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How much silver?

Love the forums. I’ve learned so much from lurking in the shadows. First post.

Imagine you have purchased a new F150 Lariat 4x4, max tow package with all the bells and whistles except sunroof. Payload between 1500-1650 pounds.

In a few years you’ll want to buy an airstream trailer. Only an airstream.

Your family consists of two adults and two children (aged 8 and 2) which you have allocated a weight total of 610 pounds factoring in growth.

You are are considering two airstream models for an eventual purchase;

1) 19F with empty hitch weight of 550# and a maximum capacity of 4500#

2) 23F with empty hitch weight of 664# and a maximum capacity of 6000#

Considering the weight of occupants, WDH, luggage, and traveling accessories, which might bring you to your vehicle payload limit plus or minus 200#, would you opt for a Superduty or feel confident in the F150 as optioned to safely transport your family when towing one of the above listed airstreams?

I could be happy with the smaller trailer, but not everyone would be. You have to decide that. The smaller trailer leaves room to spare, the larger one should still work, but might be near the limits, It might mean more careful packing and putting as much as possible in the trailer and not so much in the truck.

I don't think you are into Superduty territory yet. Properly equipped some F150's will handle 10,000+ lbs with both towing and payload capacity. When you're talking about 8000 lbs or more a Superduty starts making some sense even though a F-150 can do the job. An F250 won't cost much, if any more than an F150 set up with the heavy duty payload package. But once again there is a lot of overlap in performance between some F150's and some F250's.

The hard part is predicting the future. My kids are grown and I'm dealing with grandkids now. I traded vehicles more often than I should have over the years, but never once simply because I just wanted something newer. I found that as my family grew our needs changed and what we were driving would no longer work. If you think that you'll need something bigger down the road it is probably better to just buy something bigger now. Thinking about trucks and trailers.

You have plenty of payload for the 23F. It just comes down to how much junk you want to carry around. People tend to overdo it with things in the trailer and truck, and never use what they brought. Keeping a handle on that, and there should be plenty to go around.

You will not like the 19F with 2 kids and raining or inclement weather out. Too crowded. Get the 23F. Plenty of truck for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Grey Mule (Post 6130766)

You will not like the 19F with 2 kids and raining or inclement weather out. Too crowded. Get the 23F. Plenty of truck for it.

Thanks for all the responses. Our preference would be for the 23f. My mind is broken trying to spec out a truck. It’s like playing whac a mole. It always comes down to payload. The 23f trailer and family with stuff always comes out near estimated payload. I feel like I would need to keep a scale in my holster at all times. The truck would be my daily driver so I want the toys and luxury but then it takes away from payload for the 12 times a year we need it. I don’t know how people are towing these big ass trailers with a family using a 4x4 Lariat and above trim. Maybe I’m worrying unnecessarily about it but I’m taking the yellow sticker at face value.

I’m leaning on getting an f250 so I don’t have to worry as much about payload. In one sense it’s way to much truck but in another sense not really. I worry about ride quality but all in all it might be my best bet. I’m really sick of thinking so much about payload.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Az19 (Post 6131622)

Don't over think it.

Follow the KISS principal. Don't over pack, half the crap people bring isn't even used. Don't overpack the trailer with what if items, just start with the bare essentials, and have a pen and notepad available for the first few trips to note items you could use, and make sure the first couple trips are nearby and close to stores. Purchase lightweight pots, pans, and dishes. Plan the meals ahead of time and just pack the ingredients you need in the cabinets, and use small containers to carry flour sugar and other items like this, as you don't need a lot. Pack everything in the trailer, not the truck. Kids don't need everything they have at home, so leave them at home (not the kids, their gotta have junk). Campgrounds usually have washers and dryers so you don't need a full weeks worth of clothes on long trips. Camping is about getting out into nature not taking your house with. In fact, I will be going through my trailer tomorrow to get it cleaned up and pictures for posting it for sale, and will inventory everything to find out what can be removed that we don't use, and pretty sure will find a few items.

For a 6K GVWR trailer, a Platinum will have plenty of payload following these simple rules. Maxed out that trailer is only 780 pounds on the ball at 13%, Even with 600 pounds of people and junk in the trunk there is still a little payload left on a Platinum which BTW weighs the same as a Lariat 502a.

The 23F will not be too big.

Because I wanted one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HacksawMark (Post 6334177)

Because I wanted one.

Interesting way to bump a 6 month old thread

Get the Super duty I don't care what's said ,on the interstate traveling it always seems the half tons towing decent size camper are struggling ,it might just be me and I'm going on passing them it just feels like that .I personally like overkill so your not dogging it all the time