Can a ford f150 tow a fifth wheel

We recently received the following question from Gerard D. He is upgrading his 2012 Ford F150 EcoBoost to a newer truck and would like to continue towing a 9,000 lbs 5th-wheel camping trailer. The question is: which truck to get, and can he tow a slightly heavier 5th-wheel with a half-ton F150? Here is the question.

I have à 5th-wheel that weighs 9,000 lbs loaded, and I am considering to upgrade to a little bigger that would maybe weigh between 10 and 11,000 lbs loaded. I plan to make a trip to west Canada and heard that they have long high altitude hills and want to choose the right truck. Would the F150 v8 5.0 or the F150 3.5 Ecoboost V6 be a good choice, and which one is the best choice? I might just keep the same fifthwheel of 9,000 lbs but not sure yet. Should I wait for the new F150 diesel or look into the F250 gas or diesel which is more expensive? The payload on the v8 5.0 is higher with a 3.73 differential or is the 3.53 good enough? In this case is the differential ratio important or not?

Presently, I have a 2012 F150 3.5 ford ecoboost with a 3.73 differential and added an extra loaded blade and have not made trips on roads like the ones in western Canada. Presently I don’t have any problems hauling my 5th-wheel here in Quebec. If you suggest the ecoboost 3.53 differential would you suggest adding an extra loading blade and would you suggest the 2017 or 2018 10-speed versus the V8 5.0 6 or 10 speed?

The final decision has to do with the truck’s payload rating, and the tongue (or kingpin) weight of the trailer. Generally speaking, 5th-wheel camping trailer are set around 20% tongue weight. This means a 9,000 lbs loaded trailer could be pushing onto the truck with about 1,800 lbs of weight. Can your truck handle this much trailer weight and carry you, your friends, family, and/or additional cargo?

You need to carefully pick the truck configuration that matches your need, keeps the truck and trailer level, and provide a safe and comfortable towing experience. I would also look at the Ford F250, as the 3/4-ton truck provides for a bigger and a more stable towing vehicle platform. We have not tested the 2018 Ford F-150 trucks in Colorado yet. However, the a 5.0L V8 10-speed truck should also be near the top of your list, a crew cab 4×4 with 5.0L V8 can be configured at 2,640 lbs of maximum payload capacity. However, it requires a heavy duty payload/suspension package. Check out the truck specs on Ford’s website.

Keep in mind, the maximum ratings are listed with a maximum towing and payload packages. It’s very difficult to find a truck like this on the dealership lot. You may need to order it. Towing and payload rating varies for each truck, please check the sticker inside the truck’s door jam for actual payload capacity of the truck you are looking at.

Ford F-150 XLT

5.0L V8 Crew 4×4 6.5-foot bed: max towing (w/ 3.73): 11,600 lbs; max payload: 2,640 lbs

3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4×4 6.5-foot bed: max towing (w/ 3.55): 13,000 lbs; max payload: 2,620 lbs

Ford F-250 XLT

6.2L V8 Crew 4×4 6.5-foot bed: max 5th-wheel towing (w/ 3.73): 12,800 lbs; max payload: 3,450 lbs

Here is our first detailed look at the 2018 Ford F-150.

• TAGS
• 2018
• camper
• F150
• ford
• Towing
• Trailer

Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is an Automotive Enthusiast, Producer, Reviewer, Videographer, Writer, Software Engineer, Husband, Father, and Friend.

Many people see travel trailers and truck campers as a great alternative, as you can still use the tow vehicle for transportation for the rest of the year.

The Ford F-150 is the most popular full-size truck of all time, making it a prime choice for truck campers and towing travel trailers.

As strong as it is, exceeding its capacity can lead to serious safety issues. So, you might wonder, just what size travel trailer can an F-150 pull?

The short answer is that most modern-day F-150s can safely pull a travel trailer that weighs around 5,000 to 8,000 pounds with gear, depending on the engine, rear-axle ratio, and the addition of available options. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule of thumb. Not to mention automotive salespersons love to play fast and loose with numbers and glowing metaphors.

This article will take a closer look at the F-150’s towing capacity, including some of the competition. We will also explore how full-size trucks can be used to make the most out of your RV experience.

