Trailering the Tractor

[Alloy Snake]

I currently tow with an F250 which does great, Started off with a 150 and it was a challenge. When I weighed the trailer tongue it was around 1800 lbs. Tractor is a L4240 with loader and always has an attachment behind it, Trailer is a 20 ft dual axle equipment trailer and it barely fits. I really want to go back to an F150-If I were to get a goose neck trailer would it be possible

 

[GreensvilleJay]

trailer +-1800 #
tractor +-4000 #
imple +-1000 #

so about 7000#, maxed out tandem with 2-3500# axles(5 bolt rims)
yes an F150 will pull and haul, not fast off the line, and no OD on the highway.

The good news is FL's not noted for hills ! A lot depends on distance, quality of roads and # of idiot drivers.
I know others will say NEED F250, or 350 but I do it all the time, not far ,some rolling hills and have foreign dumptrucks to deal with.

 

[NHSleddog]

What year and model? I had a F150 3/4 ton (7700) with 7 lugs that would be well rated for that load.

In FL stopping fast should be your biggest concern.

 

[Alloy Snake]

I had it on a 2008 F150 4x4 4 door, Tongue weight was the big thing at 1800 lbs, Front end was riding high.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm.. 7 lugged F150 ! I've only seen 2 of them

BOTH axles of the trailer should have brakes, it REALLY helps in stopping !!!
I 'doubled' up one trailer for about 100 Canucks as the axle HAD the mounts on it.

 

[NHSleddog]

I had it on a 2008 F150 4x4 4 door, Tongue weight was the big thing at 1800 lbs, Front end was riding high.

Use a weight distribution hitch.

 

[dalola]

I currently tow with an F250 which does great, Started off with a 150 and it was a challenge. When I weighed the trailer tongue it was around 1800 lbs. Tractor is a L4240 with loader and always has an attachment behind it, Trailer is a 20 ft dual axle equipment trailer and it barely fits. I really want to go back to an F150-If I were to get a goose neck trailer would it be possible

Get a 2017-20 F150 w/3.5EB & 10AT, with the HD payload & tow package, won't even know the trailer is back there.

 

[Bulldog]

I'd vote for no with a 150 but that's me I guess. Just keep in mind that a gooseneck is going to add probably another 3000-5000 lbs to your current load.

 

[BigG]

I would love for someone to explain the desire to over load 1/2 ton trucks with trailers and cargo and then ask other people if it is a good idea.


If I wanted to pound 16 penny nails with an 8 ounce tack hammer would it work? Well yes it will work but it is not a good idea. It would take a lot of time to do it but it will work. Should you use a 24 oz framing hammer to pound the nails? Well yes it would work much better. In fact it is the correct tool.


The same applies to the trailer questions often asked on here. You can work a light truck up to and over the maximum weight and yes it will often works. However the safety factor is not very large. There are no questions posed as to the conditions of the truck, tires, brakes, or trailer. No question of the traffic or a biggie: the experience of the driver. And the countless times I have witnessed an unsecured load on the trailer. These and many more questions need to be asked before an answer is given.


I would suggest that the OP read his owners manual and look at the payload of his truck. Then he needs to weigh the truck, the trailer and the cargo at a truck stop scale. Look at the scale ticket and determine if the weight on each axle is within the allotted amounts. You also need to look at the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight and see if it is in spec. Also you must check the weight rating and condition of all the tires. With this information it can be determined if the tractor is a safe load on the truck.

 

[freewheel3]

To do it: F150
To do it better, safer and easier: F250
It's your choice.

Edit: Is the F150 hitch even rated for #1800 tongue weight?

 

[Alloy Snake]

I am sure the F150 isn't rated for the tongue weight-Neither is the F250 Diesel I am towing it with now, Its rated for 1500. I do have a weight distribution hitch I use when I am towing longer distances. I would rather have a 150 because I am off road a lot and the 250 is so heavy it gets stuck easy, And I have not been happy with the 6.7 diesel. So I was thinking a gooseneck on a 150 might work-But as pointed out its a much heavier trailer.

 

[GeoHorn]

I currently tow with an F250 which does great, Started off with a 150 and it was a challenge. When I weighed the trailer tongue it was around 1800 lbs. Tractor is a L4240 with loader and always has an attachment behind it, Trailer is a 20 ft dual axle equipment trailer and it barely fits. I really want to go back to an F150-If I were to get a goose neck trailer would it be possible

It appears you have loaded the trailer improperly, for if the Gross wt is 7K you should not have more than 700 lbs tongue wt. Are you loading the tractor facing FORWARD or REARWARD?

