a_tack

Hey y'all, I'm looking into purchasing a new camper. I have found a decent deal on a Keystone Hideout 27DBS. Dry weight 6505, hitch weight 865. Of course I know I would need a weight distributing hitch and potentially a sway bar, but I'm wondering if my truck would be enough to take this setup + gear camping. The farthest I would be traveling is about 65 miles one way, maybe once or twice a year down a road with a 55mph speed limit. The rest of my trips would be less than 30 miles one way on mostly two lane roads. I have a '13 SCab 4x4 5.0 with tow package and a 3.55 e-locking diff. Thanks in advance for your help!


I am not an amateur at towing campers, they just always belonged to other people. This would be my first large trailer with my own truck. I have regularly pulled travel trailers up to 36' that belonged to family members with their trucks.

Eric0508

depends on your payload. I'm not the weight police by anymeans, it comes down to whether you want to be within all you numbers or not. If your only going 65 miles I probably wouldn't hesitate. But when loaded up with propane, batteries , and cargo, you'll be north of 1000lbs which may exceed your hitch capacity. That would be my main conncern with your intended use.

it won't win any races but you'll have plenty of power to pull that rig 65 miles. Happy camping!!

daveak

Like Eric said, check your payload. That is the most limiting factor on your truck. Look on the driver's door for a sticker with some yellow on it - it will have your payload capcity listed. Subtract your hitch weight from this number and that is what you have left in your truck for passengers and cargo. Some of the more loaded trucks may only have 1000 to 1100 lbs of capacity and some are much higher.

a_tack

Thanks. I know you guys get tired of seeing threads like this. My hitch says 10,500lbs towing/1,050lbs tongue with a w/d hitch. I'm also looking at a Jay Flight 26BH that is about 2000lbs lighter and about 400lbs less tongue weight. I know the truck will handle that, but I'm not sure that it will handle my growing family. For what it's worth, I will be the only occupant in the tow vehicle. Sometimes we camp when I have to work and I travel from the campground to work, so the wife and kids follow in a separate vehicle in case she needs to go anywhere while I have the truck at work. GVWR is 7350lbs payload is 1830lbs.

Only cargo in the truck will be me and a couple of bicycles. Everything else would go in the camper or the wife's car. We don't haul firewood because Kentucky has a ban on transporting firewood from county to county dues to the emerald ash borer beetle. Once unhooked, I drive back out of the park and buy firewood off of local residents.


Sorry, ford website says 1830lbs, truck door says 1609lbs.

Eric0508

that's a good payload. Keep your hitch weight under the 1050lb limit and you'll do just fine. Sounds like a good setup with your plan. If you don't feel comfortable dialing I'm your WD hitch, have a shop do it, it makes a big difference.