Platinum_Sean

Read this thread. Many have done a trip south to save $.

Michigan may be too far for you, but the principle shold be the same- get a dealer to deliver the rig to a border crossing area to avoid state taxes, and rest is just a metter of finding the best deal, and of course, how to inspect it once at the border in case something is not 100% right.

Good luck.

oxfordbob

LOVE your setup! looks great! happy & safe drivin'

Platinum_Sean

I have gone another step further and mounted a 2" receiver on the back for a bike rack, and ball mount for a SeaDoo. Neither will add anything to the pin weight as its behind the rear axels, but it does add up towards the vehicle's GCWR of which I have 2500 pounds remaining.

PS- the receiver is not just welded to the rear bumper which would be an accident in waiting. Its mounted in 9 places, with a power mig, with gussets on the bumper, gussets on a 2x2" tube, and extended to a 2x2" angle which are also laddered together and welded to the rig's frame. I just bought a wireless rear-view camera with booster and 4" screen and will wire that up over the rear window to keep an eye on things.

Viper238

Sean, that looks great.

I've been contemplating a 5er as well.

thats quite a bit of support for a bike rake!

SlverFx

My FX4 with max tow has the bigger max tow mirrors. Are those mirrors the ones that came with your truck?

Platinum_Sean

I also tow a 900 lb SeaDoo behind the 5th wheel trailer now. The overall weight is 15,600 pounds, which is below the 17,100 max listed. Don't even ask about gas mileage!!!!!!!!!

healthi

Glad it's workin' out for you!!! We went with a 29' foot tt. Knowing we would be towing, but still wanting the Platinum, we asked the dealer to trade out the 20" P-rated tires to the smaller LT rated 18" tires. We love our trailer and traveling with our Platinum!

Platinum_Sean

One thing about tires- a 235 65 18 s the same height as a 255 55 20.

The P rated Pirellis are rated for 2500 each. E rated would help if that was a limiting factor. My bum weights about 4300 so I am 700 under. Next set once these wear out will be E rated.

Mr24

Awesome write-up, I have one question:

With the normal mirrors can you see down the side of the trailer? What's the view like if you need to change lanes? Thanks.

FL150

GREAT Thread Sean!!!

So your Truck's weights you mentioned in the start of the thread -

front axel: 3380 pounds (front wheels only on scale)
rear axel: 2750 pounds (rear wheels only on scale)
total weight: 6160 (all 4 wheels on scale, notice the error??!!)

Where these with you in the Truck and full Fuel (36 gal)?

We basically have the same Truck and I weighed mine a few weeks ago at a Local CAT Scale - Front wheels on one scale segment and rear on another. And with me in the Truck (190 lbs) and full tank of Fuel (36 gal) here are my numbers -

front axel: 3520 pounds
rear axel: 2800 pounds
total weight: 6320

I was just wondering if the (160 lbs) difference is my weight and scale differencies. The only add on to my truck is a Soft Tonneau that may be around around 60 lbs.

Your Thread here has been inspiring for me to move ahead with getting a TT. I have been looking at a 7000 lb / 690 tongue dry Trailer which would probably be around 8000 lbs loaded, while I was confident I would be within my F150's towing specs - even the week link (7200 lb GWVR) I guess the issue that I have been stuggling with that has been keeping me from committing has been the 5.4L / 6spd 3.73 gear setup pulling an 8000# trailer. So hows your setup handle pulling down the road? A few years back I had to tow a 3500 boat with a 08 Ford Ranger (with a towing package) through Georgia (fairly level). Yes the Pontoon Boat/Trailer was probably at or above that trucks limits, but it was a one time tow. Well the V6 had to pull 4000 rpm most of the way just to maintain 60/65 on the Intersate. So with that terrible experience in the back of my head, I just didn't want to get into the same situation with my F150 to handle pulling 8000 lbs.

Thanks again for your Thread on this subject.

Russ