Demystifying Some Of The Technical Jargon Around Full-Size Trucks

There are a lot of different terms that truck manufacturers use to describe the vehicles in their line.

Some are technically correct, while others are closer to being metaphors than they are statistics.

This includes terms like:

• Light duty truck
• Rabbit truck
• Heavy-duty truck
• Super duty truck
• Super crew
• Half-ton truck
• Four-wheel drive
• Two-wheel or rear-wheel drive

Of course, Ford isn’t alone in applying these terms. The F-150’s direct competitors in North America use many of these terms as well. This includes the:

• The Ram 1500
• The Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• The GMC Sierra 1500
• The Nissan Titan
• The Toyota Tundra

For all intents and purposes, the F-150 and it’s direct competitors are classified as “Half Ton” trucks. Now don’t like this confuse you.

The term “Half Ton” doesn’t refer to the actual weight of the vehicle. If you put most of these trucks on a weigh station scale you’ll find they ring in anywhere between $5,000 to $7,000 pounds.

A“Half Ton”essentially means that the suspension system and materials of the box can handle a payload that weight around half a ton.

Taken in context, the available payload has a direct impact on towing capability. Today many half-ton trucks like the F-150 have a higher payload than just half a ton.

However, they still don’t qualify for the next category up which is the “Three-Quarter Ton” pickup trucks like the F-250, which is available with a gasoline or a diesel engine.

The F-150 and many other half-ton trucks in this class usually come with a trailer tow package, which in some iterations can tow up to 13,000 pounds. However, this rating is classified as an empty truck with no passengers and other gear.

When loaded with gear, equipment, and passengers, a range of 6,000 pounds is more realistic when it comes to safe towing capacity.

How Is Payload Relevant To Towing Capacity?

The payload is technically about the weight capacity of the box and the suspension.

This also has a direct relationship to the tongue weight, which is defined as the amount of pressure or weight that the hitch places on the F-150 or any other towing vehicle.

The pressure of the hitch is also influenced by the total weight of the trailer, as well as how that weight is distributed within the trailer.

The higher the total weight is, and how much of that weight is being placed on the hitch the higher the tongue weight is.

Tongue weight can be a little bit of a double-edged sword. On the one side,increased tongue weight makes the entire rig more stable.

This also helps avoid things like dangerous trailer sway, when you are driving down the road.

If a trailer is too light or the vast majority of the weight in its back it could cause the trailer to sway out of control at high speeds, or to bounce dangerously when going over uneven surfaces.

One the other side, too much tongue weight can make the trailer difficult to pull.

In an extreme case, an overloaded tongue can crack, split, or have the weld’s fail to lead to a major accident while you are driving.

To prevent these problems Ford and its competitors recommend a tongue weight that is roughly 10%-15% of the overall trailer weight, including any loaded gear.

There’s some basic math you can do any time you are towing with your F-150 to make sure you are staying in the safe range.

Assuming an average payload of around 2,000 pounds, you should also factor in at least another 1,000 pounds for passengers and equipment.

This leaves you with only around 1,000 pounds for your tongue weight without exceeding the recommended safety limit.

What Is Gross Vehicle Weight?

Also known as GVW, it is the measurement that takes into account the entire weight of the vehicle.

This includes your truck’s dry weight, with an empty tank of gas, as well as the entire weight of the payload in the box. 

When you add it to the high and trailer weight, it should not exceed your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which you can find in your owner’s manual.

Is The F-150 Available With A Diesel Engine?

@austin_abney703

Technically Ford does offer the F-150 with a diesel engine. However, they are somewhat rare and may be hard to find.

Most of their diesel engines are reserved for larger vehicles in their lines like the F250 (Three-Quarter Ton) and the F-350 (One Ton) pickup trucks.

Is There An Advantage To Having A Diesel Engine?

Diesel engines tend to produce more torque and overall power. Diesel fuel is also more energy-dense than gasoline, which means you get better fuel efficiency. This can be a nice thing if you are going to be frequently towing heavy trailers.

However, in trucks of this size, the power and fuel efficiency difference is marginal.

It’s also offset by the fact that diesel engines typically cost more than their gasoline counterparts.

