Determining Towing Capacity of 2015 Ford F-150 and Correct Weight Distribution System to Use

Question:

I am look at purchasing a 2018 Lacrosse 335bht that weighs 8762 dry weight w tongue weight 840LBs.37.. Should I be worried about my truck pulling this with the E2 Distribution system? My truck info: 2015 Ford F150 V6 Ecoboost 3.55 rear end Payload 1674 Max Hitch w DS 1210 Max tow 11500 GVWR 16900 Supercrew 145

asked by: JAMES C

Expert Reply:

The true towing capacity for your 2015 Ford F-150 can vary greatly depending on what exactly the truck is equipped with, such as its engine size, axle ratio, and the contents of any factory towing package it might have. When looking at the online owner's manual for your F-150, I did not really see that the towing capacities went as high as the 11,500 pound limit you provided in your question, so you will just want to check to be sure. If you are having trouble finding a solid number, I recommend visiting your local Ford dealer and giving them your VIN - they should then be able tell you its exact capacities and what the truck is equipped with from the factory.

You mentioned a dry weight on the trailer you are considering of 8,762 pounds, but in my research I found that the Lacrosse 335BHT does feature a GVWR of 11,341 pounds, which refers to the most the trailer can weight when fully loaded. Even though you may not load it to its max, it is still a good idea to follow this number when deciding if your truck can handle its weight. When making an investment such as a brand new trailer, you will want to be extra sure your truck is up to the task.

When deciding on a weight distribution system, you will want to go by your setup's total tongue weight. This number includes both the loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of the trailer, along with any added cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your F-150. Ideally, this number will fall somewhere near the middle of the operating range for the system you choose. The loaded tongue weight of this trailer will likely fall above the capacities of any of the Fastway e2 systems that you referenced. Since a trailer's tongue weigth should be 10 to 15 percent of its total weight, we can estimate a loaded tongue weight for your trailer to be around 1,100 to 1,700 pounds (using its GVWR of 11,341 pounds).

The highest rated weight distribution system that will work with a standard 2 inch hitch receiver is the Reese Strait-Line # RP66130, which features a tongue weight capacity of 800 to 1,500 pounds. I have attached a short video demonstration on this system, along with an FAQ on weight distribution systems that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Chris R