55 Gear Ratio and a 7000# hitch with 700lbs Tongue weight capacity. The Chart says max towing = 9,100 lbs, which is B.S. in my opinion, I'm thinking 7,000 w/ max of 700 tongue weight.



That being said, the heaviest RV in our top 8 picks is an Outback 299URL.

It's Specs are...
Shipping Weight 6245

Carrying Capacity 1495

Hitch 745

Length 29' 7" I'm thinking about dropping it off the list because of the 745, I'd love your input on this!

Swampdollar, You were asked to post the numbers from your door frame which are on your white/yellow placard. This will tell you what payload your truck can handle. The camper dry weight is kind of useless spec and the gross weight is more likely to help you figure out if you are over weight. Here is a picture of your placard which is the same as on your truck and will tell you what your payload is:

[Swampdollar]

Sorry guys, new to this!...here is the side sticker..

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by Swampdollar

Sorry guys, new to this!...here is the side sticker..

That 1658lbs - the hitch @ 100lbs - 800-1000lb tongue - everything in/on your truck that didn't come from the factory = overloaded.

[NH_Bulldog]

Odd that the payload capacity for your truck is so low (mine is over 2,200 lbs.). Anyway, it is what it is. You need to be shopping trailers in the 5,000 lb. GVWR range to tow with that truck.

[flybouy]

His capacity is most likely a combination of the taller gears (3.55) and maybe the trim level.

[sourdough]

OP the trailer gvw is 7740. At a .13% tongue weight = 1006. Add 120 for wdh/sway = 1126. With a payload of 1658 - 1126 = 532 left for people, pets, gear, tools, bbq, ice chest, jacks, blocks etc. Too thin IMO. I like at least a 10% safety cushion. You are on the right track in trying to assess weights and you are to be commended. Post back with any further questions or options and thanks for posting the sticker on the truck. The other one (gray/black) will give you the gawr for front/back which is important as well.

[razor 68]

never really understood hitch ratings. my hitch says 7.5k straight or 13k with weight distribution. no matter what -the weight is still being held with a 2.5x2.5 receiver with a pin. who comes up with this formula because the entire setup is only as strong as that thru pin. 2010 chevy k2500hd Duramax and 2018 Lerado 330rl

[razor 68]

also why does a truck with lower gear ratio have increased tow capacity. know lower gears make truck more capable but hitch has not changed at all.

[notanlines]

Razor, wear and tear on the transmission for a big start.

[CWtheMan]

If you're going to go to a trailer that will max-out your truck's capabilities, you may want to also consider replacing those Passenger tires with Light Truck tires.

[Swampdollar]

Thanks, All!

I've copied the formula and now I guess I'll go back to shopping for RV's!