jmdub85

I am looking at a Grand Design 2600RB travel trailer. I will be pulling it with my 2012 Ecoboost 4x4 Crew Cab short bed. No max payload or max tow package. My door stick says my max payload is only 1230lbs. Not sure if it was rated that way because of the 20" wheels and Pirelli tires it came with from the factory but that seems low to me. I believe the manual says the max tow is 9700lbs and the max combined weight is 15,500lbs. I know you can't do anything to raise that payload number but the truck now has 18's and Goodyear Duratracs on it. The trailer I am looking at has a GVWR of 7495 lbs. The manufacturer rates the tongue weight at just under 600 lbs but I think at full capacity the tongue weight will be closer to 850-900 lbs. There won't be cargo in the truck except me and the girlfriend but I am worried I'm getting too close to my payload capacity. Anyone have experience towing this trailer?

Spiky

You're probably listed around a 7700 tow capacity, max tow would be a truck with few luxury options and all the towing upgrades, which you don't have. Your payload rating is low because it is a half ton and you don't have any special towing upgrades. That's pretty standard range for a crew cab. 3.31 gears?

The trailer is listed as 600# tongue weight because the empty weight is listed at under 6000#. GVWR is its weight plus the max you can add into it. So, YOUR tongue weight would be the total weight YOU are hauling it at, plugged into a calculator.

You would definitely be pushing the legal capability of your truck, but without much gear should be within limits. You'll have to get accurate measurements to know for sure.

jmdub85

My truck is listed at 9700 tow capacity. My truck with the same cab and drive train configuration with the max tow package is in the area of 11000. The Ford spec sheet shows that the crew cab with 3.5 eco short bed 4x4 goes up to 1520 payload capacity. I was just a little surprised that mine was that much lower than that. I don't know what options I have that would have added a lot of weight. I agree I would be right at the edge of legal limit. I bought this truck brand new and at the time a travel trailer wasn't a consideration so the payload numbers weren't a big deal. Gears are 3.73.

S-man

jmdub85 - Looking at same trailer with very similar setup. Go to Grand Design Forum, there are a bunch of F150's pulling that trailer.

www.granddesignowners.com

Spiky

You're probably missing one component Ford puts in the 1520# trucks, so they remove 300# from your sticker. Payload sticker is usually the legal limit factor in a half ton.

diegoo.jayjay

I'll be honest, I've done my fair share of towing over. .. way over... weight ratings, numbers, etc in a 1500. Mostly for the dumb move of not wanting to pull out one of our 250s or being on the road and stuff just gets added and added.

If you'll be a couple hundred over or one day you bring another body you'll be fine. As long as your not that guy going 70-80mph towing, or you don't know how to balance your load.

I will recommend BW hitches though for one.

diegoo.jayjay

I bet its the radiator, mirrors or transmission auxiliary cooler.

1tufgt

Check out the Grand Design Imagine Facebook page. A lot of information on there with people that have many different GD trailers. I myself have a 2400BH that I tow.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/146736952385751/

jag1886

I think that camper you are looking at is a pig for the truck you have.
I own a 2011 Ecoboost with the max tow and the 7700 lbs GVWP and I tow a 25' trailer that weights 5800 LBS loaded and I think that is about all you should be towing to be safe.

Karter01

Towing on flat ground might be ok, but not anywhere with hills. DONT be that guy...I love my F150 EB, but shake my head at people towing campers up through the mountains in Arizona. You can tell the truck is overloaded (even with bars) and it's just asking for trouble. I pull a 43ft Vengeance 5th wheel toy hauler with our F-350 and pass people going 65+mph with half the trailer paired with 1/2 ton trucks. Food for thought.