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If you have a Ford F150, you’ve probably thought about adding a camper to your repertoire of vehicles. Today, we’re examining the best options for an F150 camper so you can tow safely within your vehicle’s limits while having some fun on the road.
Let’s dive in!
Can I Tow a Camper With a Ford F150?
It’s not impossible to find an F150 camper, but your options are limited because of the towing capacity of this truck.
It’s a light-duty truck, so depending on the truck’s configuration, you’ll need to stay around 5,000 to 8,000 pounds. Pay attention to the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). If it’s over 8,000 pounds, you likely won’t be able to tow it with a Ford F150.
However, you don’t want to max out the truck’s towing capacity. It’s best to follow the 80/20 rule of towing and stick to 80% of the towing capacity. This allows for human error when calculating the truck’s towing ability and ensures you don’t risk adding stress to the truck’s brake system, engine, transmission, and other key components.
How Do I Know If My F150 Can Tow My Camper?
Not all Ford F150 trucks are created the same. The towing capacity of each truck depends on the engine, axle ratio, bed length, cab size, and other factors.
Therefore, you must pay attention to the calculations for your particular truck and not the general listing on Ford’s website. Your owner’s manual should give you the exact numbers for your model.
Although the Ford website claims that the F150 can tow up to 14,000 pounds, that’s only on the SuperCab 8-foot box 4×2 and SuperCrew 4×2 configurations with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and max trailer tow package.
Generally, the Ford F150 can tow 5,000 to 8,200 pounds with the 3.3L PFDI V6 engine, 8,200 to 13,000 pounds with the 5.0L 4-Valve V8 engine, 7,600 to 11,200 pounds with the 2.7L GTDI V6 engine, and 11,200 to 14,000 pounds with the 3.5L GTDI V6 engine.
To determine if your F150 can tow your camper, you’ll need to know the towing capacity of the truck and the GVWR of the trailer. For example, if the towing capacity of your F150 is around 10,000 pounds, you’ll want the GVWR of your camper to be 8,000 pounds or less to ensure safety. You want to avoid maxing out the towing capacity.
How Heavy Are Most Travel Trailers?
Travel trailers vary tremendously in weight. Some of the smallest trailers are 3,000 pounds or less. However, you’ll find huge bunkhouse trailers that weigh over 11,000 pounds. So, you can’t lump all travel trailers into the same category regarding towing.
It’s also essential to consider the length of the travel trailer and not just the weight. The wheelbase of a Ford F150 will range from 122 to 164 inches. The larger the wheelbase, the more stable the handling.
If you own an F150 with a wheelbase of 145 inches, it will be more difficult to tow a 35-foot-long trailer than with an F250 with a wheelbase of 176 inches, even if the trailer’s weight is well within the truck’s towing capacity. Because of the smaller wheelbase, you’ll have less control and feel more sway as you venture along the highway.
The Best F150 Camper Models
We’ve compiled a list of the best F150 camper models based on weight, length, and floorplan. Again, always check your individual Ford F150’s towing capacity before choosing a trailer. Let’s take a look at the best options!
Best for Families: Jayco Jay Flight 224BH
The Jayco Jay Flight 224BH makes a great F150 camper for families because its GVWR is only 5,850 pounds. It’s also just over 27 feet long, manageable by the Ford F150. This floorplan features rear double bunks for ample sleeping space for toddlers and teenagers, a large rear bathroom, and a front queen bed.
The primary bedroom is separated by a partition for added privacy. A full kitchen and booth dinette provides everything a family needs for a weekend camping trip. Although there are no slides to make the interior larger, this is typical for lightweight travel trailers since slide-outs add to the overall weight of a trailer.
Best Rear Living Floorplan: Grand Design Imagine 2500RL
If you prefer a rear living floorplan, the Grand Design Imagine 2500RL is an excellent option. Its GVWR is 7,850 pounds. Thus, you’ll want an F150 with a towing capacity of at least 9,000 pounds. This model has one slide-out, so it’s much heavier than the Jayco Jay Flight.
