dbpacificnorthwest

Hi all,

I am new to the forum. Currently rolling a late model Burb. However, family just ordered a new KZ Connect 281BH which is just too much for the burb. So, we need a new rig. My problem, I have three kids ranging from 9-5. My dry weight on the TT is 6300 pounds. I am guessing I am going to be 7300-7500 loaded which will put me near a 1000 pound TW.

I'll be using a chain up WD hitch which should take about 300 pounds of TW off the rear axle so no worries there. My questions are:

1) How's does your v2 3.5L EB tow at this weight with a TT (frontal area is not flat, but still significant) and what MPG do you get at around 60-65 MPH.

2) For those with kids, anyone putting three in the back and hitting the road? My wife is concerned about all three kids in the same row (for sanity sake) which is why we love the burb.

Any thoughts are appreciates. We are test driving the crew cab tonight.

mhamershock

Search my threads. I have one and have reported in detail on how it tows with a similar load.

You will need the F150 HDPP with that load. No other F150 will be safe. HDPP has a 2300 lb payload or so depending on the trim/options. You might even want to look 3/4 ton with that many people. What will you put in the bed?

Get a better hitch too. I like the Husky Centerline. Much more stable than the old chain style.

Mike

dbpacificnorthwest

mhammershock,

Thanks for your opinion. I appreciate it. I read through some of your post too. Thanks. FYI, for the 2018 SuperCrew 4X4 156.8" WB, there is not 2300 lb payload option. There is 2030, 2390 and 2620 as options according to Fords 2018 tow guide.

This is going to be my DD, so not getting a 3/4 ton.

As for payload, if F calculates the same as Chevy, then I have 1) wet weight TW of about 700 pounds (using WD hitch) 2) wife and three kids who weight a combined 240 pounds. I may or may not run a cap but can always remove it for towing. With a TT, there is really no need to load the box of a truck. you just put your stuff in the TT. Our TT does have a rear mounted rack system for kids toys. So, our payload at its lowest will be 940 pounds with a wet trailer and the family. Add another 60 pounds for kids backpacks or whatever they travel with and you're at 1000 pounds. Geez, I could give back 100 pounds on the WD hitch and I'd only be at 1100 pounds on payload. Oops, forgot the weight of the hitch, didn't I! Add 100 pounds and now I am at 1200 pounds. Now, on my Suburban, I'm pushing the limits as I think the payload is 1500 and change. No room for error in my calculations and I am running on top of my GAWR max.

I'd be interested in other's thoughts.

On the kid side, I am more interested in kid comfort on long trips. Any insight there would be great.

Thanks

mark waller

Every trucks payload is different. You have to look at the yellow sticker in the door. Most of the Ford info on payload is Fantasyland. XLT's will usually have higher payloads than loaded upper end models. That's why I ordered my 150 with max tow, 36 gallon tank, tow mirrors and yes an XLT. I tow a similar size ( 29'9" tip to tail) and weight of trailer 6,400 lb.s dry, loaded 7,400 lbs. Tongue weight just shy of 1,000 lbs. I have 1783 lb.s of payload but only the wife and I and maybe 150 lbs. in the bed. I do use a Propide 3P WDH which works wonders. Also E load tires.
In any 1/2 ton you will run out of payload before ever running out of tow capacity. With wife and kids in your ,plus all the extras for kids, you will need the HDPP if going with a 150 or you have to move up to a 250 gasser since payload won't be much more on a 250 if you go diesel. Then you need to go 350.

tmath23

I pull our 2012 XLR 27 foot toy hauler with my 2017 3.5 eco 10 speed (3.55 gear ratio). I would think it is very close to the same weight (or more when loaded up) as what you have, but usually toy haulers have more tongue weight. I am on 35s and 20" wheels and it pulls it fine 60-65, usually 8th gear is all I can get into. I have a WD hitch and also firestone ride rite air bags (being lifted it makes any sag much more noticeable, which I don't like). I get about 9-10mpg in that speed range being lifted. I can't imagine how much more effortlessly it would pull it if I was stock!

Don't have any kids so can't help you there! But the back seat is very roomy.

Ricktwuhk

Visit the towing section of the forum where this question is answered daily. Ignore the charts, read the sticker on the truck for true PAYLOAD. And the sticker on the hitch, you're not going much past 1,200 pounds on the hitch including the WDH.

dbpacificnorthwest

Mark, are you running a HDPP? Not sure why that's a requirement if my known payload is 1200 pounds and the payload on the particular rig I am looking at is over 2000 pounds. I do appreciate the feedback. The one thing I do find is that people tend to either not believe OPs numbers, or give feedback based on how they would load it. Seriously, my wife weighs 98 pounds. I have one kid who weighs 60 pounds and two that weight 40 pounds. The scale dry weight on the trailer was actually 5870, but I put the label dry weight on it of 6300. Worst case scenario is that I am at 1200 pounds payload and 7500 trailer weight on a vehicle with a 2030 payload and a 10,700 tow rating. What am I missing here? As I understand "payload", it is the weight I can add to the vehicle (namely to the axle). I'd be way within specs on both payload and tow capacity. 7500/10700=.70-1.00=30%, 1200/2030=.59-1.00=41%. So, I am 30% below capacity on tow capacity and 41% below on payload.

Additionally, as a former employee (long ago) at a ew vehicle manufacturer, these numbers are not correct, they are understated because they know what people are going to do. They are going to push it to the limit. So, I would bet they are easily understated by 10-15%. So, being well below them as I am seems reasonable. Interested in your thoughts on the above. As you can probably tell, I don't really want to order an HDPP.

thanks.

mhamershock

The 2390 and 2620 payload are both HDPPs. One nice thing about the HDPP is the RAWR is 4800. This is the only 1/2 ton config with that axle rating. The 2030 payload is not an HDPP, and has a lower RAWR (3800 I believe). Many people run out of RAWR before payload or tow capacity ratings.
You'll want at least an XLT (I prefer the Lariat) so you will not see 2000 lbs payload from the 2030. 1800 payload would be my minimum for your load (XLT with some options?). Kids will grow, and you will load more in the truck every year. I put dogs and other things in the back, have a cap, and tongue weight is more like 1100 for me with a toyhauler so I wanted at minimum 2000 which meant HDPP.

I went with the 1/2 ton for my DD as the 3/4 is too big and expensive for me. As I only tow 10% of the time a 3/4 just seemed overkill. I have 2 kids in back (11 and 17) and they have lots of room. I always hated 3 in the back. Someone was always unhappy.

Have fun shopping.

Mike

bojans

I can comment on the rear seat comfort. My kids are 7 and 10, they love the back seat, especially the seat heaters. We do a 6 hour one way trip about once a month to our vacation home and they kids only complaint is it doesn't have a TV the way mom's van does (I guess iPads aren't good enough). We have brought my 15 year old nephew up skiing with us a couple times, all three of them in the back seat with the dog hanging on the floor with out a single complaint for the whole ride either way.

If you are worried about the kids sharing a row, look at the new Expedition.

dbpacificnorthwest

Bojans, thanks for the kid insight. Much appreciated. I have a burb already. issue is the GAWR. Burb is 4200 and the EXP is 4280. That may seem like a lot, but the weight over the back axles for the bug uttes is much more, so I'd be on top of that RAWR dry. So, unfortunately it is not an option. I have seen tons of them on the road with a27's, 28s and even 29s. But it's not safe.

Thanks