If you ask around, owners of F150s will give you a different answer than people claiming to be towing experts. They all say that you need a heavy-duty truck, preferably a one-ton, that is built for pulling heavy loads. It is better to have a bigger truck when towing a fifth-wheel trailer, but it is not required at all.
You can pull a gooseneck trailer with an F150, according to Ford and current truck owners nationwide. It must be equipped with the available tow package, an engine that produces enough torque to get up and down hills, and a solid suspension in the rear that can handle the weight.
You can see that the answer to this question is not as cut and dry as you would expect it to be. You cannot say that all F150s could tow a gooseneck, but you also cannot say that none of them can. There are so many variations of trucks throughout the years that it is a question that you must evaluate for each and every truck. Keep reading to find out more.
What Are The Requirements To Tow A Gooseneck?
Towing a gooseneck trailer is not like pulling a bumper-connected one. The task is more like driving a semi-truck that you need a CDL for, but when pulling a fifth-wheel trailer, you do not need a special license.
You do need a particular type of truck, though. One with specific towing limitations high enough to pull the trailer in question.
- Max Payload – This refers to the amount of weight the F150 can hold, including the weight of the vehicle. When you subtract the weight of your truck from the payload limits set by the manufacturing, you will know how much room you have to play with.
- Max Towing Capacity – This is the amount of weight that your truck can tow behind it safely. It will consider all the towing conditions you may encounter, including highway passes.
- Torque – The torque is the aspect of the truck that allows your vehicle to pull the gooseneck trailer from a standstill or up steep inclines such as hills and passes.
- Power – The truck’s power is its ability to safely cruise down the road while pulling a fifth-wheel trailer.
- Braking Power – When towing, this one is important because you need to be able to stop in a decent amount of time while towing your gooseneck trailer.
I got my F150 Trailer Hitch Here and Trailer Hitch Ball Mount Here off Amazon for a sweet deal, it’s worth checking out.
You can see a combination of things you must consider before you tow your gooseneck. If your truck did not come from the factory with the necessary requirements of your specific trailer, you could always add on some aftermarket parts to create an F150 that can meet your towing needs.
Here’s a cool video showing an F150 towing a gooseneck trailer:
Do Older F150s Have What It Takes to Pull A Gooseneck Trailer?
The great thing about the older Ford trucks is that they were built for work, along with their other tasks of daily driving and playing offroad. The point is that most of the older Ford trucks can easily pull a gooseneck anywhere you need to go.
Even the older six-cylinder engines give you plenty of torque and power. But, you may have to do a few upgrades before attempting to pull a fifth-wheel trailer.
- Brake Booster – It may be a good idea to add a Brake Booster (link to Amazon) to your truck, which will help you stop more efficiently while towing any type of trailer.
- Upgrade Suspension – The gooseneck may be pushing the weight limits of your F150, but you can add onto the back suspension components, essentially turning your truck into an F250.
- Side Mirrors – You may have to add some towing mirrors in place of the original style ones. You need to have the mirrors out farther so you can see the trailer, as well as behind the trailer.
Simple additions can upgrade your basic F150 into a towing beast without having to trade it in for a bigger sibling. Older F150s can be the perfect truck because they can not only tow a gooseneck trailer, but they are ideal for everyday driving tasks.
Can Newer F150s Tow A Gooseneck?
One of truck manufacturers’ most significant issues over the years is keeping them practical for everyday use while tough enough to tow and haul. It may seem like one task goes hand-in-hand with the other, but they both have their own specific specifications to be optimally built.
The newer F150s have this combination of both worlds. Let’s look at the exact specifications above and compare the two.
- Max Payload – A stock F150 has a payload rating between 1310 and 2238 pounds, averaging around 2620 pounds. (source) You will need to have the truck upgraded with a towing package. Otherwise, the Max payload will be pushed to the limit or beyond.
- Max Towing Capacity – Adding a towing package to your truck will ensure that the F150 can tow the gooseneck. The basic max towing capacity will fall between 5000 and 11300 pounds, which is one of the best in its class, but it is better to play it safe and upgrade.
- Torque – The average torque is 265 to 440 foot-pounds, which is plenty for most towing applications.
- Power – The average torque is 250 to 400 horsepower, which will also get the job done when towing a gooseneck trailer.
- Braking power –The braking systems of all the newer trucks will be adequate to stop within a safe distance, but it is always a good idea to add a brake booster when you plan on towing anything significant.
The newer models of the F150 are already built and can pull a gooseneck straight from the factory. Depending upon the trailer’s size and application, you may want to purchase the truck with a towing package and brake-boosting system just to play it on the safe side.
Conclusion
The Ford F150 can tow a gooseneck trailer without much problem, especially if you have taken the time to upgrade it to a towing workhorse.
It is always a good idea to think about safety first, not just the safety of the ones riding in your truck. Take steps to improve the towing capability of your F150, and get towing your gooseneck anywhere the roads take you without having to worry about getting there.