This may better help you understand what im talking about
From Fords website
2011 F250 Supercrew 6.2L V8
Max towing capacity= 11,900 lbs
Payload capacity= 3,290

If you pull that max towing load of 11,900 lbs with a 15% tongue weight, you will have 1785 lbs on the rear of the truck.
3290-1785= 1505 lbs away from max payload
You could tow the max towing cap without maxing out the payload on this truck.

Towing the max towing capacity with the 1/2 tons with max towing over 10,000 leave you with barely enough available payload left for a 200 lbs man to drive the truck, much less any one else or anything else in the truck.

Understand??? They are spliting hairs with some of these max towing numbers to have the upper hand in sales. Too much max tow cap for available payload cap.

Hey you cant fix stupid. Some folks will be towing 15,000 im sure.

http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/stories/saetowing/page1.html

Ford Chevy Toyota all use 10% not 15%. That's where they get there max numbers, and they do test them.

+1. Thanks,but no thanks,on new tech,twin turbos,stuffing a smaller engine. Just gimmee the 5.0.

Guess an old straight 6 from the 80s would be fine? Lol

Gotta remember max towing rating is interpretable. I used to tow 25,000 lbs day in and day out via a goosneck trailer with a Dodge 3500, and although they have some impressive tow ratings when mated with a cummins , they darn sure dont advertise 25,000 lb tow ratings!





That second picture was taken in your neck of the woods JR

Sure,man. An inline 6 is in perfect primary and secondary balance without a balance shaft. That's why BMW and some Trucks are inline 6's. The simple answer is usually the best answer.

yea but most of the weight is over the tires on the trailer, so really you have what the trailer weight is and the two cars at the front. so your not really putting 25k over the axle.

Well what about when I would have a a full size truck or a suburban above the bed? I am pretty sure that even as a dually its not rated to carry 6,000 lbs over the axles.

[/quote]

Hey you cant fix stupid. Some folks will be towing 15,000 im sure. [/quote]

There are a lot of them out there. I saw a rash of overloaded trailers with blown tires and busted axles for a while 2 years ago. Whenever I see someone towing improperly (trailer at 20 degree angle) it makes me want to pull up next to them and shake my index finger. Improper towing and maint are a big cause behinds all the wrecks these days. I knew a guy once that got in a wreck on LBJ and the boat ended up in his bed. Cop cited him for either no or non-working trailer brakes. No telling our long this one dudes stupidity clogged the hiway.

Follow the ratings!

Take your truck hook up the trailer with 10-15% of total trailer weight as tongue weight. Do not exceept GCWR with trailer payload and pasengers. Use electric brakes, and drive acordingly and you will be fine.

I wouldnt recomend towing 10k lbs with an ecoboost or any other half ton truck on a regular basis. It will ware on the vehicle but if you stay withing the limits and drive accordingly it should be safe.

matt

i started this post a while back. i did buy the ecoboost about 6 weeks ago. it gets between 21 and 22 with cruise on at about 73mph on the highway. pulling a Z9 it gets around 13 with cruise on about 70. it has only downshifted from 6th one time on a hill pulling boat. so far pretty sweet. time will tell.

Just came back from a long road trip (first one) with my new ecoboost. I have 3200 miles on it now. On my trip my overall computer calculated mileage was 23.8, hand calculated, 23.2. This was done with the cruise set at 70 on the dot whenever possible. I LOVE THIS TRUCK 23mpg highway!! (2011 supercrew 2wd 3.5l v6 twin turbo). On the way there we were bucking against a cold front (got 21mpg) on the way home we were being pushed by about a 5-10mph breeze (25mpg). We were loaded with myself, my wife, my dog, and all of our christmas presents and luggage.

The biggest limiting factor on 1/2 tons is payload. Will the truck pull 11,000+ lbs? Absolutely. Can it handle the associated payload? I doubt it. A 10,000 lb boat is one thing. A 10,000 lb 5th wheel is something else altogether. Most current model 5th wheels of 10,000 are going to have a pin weight of 20% or more, especially when loaded.

Then you have the tire issue. Most 1/2 ton pickups come equipped with "P" rated tires. Basically they're big black marshmellows with no sidewall support and max PSI at 44 lbs.

If you want to pull 10,000+ lbs with a 1/2 ton be my guest. I tried it and in the real world it just wasn't practical. At times it was dangerous. Never again.

For real world towing of a modern RV and a 1/2 ton truck, I'd limit it to about 7000-7500 lbs max.

Case in point, my last travel trailer was 28' and total weight loaded was 7250 lbs. Tongue weight was 1050 lbs. with weight distibution hitch. Add my fishing gear, ice chests, passengers, fuel and other cargo and I was over my rated payload. That truck was a handful in a crosswind or dealing with wind blast from an 18 wheeler.

I traded that truck for my current 3/4 ton and it's night and day difference.

Trailer set, floor plan, etc. will play a factor.

Also understand that the truck's payload and towing ratings are normally based on a base model, reg. cab, 2wd vehicle with a 180 lb driver and minimal fuel in the tank.

Add crew cab, 4 wd, full tank of gas, family of 4, etc and you reduce the tow rating and payload cap. pound for pound.

Trailers empty weight ratings are stripped models. Add fresh water, waste water, supplies, propane, batteries, etc. and you'll quickly be 25% over the empty curb weight rating.

Does payload, like what you can put into the bed of the truck include the weight of pasengers etc?

I put 2500 lbs of bagged feed + 2 ice chests + mini fridge + 4 people averaging 200 lbs each + a dog in a 1/2 ton crew cab z71 chevy and drove 200 + miles with it all was great truck got 17+ miles per gallon.

For the first time last weekend I pulled a 28' bumper pull TT with the same truck. It did great handled the weight fine without the weight distribution.

I used to own a 1-ton diesel. I loved it, it was my dream truck, but I also had a use for it we pulled a 35' 5th wheel trailer with tractor shredder and disk on it 400 miles round trip about once a month. Now tractor stays put in a building... sold the truck. The vast majority of people owning a 3/4 and 1 ton diesel or gas pickups dont have much need for one, not sayin all but alot. I work with a couple people driving 3/4 ton diesels that have never mounted a ball on them.

matt