Thinking about a tow camper
 

and I am wondering what I can get away with. I have a 2018 STX with the 2.7l Ecoboost. I have the 10sp trans. I read the manual, but …..most of the trailers/campers are showing a dry weight of 6000lbs so and some quite a bit less; as little as 3800lbs . Also want to stick my ATV in the bed of the truck , a Honda 500 Rubicon. I don't think I will have any trouble with my little 2.7l 2WD …..Do you? That should max my total weigh at 4800 total if I go with the lighter model and 7000lbs total if I go with the much larger model.

What does your payload sticker say on your door jam? start adding the numbers up... your payload will be your issue with the ATV in the back. Truck will tow it fine, but can you do it safely and stop...? that's the other question.

The ATV is right at 700# so add that to the tongue weight of the trailer, your hitch, other cargo and the people in your truck. If you're under your payload you're good.

The 6000# dry weight camper is going to be about your upper limit for the 2.7.

Thanks man! The 6000lb rig was the absolute heaviest tow trailer I looked at too. Most of then were in the sub 4000lb range. I was maxing out everything to kind of see what "the experts" thought.

It may not be what you were looking for, but a toy hauler might help you out on the payload side of things.

4,000lb dry trailer I would guesstimate to have a GVW of 5,500 lbs.

5,500 lbs x 15% tongue weight = 825lbs tongue weight.

825lbs tongue + 700lbs ATV = 1,525 lbs payload.

Now add in driver's weight, kids, spouse, gear, etc.

I would almost guarantee you're over the payload sticker's posted weight.

Maybe consider a toy hauler TT to put the ATV in to save some payload?

Lots of good advice here concerning your GVWR. I tow with a 2.7, 2wd, 3.31geared Super Crew. My TT is 5K dry so probably 5500 or so loaded. I put excess cargo in the bed (chairs, firewood etc) but try to keep it reasonable...like 200lbs total. With a GVWR of 1,670 I calculate 300 lbs of people, 200 lbs of dogs, a 630 lb tw I'm close to max if I go much more in cargo. I just came off a 10K mile trip out west through the Rockies, San Juans and Cascades and never had a problem up or down hill. I do like the fact that I have left myself some excess capacity and am not "on the edge" when road conditions become extreme....but to each his own. Just stay safe....you are sharing the road with the rest of us. :-)

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Sounds almost identical to my situation. I think we even have the same truck, but I would need to check my gearing. I do not typically carry firewood though, as I prefer to buy or cut local; we get some bad bugs here in the south (hemlock adelgid, pine beetles etc) and most people here try to inhibit their spread. While I do not have at home kids, we do have about 175lbs of dogs and , well...ahem...hell, I am 250 and my wife is somewhat "fluffy" :whistling2: Most of our towing would be southern Appalachian and maybe we get a trip west I still have to talk about the TT with the wife as she has made mention of buying a second atv or a SXS but nothing is written in stone yet. As long as the economy stays strong and my sales are up I may be able to make this happen by spring; I'm not one to make many impulse buys. One last thing; that sounded like a great road trip!

GREAT ADVICE BROTHER!!

my pups..

At the risk of being raided by a National Park Service Swat team, let me clarify the firewood comment. I always save construction debris...2x4s, 1x4s etc. that are too short for anything else. I split them, put 'em in 5 gallon buckets and have an ample supply of kindling regardless of the "humidity" at our campsite. Beyond that we always burn local firewood. Originating in Alabama, I am all too aware of the creatures that lurk in our forests. The trip was a blast...(our 3rd) and there is so much more to see....our 2 Goldens had the time of their lives running in the snow on top of Crater Lake Ore.