Still under 30 feet in length, the 2500RL has a booth dinette, tri-fold sofa, and L-shaped kitchen in the rear living space. A walk-through bathroom connects to the front primary bedroom, where you’ll find a queen bed and overhead storage. This model is a dual-entry travel trailer, so you can access the living room and the bedroom directly from the outside.
Best Rear Bedroom Floorplan: Keystone Outback Ultra-Lite 271UFK
Some RVers may choose a rear bedroom with a front living floorplan. An ideal F150 camper with this layout is the Keystone Outback Ultra-Lite 271UFK.
However, it’s the longest and heaviest option on our list. The GVWR is 8,500 pounds, and the overall length is just under 32 feet. You’ll want a Ford F150 with the largest wheelbase and a towing capacity of over 10,000 pounds to ensure safe travel.
This unit features a rear king bed with a storage wardrobe and dresser. There are two slide-outs, which add to the overall weight but also increase the living space. The 271UFK has a sleeper sofa, a booth dinette, an entertainment center, and a full kitchen.
There is ample countertop space in this trailer, as well as a huge walk-in pantry. Like the Imagine, the Keystone Outback Ultra-Lite 271UFK also has a dual entry with access to both the rear bedroom and living space from the outside.
Keep in Mind: These Truck Bed Accessories are guaranteed to help make life on the road easier.
Best Toy Hauler: Forest River Cherokee Wolf 22GOLD13
For RVers looking to bring their outdoor toys, you’ll be limited in toy hauler travel trailer options because their GVWRs are usually much higher than standard travel trailers.
However, one option is the Forest River Cherokee Wolf 22GOLD13. Its GVWR is 11,160 pounds, which means if you don’t have the maximum tow package of 14,000 pounds on the F150, you won’t be able to fill it to capacity. However, the empty weight is just under 6,000 pounds, so you still have plenty of weight to add your outdoor toys.
This toy hauler features a folding dinette with bench seating and a manual folding bunk system in the garage. The kitchen extends off the garage, and the bathroom and bedroom sit near the front of the unit. The bedroom has a king bed and overhead storage.
The Forest River Cherokee Wolf 22GOLD13 measures under 30 feet long but has everything you need for a weekend getaway.
Best Quality: Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB
Finally, we can’t leave off the Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB as a possible option for your F150 camper. It’s the most expensive but highest-quality travel trailer on the list.
Airstream is well-known for its aluminum silver bullet design and top-of-the-line craftsmanship. This model measures 26 feet 2 inches long and has a GVWR of 7,300 pounds.
The interior features a convertible dinette lounge space that can double as an extra sleeping area. The bathroom is split, with the toilet and sink on one side of the trailer and the shower on the other. In the front of the trailer is a queen bed or optional twin beds with a nightstand in between.
Keep in Mind: Are you in the market for a dually truck for towing? These are the best on the market.
Can a Ford F150 Tow a Fifth Wheel?
You won’t see many Ford F150 trucks towing fifth wheels. This isn’t because of the limited towing capacity, however. It’s because of the payload capacity. Heavy-duty trucks can handle more weight sitting on the rear axle of the truck than an F150.
The fiberglass Escape 5.0 is one of the only fifth wheels with a hitch weight of under 700 pounds. The Keystone Cougar Half-Ton line also has a few models with a hitch weight of under 800 pounds. But if you’re looking for a fifth wheel, you’ll likely have to buy an F250 or larger truck to handle the hitch weight.
Some brands claim they have half-ton towable trailers, like Grand Design’s Reflection 150 Series and Keystone’s Cougar Half-Ton series. The GVWR may be well within the towing capacity of an F150, but once you add the 800-2,000 pounds of hitch weight to the truck bed and all of your passengers and cargo, you’ll likely exceed the vehicle’s payload capacity.
Choose Your Next F150 Camper Today
You can find an F150 camper that you can safely tow while still having all the amenities you need for a comfortable camping trip; you just have to pay careful attention to the numbers.
Towing a trailer that exceeds your truck’s towing capacity can lead to dangerous and expensive consequences. Don’t risk it. Choose one of the models to start your camping adventures today!
Which F150 camper model best suits your needs?
