My wife and I are looking into a camper. My big thing is I want one nice enough and big enough to completely do away with needs for a hotel. I'm wondering what everyone would suggest for my setup 2012 xlt 5.0 screw short bed 4x4. Any certain brands or setups y'all lean towards? I want I've that sleeps 6-8 people.

 

What you can tow depends on your truck. Go look at the yellow sticker in the door for payload.

Tell that number and help will come.

More than likely it is between 1200-1600. The low end severely restricts trailer size. The higher end makes it just marginal for a 6500 gvwr trailer. Then subtract out the passenger weight and anything you added such as toolbox, bedliner, mud flaps, etc to reduce it to a realistic number.

But more than likely, your truck has less capacity than you think unless it is Max tow and HD payload.

 

I just picked up a bunkhouse model, really like it. 31.5ft weights 6700 dry 740 hitch. 2 slides. Most brands make something similar. Might be what you looking for. Oh and get the exterior kitchen, it is awesome.

 

Dry weights are pointless. That is what? 7500 gvwr on the trailer? Figure loaded the tongue weight is 900-1000 lbs or more. Then 100 for weight dist hitch. Add 400 for passengers (small family)and you are at 1500 lbs. That probably works on a xlt, but only barely. You have to ask yourself if you feel OK about driving around teetering over the edge of the limits with your family.

My xlt 4x4 scab has 1575 lbs on the factory payload.

Then I added a toolbox and other stuff. I could not tow a 6500 lb trailer with my family and stay under the rated limits. It is up to the driver to decide if they accept the higher risk.

 

OP - Couple of thoughts for you:

A salesman will likely not care about your sticker and will be willing to sell you whatever you will pay for.

Visit the towing forum on here - there is loads of good information. Also, head to rv.net for even more information. Knowledge is key to making your purchase.

The sticker on your door jamb is a very conservative estimate of what your truck is actually capable of. You need to determine whether and by how much you will be comfortable exceeding the ratings. You have a 5.0 so max tow is not even available. Again, these resources I listed will demonstrate for you what other 5.0'ers pull and pull successfully.

Get LT tires!

Get ready to augment your suspension in some way: airbags, RAS. etc.

Buy a good WDH with active sway control - do not skimp on this equipment.

I agree on the ext kitchen!

Good Luck and please keep us apprised of what ya get!

 

You are basing this all on him loading up the hitch, you can load up the back and keep the hitch weight around that 700 lbs. of course you run into the risk of making your hitch too light, but if your smart about it you can set everything up properly. Plus it depends on driving conditions (mountains vs flat plain). I was just giving him an example of what I got, I have the max tow (and LT tires) and always travel with all trailer tanks empty. A 28ft trailer might be better for him, idk, just gave my opinion.

 

when we bought ours, the salesman at the RV store asked us for the specifics on the tow vehicle and entered it into some program on his computer. He then prints out all the specs for my truck. based on this info is how chose our set up.
BTW, i did double check his info that he gave us vs. the info from my manual and it was spot on.

 

Here's a great thread from the towing forum of F150 forum owners campers. It's over 2600 posts long of travel trailer pics:
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/lets-s...-towed-146837/