southportandford

No idea on the trailers but we towed our 26 foot southport boat with twin 250 Yamahas on a 3 axle trailer from South Carolina with 3 guys ( dad brother and I). I don't know how much the boat weighs but it's a lot more that what you were pulling. The truck did well so from the stand point of if your worried about towing you will be fine.

hobbesnmina2001

I would recommend that you add a gauge for tongue weight, I use a car wheel weight checker but Sherline makes a decent one and download their towing info too.
The best info I found is you want 12-15% tongue weight to tow better and you can adjust the rear axle weight by transferring weight towards the front axle with the weight distributing hitch. We tow 8000-10000 lbs and started with lots of sway.
Basically we measure the trailer level hitch height, front and back of trailer cormers to ground. Truck wheel wells to ground, both natural stance unhitched. When hitched the truck wheel proportions become a guideline.
My truck I added Hellwig helper springs
and sway bar and adapted Airlift air bags for quicker adjustments. The 28 ft Haulmark weighs 4670 empty, with generator, cabinets tools, golf cart, race car or as a utility trailer I need flexibility.
For loads extra heavy on tongue weight that are more then can be adjusted with the torsion bars. I have a Trailer Toad.
The Ecoboost has sufficient power, you just need to adjust your load accordingly for each situation. Time spent (a few weekends) adjusting and getting heights, going to the scales and going for rides including highway is the best investment in safety one can make.
I also took the scale weights and put them side by side in a spreadsheet, they then make sense along with the butt meter!

Good luck and have fun with your girls!
Carlos

Cleanmaxx Brian

Thanks all,
Went back to the dealer to look again...I had likes and dislikes with both models. The 26BH was too small, but felt better constructed and had the taller ceiling. (Stick and tin) The salesman agreed. The 28DSBH just felt better layout wise. That's when he said "why don't you go with the brand new 2014 28BHBE?" So we went to take a look...WOW! This is perfect! Tall ceiling, built like the 26BH. Larger fridge! Much bigger bunk beds. And oh the shower....huge!! I said this thing must be heavy and expensive! And it is...

Box size is 30'2"
With hitch is 33'3"
Total UVW dry is 6430
Dry with w/standard equipment 5765
Hitch 665 LBS
GVWR 9250
Approx gross cargo carrying capacity 2820

Price for this awesomeness? Just $500 bucks more than the 28DSBH! That did not make sense to me but he said it cost more to make the trailer lighter. Ok I get that.

He sells the Reese Strait-Line dual cam and highly recommended it. Said it is a very good quality unit... So I would do that hitch no matter what.

I also think I have changed how I would use this...I am thinking instead of pulling it all over the place, just find a few local spots and just leave it. I could go there on my days off all the time.

So the ultimate question...if I pull this, will my truck explode and kill everyone within a ten mile radius? Of course the owner of this place drives a 2012 EB Platinum and said no problem, just pack the trailer light and nothing in the truck but bodies. This would be easy to do if the trailer is local... Plus I am not filling the tanks...I want a full service camp ground! Lol!

BTW he LOVES his truck! The mgr of the service department has an older Limited with the 6.2 and he is a Ford guy as well! They both agreed the EB would win a race pulling a TT but unloaded the 6.2 walks him every time. I could see that with all the EB torque down low, and having to get the 6.2 up on rpms to make the most power. It seems these trucks (Fords) are the popular choice in 1/2 ton pullers! I should have opted for the HD payload option but as I said, had no intentions of pulling. Just wanted those gears and liked the mirrors.

smokeywren

With the two trailers with GVWR around 7,500 pounds, you had a prayer of towing without being overloaded, by limiting what you haul in the truck and trailer. But with this one you are guaranteed to be overloaded in the middle of your third camping trip. Again, your EcoBoost drivetrain has plenty of pulling power, but your suspension doesn't have enough hauling capacity for the increased hitch weight. Yep, you shudda got the HD Payload pkg.

