GEN 2 Towing an RV

[rwj333]

I am a long-time (3 month) browser of this forum and I just joined. Thank you for all of the great information you have posted.

I am planning on buying a 2017 Super Crew Raptor - and have been fighting the incredibly frustrating dealer markup hell - finally finding one available to order at $5000 over MSRP. I doubt I will find better than this in the near future...

I have been watching all the Raptor forums for information on the 2017 towing an RV. I'm not finding much information beyond the 8000 lb. capacity set by Ford - lots of people discussing the GEN 1 - even great youtube videos of GEN 1... Just not much on GEN 2. I even emailed TFL Truck and asked them to do a video on the 2017 towing.

Before you attack... I realize that the Ford Raptor is not made for towing. I plan on using the Raptor primarily as a daily commuter/driver. I live in the Oregon mountains - lots of dirt roads (often snowy in the winter) between my house and where I work. I will only tow a trailer with it 5 or 6 weekend trips a year - within a hundred miles of my house (sometimes over twisty mountain passes).

Would the 2017 Raptor be able to tow a 5500 lb. fully loaded camping trailer (Tongue weight around 550 lbs) without modifying the springs? I do have a weight distribution hitch. I'm at the edge of my budget buying the Raptor - I don't have lots of money to sink into new springs.

I have also strongly considered the 2017 F150 Lariat - because I worry about the Raptor towing capacity. I have found that there is absolutely no comparison in the comfort of the seats and the ride of the two trucks. The Raptor is INCREDIBLY comfortable and fun to drive. The F150 Lariat has harder seats and I feel the road a lot more.

What do you think?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Azholley]

I am a long-time (3 month) browser of this forum and I just joined. Thank you for all of the great information you have posted.



I am planning on buying a 2017 Super Crew Raptor - and have been fighting the incredibly frustrating dealer markup hell - finally finding one available to order at $5000 over MSRP. I doubt I will find better than this in the near future...



I have been watching all the Raptor forums for information on the 2017 towing an RV. I'm not finding much information beyond the 8000 lb. capacity set by Ford - lots of people discussing the GEN 1 - even great youtube videos of GEN 1... Just not much on GEN 2. I even emailed TFL Truck and asked them to do a video on the 2017 towing.



Before you attack... I realize that the Ford Raptor is not made for towing. I plan on using the Raptor primarily as a daily commuter/driver. I live in the Oregon mountains - lots of dirt roads (often snowy in the winter) between my house and where I work. I will only tow a trailer with it 5 or 6 weekend trips a year - within a hundred miles of my house (sometimes over twisty mountain passes).



Would the 2017 Raptor be able to tow a 5500 lb. fully loaded camping trailer (Tongue weight around 550 lbs) without modifying the springs? I do have a weight distribution hitch. I'm at the edge of my budget buying the Raptor - I don't have lots of money to sink into new springs.



I have also strongly considered the 2017 F150 Lariat - because I worry about the Raptor towing capacity. I have found that there is absolutely no comparison in the comfort of the seats and the ride of the two trucks. The Raptor is INCREDIBLY comfortable and fun to drive. The F150 Lariat has harder seats and I feel the road a lot more.



What do you think?



Thank you for your help!

As long as you understand the suspension isn't build for it that's a start. You may wear out your shocks faster than usual but If it's only a couple times a year and you have the weight spread out it shouldn't be a huge factor.

Being 2500 pounds under max towing for the truck I think you are in the clear of putting yourself and others at risk.

Did you by chance order the brake controller for the truck or plan on hooking one up? Cause you'd definitely would want to be on the safe side of braking.

Hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FurryHungarian]

Towing 5500 lbs. with the Raptor is will not be a problem. Use your weight distribution hitch and keep in mind the reduced payload capacity. Remove the 550 pound tongue weight and the weight of the distribution hitch from your 1200 pound payload capacity and that's what your left with for you and your stuff in the truck.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Trick.Raptor]

You will be fine at 5500lbs. even with stock springs. Yes upgrades will make the experience better but from the factory the Raptor can tow 8000lbs. and you are well below the limit.

Get your Raptor and enjoy.

 

[7GenTex]

Towing 5500 lbs. with the Raptor is will not be a problem. Use your weight distribution hitch and keep in mind the reduced payload capacity. Remove the 550 pound tongue weight and the weight of the distribution hitch from your 1200 pound payload capacity and that's what your left with for you and your stuff in the truck.

+1 on the above.

Payload is the key (on any truck / tow vehicle) - carry all that you can in the trailer versus the bed and truck. You will normally run out of payload WAY before approaching the theoretical tow rating.

And BTW - published trailer tongue weights are usually WAY low...................

Hit the CAT scales as well.

 

[GOTSVT?]

You will be fine.
However, there are deals out there. Don't pay $5k over. Thats absurd.

 

[rwj333]

You will be fine.
However, there are deals out there. Don't pay $5k over. Thats absurd.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I'm feeling much better about towing.

As for the $5k over. I've called every dealer in the state of Oregon - most want $10 to $15 over MSRP. I considered myself lucky to find one at $5k. You wouldn't believe the stories I have gotten from dealers - telling me how wrong I am for trying to find it at MSRP - customer service at its best - tell the customer they are wrong from the beginning of the conversation. One dealer even told me that the people on the Raptor Forums are lying when they say that they are buying at MSRP or close to it. You would think that dealerships would be thankful to sell a $67k special order at MSRP. The MSRP price has to have quite a large cash bonus for the dealership. Please let me know if you know any dealerships (especially in the Northwest) who would be willing to sell an ordered Raptor at MSRP.

 

[pjones]

I called every dealer in OR too, and got the same results as you. Only a few had any on hand to begin with, and most had no allocation. Since you are in OR, even when you pay the $5k ADM, you are basically still getting it for msrp since you don't have to pay sales tax.

 

[RAPTERRIER]

@Aaron may have photoshopped a trailer being pulled by his 5.4 poverty Raptor in this pic. If you believe that it's a real picture then I'm sure you'll be in the clear with a new Gen II.

 

[The Macf]

If you search the forum, there's a link with detailed towing info.