F150 and Flying Cloud 25 FB

[SilverEagle6]

I have a 2013 F150 Super Crew 4x4 with 5.0L 145" WB and 3.55 rear end. It has the factory tow package with the 7350# GVWR package. Max GVWR is 13,500.

The trailer GVWR is 7,300 with a hitch weight of 837 lbs.

I look at all these numbers and my eyes go crossed.

Am I ok towing the Flying Clound 25 FB?

[mojo]

Yes you can tow your trailer, but you will be close to the trucks max capabilities. Look on the door jamb for the payload capacity and subtract the hitch weight. That is the weight of people and gear you can carry. Find a truck scale and go weigh your truck and trailer empty for reference and then go back and weigh everything loaded and ready for travel. That will give you the reality check.

[SteveSueMac]

Easyrider - my 27FB flying cloud has a max weight of 7600 but fully loaded for camping weighs in on the scales at 5880. You need to have an actual weight to know for sure. If similar, your Ford should be plenty of truck.

[Moflash]

The posted tongue weight is is figured with a empty trailer,so it is on the light side.Pulling the trailer will be no problem but you will be maxed out in the weight put on the trucks suspension.

[SilverEagle6]

Does a good WD hitch countre that? if so any recommendations?

[mojo]

Originally Posted by Moflash

The posted tongue weight is is figured with a empty trailer,so it is on the light side.Pulling the trailer will be no problem but you will be maxed out in the weight put on the trucks suspension.

The F150 has a payload rating of 1500 to 1960 lbs. so you will not be maxed out on hitch weight for your suspension, depending on how much gear you load.

There are many good hitches available depending upon your budget, Hensley, ProPride, Reese, Equalizer, anderson seem to be the most popular choices.

[jkinglet]

Just got onboard myself. 5.0L, 4X4, XLT, 3.73, Tow Pkg, Screw, mirrors are coming. love this 5.0L!

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by easiryder

Does a good WD hitch countre that? if so any recommendations?

You need a good weight distribution hitch for sure, as all of us do. When using a half-ton truck, payload in the truck becomes more limited than heavy duty. We use a half-ton as well and load it lightly, and no problems touring the country every year.

If you plan on frequent long distance towing, especially in windy conditions or on interstates with heavy truck traffic pushing your trailer around, you would really appreciate the Hensley or ProPride hitches. Expensive but its the best money we spent on our new trailer for relaxed towing comfort and safety.

Much less expensive hitches such as Reese and Equal-I-Zer are excellent weight distribution hitches with decent sway control. Been around a long time and have proven to work well.

[Wayne&Sam]

So which WD bars do you use with your FC 25"? 800lb?

[jspafford]

Which bars: one of the Forum's most popular questions! A little search will give you a lifetime of reading and an ocean of opinions. I followed Inland Andy's advice and put 600# bars on my full-sized one ton van, which is more heavily sprung than your 150. Andy's rule of thumb, the heavier the TV suspension, the less weight distribution required. When I shifted from #1,000 bars to #600, the cabinet doors and drawers in the trailer stopped popping open, and there was no loss of sway control.

[Will_Brule]

I have the 25' FC FB and a 2013 F150, 2 W/D EcoBoost with a 3.55 rear end. I use an Equalizer hitch with 1000 lb. bars. I don't load tons of stuff in the TV or the trailer. We have all kinds of empty space in both, even on trips lasting two weeks. We traveled for years, two-up on a Harley, so we know how to travel. Been up and down steep and crooked grades. No problems.

[Moflash]

Originally Posted by mojo

The F150 has a payload rating of 1500 to 1960 lbs. so you will not be maxed out on hitch weight for your suspension, depending on how much gear you load.

There are many good hitches available depending upon your budget, Hensley, ProPride, Reese, Equalizer, anderson seem to be the most popular choices.

Once you subtract your passengers weight (and your weight if you weigh over 150lbs) and any items that you place on the truck and the box of the truck,the weight of your hitch and the True tongue weight of your packed and ready to go trailer.Only then can you say no problem with the payload capacity of a F150.

Most of the F150 Supercrew trucks in dealer inventory for sale are 1300-1500lbs net payload capacity.
Lets say you weigh 200 lbs and your wife weighs 130 your WD hitch weighs in at 100lbs and your actual tongue weight is 1100lbs
Thats 1380lbs and still no extra passengers,gear,generators,tonneau cover,camper shell etc........
Now you can say that with a WD some weight is transferred to the trailer axles but if that is true it is not much.

You will find very few HD payload equipped F150's in dealer inventory in the USA as the dealers choose not to order this option because it limits the trim packages and other options that are popular with most customers.Kep in mind the payload capacities shown in literature and on the web do not include options on the trucks as these must be subtracted also.So the door sticker is your best info.

[mojo]

Originally Posted by Moflash

Most of the F150 Supercrew trucks in dealer inventory for sale are 1300-1500lbs net payload capacity.

My Lariat with Max Tow has a payload of 1960, but with added package options the door sticker is 1755lbs.

Now you can say that with a WD some weight is transferred to the trailer axles but if that is true it is not much.

Depends on the hitch, weight bars and how much you tighten them. You can transfer quite a bit of weight back to the trailer and front axle.

Kep in mind the payload capacities shown in literature and on the web do not include options on the trucks as these must be subtracted also.So the door sticker is your best info.

This is why you need to do your homework. Those who have been unhappy with the F150 didn't. Sounds like you don't own one either.

[Wayward]

Originally Posted by easiryder

Am I ok towing the Flying Clound 25 FB?

More than enough truck!

Hook it up with a good WD and anti-sway, then hit the road.

4:10 gears and loadrange D or E tires would make for a nice upgrade one day but not essential.

[Moflash]

Originally Posted by mojo

This is why you need to do your homework. Those who have been unhappy with the F150 didn't. Sounds like you don't own one either.

Did own one till I did the math,then I traded it off.I don't like counting pounds and worrying about what I can and can't take on a Airstream adventure.

You can tow it with a mini van if you like as some members on this forum do.its all a matter of choice.I just chose not.

[JFScheck]

The 2013 EcoBoost Ford F-150 that I owned for a few days as was configured had LESS maximum payload than my TDI Touareg....

Go Figure

[m.hony]

A few days?
Wow!

[JFScheck]

Yea - its a long story and documented here on the boards....

Let's just say I believed the "if it can tow that amount as advertised then certainly the max payload would be comparable so I can actually tow the amount so desired"....

Take ownership, two days latter look at max payload sticker inside door and then the fun started....

[m.hony]

I am close to the numbers on my rig- overloaded if I take a bunch of firewood, but I'm just gonna run what I brung- 5 payments left and 32,000 miles and I really can't afford/don't want to go in debt for another tow vehicle. I was interested in the Mercedes GL Bluetec until I learned they are $63,000- same as a fully loaded pimped out diesel heavy duty pickup- I can't afford it- or a Porsche Cayenne-

[Scaler113]

Hi all

Here are my weights I took this July on state scales near Longview WA leaving for Yellowstone.

2012 F150 extended cab, Max tow package, NO canopy, Ecoboost.
2012 FC FB.

The bed of my truck is empty except for the Honda 2000 which is a little over 50 lbs.

2 people, Honda generator, 75 lbs tools, Honda generator, trailer 1/2 water, 1/2 propane lots of food, cloths, dishes. etc.

Actual Wt Allowed WT on my F150
F150 front axel 3,280 lbs 3,750 lbs
F150 rear axel 3,840 lbs 4,050 lbs
F150 total 7,120 lbs 7,700 lbs
Trailer axels 5,660 albs
Total all 12,780 lbs

Phil