NC F150

All

Not trying to beat a dead horse but I need clarification on a few things. And since there is so much mis information, thought I would ask here for the truth.

This is my setup.

2007 f150 crew, 3.73 rear end, 5.4 engine, max tow package and 7200 lb gvwr.

Just bought a used 19 foot airstream. Unloaded weight of 3900 lbs, 480 tongue weight.

Dealer says I'm fine to tow with 2" class 5 hitch as is.

My question to you, am I good to go? I'm expecting the loaded trailer to weigh 4600 lbs. I have a fiberglass camper shell on my truck and I believe a class 5 hitch. Will my hitch support the tongue weight okay? Do I need a WDH or sway control?

I've only towed 19 to 22 foot fiberglass skiffs before and am new to this camper stuff. Want to make sure I got enough truck, am safe, and won't feel like I made a mistake in buying this large of a trailer, ie. Underpowered.

I have read plenty of threads where Tacoma's tow these with no problem, others say anything less than a diesel is underpowered.

Thanks all.

NC F150

I was mistaken on the hitch. Not a class 5, I believe it's a class 4.

raisin

I would use WDH and sway control. Hitch weight will unload front wheels and WDH will restore balance. Sway control helps when that big flat front motorhome blasts by. 480lbs (if true) is too close to hitch max weight of 500lbs without WDH.

zx12-iowa

You are good to go.

acadianbob

Class 4 hitch is plenty. Get a weight distribution hitch. One with built in sway control like Equalizer or Reese Straight Line is even better. Have fun.

smokeywren

GCWR 15,000. Ford tow rating 9,100 to 9,500, depending on 4x4 or 4x2 and 6.5' bed or 5.5' bed. But GCWR is almost never the limiter - GVWR is usually the limiter.



New ones have GVWR of 4500 pounds, so max wet and loaded tongue weight around 675 pounds.


Probably, but only after you invest in a quality WD hitch, such as the

... Reese Strait-Line dual cam trunnion bar with spring bars rated for 800 pounds tongue weight - like this one:


...Equalizer hitch rated for 800 pounds max tongue weight - like this ine:


Husky Centerline hitch. The head and spring bars are sold separately. Here's the head:


You also need the spring bars rated for 800 pounds max hitch weight:


With one of the WD hitches listed above, yes, no problem. Without one of those hitches? Probably not. Your receiver is probably rated for a max of 500 pounds hitch weight without a WD hitch, and your hitch weigh is probably going to be more than 500 pounds. Ford says any trailer with hitch weight more than 500 pounds needs a WD or fifth-wheel hitch. Since your hitch weight could be as much as 675 pounds, I wouldn't try it without a good WD hitch.

Yes, both, but not the cheap "economy" brands sold by Reese and Husky and Curt and U-Haul. For example, do NOT buy a Reese Pro Series. Stick to one of the three listed above. I have years and thousands of miles experience with the Reese Strait-Line dual cam trunnion bar hitch, and I'm sold on it. But others like their Equal-I-Zer or Centerline too.

NC F150

So. Even though my tongue weight is most likely going to be closer to 600 lbs, you still recommend the 800 lb weight distributing hitch?

NC F150

Also, if the WDH acts as a fulcrum using the trailer for leverage, would that theoretically overload the trailer tires and axle. For instance, the max trailer weight is 4600 lbs. if I'm towing at this limit, would the WDH then push me over?

Eric0508

I wouldn't really worry about that. The amount of weight transferred to the trailer tires is pretty small, especially with lighter tongue weights. The main goal is to return the front end of your truck close to where it is before you hitch up. If you're worried about 50-100 lbs being transferred back to the trailer, then you're probably too close to your trailers max carrying capacity anyways.

brulaz

The GVW of the trailer is the weight on its axles + the weight on its tongue.
Most people do not want the GVW to exceed the trailer's GVWR.

Nor do they want to exceed the trailer's GAWR. The WDH can move anywhere from 15-25% of the tongue weight back to the trailer axles. So yes, there's a chance you could exceed the trailer's GAWR by using a WDH.

My old trailer was really close to its GAWR and the WDH just made it closer or over.

One of the criteria for buying my new trailer was a heavy duty axle (and wheels and tires) that could never be overloaded, even when the trailer's was at its GVWR.

Good luck.