If you are only going to be towing a camper or boat once or twice a month, it will probably take a long time to see a return on investment by going with a diesel engine over gasoline.

Is Having Four Wheel Drive An Advantage When It Comes To Towing Trailers?

This depends a lot on where you live, what your budget is, and where you will be towing.

A truck that is only rear-wheel drive, means that the power is always sent to the two rear wheels. Many F-150 trim packages include 4-wheel drive, which raises the price dramatically.

Yet you should note that there is a difference between “All Wheel Drive” and “Four Wheel Drive.”

An F-150 with four-wheel drive generally travels along acting just like it’s rear wheel drive sibling.

When road conditions become loose or slippery, you can turn a knob, or press a button, which engages the front transfer box to send some of the vehicle’s power to the front wheels. This also uses up a little more gasoline.

If you live in a part of the country that doesn’t see snow and ice in the winter, and you will only be towing a boat or camper on paved roads, you can get by just fine with a rear-wheel drive truck. 

If you live somewhere that sees ice and snow in the winter, or you will be towing your camper on loose surfaces than the extra money you spend on a four-wheel drive truck will pay for itself in short order.

For example, In Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, parts of Maine, and Canada, people frequently tow ice shanty campers out onto frozen lakes in the wintertime.

In a situation like this, not having four-wheel drive will likely leave you stuck and at risk for hypothermia.

Most F-150s with four-wheel drive have “Four High” and “Four Low.” When you engage the four-wheel drive system, it activates a locking or limited-slip differential and the front hubs move slightly slower than the rear hubs.

You should never just drive around in four high unless the conditions are indeed loose or slippery.

Driving in four high in dry conditions when you have proper traction can potentially damage hubs and other components.

Four-wheel low is something you rarely use, and should only be reserved for times when you need to pull out a stuck camper or vehicle.

I owned my F-150 for four years before I ever used four low, and that was to pull down an old garage I was demolishing! At all costs, you should not drive on the road in four low.

Can An F-150 Tow A Fifth Wheel Trailer?

If you really crunch the numbers an F-150 can technically tow a smaller fifth-wheel trailer. Yet even Ford themselves don’t recommend this. Fifth wheel trailers also require a special type of goose-neck hitch, which is mounted into the box of the truck. This alters the payload dynamics of the vehicle.

If you own a fifth-wheel camper or you are thinking about buying one, you really should look at one of the higher grades of full-size truck.

I think you’ll find the F-250 and the F-350 are far better suited to handle a fifth-wheel camper.

What Is The Practical Towing Capacity Of The Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 has been “Best in Class” for towing capacity and overall sales for the better part of the last 40 years.

This is a point of pride for the manufacturer that sometimes obscures the hard facts and figures with glowing metaphors.

When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it, just how much your F-150 can tow will depend on the model and the trim package.

If we look at the 2018 version of the F-150, we find a variety of configurations including the:

• The XL
• XLT
• The Lariat
• The King Ranch
• Platinum
• The Limited Edition
• The Raptor

Despite the name, the XL is essentially the most basic model of the F-150. On the other end of the spectrum the “Limited Edition”which comes outfitted with all the popular features.

The much-beloved Raptor is very much like the Limited Edition or the Platinum, but all of its off-road features are enhanced and it carries the most powerful gasoline engine in the line. You also see his reflected in the price.

When it comes to determining the towing capacity there are a few key factors you need to take into account.

Engine strength

The more power the engine produces, the more weight it can move. This translates directly into horsepower and torque, which play a critical role in towing capacity.

The 2018 F-150 has several possible engines. This includes:

• The 3.3-liter naturally aspirated V6
• The EcoBoost V6
• The 5.0-liter V8
• The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6

The 3.5-liter high-output EcoBoost V6 found in 2017 and earlier models

With the Raptor, there is a High Output engine which produces maximum torque and generates an impressive 510-foot pounds of torque @ 3,500 rpm. This gives it up to 450 horsepower.

Axle Ratio

Axle ratio plays a key role in how a vehicle uses the torque produced by the engine, which of course plays a role in towing capacity.

