thekevin

So the "hybrid" part of the camper doesn't add much time to setup at all then.

BAM298

+1

And camping isn't cheap. Most campsites I've been to average $50/night for all hookups and I've been places that are $120/night as well. This rivals a decent hotel with none of the work. Just make sure you are looking at camping for the experience, not doing it expecting to save any money.

Good luck and have fun! We plan to do something similar in a few years but rent an RV for a month or so and travel coast to coast with our kid.

thekevin

It's all for the fun and memories.

Is this one going to be too much trailer for my truck.

2007 Jay Feather LGT Floorplan 29 Y

WEIGHTS
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 5075
Hitch Weight (lbs) 505
Gross Vehicle Weight (lbs) 6500
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 1425
MEASUREMENTS
Exterior Travel Length 30' 10"
Exterior Height w/opt AC 119"
Interior Headroom 78"
TANK CAPACITIES
Fresh Water Capacity (gals) includes water heater 36
Gray Wastewater Capacity (gals) 30
Toilet / Black Wastewater Capacity (gals) 23
OTHER
Sleeping Capacity 6-9

Feathermerchant

So 650 lb tongue weight, 100 lb WDH - 750 lb total. Subtract 750 from your payload of ? and you'll know how much extra weight carrying capacity you will have for passengers and other things in the truck.

Payload is listed on a "Tire and loading" sticker on the door frame.
Like this:

smokeywren

Right. Maybe adds one minute per bed. Flip out the bed base, tighten the tent brace. You're done with that end. Move to the other bed and repeat. All those other steps apply to a TT as well as to a hybred.


Of course, that assumes you (or your housekeeper) made the beds before folding them for travel, so they're already made when you flip them out.

thekevin

Where did you get the 650lb. tongue weight from.

From what I see on my sticker I wouldnt be able to haul anything else in my truck.

smokeywren

From your post that said your trailer could weigh up to 6.500 pounds. Tongue weight on a tandem-axle TT is a minimum of 10% of gross trailer weight, so that's probably where the 650 pounds number came from. But average tongue weight is 12.5% of gross trailer weight, and many have as much as 15%.


With 12.5% tongue weight and loaded to 6.500 pounds, that's 812.5 pounds tongue weight, plus the weight of the weight-distributing hitch required for tongue weight over 500 pounds. And if your TT is like mine with close to 15% tongue weight, that's 975 pounds of tongue weight plus the weight of the WD hitch.


So yeah, trying to tow a TT that grosses 6,500 pounds without being overloaded over the GVWR of a half-ton pickup is an exercise in futility unless you have one of those very rare F-150s that have the factory-optional Heavy Duty Payload package. (You don't have that package.)


Yes, you'll be overloaded when you tie onto any TT that weighs 6,500 pounds. Your EcoBoost drivetrain won't have any problem PULLING that weight, but your suspension will be overloaded trying to HAUL that much hitch weight along with family and stuff.


My F-150 with payload capacity almost identical to yours (1.366 pounds) is overloaded when towing my TT that weighs only 4,870 pounds when on the road. So don't feel like the Lone Stranger.

Jason_Larsen

Here are my weights

empty F3100 R2200

Towing F3100 R3100 T6100 (me wife and 2y/o) all our tuff is in the trailer.
With the bars undone I am 3300 for the rear

My trailer is listed my signature and the unloaded weight is 5800. So given all the crap I've added I'm at 7000 for the trailer.

My truck sits level and tows fine. I don't go faster then 65 and keep it at 60 on average. I do not have any complaints about the truck.

Dirttracker18

I was going to say the same thing.

Most units come with a two way that is 110v or propane, 12v is the expensive option and almost useless expect when on the road. The 12v refer eats up batteries. I had the 3 way on my last motorhome and never used the 12v except when in transit.

My TT is now only 2 way and I keep the propane running when in transit. If it is relatively short haul you can just shut it down for the trip and keep the refer door closed, it should last a couple of hours before worrying about it.

SkiSmuggs

I think a hybrid is a good choice for you, two full queen beds and optimal use of space and weight. My first camper was an 18-19' hybrid and I pulled it with my Ranger for a while before getting a 2003 Tundra. I doubt if you will need to stress over towing weights with a hybrid as they tend not to be heavy.