ytechie

Yes, I have read the post covering all of the basics. I have looked at payload, tongue weight, etc. I'm trying to figure out how I'm looking as far as towability. I'd like to run a specific scenario past the experts.

I have a 2017 F150 Lariat Ecoboost 3.5 with a payload limit of 1740. I have the heavy duty tow package. I'm looking at a camper trailer (29ft) that is 5800lbs empty, 7700 GVWR. That gives me a hitch weight of 770lbs, so I have roughly 1000lbs available for people and truck cargo. This means I need to keep the truck relatively empty. Not a problem.

Based on everything I read, I should be within limits. I would prefer to get a little bit lighter trailer, but my wife insists on the bigger (this) one. How hard should I be pushing to get something lighter, or will my F150 handle the job?

PerryB

Even if you figure on 1000 lbs for tongue wt. plus the weight of the hitch, you still have 740 lbs. left. I think you'll be OK.

Stenz

What is your axle ratio?

Personally I would not go bigger. If you can find something a little bit lighter then you might want to look at it.

I have a 29ft Trailrunner 25SLE with a dry weight of 4950 and a GVWR of 6900.

I have a 2011 F150, 5.0 and 3.51 gears. It pulls it well but I dont think I would want to go any bigger.

ytechie

3.55 ratio

Thanks! I'm telling my wife this is the MAX, and lighter is better (and means we can take longer trips).

wolfpack219

This set up is darn near identical to what your trying to accomplish. My truck is rated at 1800 lbs payload max tow, and it pulled it great. I think you will be fine if you set the hitch up good and load the trailer right. I wouldn't go any larger though.

Siskiyou

Is that an equalizer hitch and if so how do you like it, I'm still trying to solve my sway issue and thinking of switching hitches?

acdii

It will haul it around, no problem, just make sure you have a good hitch. When loaded, figure on 900# on the receiver as a ball park. Thats 800 for the TW and 100 for the hitch, for a starting point. My trailer is 7600 gross and is falling in that range. Towing it with a 16 Lariat 502a with 1580# payload. I have 20 pounds reserve.

smokeywren

You have bought into the industry myth that a TT has only 10% hitch weight. Nonsense. Most properly-loaded TTs have at least 12% hitch weight and some have over 14%. 13% is average.


If you load the trailer to the gills so it grosses 7,700 pounds, you will probably have about 1,000 pounds tongue weight and 1,100 pounds hitch weight. More likely if you are not a full-timer is a gross trailer weight of about 7,000 pounds with hitch weight of around 1,000 pounds. So instead of 1,000 pounds of payload capacity available for people and truck cargo, you'll have only 700.


Yes, that probably means you'll have to haul any cargo in the trailer and not in the truck. And even then you'll probably be loaded to the max payload capacity of the F-150.


If you go that route, be sure to stop in the middle of your first RV trip and weigh the wet and loaded rig on a CAT scale. Add the weights on the steer and drive axles to get GVW, then compare GVW to the GVWR of the F-150. Only then will you know how good were your estimates.

wolfpack219

Yes it is. It works great. The thing is to make sure your loading forward in the trailer, not the rear. Over or in front of the axles. I also has several items in the bed of the truck also. I had no away issues what so ever and was traveling through some nasty wind on two lane highway.

ytechie

Actually, I was going off what the trailer has listed for the hitch weight. Granted, it may include that myth.