trailers, and F150 ??

nxhappy

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
10,031
Location
AZ
sup guys. I wanted to talk about trailers/toy haulers. I am looking at buying one to help during my move in a few months. I will be towing with a F150 5.4L which states a rating of 6600 lbs (I believe that is correct?) . I wanted to see what you guys tow, and what the weight is. If need be, I can swap the gears in the truck to maybe some 373s or 410s. I am thinking the ideal size would be a 22 foot or a 23 foot trailer. What are your thoughts and recommendations? This would be my first trailer. I have seen a few on Ebay in the $17-20k range. I might even live in the bitch for a few months hahaha. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

-T
 

specracer

SVTOA MCA
Premium Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
2,142
Location
MA
You need to know for sure your trucks tow capacity. Do not exceed it. You mention gears, to make it go better, but there are far more important things to consider, that is the suspension and most important, brakes.
 

Blk04L

. . .
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
11,315
Location
South Florida
Just make sure the trailer weight full doesn't exceed your towing capacity. Won't matter if you put bigger brakes, bags under the rear and lower gearing to help tow when it comes to insurance/legal crap if something goes wrong. Very small chance but why risk it? Not to mention in the 1500 series towing a lot of weight in a box trailer(since you mention living in it) can be sketchy at times.

What's your GCWR? That's the trailer load + total weight inside the truck. You could be under the towing capacity but if your truck is loaded up as well you may exceed the GCWR.

I would confirm your towing capacity and then look at trailers that when loaded, fall under your rating.
 

AustinSN

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Beer Money Bros.
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
6,408
Location
the plains
I'm firmly in the camp of buying more truck than needed. Call it a safety net.

I bought an F250 with the expectation of buying a 24' steel enclosed car trailer and ended up with aluminum, and I'm happy I did.

Toy haulers aren't light, I would take the advice of the guys here and make sure you have enough truck for it.

Also, regardless of what you buy, if it isn't brand new I would highly suggest putting a good set of towing pads and doing brake fluid with a decent dry/wet boiling point, not the garbage you find at autozone. It might run you an extra $400 for everything but I've seen your threads and it looks like you might be headed east, if you need to cross the Rockies, you'll be happy.
 

sleek98

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
2,168
Location
Kansas City, MO
Its going to be hard to find a 22-23 foot trailer loaded under 6,600 pounds. Most of them dry are 5,000-5,500 give or take.

If I remember right you have a early 2000 F150?

I think the 6,600# limit is for a slide in camper. The trailer limit is 8,000-8,600 so you would be fine if thats the case.
 

Blackoyote

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
2,034
Location
Matthews, NC
Number one tip for buying a toy hauler...buy a 1-2 year old lightly used one with a warranty from a used dealer, that someone has already taken the MASSIVE depreciation on.

That said, you'll absolutely hate life towing at the pointy end of that truck's towing capacity...even more so if you'll be encountering any changes in elevation.
 

01yellercobra

AKA slo984now
Established Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
21,126
Location
Cali
You have to be over 6600lbs. My 08 Expedition with the 5.4 was rated around 9k. And the F150 should have a little more room. You'll want the gears to help getting over hills, but I've always been more concerned with stopping then going. What about a race trailer with a living area? It might be lighter than a toy hauler.
 

apex svt

MEAN STREAK
Established Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2012
Messages
2,162
Location
USA
We pulled about 7500# worth of boat. & trailer with a 5.4 expedition routinely. 400 mile trips one way.
 

7998

Don't Care
Established Member
Malt Liquor Mafia
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
3,766
Location
PA
Look here. Put your year, make model in and it'll tell you what you can tow and show you trailer options.
Towing Guide

You definitely don't want to tow near the max imo.
 

nickf2005

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2012
Messages
2,309
Location
IN
Item #1 is to determine your payload capacity. It's on a yellow sticker in the driver's side door jam.

Tongue weight will subtract from your payload and will often times be the limiting factor on a half ton, not the towing capacity.

Figure 10-13% of your trailer weight will end up as tongue weight.

My 2015 F150 with towing package and 3.5ECO has a payload of 1,780lbs. 7,000lbs of trailer weight would equate to 910lbs of tongue weight, reducing my available payload to 870. My hitch is rated only for 5,000lbs, so add a weight distribution hitch, approximately 100lbs, now I'm down to 770. Subtract out my weight (240), now I'm down to 530. So on and so forth. Anything not stock ON the truck subtracts from payload.

My truck is rates for 12,400lbs towing capacity, but I could never come close due to payload. The only way you can, is if the trailer itself is supporting the entire weight of the load, such as a hay wagon.

Payload, payload, payload!

Sent from my SM-G975U using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

josephcostello

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
753
Location
Los Altos
If the total weight of the trailer is more than 80% than your trucks capacity, i'd buy a bigger truck. You want leverage for weight such as gear, passengers, etc. I don't think power is much of a concern as is stopping and overall safety pulling with a smaller truck.
 

nxhappy

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
10,031
Location
AZ
it's a 01 5.4, 4 door, I THOUGHT the max tow was 6600 maybe I am wrong? So when spec'ing the trailer, do you look at GVW or VW ??
 

nxhappy

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
10,031
Location
AZ
4dr SuperCrew Lariat RWD Styleside 5.5 ft. SB, 8500 lbs
this is for 2005 so a little newer
 

nxhappy

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
10,031
Location
AZ
I found this on a PDF
4x2 SuperCab 138.5" GVW 7,700 3.73/4.10 5.4L V8 2,114/2,054
 

sleek98

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
2,168
Location
Kansas City, MO
Per the 2002 Ford towing guide. Your towing limit for a Supercrew RWD 3.55 gear 5.4 truck is 8,000#
 

Attachments

  • 2019-09-19 08_16_31-2002_All (1).jpg
    2019-09-19 08_16_31-2002_All (1).jpg
    85.5 KB · Views: 186

Users who are viewing this thread



Top