So in addition to the Reese Dual Cam WD hitch, with that trailer you'll probably also need rear air bags to help offset some of the additional 200 pounds of hitch weight. Else you'll be blinding oncoming drivers at night, and you might attract the notice of Smokey Bear when he's on the lookout for overloaded rigs.

Cleanmaxx Brian

Does that 9250 GVRW assume the full carrying capacity of 2820 pounds? If so, I would never in a million years have that much stuff. Food would be purchased once set up and only buy what be ate during the stay. Just clothes, some DVDs, iPads, and my camera.

What do people bring? Not being funny... Never been camping before...

smokeywren

The weight of your camper will increase and continue to increase as you get more experience camping. People who try to estimate their trailer weight by using the dry weight of the trailer then add a few hundred pounds are usually shocked when they weigh the rig on a CAT scale in the middle of their third trip. Hopefully, if you use the GVWR of the trailer as your max trailer weight, you have enough common sense to not overload the trailer axles.

Cleanmaxx Brian

Ok...so the next question is how can I make this work?
I notice you say " the middle of your third trip" a lot. That's because you find more crap to bring right? Well what if you truly pack light, all the time? I am very good with knowing limits and sticking to them if I have to. If you said you could never put more that 600 pounds in any trailer, I would be so ok with that! I would only use plastic wear and one pot to boil something. This trailer doesn't have a dishwasher so glasses and plates are out! I hate cooking so it is burgers and dogs on the rear mounted grill or we are eating out! Cereal for breakfast. want a hot breakfast? we are taking a ride! lol! Neither of my girls ride bikes but they LOVE the pool! So extra clothes but if the camp has a washer... As for other entertainment, you should see how long they can stare at a cell phone! Lol! I would like them to go explore a lot more and camping may start that. We would also bring a few board games but they are pretty light. We are big tv watchers so popcorn and ice tea/water are a must. Couple of aluminium coleman chairs i already own and thay are super light. The heavyset thing I could think of is some wood. And I am not even sure about that...I have a fire pit at my house and I bought wood at a supermarket almost 2 years ago and I still have most of it left!

Really, there is just no way I would get near maxing out what this trailer can carry.

Remember, no generator. I want full hook ups!
Not filling the fresh water tank. See above
No motor cycles or bicycles
No long stays either. Due to my work, the longest stay would only be 3 nights

And I am not opposed to adding airbags as long as they don't affect the ride when not pulling. I bought this truck as a luxury item and want to keep it that way. And I would never pull this giant box at night! Scary enough during the day! so no worries about blinding someone with my HID's

Thoughts?

Cleanmaxx Brian

I just read back my post and started to chuckle...that's not camping! Lol!
I guess what I am looking for is a change of scenery. I want the girls to go out side and learn to play/explore. They are great at making new friends and I want that to be with kids outside of their school. I want them to appreciate nature. Less tv and more fresh air. Maybe even....pick up a fishing pole!

All things you can't do from a hotel room!

But if trailer isn't comfortable to start, they won't go at all.
And I don't want to rent. I am willing to sell and take a loss if need be. That was the other plus for the trailer I liked, it is a 2014 so if I sold it next year or the year after, less of a hit.

Now if we all get into it and love it, I would just buy a dedicated stripped f250 or 350 with a power stroke desiel and a 5th wheel or a full blown motor home.

joe mcmillan

I have owned travel trailers and then 5th wheels. Traveled extensively on good highways and narrow 2 lane backroads. The 5th wheels are so much easier for driving, riding, backing. If you are planning to be on the road, do some more research and discuss with others their experience. For me, the difference was amazing and I would prefer the 5th wheel over the travel trailer.
If you will just park the trailer and not move it much - either style will do.
Also note, you can usually purchase an almost new used unit at a large discount.

Cleanmaxx Brian

Thanks Joe,
But not much driving at all. Will keep it real local. I have some really nice camp grounds here because I live in a tourist destination. (Lancaster Pennsylvania)

As for buying used Jayco's, they are really holding their values here! A very clean/like new 2010 26BH is just $2000 bucks less at my dealer. For that, I will let my but be the first on the seat