wojowojo16

thinking of getting our first TT and want to buy my "second" trailer first.

I have a 2014 F150 157" WB 4x4 with trailer tow package, payload of 1550, GVWR of 7350, and GCWR of 15500 I think.

This trailer loaded has a max weight of 7900lbs (DOUBT we would ever go that high but we can.

Even with 12% tongue weight and a weight dist hitch, I'm at about ~ 1075 pounds on tongue and have another 500 for cargo, which between wife and kids I'd be fine. Rest of stuff can go in camper.

Trailer is relatively long and I know a 250 would be a better choice, but am I asking for trouble going this route?

http://www.keystonervcenter.com/2015...er-pa-i1251056

I've done a fair amount of research and know that if I went this route, this size trailer would be pretty much MAX for the truck.

sunofabeach

this is what I tow with my 2014 147" wheelbase Screw ecoboost maxtow.


http://www.dutchmen.com/kodiak/floor.../?modelId=4916


I tow this all over Alberta and into BC and Montana. you can definitely tell that it's back there but my truck hauls it just fine.


I'm also under all the listed weights as well. Family of 4. Kids are 6 and 4.


I also had a hitch installed on the back of the trailer to bring our bikes with us.

wojowojo16

Thanks Sunofabeach...trailers are almost identical in size...I really like your setup, good looking rig!

acdii

I am also in the process of locating the right trailer. Have 5 people to sleep and have been looking at bunkhouse versions. I also have a Lariat Screw 147" EB, but I don't have max tow, and my gear is 3:15. I currently pull a 12x6 enclosed single axle, and its a 5th gear pull on the highway at 65 MPH. I am looking for the lightest I can find, and found a couple KZ slide outs that will work, but having a rough time finding specs on the TW. The payload on the F150 is 1470, and I have a topper, so no matter what I do it will be at least 300 over that when all 5 of us are in the truck.

That sure is a nice looking trailer, but I think it would be too heavy for me. Trying to stay under 7K gross, even though rated to 8600.

sunofabeach

with your wheelbase and payload, I wouldn't hesitate to tow that trailer. you may be close on payload but I would still do it.

acdii

I am looking at KZ 2405 models with the sliders. The rear slides out with a queen size bed in it, so its shorter while traveling, the weights are not listed that I can find, but gross is right where I am looking.

CowboyWill

I recently purchased a TT, and did so without doing research. It was an impulse buy, so, I suppose I counted on the dealer to make sure I wouldn't buy something my truck could not handle. It was only after the fact I learned I am pushing the limits of my 2009 F150 4x4 w/169" Wheelbase. I live in TX and bought the TT in KS. I had left the TT in KS at a friend's while I prepped a place to park at home. During this time I learned a **** ton of information about what I have, what i bought, and what I need to do or be concerned with.

The TT is a 2013 Keystone Outback 298RE. It is 35'2" from bumper to tongue, 9000# wet and 7500ish# dry.

Last weekend I went back to KS to get my TT and drive back to KS. Here is the data and some pics of my Truck and TT...

This passed Monday I pulled my new TT from Wichita, KS to Dallas, TX., which is about 350 miles. The weather wasn't great but not bad either, some light rain at times, and 20-30 MPH north west wind; which means I driving into the wind most the time. Overall, I'd say the trip was great! It took around 8 hrs (normally 5ish), and i made a lot of stops to check things over.

I averaged about 55-60 MPH @1600ish RPM. Even at my largest hill (or mountain as they call it) in South Oklahoma, i never went below 50 MPH and RPMs never had to break 3100 even when it down shifted. My average fuel economy showed about 12 mpg. The areas I drove thru where the weather broke and had none to very little wind, it obviously drove smoother and the speed didn't drop as much on hills. Only other things I encountered that made me want to white knuckle it, is when large Semis would pass me, and the air current would cause the trailer to sway a little. But you have that when pulling any large trailer.

I'm attaching a copy of my weight tickets; one is my truck empty with me in it, the other one is same with the TT hooked up and some weight in it... BTW, I only busted payload by 20# according to tickets.

BRUTE448

with that truck i'd try and probably stay under 6000 lbs. even though you have the ecoboost, you only have 3.15 gears, while GREATTTT for unloaded hwy mileage, they aren't the best for towing.

acdii

I have been considering changing out the open diff for a EATON TruTrak and upping the gears to 3:31 or 3:55. Have to compromise on what gearing since it is my daily driver and gas mileage is critical as I have a 120 mile RT every week day. I put over 36K on in exactly one year of owning it, rolled 36K on the anniversary of the day I drove it off the lot. I currently get 20 something average during warm weather, 18 something in the winter, mainly because I run smaller snow tires, and detune it to 87 Perf/Tow, and run 91 Perf/Tow on the stock 20's during the summer. I would run 91 in winter, it is ethanol free, but not so much a good idea, even with snow tires, I broke traction a couple times on the highway just touching the pedal too much.

I have towed with this truck on the highway, but with stock tune. It ran 5th for most of the time, and it was only pulling a 12 x 6 enclosed single axle, so well aware of the gearing. When I got it, I picked this one out of the two thinking the higher gear set will give better MPG, but found out after driving it a while that it puts the RPM below the turbo threshold of 1500 RPM, and runs around 1350 RPM @ 60 MPH, so with stock tune, unlocks of the TC happen quite often on a slight uphill. The tune resolved that, but induced another issue, misfire. The Ecoboost is so sensitive to spark that if the gap is anything above .030" it will misfire under load when not using turbos. I regapped them to .028" and that reduced it ti barely noticed, but after winter was over and I went back to the 91 tune, it reared up again more so. I wound up replacing the plugs at 37000 miles, the old plugs looked fine, until you look closer with a magnifying glass. The center electrode wears a pit in the ground electrode which increased the gap to about .040".

I will be doing another tow run second week of June with the same trailer loadout and all, but with the Perf/Tow tune from 5Star, and will see if there is any improvement in how it performs and if MPG goes up any. It was less than I had thought it would be on that trip, expected about 13 MPG and got closer to 10 MPG. I have done a few short trips and found that the MPG looks to be better, so keeping fingers crossed. If it turns out it still struggles, then I will reconsider the gear swap before doing a travel trailer.

BTW Cowboy, nice setup! Would love to have something like that, but its just too much for my widdle ol F150.

BRUTE448

Oh, your tuned! that will deff. help with the eco boost, but yea gearing will still be a issue, smokey wren will probably comment as he run a 25' or so TT and had a lariat w/ 3.15 gears and seems to do good with it. but dayym 120 a day! thats one hell of a commute! yea id say 3.31 for a slight towing edge but thats only one step up. if you go up i'd go 3.55 maybe 3.73 if u push past the 7-7.5k lbs mark with the TT.

honestly though 3.55 would probably be best in your situation, since you'd have more gear to keep you in the motor's n/a power before the turbos come into play, and you'd have a better edge to pull a TT with.

best of luck with your dec.