Fifth wheel towing and safety

[david]

Forget the tow rating on the F150 or any other 1/2 ton pickup, they were not designed to tow a 5th wheel.

[p]That is a pretty arbitrary and absolute statement. Fifteen years ago I owned a lightweight fifth wheel that weighed about 6,000 lbs loaded which pulled fine with an F150 and stayed well below Ford's tow limits and GCWR. Newer F150 pickups equipped with the high payload package and numerically high rear ends have higher tow limits, payload- 3,150 lbs and GCWR. I would be comfortable pulling a 7,500 lb fifth wheel with one of these.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I think that these high payload F150s are essentially 3/4 ton pickups. In other words, the distinction between an F150 and an F250 isn't what it used to be (like lots of other things in life).[/p][p]
[/p][p]David
[/p]

[swbc150]

[p]Maybe but anymore the cost between both trucks is very close when you set them up for towing (if you order one and stay with a gasser).[/p][p] 
Right off the bat the 3/4 or 1 ton have beefier brakes, extra cooling for both motor and transmission, better axle ratio's available, heavier frames/axles and higher rated tires.[/p][p] 
The ecoboost Ford Motors may be rated to tow those higher payloads but the V6 motor is working harder and the axle ratio is only a 3:55 with the Max towing package, the 5.0LV8 has the optional 3:73. (no 6.2L V8 is available in a F150 starting in model year 2015) [/p][p]
[/p][p]Tires is another issue, the HD Trucks get the "E" Rated tire, the F150 can get a "E" Rated tire but at a cost, not in dollars but what you have to give up in other options.[/p][p]
As mentioned prices, All 4 below are a Supercab Model:[/p][p]A 2015 F150 XLT 4x4 equipped with the options needed for towing, with the 3.5L V6 Ecoboost as it is the higher output HP/Torque comes out to $45,275 dealer cost[/p][p]A 2015 F150 XLT 4x4 equipped with the options needed for towing, with the 5.0L V8 Max axle ratio comes out to $45,145 to $45,495 dealer cost.[/p][p]A 2016 F350 XLT 4x4 equipped with the options needed for towing, with a 6.2L V8, 4:30 E-locker or a 3:73 E-Locker axle comes out to $46,070 dealer cost, a 2016 F250 XLT 4x4 is $45,375 dealer cost.[/p][p]The 2015 Superduties (F250/F350) are no longer available to order/no 2016 prices available yet for the 2016 F150.[/p][p]
[/p][p]For as little as $500 to $800 is the difference between a F150 Vs the F350 and dead even for a F250.[/p][p]
[/p][p]If non-towing MPG is a big reason for the F150 or any other half-ton, then the F150's will do way better over a F250/350 with 4:30 axle ratio's, the standard axle ratio is 3:73's with the 6.2L V8.[/p][p]The 3:73 axle will do fine with the Superduties as long as the towing weight is no more than 12000 pounds and no higher in towing up to 7000 ft elevations. (this is what my researching states)[/p][p]
[/p][p]Nobody ever pays MSRP that is why I listed the Dealer Cost, with paying $100 over Dealer Cost plus any rebates always belong to the paying customer.

[/p]

[david]

Well, I have to agree with everything you say above. Bigger, heavier, longer wheelbase, more displacement is always better for towing. But if you have a choice, try to match your towing needs with the vehicle, otherwise you will have a rougher riding, lower mileage non towing vehicle.

I have two personal rules of thumb when selecting TV/Trailer combinations:

Stay under 80% of the rated tow capacity- Many TV/Trailer combinations will be over their GCWR if you approach the rated tow capacity limit.

Select an engine that will get 1/2 or better of the non towing highway mileage while towing- My 2013 Pathfinder just stays within this limit at 13-14 mpg towing at 60 mph and 26 mpg at 70 mph non towing. My old F150, 5.4 liter V8 and 6,000 lb low profile 5th wheel would do a little better: 17 mpg on the highway non towing and 11 mpg towing. Cubic inches help when towing but hurt mileage when not towing.

This rule of thumb is based on the principle that if you pull too much hp, ie you get low mpg, while towing out of a small engine that gets good mpg non towing, then you are putting too much stress on the engine. The Eco Boost in the F150 is a good example of this. It gets about 23 mpg on the highway, which is great. But it will get 11 or so while towing a 6-7,000 lb high profile trailer at 60 mph. With that engine you either need to go slow or get a lighter, low profile 5th wheel that gets better mileage.

The 5.0 liter V8 in an F150, OTOH probably gets no more than 20 mpg on the highway non towing, so 10-11 mpg towing is ok for that bigger engine. The F250 with the 6.2 liter engine probably gets about 18 mpg on the highway, so it can tow a heavier, high profile 5th wheel even if it gets under 10 mpg towing.

David

[swbc150]

What you say is true and good advice.
In my case my previous Toyhauler and my F150 was a perfect match but the Bearcat added way more weight and was noticeable when I took it to the same areas as with the previous TH.
Not concern with dropping 3mpg on the highway non-towing I would rather have the higher tow capacity and if I change to a larger Trailer then my TV will still be fine.

The 5.0L V8 dropped mpg on the highway compared to my 5.4L V8, I loss on a avg of 3mpg down to 19, saw 20mpg very seldom. The 5.4L many times avg 22 @ 75mph. The 5.0L is a DOHC Motor with 40 more HP over the 5.4L but 10 lb-ft of less torque, comparing the two the 5.0L ran circles around the 5.4L, same axle ratio's in both F150's (3:55).

Sometimes where you live also plays a big part in the size of truck/motor you need. Stay in the flatlands or every once in awhile you travel into the Rocky Mountain States and your present set-up will be ok but live here and camp all of the time at above 8000ft then the extra size truck/motor is a must.

I'm not into pulling a large TT yet or heavy units and my F150 was and still can tow my present LL BC as these todays Motors are designed to run all day at the higher rpm's but for my non-worries I feel better with the SD and a 6.2L V8. Also, I can sell my present 14F150 outright which makes it less expensive to upgrade to the SD (cost wise).

Thanks for your input, david.