I've also posted this in the 2004 F150 forum...

All,

I have a 2004 F150 lariat scab 5.4 with 3.73LS, and factory tow package. I am about to close on a new Travel Trailer that was just weighed with options, but no personal gear at 6520#. I figure another 500-800# of gear puts me at 7000-7200#. According to my owners manual my truck with the 18" wheels has a max trailer weight of 8800. Since I have a GCWR of 14,500, and the trailer is going to be around 7200, that leaves 7,300 for truck, people, etc.

Anyway, all that info aside, how's she going to do? Anyone else towing in this weight range with their F150? I'd be interested in hearing about it. FWIW, I'm towing a 3600# popup, and don't even know its back there.......

Dave

 

My guess is that you'll know this trailer is back there....I'm pulling a pop-up now, too, and it's a breeze. I got some info from Mitch not long ago regarding how close you should get to your "published" numbers and still have a comfortable ride. I'm thinking about stepping up to a 5er. Search this forum for "what am I going to tear up".

I say---run it hard, just don't put it away wet.

Sidewinder

 

I don’t know. It seems borderline to me.

I tow a horse trailer that weighs in at around 5500# fully loaded and believe me – I know it’s back there. (BTW, ’02 5.4, 3.55 LSD, 17” wheels)

Granted, horses tow a lot different than static loads and I’m sure that has a lot to do with it, but 7000# with a F150 is asking a lot. I bet you’ll be at your GCWR.

 

Ford even has a frontal area spec in the tow rating and it makes a difference when you are towing into a 30 mph wind. Also where you tow makes a lot of difference. Altitude and high temperatures take away performance too. Interstates "usually" have less steep grades that other highways. There a lot of variables that are not in the specs. Having said all that, you will probably be near the tow rating but if you exercise a little caution as to speed and braking you should do fine. I envy those that have the new 3 valve 5.4. My '98 F-250 light duty 5.4 has only 235 hp but it pulls my 25 ft bumper pull travel trailer pretty well.

 

I feel like all is ok. I figure it like this, mind you I have not been to the scales yet, but here goes:

The GCWR = 14,500 for my model truck
I figure that the truck has a curb weight around 5,500, add to that 2 adults, 1 child some gear - 600 lbs, so now we are around 6100 on the truck. The weighed trailer is 6540 without personal gear in it. Add another 500-700 lbs for gear, now the trailer is up around 7200 lbs. Together, that is 13,300. Not maxed out, but don't need anymore weight either:

As for the frontal area, I looked at that too. The manual shows a max of 60 sq ft. I got the measurements off the trailer. The front is 8' wide x 8' tall which is 64 sq ft. But, my f150 also has a cap on it, so the trailers full frontal size will not be directly into the wind. Besides, most trailers are the pretty same box size from the front, the only difference is how long they are.

I'm confident I'm not exceeding any published specifications, I was curious how well it would perform.
Dave

 

I see your thinkin /figurin alot, that's good. Dont forget about wt. from water/black water tanks. Also a wt. d. hitch would be a plus. Also gear etc, can add up to more than you think.

You'll know that TT is back there, but should be fine. Some use sway bars (I dont) but you'll know soon enough.

Good luck and happy travelin! OT

btw...after you get all loaded up, why not go wt. Takes all the guess work out. JMO!

 

Old Timer,

Nice idea....about the scales, I just might have to do that. We will be travelling with empty tanks, and there is a WDH in the mix along with a friction sway bar.

Thanks for the feedback.

Dave

 

Just my opinion here but if I were making this decision then I would reconsider. The weights are too close to the maximums.

You are figuring on not carrying any water (fresh,grey or black) which I think you'll find is a problem. Normally you want to carry 4-6 gallons of water in the black tank. Most people want to carry at least minimal water in the fresh tank for toilet flushing and utility while traveling.

The truck weight is with an empty fuel tank. Be sure to add in the 24(?) gallons of fuel.

One other thing is that the rule of thumb is that personal gear (clothes, dishes, food, gear) adds 1000lbs to the trailer.

I've always heard that 75-85% of maximum specs is about as close as you want to go. So as I say, I would strongly reconsider this TV/TT setup.

Russ

 

Russ,

A couple of things I don't understand. First, why would I want to have 5-6 gallons in the black water tank? Second, I do understand wanting to travel with some water, but my personal take of that is that is a no-no. For the simple reason that a partially filled tank is going to induce more sway due to the 'slosh factor'. I'd rather travel with empty tanks all the way around.

