Another "can/should I tow this" thread: EB MaxTow hauling Bobcat

[Jeff1024]

But with < 10% weight on the tongue with the new trailer, doesn't that cause stability issues?

Ie I could move the Bobcat further back on the trailer (still over the axles) and lower the tongue weight, but the guidance always seems to be 10-15% tongue weight. Of course a larger load.

Towing a boat is way different than towing a travel trailer. Boats are more aerodynamic, and the majority of the weight is generally further back centered over the trailer axles.

Because of that boat trailers can be pulled without sway at lower tongue weights as compared to travel trailers. 5% - 7% is acceptable. We are very close to 5% - 350 tongue 6750lb boat and as I mentioned have towed it on the interstate w/ no issues of sway.

Could you get away /w less than 10% with an equipment trailer? Not sure, cant comment on that. I will say for a 800 mile trip I would for sure want to make sure the trailer towed well. Generally the more tongue weight the more stable the trailer. I truthfully wouldn't mind if there was a bit more tongue weight on our boat trailer, but it was custom made for the boat taking the center of gravity in account. I cant adjust it, so it is what it is and it does tow well.

Hope this helps.

Sponsored

 

[HammaMan]

157 WB at 10% tongue puts you around 800. Won't be an issue with the rental trailer.

 

[Jeff1024]

157 WB at 10% tongue puts you around 800. Won't be an issue with the rental trailer.

I didnt want to muddy the waters but agree another fault in the rating is that all F150s carry the 500/5000 limit. No way a 145WB handles tongue weight as well as a 157WB. Its physics.

I get it Ford just put one rating across the board b/c there are so many variations on the F150, but it does artificially limit tow ratings in some cases.

Now lets talk about why the ranger is rated to 750/7500lb without weight distribution

I love that according to Ford I can pull a 7000lb boat /w a Ranger w/o weight distribution and be within limits, but hook that same setup to an F150 and I am over the 5000lb weight carrying capacity.

 

[HammaMan]

Trailer not specified but the 'lightest' rental tandem 16 I see is a big tex w/ twin 3.5k axles. It comes in at 1,535lbs. W/ 5600lbs of cargo that puts it around 7200lbs (despite its 'rating') w/ 800lbs or so on the bumper that leaves 6500 on the axles.

Uhaul trailers use surge brakes and it sounds like you're looking at their utility trailer. I'd sneak by with the car trailer myself, just have an appropriate answer to the question when asked as to which 'car' it is given...

 

[Pcabe5]

I gotta think your trailer weight estimate is on the high side.

I have a 22+2ft utility and it weighs about 1900. I have hauled the weight you are looking at with no issues but I have the scale on my ball hitch so I can get a good idea of the tongue weight which I keep in the 800 lbs range. I feel the longer wheelbase handles tongue load much better than the shorter versions.

 

[Buyer2021]

I'm going to pick up a WDH because I can also use it on an enclosed car trailer I am planning to buy.

PS I ordered a WDH, 10k Fastway e2.

If the trailer has surge brakes do not attempt to use with a WDH.

Edit - I stand corrected, see below.

 

[adyaro77]

If the trailer has surge brakes do not attempt to use with a WDH.

I pull a boat from Michigan to Florida with surge brakes. I purchased a weight distribution hitch designed to be used with surge brakes. I've heard this false claim a few times. Mine has a lower weight capacity, but this is the type that I use with surge brakes.

 

[Jeff1024]

I pull a boat from Michigan to Florida with surge brakes. I purchased a weight distribution hitch designed to be used with surge brakes. I've heard this false claim a few times. Mine has a lower weight capacity, but this is the type that I use with surge brakes.

How much boat are you pulling that you need weight Distribution?

 

[PatchManager]

I towed a slightly smaller Bobcat with a Honda Ridgeline for 200 miles. I'll never do that again even though it accomplished the task. That trip was what convinced me that we needed something larger than a Honda Ridgeline for towing the stuff we were towing. Our F150 would have no issue with that.

I did two a U-Haul trailer that was maybe 6000 pounds across Oklahoma in the summer. The temperatures during the day reached 110 F. The transmission temperature never noticeably moved above the center line. The terrain is of course flat, but it was hot.

 

[Buyer2021]

@adyaro77 , I stand corrected, thank you.

If the trailer has surge brakes do not attempt to use with a WDH.

Edit - I stand corrected, see below.

 

[ANZAC]

I gotta think your trailer weight estimate is on the high side.

I have a 22+2ft utility and it weighs about 1900. I have hauled the weight you are looking at with no issues but I have the scale on my ball hitch so I can get a good idea of the tongue weight which I keep in the 800 lbs range. I feel the longer wheelbase handles tongue load much better than the shorter versions.

Yes I figured the 6.5 was better for towing for that reason. Also planning to get a tongue scale.

I looked up a couple of 10k utility trailers and they were all around 2800 ish, so...?
I had a 7k and it weighed 1850.

 

[adyaro77]

@adyaro77 , I stand corrected, thank you.

Hey no problem. Hope I didn't come off the rude. Now I know some boat trailers don't want you using them. Luckily my trailer manufacturer allows for them if they are required.

 

[Jeff1024]

Yes I figured the 6.5 was better for towing for that reason. Also planning to get a tongue scale.

I looked up a couple of 10k utility trailers and they were all around 2800 ish, so...?
I had a 7k and it weighed 1850.

You have plenty of power.

Keep an eye on the transmission temps - if you haven't already I would use ForSCAN to enable the temp readouts on the display. I have seen the trans get as high as 216 to 218 and the actual line on the display didnt move. Only way I knew it was creeping up is because I had enabled the actual number display.

Put it in tow haul - I usually dont lockout gears, but some people do get better results that way. 7th gear is 1:1 - anything over that is overdrive. Locking out the overdrive gears and forcing the downshift will keep you out of boost and will help to keep temps down if they become an issue. With you saying its mostly flat I wouldn't worry too much about locking anything out.

Keep an eye on the fuel...your going to get 10mpg or worse. The 3.5 will pull your house down the street but it will drink heavily while doing it.

I personally run 93 octane when pulling heavy. I know its more expensive, but Ford does recommend it while towing and the Ecoboost does make more horsepower and torque with 93 octane.

Your largest problem will be the tongue weight. A tongue weight scale is around $150, I would purchase one and get an accurate weight, it will also help you setup the trailer load correctly.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[adyaro77]

How much boat are you pulling that you need weight Distribution?

So my trailer GVWR is 6200. On the scales my boat and trailer is 5,800. My hitch weight ranges from 400 to 500 depending on fuel. And just to be clear my boat and trailer has been professionally balanced. When I purchased it it was pulling up on my truck quite aggressively. The big stickler state is Georgia. So I have a 600/6,000 lb rated weight distribution hitch.

 

[Jeff1024]

So my trailer GVWR is 6200. On the scales my boat and trailer is 5,800. My hitch weight ranges from 400 to 500 depending on fuel. And just to be clear my boat and trailer has been professionally balanced. When I purchased it it was pulling up on my truck quite aggressively. The big stickler state is Georgia. So I have a 600/6,000 lb rated weight distribution hitch.

Gotcha, little under ours. We dont tow a ton, maybe 200 miles a year. Just curious the experience if we decided to tow further.

Sponsored