PhilMac

I am planning to pull my travel trailer in a couple months with my F-150. I generally pull it with my diesel but it's down for a while. I have never towed heavy with a half ton and wanted to see what people think.

Camper specs;
31'
6800lbs
665lbs hitch weight
It is a tall camper that will likely catch a good bit of wind.

Truck specs;
'12 F-150 4x4 supercrew
5.0
3.73
275/70r18
Leveling kit
9,300lbs tow capacity
1,549lbs payload

Plans before I tow are to get the oem controller installed and get a set of clip on tow mirrors. Just curious to talk to guys who've pulled a similar load with a similar truck so I know what to expect.

Thanks

acadianbob

Do have the Trailer Tow Package? You are going to need it if you are going to tow that trailer for any significant distance. Biggest issue might be whether you have a transmission cooler.

A properly equipped F150 should be able to tow that trailer. Make sure you have a good Weight Distribution hitch with sway control (and not a friction bar).

raisin

Answer could be based on where and how much you plan on towing. Such as flat land or mountain. long distance or short. How true those weights are (weights on paper mean little) tongue weight seems light for that weight. Yes transmission cooler would be a must.

I have '14 same spec's with tow package pulling 6K long distances, thats as much weight as I want.

PhilMac

I do have a towing package and there is a cooler in front of the radiator. I do have a weight distribution hitch but it is the friction bar sway style. I will need to tow it about 100 miles over somewhat hilly terrain.

brulaz

If those are loaded weights, your tongue weight is less than 10% of trailer weight.

I would be worried about that. Low TW can cause trailer sway even with a good sway bar.

I've been using a friction sway, and it helps, but I don't have much sway to begin with as my TW is a bit over 15%.

Try to get more weight in the front of the trailer.

smokeywren

Incomplete info. Is that 31' from he model number or the actual measurement tip to tail - i.e., coupler ball to the back of the rear bumper?


Is that 6800 the dry weight or the GVWR of the TT?


Assuming it's the dry weight and the 665 is the dry tongue weight, then the actual weight will probably be over 8,000 pounds with tongue weight around 1,000 pounds.



1000 pounds hitch weight leaves only 549 pounds for driver, passenger(s), pets, tools, jacks, WD hitch, and anything else that might be in the truck when towing,


Prognosis? You'll probably be overloaded over the GVWR of the truck by the middle of your third towing trip - unless you take drastic measures to limit the weight in both the truck and the trailer.


The CAT scale is your tool. Be sure to use it to see how close to overloaded you are when towing.

PhilMac

Not sure on the actual length. Specs I listed I found online from the camper spec page. Camper will be "dry" and unloaded. Truck will be unloaded as well. I have removed the fridge as well because it didn't work.

daddy0702

I tow alot - used to have an 2003 7.3L Powerstroke F350 w/ all the gizmos...now a 2010 FX4 SCREW 5.4L w/ tow package and integrated trailer brakes...generally don't pull more than 75% max tow weight...use a WD hitch properly leveled out...its not really about the HOW MUCH you CAN tow but what is safe because its really about the suspension...if you are worried about ability to get up a grade there are a number of calculators on your tow capacity vs elevation...

Currently tow a Lance TT with max GVW of 6.8k...tows great and very stable, drive about 65 mph on flats, 45-55 up grades, a little slower in the Sierras up the steeper grades, average about 10-11 mpg in the summer months. Don't pre-fill the water and carry a bunch of extra crap in the bed and you'll be fine

meaz93

I have the friction slide bar on my WDH and it works flawlessly.

wdbates

I pull a26ft 8808 lbs toy hauler with my Harley in it. The truck pulls fine but you do get a bit of the tail waging the dog in high winds and when a 18 wheeler blows by you at 7omph.