Torque is essentially the force that moves the wheels of your truck and trailer. You feel it most when you accelerate from a stop.

Once you and your load are at full speed, torque doesn’t really come into play.

The axle ration determines how many times the wheels will turn to effectively use the energy the engine produces.

The slower they turn the more of the engine’s energy is put into pulling the vehicle and trailer. When they turn quickly, that energy is not as productive or efficient.

Axle tramping is a strange type of“Wheel Hopping” which can occur in rear-wheel drive vehicles.

It is caused by sudden torque loads on the suspension which essentially cause the driven wheels to shake violently as they rotate then springing back.

Even a little axle tramping can have a very profound negative impact on a trailer being towed behind you.

The Length And Weight Of The Truck

The relationship of the length and weight of the truck to the length and weight of the trailer can also impact towing efficiency as well as handling.

When you have a tow vehicle like the F-150 hitched to a trailer, the two directly affect each other. The faster you drive the stronger this relationship becomes.

Essentially, the faster an object goes, the more mass it has. This can lead to problems in high winds or issues with trailer sway.

Since the truck is the only thing with power and control you want it to be in command of the situation.

Ideally, you want the truck to weigh more than the camper being towed. When the trailer exceeds the weight of the truck, it can essentially push the truck down a hill, increase the risk of a trailer sway incident, or even damage parts of the truck’s town package.

The length of the truck and the relationship to the trailer being towed behind it also has a profound effect on handling and the turning circle.

If you are going to be driving the truck and camper on roads with wide lanes, directly into an RV park with a straight and true pull-through site access, then you might not notice a disparity between the length of the truck and the trailer.

However, this scenario is about as rare as unicorns and rainbows. Even if you are sticking to paved surfaces and man made RV parks, you are still going to have moments where you need to back up, or you need to turn a tight corner.

You are certainly at higher risk for disaster if you are thinking about taking a long trailer to do some backwoods camping.

Payload

As we discussed earlier, a truck’s payload is essentially the maximum total weight of the driver, passengers, gear and fuel, combined.

If you go over the stated payload capacity you are at high risk of having complications related to tongue weight.

Payload involves many factors, and in the case of the Ford F-150, it varies by trim level and engine. The following are some baseline statistics for the 2018 F-150 based on trim.

The 3.3 Liter gasoline engine on a Ford F-150 XL with four-wheel drive and a supercrew cab has a maximum payload of 1,680 pounds.

The 5 Liter V8 gas engine with 2 wheel drive (rear) with a regular cab has a maximum payload of 3,270 pounds.

Right off the bat, these differences are pretty stark when you consider that the 5 Liter has almost double the payload of the basic F-150 XL.

Towing Package

In all of this, it’s important to not overlook the towing package. This is essentially an enhancement of components that Ford builds into the truck to improve the towing performance.

It includes the towing hitch itself, as well as several elements which increase towing capacity and improve the overall handling.

There are some variations and added features that you might find from one trim level to the next. This includes things like:

The Class IV Trailer Hitch – which comes with Ford’s basic towing package. It is considered an optional extra with the XL and XLT.

However, it comes as a standard feature with the Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited Edition models.

It has a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds with the 3.3L Ti-VC  T V6 and the 2.7L EcoBoost engines

The Class IV Trailer Hitch has a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,000 pounds in the 3.5L EcoBoost engine as well as the 5.0L V8 engines

• The Class IV Trailer Hitch includes:
• A 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness to power the trailer lights
• A Class IV Trailer Hitch Receiver
• A Smart Trailer Tow Connector for trailers with electronic brake assist systems

Trailer Tow Package

With the Raptor version of the F-150, you will also get things like an auxiliary transmission oil cooler and an upgraded front stabilizer bar. It has a towing capacity of up to 11,1000 pounds

It also includes:

• A 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness to power the trailer lights
• A Class IV Trailer Hitch Receiver
• A Smart Trailer Tow Connector for trailers with electronic brake assist systems
• Auxiliary Transmission Oil
• A cooler
• An Upgraded front stabilizer bar
• Max. Trailer Tow Package
• An Electronic-locking Rear Axle

There is also a heavy-duty tow package option with a towing capacity of up to 13,200 pounds.

