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I had this posted over under gas engines, but it was suggested I would get more answers here.
I have a friend with Ford who is trying to convince me to buy a 2009 F150 (that is right, not a SuperDuty) for towing. He says that Ford is going to be promoting F150 towing for those of us who don't pull huge trailers. My trailer is 8,500 pounds maximum loaded/wet and 26' long including bumper and tongue. Accordingly to him, a 2009 F150 with 5.4 gas engine will be rated at 11,000 +/- towing capacity, have torque in the 390-400 pound range, a 4.1 axle, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. I worked through some figures and will easily be able to maintain a saftey margin in the 80-90% of total GCVWR range. The possible problem is payload. After gas, passengers, dog, and other gear, I don't think there will be more than about 900 pounds of payload capacity left for hitch weight. Even with a quality weight distributing/sway eliminating hitch like a Pullrite, Propride, or Hensley, I wonder how this setup would work. I would appreciate any feedback.
I have a friend at work with an 08 F-150 and a 8k lb trailer. He camps quite a bit. I asked him how it handled. He had no complaints but camps locally near sea level.
Something to keep in mind is that the higher the elevation with a gasser the less it will pull. There is a formula out there and it might even be in the manual.
Payload is an interesting thing. Ford underrates its GVWR for liability reasons. Law here limits payload based on tire rating or 20,000 lbs per axle. You can have a Yugo carry 40,000 lbs of concrete as long as you can fit tires that are rated for that load. That does not exclude an officer from declaring the Yugo an unsafe vehicle.
Let me put it another way. I have loaded my 8,800 lb GVWR F250 up with concrete to 10,200 lbs at the scale. Thats 1,400 lbs over the GVWR and I had no issues. It handled just fine on the road. In fact, that was the first time the "helper springs" did any work.
It might be better to get a used F250 gasser than a new F150 for your friend. Its better to have too much truck than to be stuck with not enough truck.
Hope this helps.
__________________ 2004 F250 CC FX4 / 46g Transfer Flow / ARP Studs
A margin of safety has already been incorporated into GVWR, GCWR and GAWR before they're published. It's not necessary to subtract another 10-20%.
A 900-pound tongue weight is adequate for an 8,500-pound trailer.
It sounds like an F-150 (with the towing package, of course) will pull this trailer just fine.
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Douglas Campbell [drcampbell ot engineer dat kahm]
November 5, 2008: The fat lady sang. Back to actually working for a living.
1986 Isuzu P'up, 177,673.8 miles. Hella headlights, (highly recommended) DOT C-2 back end. (also recommended) R-12 air conditioner converted to R-406a. 4.1:1 rear axle converted to 3.4:1.
9/22/2007, age 21: Still running well when reluctantly sent away for reincarnation, due to body & frame rust.
Last edited by drcampbell : 07-29-2008 at 10:07 PM.
I'm bias, but get a super duty! Sure...the F-150 would do the job I'm sure, but is there ever a chance you will need more power or payload and be kicking yourself for getting a half-ton? Get a new Powerstroke and laugh at that 10,000 pound trailer.
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2003 F-250 XLT FX4 6.0l powerstroke turbo diesel, supercab, shortbox, torqushift 5spd auto. Procomp 4" lift with dual shocks and steering stabilizers, 315-75-16R Toyo Open Country MT tires on 16x10 American Eagle Wheels, Edge Evolution tuner, Airaid intake, Magnaflow performance 4" turbo back dual exhaust with 5" dual wall tips, WARN Premium manual locking hubs, Bushwacker fender flares, Smoked cab and 3rd brake light, Aftermarket headlights, tail lights and reverse lights, TomTom GO 920 Navigation system, Ford custom seat covers, Lund tonneau cover.
Um, sure. Spend an extra $10kjust to be able to tow a trailer you don't have, and spend an extra $1/gallon for each fill-up whether you're towing or not.
By that logic, you ought to buy a semi and take on another wife or two, just in case you'll ever need them.
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Douglas Campbell [drcampbell ot engineer dat kahm]
November 5, 2008: The fat lady sang. Back to actually working for a living.
1986 Isuzu P'up, 177,673.8 miles. Hella headlights, (highly recommended) DOT C-2 back end. (also recommended) R-12 air conditioner converted to R-406a. 4.1:1 rear axle converted to 3.4:1.
9/22/2007, age 21: Still running well when reluctantly sent away for reincarnation, due to body & frame rust.
Last edited by drcampbell : 08-14-2008 at 02:00 PM.
Well, as said before.... it's better to have too much truck than too little. And besides... according to his post he has an 8500# trailer so I think that it's better to be safe spending $50k for piece of mind than sorry with a useless $40k truck that can't do the job.
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2003 F-250 XLT FX4 6.0l powerstroke turbo diesel, supercab, shortbox, torqushift 5spd auto. Procomp 4" lift with dual shocks and steering stabilizers, 315-75-16R Toyo Open Country MT tires on 16x10 American Eagle Wheels, Edge Evolution tuner, Airaid intake, Magnaflow performance 4" turbo back dual exhaust with 5" dual wall tips, WARN Premium manual locking hubs, Bushwacker fender flares, Smoked cab and 3rd brake light, Aftermarket headlights, tail lights and reverse lights, TomTom GO 920 Navigation system, Ford custom seat covers, Lund tonneau cover.
tberk..you'll feel it back there, but it'll do the job. If you gotta be 1st going up long steep grades..no. It is a good motor & t/h nice feature. So...
FWIW..f150online (towing forum) could give you lots of info.
Good luck!
Until recently, lots of people used the logic to buy the biggest truck that they could find, just in case they ever needed it. However, with fuel prices so high, many people are changing their thinking and getting the truck that is just barely big enough, because it will get the best fuel economy.
2009 F150 will do the job with your 8,500 lb trailer. It's your choice whether you want to get the truck that will do the job and be the most economical, or get the monster truck just in case you ever need it.
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2001 F350 XLT 4X4, shift on the fly, 38 gal fuel tank, running boards, sliding rear window, black, crew cab, long bed, 4.10, automatic transmission, 11,500 gvwr, 20,000 gcwr, 7500 gvw, dual rear wheels, 7.3l turbo diesel, completely stock, 114,00 miles when purchased, now has 125,000 miles, repairs so far: starter, batteries, cps.
2005 Nomad Rampage toyhauler made by Skyline. 11,500lb gvwr.
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