The Ford F150 pickup trucks are built to deliver a power-packed performance with outstanding reliability. Talking about the towing capability, you can tow up to a maximum of 14,000 lbs with the all-new 2022, and 2023 Ford F-150 models.
Ford F-150 performs exceptionally well when you have to tow a travel trailer, cargo, and other equipment. But you must be wondering whether F-150 can tow a 5th-wheel camper, or not.
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The latest 2023 Ford F-150 pickup trucks are available with 6 engine options: 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, 2.7L EcoBoost V6, 5.0L Ti-VCT V8, 3.3L Ti-VCT V6, and High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost engine.
Find out Which Ford F-150 engine is best for towing.
With these powerful engines, the F-150 can tow up to 14,000 lbs when properly equipped with towing packages (Max Trailer Tow Package). It can easily tow travel trailers, motorboats, various cargo, and other equipment.
However, the Ford F-150 will struggle to tow a 5th wheel and is also not recommended. Instead, powerful Ford trucks including F-250, F-350, and F-450 can tow a 5th wheel because these are bigger trucks.
Can you modify your F-150 to tow a 5th wheel?
As discussed above, the Ford F-150 requires extra stress to tow a 5th wheel. The F-150 pickup is a smaller truck and therefore struggles when it comes to towing heavy equipment. You can tow a 5th-wheel camper for a short distance with the F-150 truck.
You must have seen people towing the 5th wheel with the Ford F-150. Well, you can do it at your own risk, and under limited conditions. For instance, a 5th-wheel recreational vehicle can be towed by F-150.
Let’s analyze these YouTube videos on people experimenting with their F-150 for towing a 5th wheel.
In this video by VITAL Explorer, a 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor has been used to tow a 5th-wheel trailer. The person in the video is using his F-150 Raptor for the first time to tow a 5th wheel.
A Palomino Puma 5th wheel with a payload capacity of 2,500 lbs is connected to the F-150 Raptor. The dry weight of the 5th wheel is 6,801 lbs, and the GVWR is 9,335 lbs. The trailer experimented in the video is empty, and just under 7,500 lbs.
As he accelerates the Raptor, he feels the engine is powerful enough to tow the Puma 5th wheel. The driver says,” Wow. I think it’s a win-win situation. I’m actually surprised by the results, and so far the way it performs is unbelievable.”
This other video shows the capability of a half-ton truck specifically the 2016 Ford F-150 Crew Cab with a 5′ 6″ Bed to tow an Open Range Light 5th wheel by Highland Ridge RV. The turning radius while towing the 5th wheel by F-150 is demonstrated.
A BMW Companion hitch is used instead of a slider hitch. As shown in the video, the 2016 Ford F-150 is capable of performing a 90-degree turn with the standard setup.
All these experiments prove that the Ford F-150 Light Duty pickup truck is capable of towing a 5th wheel. However, the experiments in the videos above are performed with empty 5th-wheel trailers. That means the F-150 will struggle if heavier cargo is included in the 5th wheel.
Conclusion
So, what we found out is that the Ford F-150 is a light-duty pickup truck that offers a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 lbs. With this capacity, it can easily tow travel trailers, motorboats, cargo, and various equipment.
But, when it comes to towing a heavy 5th-wheel trailer, your F-150 will struggle. Besides, it is also not recommended to tow the 5th wheel with the F-150 as it may damage the vehicle. Larger trucks including Ford F-250, and F-350 are best for towing heavier 5th-wheel trailers.
We also saw experiments conducted by professionals in the YouTube video and found out that the F-150 can tow a 5th wheel. However, it depends on the weight of the 5th wheel, vehicle configuration, and standard setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How big of a 5th wheel can an F-150 tow?
A Ford F-150 Raptor can tow a 5th-wheel camper of fewer than 8,000 lbs. However, it will struggle to tow the 5th wheel with heavier cargo.
What Ford truck can tow a fifth wheel?
The Ford F-450 Super Duty truck can tow a fifth-wheel camper as it offers a maximum power of 475 hp and a maximum torque of 1,050 lb.-ft.
How big of a camper can a Ford F150 pull?
The towing capacity of the Ford F150 Pickup truck ranges from 6,000 lbs to 14,000 lbs. Depending on the vehicle configuration, engine, and towing package, the F-150 can tow a camper of up to 10,000 lbs.
What size truck do I need to pull a 5th-wheel camper?
It is recommended to use a minimum of ¾ ton truck to pull a 5th-wheel camper because it can handle more weight.
Stellan Carter is an accomplished writer, entrepreneur, and avid Ford Raptor owner. As a co-founder and content contributor for this renowned blog website, Stellan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the automotive industry. When he's not behind the wheel of his beloved Ford Raptor, Stellan can be found exploring new terrains, capturing the essence of his automotive adventures through his camera lens.