Also, per the Ford owners manual, base curb weight includes a full fuel tank.

I am headed out to the scales this afternoon though.

Dave

 

It's true that the trucks curb weight is figured with full fluids, including the gas, and it also includes any options required to safely tow the trailer (hitch, HD rad/cooler and such....).

But, it does only consider a single #150 driver and no other options or additional payload. Basically, think of it as what would come on the "work truck" version of your trucks model...... Then don't carry anything or anyone and you might be able to get close to that "max trailer weight" rating you see in the manual.....

IMO, you should be ok on the weights if you keep the trailer to no more then #7500 MAX.....

Now, I'm not saying it'll have much performance left over, but just that you won't be overweight, but right on the limits.....

The rest will be what your tolerance is for performance. No question the truck will tow it. It'll tow a #10000 trailer for that matter.

You might just not be able to accelerate very well and you might need to ride with the semi's on those long 6% grades running in second gear.

I'd get some "real" temp gauges however (water and trans)..... Ford has this nice habit of installing "idiot lights with needles" in their vehicles.... Maybe they changed that for the 04's, but I doubt it........

Those are the only gauges I pay much attention to, besides the gas gauge! Oil pressure, I figure I either have some or I don't, so I keep an eye out for the LIGHT on that one....

I always tow with a full tank of fresh water...... Mines located just above and forward of the trailer axles so it helps keep the center of gravity down low on the trailer. I've also found it just tows better with it full...... Since it's only a 30 gallon tank, it's only an additonal #264 and not like it's gonna save me much gas anyway..... Sometimes it's nice to keep a few gallons in the black tank just to "stir it up" as you travel. Helps keep the solid stuff from drying up and breaks it down for easier flush out later on.....

Good luck and happy camping!!

Mitch

 

Mitch beat me to the reply. I always keep at least a couple of gallons of water in the black tank to keep the treatment chemicals moving around to help break up 'things'.

I agree that a half full tank is worse than a full one so I only run maybe ten gallons of fresh water at most. I would feel better if the tank were baffled but that's the way it goes.

My mistake on the fuel tank. I was under the impression that it meant no fuel.

Russ

 

Thanks Russ & Mitch.

I went to the CAT scales yesterday to weigh the truck. It was me, my wife, and daughter, full fuel tank, no payload, but when towing, I don't expect to have to have anything in the truck anyways(other than the tongue weight). The truck weighed in at 6400. I'm confident we'll be ok on the weights too. When I made this post I was looking for other guys(and gals) that regularly towed at the upper end of their towing capacity to get feedback. I understand, and accept that the truck will be working hard, but as along as I don't push it I'll be ok.

As far as the gauges, the water temp gauge is a real one, the two idiot gauges are the oil pressure, and alternater. A tranny temp gauge would be nice, can maybe add that for the future.

Thanks all for the info!

Dave

 

The new F150's are pretty heavy it seems..... I guess that's why they have a #7200 GVWR. Mine only has a #6250 GVWR!! When I'm all hitched up, I am at the GVWR on the truck, but I do have some tools, firewood and other crap in the truck too..

So, I'm at one of my limits and I guess I do fine with my setup.....

I'd say hitch it up and enjoy!

Mitch

 

i'm towing a 26' with my '02 and it does just fine. haven't taken any real long hauls as of yet though. although fla may be in the works.

your truck should do fine. i would think

 

I'll never understand why somebody would want to pull something near their max capacity over long distances.


For example, its not like OP is going to be pulling a #7500 boat to the lake 10 miles away once a month in the summer.







Also, something many overlook is not just the frontal wind drag but the horizontal wind drag and the mechanics of most travel trailers. They are a big wind sail with somewhat centered axles designed for less turning radius, better ride and reduced tounge weight and a high center of gravity. Unfortunately this creates a cumbersome trailer that catches a lot of wind and has a lot of leverage on the tow vehicle in comparison to other types of trailers. The big 3.5 (ford, chebby, dodgy and toytruck) are in a towing/HP war and rating their trucks as high as possible "when properly equipped." OP is pushing the limits and doing so outside of the ideal conditions.


If somebody was going to occasionally pull a bobcat on a flat bed trailer near their max capacites, where mechanics of the trailer, wind drag and tounge weight are controllable, I could see it. But OP has everything working against them including size, wind drag, mechanics and distance and wants to push the limits.


You either need a F250, a 5th wheel, or a smaller trailer.