Towing 5000# without WD hitch

[BGA23]

I currently have a '21 F150 Powerboost which is my daily but I also use to tow my 2000# enclosed aluminum trailer and race car (2900#) to a track about 8x or so per year. 5 or so trips are 3 hours each way, 1-2 5 hours each way and the other 1-2 8-12 hours each way. Total weight is about 5000# and I usually have a tongue weigh of 650 - 700#. The truck easily tows this and aside from a little more sluggish acceleration, I hardly notice it is back there.

I owned a '12 Raptor a few years ago (didn't tow with it) and I'm considering swapping my Powerboost for a Gen 3 Raptor. Using a WD hitch isn't an option, so best I really can do is airbags to help with the squat. I do know I'll have to move my race car back in the trailer a bit to reduce the tongue weight. As far max payload, I should be ~1000# including me in the truck, the gear in the bed isn't very heavy, so this isn't really an issue.

I did a search for towing and it seems the consensus is to use a WD hitch but I can’t use one with my trailer.

What am I looking at as far as a towing experience? I really don't want it to be miserable, I don't need to arrive at the track annoyed, pissed off or frustrated from the drive.

 

[Littlefx4]

There’re several towing threads arounds that’ll provide some ideas or directions for you to consider. I could post the links but that’d be no fun. I will tell you about the search function…upper right corner. GL!

 

[BGA23]

There’re several towing threads arounds that’ll provide some ideas or directions for you to consider. I could post the links but that’d be no fun. I will tell you about the search function…upper right corner. GL!

I did this and every thread I read indicated a WD hitch was the way to go but since this isn't an option for me I posted my question to see if I could get any assistance.

 

[Littlefx4]

I did this and every thread I read indicated a WD hitch was the way to go but since this isn't an option for me I posted my question to see if I could get any assistance.

Thanks. Might wanna lead out with that or folks may think the same as I prompting a similar response. Anyway, GL.

 

[MDJAK]

I’ve towed with both gen2 and gen3 a 16’ enclosed ATC aluminum trailer which weighs 2,000 pounds. I had a Can Am XRC in it which with accessories was about 1900 pounds, so not as heavy as yours. No weight distribution hitch. I had squat as to be expected. No air bags. It towed as if it wasn’t there with the exception of the headlights facing a bit toward the sky. Was it a miserable experience? Far from it.
What you don’t say is how far you will be towing? I was going in general 200 miles round trip.

You have a gt4 and you get to track. I used to track a 2019 Carrera T that I would drive long distances to tracks. It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on and you are worried about being annoyed and pissed off from towing? Might I suggest stopping along the way for a rub and tug to brighten your day? ;-). Or perhaps I can get you an appointment at @Oldfart ‘s goat corral.

 

[Hemmy]

I currently have a '21 F150 Powerboost which is my daily but I also use to tow my 2000# enclosed aluminum trailer and race car (2900#) to a track about 8x or so per year. 5 or so trips are 3 hours each way, 1-2 5 hours each way and the other 1-2 8-12 hours each way. Total weight is about 5000# and I usually have a tongue weigh of 650 - 700#. The truck easily tows this and aside from a little more sluggish acceleration, I hardly notice it is back there.

I owned a '12 Raptor a few years ago (didn't tow with it) and I'm considering swapping my Powerboost for a Gen 3 Raptor. Using a WD hitch isn't an option, so best I really can do is airbags to help with the squat. I do know I'll have to move my race car back in the trailer a bit to reduce the tongue weight. As far max payload, I should be ~1000# including me in the truck, the gear in the bed isn't very heavy, so this isn't really an issue.

I did a search for towing and it seems the consensus is to use a WD hitch but I can’t use one with my trailer.

What am I looking at as far as a towing experience? I really don't want it to be miserable, I don't need to arrive at the track annoyed, pissed off or frustrated from the drive.

I have towed my all in 6k lbs boat on two hour each way trips. I am on pretty flat land with the exception of some hills. Since I am towing a boat, my trailer has surge brakes which also means I can't use a WD hitch either. The truck did fine pulling it at around 70 mph. Definitely make sure your trailer is as level as possible. For the most part it was fine pulling it, but you want to be careful at higher speeds. Acceleration isn't an issue, but occasionally my trailer wanted to sway, which is why I say make sure the trailer is as level as possible hooked up to the truck. Bump stops will help out for the sag.

 

[Ox3721]

I believe the max capacities for towing without a WDH are 500# tongue weight and 5000# total trailer weight. Something to consider when doing a risk assessment. You technically could be found at fault for negligence and denied an insurance claim if you were involved in an accident with a configuration exceeding the manufacturer’s specifications.

 

[dsiggi]

I towed a 5k wake boat a couple times a year with my Raptor. Never did anything to the rear but the trailer was level and it was double axle so my pin weight was reasonable. It relaly should be 10 pecent no matter what.

That being said, the soft compliant suspention had some wiggle, if I had to tow it more I had a set of SumoSprings I was going to install to assist.