F 150 will it tow

DIRTCUTTER · Jul 25, 2009

My ford dealer tells me that a 2009 F 150 4x4 will have no problem towing my Ck30 with a backhoe attached. What do you think, and how safe would it be ?

JoelD · Jul 25, 2009

Ford web site list towing capacity, based on how you option it out, motor and rear end gear ratio looks like it should be able to.

Not sure but guessing your machine would weigh somewhere around 6000 lbs all in, plus trailer, guessing 2000 lbs or so. All in around 8000 lbs or so?

The base 4.6l, 4 spd looks like would not do it.

The 4.6 6spd looks like you should be good.

There are others on this site who are towing experts though, you should try posting in the towing rigs section towards the top of the list of forums.

Joel

Duffster · Jul 25, 2009

DIRTCUTTER said:
My ford dealer tells me that a 2009 F 150 4x4 will have no problem towing my Ck30 with a backhoe attached. What do you think, and how safe would it be ?

Most likely it will be fine.

How much does the tractor and BH weight?

unhappykioti · Jul 26, 2009

It is not a matter whether the truck will pull it or not. It is more a matter of will it stop it, half ton trucks just plain do not have the braking system to handle that amount of weight, yeh yeh i know so and so will say I do it all the time with no problem, but what happens when you have a trailer brake failure will the truck stop you going down a five percent grade? The Ford dealer is trying to sell trucks of course he is going to tell you it will do the job, has the salesman ever pulled a load with that truck himself? Go with a three quarter ton.

JoelD · Jul 26, 2009

HI Unhappy.

My thinking is, if the manufacturer rates a truck to pull say 10K pounds, wouldn't that mean the truck is good to pull 10K all considered?

I've always assumed that the manufacturer's hauling ratings are conservative and you'll be good if you are within those numbers.

Never thought much about brakes other than, if more than a couple thousand pounds then trailer brakes are good to have. I've never hauled more than 2000lbs without trailer brakes.

Would be interested to know what consideration the manufacturers have given to trailer brakes when rating the hauling capacity of their trucks.

For example, truck is rated to pull 10K with a disclaimer (anything over 2000 lbs (what ever the number is) requires dual axle trailer with brakes on both axles..... not sure how they do it.

I have 3/4 ton f250, the thing is rated at silly low GCWR numbers, but I'm thinking that is for a reason (maybe tranny, don't know). I've hauled 2000lbs in the bed, felt like there was nothing there.

Joel

Joel

RickB · Jul 26, 2009

unhappykioti said:
It is not a matter whether the truck will pull it or not. It is more a matter of will it stop it, half ton trucks just plain do not have the braking system to handle that amount of weight, yeh yeh i know so and so will say I do it all the time with no problem, but what happens when you have a trailer brake failure will the truck stop you going down a five percent grade? The Ford dealer is trying to sell trucks of course he is going to tell you it will do the job, has the salesman ever pulled a load with that truck himself? Go with a three quarter ton.

It is not difficult to determine if a half ton Ford can be spec'ed out to safely do the job or not. Published towing data is more reliable than a salesman's talk. I will predict that a properly setup F-150 can do the job safely and efficiently. My GMC K1500 can and does tow 7000lbs within its ratings. Half ton trucks of today probably have more braking capacity than an older 3/4 ton with rear drums or drums all the way around. Without knowing what the tractor weighs, it's all speculation.

darkviper · Jul 27, 2009

Ok here is real world experience for you. I have a CK 20 with a back hoe. water in the tires and fel the machine comes into around 4500-5000 pounds. I pulled it for the longest time with a 1999 Dodge Dakota and it pulled it all day long but i knew going in that it was a little much so i never drove above 45 MPH. Now i pull with a 1996 f-250 desiel. Handles it much better but with all due respect to the guy saying if your brakes on the trailer fail trust me even the f250 does not want to stop that load when you are on a 5% grade. Bottom line the F-150 will do it the F-250 will be far better. As far as brakes are concerned if you find the brakes on the trailer have failed or are not working STOP IT NOW!!!!. Because the f-250 is not going to stop you in time if that nice old lady slams on brakes in front of you to make that turn when the trailer brakes dont work. Trust me i have visited that experience and will not ever do it agian. And that was with new brakes on the f-250. The f-150 needs to have the V8 in it though. Dont try it with the 6 cylinder if you will be hauling long hauls or a lot. There is no replacement for a desiel when hauling anything over 5000lb.

jimmyj · Jul 27, 2009

Post in the trailers and transport forum and include the engine and tranny details in the post. Diamondpilot has all the ratings at his fingertips.

Personally, I think the f150 would be too small. I have a Dodge 1/2 ton and have come to the sad realization that it could not safely tow my CK20 TLB with trailer.

Oh well, I guess one day I'll have to get a bigger truck and a nice big trailer!

LBrown59 · Jul 27, 2009

unhappykioti said:
1*It is not a matter whether the truck will pull it or not. It is more a matter of will it stop it, half ton trucks just plain do not have the braking system to handle that amount of weight, yeh yeh i know so and so will say I do it all the time with no problem, but what happens when you have a trailer brake failure will the truck stop you going down a five percent grade? The Ford dealer is trying to sell trucks of course he is going to tell you it will do the job, has the salesman ever pulled a load with that truck himself? Go with a three quarter ton.

1*Stoppin is more urgent than goin.

LBrown59 · Jul 27, 2009

Duffster said:
Most likely it will be fine.

How much does the tractor and BH weight?

unhappykioti said:
It is not a matter whether the truck will pull it or not. It is more a matter of will it stop it, half ton trucks just plain do not have the braking system to handle that amount of weight, yeh yeh i know so and so will say I do it all the time with no problem, but what happens when you have a trailer brake failure will the truck stop you going down a five percent grade? The Ford dealer is trying to sell trucks of course he is going to tell you it will do the job, has the salesman ever pulled a load with that truck himself? Go with a three quarter ton.

JoelD said:
HI Unhappy.

My thinking is, if the manufacturer rates a truck to pull say 10K pounds, wouldn't that mean the truck is good to pull 10K all considered?

I've always assumed that the manufacturer's hauling ratings are conservative and you'll be good if you are within those numbers.

Never thought much about brakes other than, if more than a couple thousand pounds then trailer brakes are good to have. I've never hauled more than 2000lbs without trailer brakes.

Would be interested to know what consideration the manufacturers have given to trailer brakes when rating the hauling capacity of their trucks.

For example, truck is rated to pull 10K with a disclaimer (anything over 2000 lbs (what ever the number is) requires dual axle trailer with brakes on both axles..... not sure how they do it.

I have 3/4 ton f250, the thing is rated at silly low GCWR numbers, but I'm thinking that is for a reason (maybe tranny, don't know). I've hauled 2000lbs in the bed, felt like there was nothing there.

Joel

Joel

But what's it rated to stop?