It includes:

• A 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness to power the trailer lights
• A Class IV Trailer Hitch Receiver
• A Smart Trailer Tow Connector for trailers with electronic brake assist systems
• Auxiliary Transmission Oil
• An Upgraded Front Stabilizer Bar
• An Engine Oil Cooler
• A 36-gallon fuel tank
• An Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
• An Upgraded Rear Bumper
• It also allows you to add the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system

Let’s make things a bit easier.

Putting Towing Capacity Into Perspective

Some of the more exotic features of the Ford F-150 Raptor and the other tow packages they offer aren’t exactly “Run of the Mill.”

To put it into perspective on the low end, an F-150 Lariat, with a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine will produce around 290 horsepower and 265-foot pounds of torque. 

In this configuration, you are looking at around a 5,000-pound maximum towing range, which isn’t enough to pull a large RV.

It’s probably enough to pull a small to a modest size camping trailer.

Now if you were to take that same Lariat and equip it with with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine which produces 375 horsepower and 470 foot-pounds of torque, with a SuperCrew cab as well as the long bed and an upgraded towing package, you’d be looking at a maximum F-150 ecoboost towing capacity that is closer to 10,000 pounds.

This would allow you to take a robust-size camper trailer with you, and maybe even a tow-behind toy.

Remember To Always Account For Tongue Weight

Just be mindful of tongue weight. If at all possible, you always want to keep it around 12% and 15% of your overall trailer weight.

One way to make the most out of this, and keep yourself closer to the safe end of the spectrum is to get smart about what you are packing and where you keep it.

Over the years I have towed a wide range of campers, fish houses, ice shanties, and boats overloaded with tent camping gear.

In that, I’ve learned that you really do need to make sure you are towing under your maximum towing limit, as stated in the owner’s manual.

A trailer sway incident or getting in a pinch trying to pull an overloaded camper up a wet sandy hill really can turn into a dangerous situation.

One of the things that have helped the F-150 remain so popular with the RV community and individuals who need to tow trailers for work or play is its superior payload and towing capacity.

Still, you need to respect that even the strongest truck has its limits.

Staying inside them, packing thoughtfully, and being mindful of tongue weight will not only help keep you safe on your trip, but it will also preserve your high-value investments.

Are There Other Things I Can Do To Prevent Trailer Sway?

This is another one of those moments where a pinch of prevention is worth a pound.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers the following tips to help prevent trailer sway from occurring.

• One: Always adhere to the manufacturer recommended gear when towing.
• Two: Drive slowly, which produces less strain on the tow vehicle as well asthe trailer.
• Three: Try to avoid making any sudden or sharp turns while driving fast.
• Four: Check the tire pressure of the tow vehicle as well as the trailer. Under-inflated tires reduce the load-carrying capacity of both.

What Should I Do If My Trailer Starts To Sway?

Sometimes you can perfectly pack and distribute the load in your trailer, making sure to be mindful of the tongue weight and towing capacity, and still experience trailer sway.

Sometimes even something beyond your control like a strong wind can cause a trailer to sway.

When this happens, it can be quite alarming. If you experience any trailer sway in the first few miles of a journey, you should take it as a sign that something is loaded wrong, or you have accidentally exceeded the reasonable capacity of the payload or tongue weight.

In a moment like this, you need to stop and adjust, unpack, or even slowly drive back home to leave some non-essential things behind.

If you are driving down the road and the trailer starts to sway, you need to keep a cool head.

Sometimes the knee jerk reaction is to accelerate, which could make the sway even worse.

The first thing to do is slow down, by taking your foot off the accelerator, but not immediately braking. Heavy braking can sometimes exacerbate the sway of an overly heavy trailer.

This is one of those times when you can and probably should turn on the four-way hazard lights.

If the sway was caused by a rogue burst of wind, and the trailer comes under control within a few seconds of decelerating you might be okay.

If things are threatening to get out of control, or a storm is making it too hard to keep the trailer moving straight, then, by all means, pull over as soon as possible.

I once spent a very tense 45-minutes in a mini-golf parking lot waiting for a wind storm to pass, rather than risk skidding across three lanes of traffic!

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