Towing with a 2018 F-150 V8

[Keith S]

Hello,
We have recently purchased a 2018 Ford F150 Sport model 4x4 with the 5.0 V8 engine. The truck is used and has about 100,000 kms or 62,000 miles.
There is no sign that that the truck has ever been used to tow anything as the receiver is in pristine condition.
The truck has a built in trailer brake, and has a tow mode selector.

We have purchased a 2019 Airstream 23 FB Flying Cloud and I am wondering how well this combination will work.

A few years back we owned 1997 Airstream Safari 25' and towed with a 2014 F-150 V6 Ecoboost. This combination worked perfectly, however, my son is an auto technician and he warned me about high repair costs on the V6 Ecoboost engine as it aged.

The truck seems to have sufficient pulling power. Anyone have any comments.
I know this is a "thorny subject" as many advocate using a diesel truck.

Thanks,
Keith Stamper

[Dennis C]

I tow a 23 FB with a V8, 1/2 ton truck and it works well. I wouldn't imagine that you'll have any problems, but it's still a good idea to check your truck's max towing capacity, cargo capacity, tongue weight limit, GCWR, etc. All the information that you need should be on the sticker inside the door jamb. The 23 FB has a relatively low tongue weight, and with a WDH, your truck should handle it fine. The area that you'll have to watch is cargo weight. My GMC truck has a cargo and passenger max weight of about 1,500 lbs. If you load your truck heavily, take multiple people, etc., then you could exceed your cargo weight rating.

[GetawA-S]

We have a very similar combination (2019 truck) and like it very much. We use an equalizer hitch with WD and sway control, which is completely up to the task.
Our mileage runs between 12 and 14. I usually end up in 9th gear, sometimes 8th.
You don’t need anything bigger.

[tjdonahoe]

302 and a small trailer...good to go

[majorairhead]

That truck will pull that trailer without issue.


Check your payload on the truck, it should be on the door jamb sticker.


Stay within that weight limit, and the other weight limits of the truck and hitch, ALL of which should be no problem.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

302 and a small trailer...good to go

A blast from the past. The 302 went out of production a full twenty years ago!

Perhaps you meant a Coyote 5.0?

[Trowbridge]

With a 23 foot trailer, it should do fine on level towing. Gas mileage won't be great, but it should be fine. If you travel in/across mountains there in Canada be prepared to use the slow lane to allow others to pass... You'll not be the fastest towing rig out there but should be a reliable towing vehicle if you don't overload the truck with other things...luggage, passengers, external generators, canoe/kayaks, ice chests, dirt bikes, etc. Your trailer weights around 4,800 lbs without water tank or your personal possessions in it. Rated at 6,000 lbs loaded. So you're getting up there in weight...just watch what you carry in the truck itself.

[Wstewart]

We tow our 27 footer with the same vehicle but it is a 3012. 3.73rear end and 4 wheel drive. No problems. We also use a Hensley hitch.

[Spaggs]

Check out Ford Truck Enthusiasts ( FTE) and find your particular truck group and ask the same question. I have had great success in building my Excursion with the help of this forum and great, experienced guys.
Happy Ford towing.

[dnsapp]

Keith welcome to the World of Airstream. I hope you use the truck and trailer an wear it out. My wife and I bought a 2018 25 ft and have loved it.
I have the 2016 F150 and have no issues so your truck should have no issues. You’ll want to research your hitch system and get a good one. If your trailer came with a load leveling hitch doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good one or the vehicle that it was originally bought for is the same as yours. I have the Reese Straight Line hitch and it works great for my truck. There are some other good ones out there for less that a thousand dollars that will work well. I would recommend some of those 2 and 3 thousand dollar hitches for a 23 foot trailer. If you were going to tow a 28-30 footer now that might be different. Good luck and happy travels.

[emelaich01]

Hi, Keith; we towed our 25' FCFB with our 2014 F150 to Iowa several times, Carlsbad, NM and Big Bend SP from Central Texas without any issues.
Traded the '14 for a '19 (both with the 5.0) in August of last year and the addition of the 10-speed auto has helped with the fuel economy somewhat.
A lot of our miles has been towing and we'll have 30K on the odometer by the end of October, I'm sure.
You've got a good match for your rig but do have the dealer or someone you trust do a transmission flush and fill + filter change, as well as the rear axle and transfer case. It's cheap insurance and if you'll be towing a lot, worth repeating in another 30K or so.
Safe traveling!

[jdm-mn]

We pull our 16' Bambi with the same F150 V8 and never know it is back there, almost. No load leveling hitch required. Plenty of power. I know our Bambi is smaller, and we do notice a little difference as the fresh water moves to the black water tank as the week goes on, but no real issues that concern me.

[Portage to Caravan]

From Port Colbourn you're not far from London. Make an appointment at CanAm to set you up with a load leveling hitch. If your trucks receiver needs to be reinforced they'll know how to do it. You won't be disappointed.
We pull a 23' with a Ford Flex (that CanAm set up for us) without any issues. We were to and through BC and back from Southern Ontario a year ago Sept.

[60R]

I have the same truck and trailer combination. Have only towed the trailer once since purchase last month. There were no issues and pulled well on a 250 mile trip. Diesel would be my choice but I already owned this truck. Long ago (20 years) I had a 28' international that I pulled with a 3/4 ton gas suburban before purchasing an F250 with diesel. The diesel was far superior for towing but rough as a day to day vehicle.

[Gosman]

You will be fine , I have a 2010 F150 with a V8 5.4 and have a 30ft and 25ft and my F150 tows both like a dream no issue. Drive safe and slow and make those turns wide.

[SilverCabin]

I'm pulling a 2014 27’ FBFC with a 2018 F-150, 4x2, 5.0 V8, 3.55 locking differential. The truck has more than enough power and downhill braking to handle my trailer. I previously pulled my Airstream with a 2006 F-150, 4x2, 5.4 V8, 3.73 locking rear end. That truck too was not challenged by the Airstream, but my 2018 is even better.

Watch your oil consumption. If it gets to be more than a quart between changes, have your Ford dealer perform the Technical Service Bulletin for excessive oil usage. My was using about two quarts, and after they did the TSB it uses nothing. They had to reprogram the power control computer. I heard that initially, the engines were generating too much vacuum, which was causing the problem.

Randy

[jptetons]

A year ago I replaced a 2012 gas F250 with a 2020 Tundra as the tow vehicle for my 06 23’ Safari and have noticed no difference in performance or mileage but will say that the Tundra is a way smoother ride.

[Boo II]

I tow with a 2017 F-150 XLT Super Crew 6.5’ bed w/V-8 and it tows our 2018 27’ Flying Cloud without a problem. I’m usually loaded for bear with two kayaks on the truck and the bed full and back seat full and the trailer loaded with the essentials and bikes on the rack on the back of that. Sounds like it has the tow package so I wouldn’t think you’d have any issues.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by jcl

A blast from the past. The 302 went out of production a full twenty years ago!

Perhaps you meant a Coyote 5.0?

5L still equals 302 Cu in, unless someone changed something 😂

[farafield]

People here don't seem to mention the gear axle ratio very much as a thing to be aware of. Maybe the V8s have a low one automatically? In anycase, I think it's something to be aware of. I was told that they are making them higher and higher in order to be more gas friendly and dealers often don't really know much about trucks, so it's important to do thorough homework before purchasing. (I know the OP has already purchased.) There are people on here much more truck savvy than I, so I welcome your thoughts.