Dash

So I always see how some have very large travel trailers with their F150's and get a lot of smack about it being to big for the truck. So I'm looking to get a travel trailer, Its only 4 people and don't want a hybrid looking for a bunk house type so I don't have to fix the couch to a bed everyday, shower doors not curtain and would like to be able to tow it up mountains fairly well.
So what light weight travel trailer is for my truck?
2010 SC F150 5.4 Max Tow

magblue10

I think you can find a lot out there in the 25-29ft range just remember to add around 1000 pounds to dry weight and your tongue should be about 10% of that. Look for a trailer with a dry weight in the 5000 range. It depends on what you want to spend as well I have a 28 ft bhs that dry 4660 with about 7500 capacity. I towed it with my 2010 5.4 and it towed fine with the EB it's even better mine is a Cherokee lite by forest river. Not the fanciest trailer in the world but does the job

mbopp

New or used? With or w/o a slide?

Personally I like the Jayco's. We have a hybrid now but may go to a 25-26' hard side:

http://www.jayco.com/products/travel...oorplans-specs

You may also want to check out this site:

http://www.rv.net/forum/

aluna

We recently got a surveyor sp295 by forest river and love it. towed it the first time 500 miles one way with my 04 screw did fine

aluna

Mike Up

I have a Standard Tow, 2010, Crew Cab, 4WD, 5.4L 3 valve, 6 speed auto, with 3.55LS axle. I added the tow mirrors and integrated brake controller for towing my 2008 Jayco Jay Flight 19BH.

That 19BH got damaged this month and I'm upsizing to a 2012 Jayco Jay Flight 26BH.

Always check your tread act sticker. My 19BH had a specified weight of 3750 lbs but came in with options, weighing 3896 lbs from the factory. I add about 1000 lb with gear, food, clothes, and water.

The 26BH has a 4880 lbs specified weight but optioned and weighed at the factory, is 5050 lbs. It also has the largest fresh water tanks that I've seen on any travel trailer, 86 gallons for a total of 90 gallons of fresh water with the addition of the 6 gallon water heater. So I may load heavier.

As it is right now, we always have 750 lbs of people and gear. That includes all my truck gear and firewood, and the sons bike with the blue tote (portable waste water tank).

Now the average tongue weight is 13% of the total camper weight and the average weight of that tongue weight that goes on the trucks axles with a "Weight Distribution Hitch" is 80% (weight of hitch already calculated in). Now this is the average but some are heavier due to loading and WDH adjustment and maybe just the camper itself.

Going by averages, that gives me a 787 lbs hitch weight off my 6050 lbs loaded 26BH. 80% of that puts 630 lbs on my axles and against my payload.

Now my personal gear as I said above is 750 lbs, so add that to the 630 lbs from the tongue weight and that's how much goes against your payload. That is 1380 lbs . My payload from the factory was 1430 lbs, then my hard folding tonneau cover is 50 lbs and my bedliner is 20 lbs. So I have 1360 lbs of payload. Since I'm so close, I'll have to weigh my rig and maybe carry less water to the campground to get my weight down, and fill the water at the campground.

I only have an XLT. If you have a FX4 or lariat, your payload is going to be lower! Don't let the Max Tow package fool you thinking you can load more, the axles are only slightly rated more than the standard tow package, and the tow package increased weight only leaves and additional 125 lbs of useable axle ratings regarless of the bloated GVWR!

If you really want to pull a heavy camper, get the Heavy Duty Payload package on the F150 or get a 3/4 Ton truck. Or be overloaded and HOPE nothing happens when your kids are in the truck.

BTW, I'd also recommend the Jayco Jay Flight 28BHS but no heavier. It has a mini slide but it doesn't really make the much more room, just gives a bigger kitchen. We liked the 26BH floorplan better.

Watch with the Ultra Lites, they have a very low ceiling. Looked at Amerilites but their low 6'4" ceiling left me clastrophobic. My ceiling is 6'9" . Even a 6'6" ceiling makes a huge positive difference for me over the low 6'4" ceiling. I'm 6' tall.

Also visit www.rv.net forums, I've been there for years.

Jayco Jay Flight 26BH

jknight

http://www.outdoorsrvmfg.com/ These seem to be some nice trailers.

Mike Up

I'd be a bit leary of these campers. They are rebranded versions of failed and out of business Fleetwood "travel trailers", which had many problems in the past. While the parent company makes Artic Fox and Nash, very VERY GOOD travel trailers, campers based off of Fleetwood would be my last choice.

However, they may be more reliable than the past Fleetwood trailers but I'd rather put my money on known reliability. Artic Fox and Nash are trailers I'd have no problem going with since they are considered some of the best but they sure are heavy. Reliability and quality do have some weight to them.

jknight

I would hope northwood manufactoring would do a better job than Fleetwood. I agree about Nash & Artic fox being quality units.

Jeff

njdevil

We just got a 2012 Dutchmen 318rk wts about 7200 lls My 2008 Screw pulls it just fine getting about 11.5 MPG loaded out Some hill & small Mt here on the east coast

Link is here

http://dutchmen-rv.com/index.php?p=f...&model=318RKDS