I'm sure this has been covered plenty, but can anyone direct me to a good source to learn about towing? We want to purchase about a 30 ft camper and are completely confused with all the info. I have a 2013 F150 3.5 Ecoboost crew cab. I assume it is the deluxe tow package because the electric brakes and sway are already on there. It says I have a 3.55 axle with an 11,300 pound tow ability. I am confused on where I get tongue weight specs or how to figure it out. Is it confusing as it seems?

 

max tow is 3.73 or 4.10..you have have the regular tow package.somewhere around 9500-9600lbs wheel base and 2wd or 4x4...
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...rv&tt_f150.pdf

 

Thank you for the quick response Steve. Do I trust the camper people not to over sell me something to big for the vehicle? For example this trailer a 2006 Keystone
Type: Travel Trailer
Mileage: 0
Sleeping Capacity: 6
Length (Feet): 30
Title: Clear
Dry Weight (lbs): 7450

 

You have the "regular" tow package if you have a 3.55 axle. Max rated trailer weight at 9500-9800#. 11,300 is max weight for 4x2 supercrew with Max Tow package. Basically you will want to stay with a trailer that weighs in around the 6000-6500# dry mark to stay safe. Available tongue weight is a guessing game as it depends on the rest of your cargo in the truck (people, fuel, equipment) and becomes part of your overall payload capacity of the truck. A truck like yours should fall in around 1000 # max I would guess. Tongue weight on the trailer can vary not only trailer to trailer but also how said trailer is loaded front to rear so there is no hard and fast rule book to follow. There are a bunch of experienced pullers on these forums so before you buy get the model and specs (dry / loaded weights, length etc) of the unit you want and get some opinions. Don't just trust the trailer sales guy as if you show you want a given trailer its just easier to tell you no problem with your truck instead of put you into the "proper trailer" for your truck.

 

as most would agree, don't trust a saleman...he's there for the sale....
go for what you feel comfortable with...

the truck will pull it fine, with good equipment-wdh/sway hitch setup..
you maybe like most running out of payload-passager/load in box+ hitched weight..

keystone cougar lists 1335lbs hitch weight springdale lists 705lbs
hopeful your looking at the springdale...
http://www.keystonerv.com/previous-y...ugar&year=2006
http://www.keystonerv.com/previous-y...dale&year=2006

 

Awesome reply 5land! Now I am beginning to understand. I can see where the loading of the trailer could change tongue weight. Thanks guys for the great info!

 

I just went through the same thing shopping for my travel trailer, trying to figure out what was withing the limits set by ford.
First check the yellow sticker inside the driver door for your payloadcapacity. Mine was 1700lb in my crew max tow 2011 eco. I picked up 6600lb dry weight trailer, 30ft. With my wife , 3 kids, hitch and loaded trailer i will be just a bit below my payload capacity.
My rear axle weight will actually max out before ihit max payload.
Lots of posts in the towing section on this.

 

Happy towing!

 

The hitch is rated for 10,500#. As long as your weight is below that you'll be fine.

 

With a WDH, 500 without.