 

[Benhameen]

https://axleadvisor.com/towing-capacity/#Complete

Pulled this from another forum.

I’m pulling a 7x16 enclosed trailer daily, with an F-150. I don’t recall the trailer weight by itself off the top of my head but I do recall after taking it by the scale, I’m at 10,400lbs trucks and trailer combined.

As Someone else mentioned,if you’re not over the tongue weight add a weight distribution hitch. I have recently been schooled on them and have since added one to my set up. It brought the front end back to the unloaded height and reduced the sag in the rear by 1.5”. It feels much better going down the road as well.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I made and installed a custom 2" receiver hitch onto a friend's Freightliner semi...
kinda the ultimate in 'safety and capability'......

I KNOW my old '57 Willys 4WD pickup would easily pull a 'carhauler' trailer with '67 stang on board.
OK, wouldn't 'burn off the line' but the 12 speed combo sure made it FUN to drive !

 

[200mph]

I currently tow with an F250 which does great, Started off with a 150 and it was a challenge. When I weighed the trailer tongue it was around 1800 lbs. Tractor is a L4240 with loader and always has an attachment behind it, Trailer is a 20 ft dual axle equipment trailer and it barely fits. I really want to go back to an F150-If I were to get a goose neck trailer would it be possible

How can anyone accurately answer this question without data/facts?

There are so many variables...
What year F150? There is a considerable difference in tow ratings over the years.
How will the F150 configured?
Will a F150 accept a goose neck hitch, ie: is it factory rated to do so?
What does the proposed trailer weigh and what it is tagged to cary?
Is the L4240 Cab or ROPS?
Are the tires loaded?
Which Loader?
What attachment and what does it weigh?

Anything is possible, but does the OP want to do this legally and within the published Ford guidelines?

So the answer can be yes or no and still be right without facts/data.

 

[Tarmy]

I have a 3/4 ton Chevy HD...and tow a 14,000lbs rated dump trailer with my L2800. I bought a tongue scale to adjust my weight distribution hitch...and the trailer position of the tractor with implements.

Tows great, stable and with electric brakes...feels safe.

However, in high elevation over a pass...I paid a buddy with a huge dually diesel Ram to tow it so I didn’t fry my tranny for that one haul in 100 plus degrees.

I like having large margins of safety with that much weight...

 

[Magicman]

I personally use and highly recommend air bags for the truck. No, it does not increase the truck's load capability, but it levels the truck and keeps your headlight out of the oncoming driver's eyes.

 

[Mlarv]

Look at the door sticker on the F150 and see what it is weighted for. You can put a goose neck on an F150 just make sure of the length of the bed will allow it to turn fully.

You are carrying the load over the axel on the F150 or 250 so there is a big difference on what the tongue weight means. You are not carrying it on the bumper so your tongue weight will be a lot more.

I have hauled a 9000 pound enclosed trailer at 70MPH from OH to TN a few times and never had an issue with it.

2016 F150 with a 3.5EB /3.55 rear end 4x4. I would not hesitate to put my BX2380 in the trailer and pull it. If it was an open trailer it would tow easier and better.

 

[200mph]

You are carrying the load over the axel on the F150 or 250 so there is a big difference on what the tongue weight means. You are not carrying it on the bumper so your tongue weight will be a lot more.

Using the 2016 F150 3.5EB and 3.55 from above as an example (but don't know about cab or trim level)...

The tow rating is actually less when using a 5th wheel vs conventional according to the 2016 Ford towing guide. Depending on the trim level it can be as low as 6,600 lbs for a 5th wheel.

Link to towing guide.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/Ford_Linc_16RVTTgde_r3_Nov12.pdf See page 16 and 17.

There's also some good information on pages 29 and 30 to help decipher what all the weights mean and where to obtain vehicle information.

With respect to trailer towing weight ratings...
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
(as shown in the Trailer Towing Selector charts pages 16***8211;24) is
the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow, based on a minimum towing vehicle GVW. It assumes a towing
vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15%
(conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15-25% (5th-wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lbs.). F-Series Super Duty® Chassis Cab
models also assume a second-unit body weight of 1,000 lbs. Weight
of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted
from this weight.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Up here you can rent a UHAUL 'car hauler' with a regular 1/2 ton pickup but NOT a 'ranger' sized truck. Also UHAUL trailers have 2 axle hydraulic 'surge' brakes making it a LOT safer to stop.
When renting Hoem Depot BX25TLB, same deal any full size pickup is OK. They too are 2 axle surge brakes( guy up the road makes them...)