atwowheelguy

The GCWR these days is determined by a standardized test, SAE J2807. If the truck can perform these tasks with the designated trailer weight without wrecking or breaking or overheating, it's rated for that weight. The performance criteria are pretty low. That truck can probably tow a 11,000 pound trailer slowly up a slight hill and stop it gently if the tongue weight is only 10% of the trailer weight and the truck has only a driver on board. It's just not a reasonable real world number for selecting a camper. My truck is rated to tow 9800 lbs. and has a 1607 lb. payload. My camper weighs 6700-7100 depending on how many toys I'm hauling. The tongue weight varies from 900-1000 lbs. I wouldn't want to put any more on it, and I am usually alone in the truck.

acdii

While you should have enough payload to pull it, the length would stop me from doing it with a short truck. Even with the 157" WB it would be iffy, the F150 just doesn't have the mass to counter that long trailer in a cross wind or semi drafts. Even with a really good hitch, when a Semi approaches the rear of the trailer, the draft off the nose will push against the rear end of the trailer, which will push the front end of the tow vehicle in the opposite direction. The longer the trailer, the more pronounced the push will be. Without a sway control hitch, that push will move the rear of the tow vehicle instead, inducing sway, and the longer the trailer, the more severe the sway.

With a heavier tow vehicle, the mass up front will counter the push from the rear and be more stable on a windy day, or passing/being passed by semis. A longer tow vehicle can offset the mass a bit, so a lighter longer truck can handle almost as well as a shorter heavier one.

With a 147" WB, I would stay to 30' or less for a tag along travel trailer.

Fwonfiddy

So how are articulated trucks able to drag such long trailers behind them without issues?

acdii

If you mean Semi's, there is a lot of mass in a Semi up front, and with two sets of drive wheels with the king pin centered between them, and the rear axles being at the rear of the trailer, it makes for a very stable ride.

Now if you are referring to pups, doubles and triples, they are usually very short trailers, and they can be a PITA on a windy day, so much so that when there are trailer bans, meaning everything pulling a trailer except a semi is banned, Pup drivers tend to stay off too.

VigII

I'd like help defining the length of the trailers discussed in this thread please. Is it measured as the length of the living space box or from the ball to the rear of the trailer box (overall length)? I'm guessing the latter.

old_programmer

It would be tip to tail for the calculations. In general conversations I would guess most folks are talking box length as that is what the manufacturers and RV dealers use to sell them.

acdii

Length is from where it hooks to the TV to the bumper in the rear. Some trailers have a longer A frame up front of the box which can make the trailer longer than the box actually is. The overall length is the important factor.

VigII

Thanks guys. I find during these discussions weight capacities are well defined: GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, etc. However when it comes to trailer length, it's not so clear if the poster is talking total length (ball to bumper) or box length (how the dealers market them).

Eg. a 26'7" travel trailer might be 32' 4" total length. This is something I'm considering and the trailer's GVWR is <=75% of my truck's rated tow capacity. Is it "too long" by typical guidelines for my 145" wheelbase? I'm use to towing a compact LP 6x10 dump trailer between 8-9,500 lbs, not nearly the same kind of animal as a travel trailer with a higher CG and longer sectional density.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

Your payload is pretty solid, better than most. If just the wife and you then you are probably in decent shape to tow a larger travel trailer. Power isn't the issue--payload and rear axle weight are the issue (and actual hitch rating / tongue weight).

acdii

You should be fine with that. If the box is 32' then you could have sway issues on a windy day, but sounds like you have a good setup with what you posted.

Thing to keep in mind for those looking for a trailer and have an F150. The length of the box can be too big even if the GVWR falls within specs. The distance from the trailer axles to the rear bumper and from the axles to the ball can determine if it will be prone to sway or not. The longer it is behind the axles, the more likely it will push the F150 around, regardless of how good the WDH is. The longer the trailer is, the more forward mass is needed to counter the effects. Also the longer the trailer is, the higher it will be off the ground to prevent the tail from impacting on a rough road, which raises the CG as well.

My trailer sits pretty low and is designed to be towed by a 1/2 ton pickup, while a lot of the larger trailers, especially the slider ones are not, they can be towed by 1/2 ton trucks provided the payload is there, but due to their length, they are more stable behind a 3/4 ton or higher truck. While the F150 can tow them with ease, the handling may not be as good as it will be with a heavier truck.

Just things to keep in mind. After all, the whole idea is for taking a vacation, and it aint no vacation if you are stressed out pulling it.