xcntrk

After many months of searching, we've finally found the perfect (hitch drawn) travel trailer for my family. It's 35'-5" long and tips in at 7600# dry with a max GVWR of 9000#.

My F150 has the maxtow package with a GVWR of 7650# and a running base weight of 6480# (CAT scale measured with 36gal fuel, x2 adults, x1 child, WD hitch, tools, & misc gear). That gives me a payload maximum of 1170# to dedicate to hitch weight. This is without accounting for load-distribution to help support the weight, and the rig is 100% stock including 20" wheels and P-tires.

The TT manufacture has a published hitch weight of 920# which is 12.25% tongue weight (dry). If I apply that same tongue weight ratio to the fully loaded GVWR of the trailer, the result is 1102# hitch weight. So fully loaded the trailer would be at the very top of my available payload with really no room to spare (but theoretically within the limits).

Is this too much trailer for my F150? What can be done to help the rig safely tow and support this weight at the top end of its limits? And most importantly, would you tow it with this setup?

EcoboostKev

Sorry to say but that trailer is Superduty territory.. You have to keep in mind that you have the short wheelbase on your truck that only weighs 6400lbs. Now your gonna have a 36' wind sail behind you that will weigh almost 9000lbs. That trailer would reek havoc and cause some white knuckle driving when dealing with crosswinds and also just having tractor trailers passing you on the highway..

Just my opinion,
Kevin

xcntrk

^That's a good point, I hadn't factored in the 145" wheelbase. This is the Outback 312BH, next model up from the slightly shorter and lighter 292BH.

murf

I think you'd be fine.

Buck50HD

I'd do it if it was a gooseneck or 5th but not a bumper pull that long. You're guaranteed to be constantly wrestling that rig if it's anything but dead calm and flat.

Milton6001

How much do you really plan to put in the trailer. The GVWR of the trailer is not the end all be all. It all depend on how much you realistically plan to carry in your trailer. I assume that I have about 1000 lbs worth of cargo in the trailer, but I only fill the water tank about 1/4 of the way. The trailer that you are looking at is at the top of the weight range that I would want to pull. The tongue weight is a little troubling, but I agree that with a WD hitch you should be fine. Adding air bag overload springs will help too if you are still nervous.

With the 3.73 rear end it will pull strong and as long as you watch how much you carry in the trailer, you will be fine. As always I have to put my plug in for sway control. You didn't mention anything one way or the other, but I consider sway control a must.

To sum it up. I have almost the same truck. Same wheel base, 3.73 rear end, 7200GVWR, 1400 payload. I have Firestone Ride Rite air bags, WD hitch with sway control, and the standard tow package. I pull a 5800# (dry), 750# (dry) TT. It is approx 6500-7000# loaded. Based on my experience. I would pull yours, but I don't think I would go any bigger.

Edit: my TT is 32' tip to tail.

packplantpath

I wouldn't do it. Too long and too big.

xcntrk

Thanks for the input.

I use a Reese strait line WD hitch with dual cam sway-control and the 1200# trunnion bars.

I had been factoring 800-1000#'s of gear to fully pack the trailer, but that number may be low.

I think the general area of concern here is not so much the tongue weight, but the overall trailer weight plus length combined with my existing wheelbase.

singlespeeder

iTrader: (-1)

xcntrk - I have the same trailer - a 312BH and it's a big *** trailer, but my family LOVES the floor plan. I have a '13 platinum and was going to tow it with an Equalizer setup but after looking at the trailer sitting in the storage bay, I have since purchase a propride hitch on the direct advice from Sean at Propride that the truck was more than capable of towing this trailer - safely.

as mentioned before, it's a big trailer, likely at the upper limits of the "safe" in terms of capacities of this truck, however if done in relatively conservative distances (we camp 1-3 hours away) with the right equipment, and smartly loaded (we never travel with water in the tank) you're fine. It's not a toss everything in and go with everything situation but with planning, it's absolutely doable and comfortable.

s.

Milton6001

What have you pulled before? I was nervous before I started out with mine, but once I got my first trip under my belt it was smooth sailing. It will pull up decent grades without slowing. I have the exact same WD and sway in one setup, and it has never wiggled. One thing I do have going for me is my trailer has a spread axle setup. It helps keep it very stable and it walks right over bumps.