michaeloberg

I need help making sure I can tow my new camper

I bought a 2004 Thor Dutchmen Sport Lite 25fg Travel Trailer. The dry weight listed in the owner’s manual is 4500 lbs.Knowing that my 1998 F150 isn’t a tow monster I am hoping that I can tow my new camper.I pulled this unit home with my dad’s 2011 F250 6.7 Diesel and didn’t even know it was behind us.Here is my truck information:
1998 F150 Supercab 4.6L V8, auto transmission with OD off tow/haul feature, with 3.08 gears (I am sure, maybe how I can tell), 85000 miles on it, bought from the original owner with towing package. It has a Class III or IV possibly (how can I tell) hitch from Ford factory installed and 7 pin setup.The bumper tag says “MAX TONGUE LOAD 500 LBS/227 KG MAC GROSS TRAILER WGT 5000 LBS/2268 KG”.I installed a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake controller from etrailer.com (http://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html).I bought a used weight distribution hitch of craigslist and sandblasted it, powder coated it and replaced all of the hardware with Grade 5 bolts, and 3/8 chains.My hitch is a Reese WD with chains rated for 7500-10000 lbs.I also bought a new Curt Sway Friction control arm.I take very good care of my vehicles, make sure all maintenance is done on time, but with Iowa winters the underside is rusty not rusted out.
My question is can this truck safely pull this camper with the provisions I have suited it with? I bought the best brake controller on the market and a comparable hitch that costs over 500 new with the sway control unit.
Does anyone have similar experiences pulling a mildly light camper? I bought this before I have towed it with my truck.Safety is my most important question; the guy I bought it from used a 2004 F150 with a 5.4L engine without a brake controller or weight distribution hitch.I am hoping to compensate with my older truck with my adds ons.

tony montana

I'm sure the truck will pull it. But safely I'm not to sure. I will let the other expert members here tell you for sure. What is the tongue weight of the camper? So the truck says max trailer weight is 5000 correct? And the dry weight of the camper is 4500 correct? I'm pretty sure your gonna be above the max limit time you add propane tanks and other things you put in the trailer. I have a camper similar to yours but mine 26 foot and 5100 dry weight. I have a screw 4wd ecoboost with 3.31 rear and power wise my truck does fine but I can tell I'm at the Max even with my truck

michaeloberg

522 lbs. on the dry hitch weight. My goal is to distribute this weight on my vehicle; I know there is two 30lb bottles on the tongue nearly full. The WD hitch should compensate for this, right? If you look at my bumper tag it says 5000 pounds, but I will tow it without water and luggage won’t be more than 200 lbs.
Thanks for the reply, let me know what you think…
Michael

REGCABMAN

I believe the 5000lb max trailer weight and 500lb tongue weight is just for the bumper (If you popped that plastic piece off and put a ball directly onto the bumper)

Your actual weights using the proper hitch can be calculated using the sticker on the drivers door (Should be on door or door frame)

tony montana

And don't forget the weight distribution system adds quite a bit of weight on the tongue as well

michaeloberg

Here is the door tag

REGCABMAN

I'm not good at reading the tags. There are a few guys on here that are really good. You could also Google it and there should be some sort of calculator to figure out the max trailer weight and max payload.

If im in doubt I borrow a F-350 dually shop truck lol

Nautique

You're going to be very close to your max tow limit, plus the 3.08 will make things harder. With the WD hitch set up correctly you could probably do shorter trips, but longer trips and hills will be a killer.

badercubed

x2

A7B2FX4

Maybe I'm wrong but the door label for axle says 19 which should be a open 3.55 ratio.