How Big Of a Fifth Wheel Can a F150 Tow? (F150 EcoBoost)
If you do not want to pay for a larger more powerful truck, then towing with an F150 may seem to be attractive. However, the F150 may not be made to tow a 5th wheel trailer You have to check out the several good reasons why that is so if you want to try.
When it comes to towing a 5th wheel, the issues will be with payload capacity as well as clearance. Neither criteria are large enough for normal-sized 5th wheel trailers. The tow package may help with towing up to 13,000 pounds but it does not change the clearance or the payload capacity.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It provides you with important information that you need to know about so you can make the right towing decision for your F150. Take a few minutes to see how this important information helps you.
Can You Pull a Fifth Wheel With An F150?
The keyword will be ‘technically’. It is possible to do but it is highly recommended that you do not do so. The problem is the pin weight as well as the hitch weight. Most 5th wheels are very heavy and the best size you could pull would roughly be 10,000 pounds.
You have to consider the hitch weight as that will lower your capacity weight by about 175 to 200 pounds. The specs for an F150 are as follows: 5.0L V8 Crew 4 × 4 6.5-foot bed: max. Pull (w / 3.73): 11.600 lbs; max. load capacity: 2640 lbs.
The smaller bed will present a clearance problem when you go around curves or try to back up into your campsite and so on. the rule of thumb is that the pin weight is going to be 20% and for a 9000-pound trailer, that means 1800 pounds is taking up most of your payload weight.
Add n the 200 pounds for the hitch, the approx. 300 pounds for two people and you do not have much room left. it is going to be difficult to pull a 5th wheel with an F150
Towing Fifth Wheel With F150 EcoBoost
The same rules apply to this model of F150. First, here are the specs for this truck. 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 4 × 4 6.5-foot bed: max. Pull (w / 3.55): 13,000 lbs; max. load capacity: 2,620 lbs.
Notice that you have 40 pounds of less payload weight capacity than the other F150 model. In other words even with a tow package, you are pushing the weight capacity a little too much.
Keep in mind that towing ratings may say 14,000 pounds but those ratings are based on specific tests and do not necessarily include the 5th wheel trailer’s pin weight. If you are still unsure if your 5th wheel will be allowed, check the sticker on the door. It should help guide you as to the size of the 5th wheel trailer you can tow.
The specs for the F250 XLT should give some comparison value and show you that the F150 is just not built right for 5th wheel trailers. Those specs are-- 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
Notice that you have an extra 800 pounds of payload weight capacity. That extra strength makes it easier to tow a 5th wheel trailer.
Can a Short Bed F150 Pull a 5th Wheel?
Yes, it can but again technically and not so much practically. The issue here is not so much payload space but clearance space. 5th wheel trailers do swing out wide. There is a possibility of hitting the cab of the truck and damaging one or both vehicles.
Some people writing on this question say that the F150 can tow up to 12,200 pounds. But they are only looking at the tow rating maximum and no other factors when they say that. They also state the truck can tow a 12,000 pound 5th wheel with ease.
That is true if you are carrying no supplies, equipment, passengers, or food. You would be pushing your luck if you followed that advice. To make it work, you would have to look at all the factors and go with a lighter trailer.
We have seen pictures of an F150 towing a 5th wheel trailer. But those pictures are taken under ideal conditions, not on the road and so on. Your situation is not going to be like those ideal photos. You have to be careful and factor everything in to make sure your F150 can do the job.
You need the tow package if you are going to make it up the hills without any trouble.
How Big Of a Fifth Wheel Can an F150 Tow?
The manual or brochures may say between 12,000 & 14,000 pounds towing capacity but, and it is a big but, there are other factors that come into play. If the payload capacity is too low for the size of the 5th wheel trailer, then you should not tow it.
If the clearance is slim and none, then you should not tow the 5th wheel trailer. These will be your deciding factors-- “The final decision has to do with the truck’s payload rating and the tongue (or kingpin) weight of the trailer”
While you may want to tow a larger 5th wheel, keep to the specs. They are designed to protect you and your family as well as keep the truck and trailer from getting damaged. You have to be prudent here and not let your desires get the best of you.
The F150 is not known for its length. A larger truck has a better length and is more capable of towing a 5th wheel than the F150. You just have to make the right decision once you get all the facts. You can do it but it may not be in your best interests to do so.
F150 5th Wheel Towing Capacity
Here are the towing specs for the 5 engines in the F150. The diesel option has been discontinued:
2.7L EcoBoost V6 — 325 hp/400 lb-ft with a towing capacity of 10,100 lbs
3.5L EcoBoost V6 — 400 hp/500 lb-ft with a towing capacity of 14,000 lbs
3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 — 430 hp/570 lb-ft with a towing capacity of 12,700 lbs
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 — 400 hp /410 lb-ft with a towing capacity of 13,000 lbs
3.5L EcoBoost H.O. V6 — 400 hp/510 lb-ft with a towing capacity of 8,200 lbs
The payload specs for each engine options range from- 1,400 to 3,325 lbs
These figures are for the 2022 models and if you own a used or older version, check your owner’s manual for specific information. You can get the Tow Technology Package which is available on the XL, XLT, LARIAT, King Ranch, and Platinum F-150 trim models.
This tow package includes Pro Trailer Backup Assist, 360-degree camera, trailer reverse guidance, trailer brake controller, and the smart trailer tow connector. The F150 is very good for bumper pulls but not so good for the 5th wheel in many cases.
F150 5th Wheel Hitch
There are plenty of 5th wheel hitches on sale. The cost you will pay will depend on the retail outlet you make your purchase. One outlet has a sale on right now and you can get these hitches at just about 1/2 the price.
Regular price starts as low as $400+ and goes up to over $2000. other outlets are similar in price but they all have multiple options in stock so examine them all closely to make sure you get the one that is best for your F150.
Now, if the hitch has been installed correctly and you are on level ground, all you will need to hook up is a friend to guide you. There are 12 steps to follow to hook up your 5th wheel and you can find them at this link.
These are instructions put out by Ford Trucks and should work on your F150 truck model. There are also 10 steps to follow on the same web page to unhook the trailer from your truck.
Some Final Words
After reading all of this, if you want to tow a 5th wheel trailer, you have to downsize and go with a lighter option. Those lighter options need to be under 9500 pounds. It would be smart to not push the weight limits.
If you must travel heavy, it is best to upgrade your truck to an F250 or F350. There are fewer worries with those models of pick-up trucks. Don’t forget that you will need a tow package to tow the higher weights. The tow package is essential even on this model of Ford truck.
