Another TT Option
12-29-2013, 05:25 PM
#11
I absolutely WOULD NOT go any smaller. The truck is rated to tow a 9200 pound tt with a 150 pound driver so you aren't even close with a 6000 pound trailer and 350 pounds in people. Add 500 pounds for tanks and junk and its 7000 pounds, maybe, which is still 2200 pounds short of what the truck will do. The hitch weight is unknown since you will be using a load distributing hitch but count on taking at least 250 pounds off of that 630. I tow a 6000 pound tt with 700 pounds in people using a 5.0 NO SWEAT. Top speed to date is a sustained 80 mph....solid as a rock. My next trailer will be around 30 feet, 7000 pounds dry with the same 700 pounds in people. Absolute BS that you cannot pull that trailer safely but do not scrimp on quality hitching and if you are a rookie that for heaven's sake take it easy and learn the ropes a little. As for hitching I like and use the Blue Ox Sway Pro with 15,000 pound bars. Use good LT rated tires and not the P rated **** that the truck came with (I'm using 20" rims with stock tires which seem to work ok...for now). Once again my friend, absolute BS that you cannot pull that trailer safely.
I won't argue any other points you have above since everyone is entitled to their opinion and I will leave that argument to the weight gurus since I am in no place to preach, but damn. 80mph? They would impound your vehicle and trailer for that here for dangerous driving and you would quite possibly have a vacation from driving for a bit.
Sorry, off topic. Back to the question at hand...
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superdave150 (12-29-2013)
12-29-2013, 08:58 PM
#12
Grumpy Old Man
This is probably the trailer he's considering:
Floorplan 27DSRL
Weights
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 5,355
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 630
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 7,500
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 2,145
Ignore that 5,355 number because nobody tows an empty RV trailer. And based on my experience, your guesstimate of 6,000 pounds trailer weight is way low. Assume at least 7,000 pound wet and loaded trailer weight, on the road and ready for camping. Count on up to 15% wet and loaded hitch weight, or 1,050 pounds.
7,200 GVWR minus 1,050 pounds hitch weight leaves 6,150 pounds for the max weight of his F-150 4x4. My 4x2 weighs 6,550 before I tie onto the trailer, and his 4x4 will weigh at least 200 pounds more than my 4x2. So if he takes your advice, he's probably going to be overloaded when he gets on the road with a wet and loaded F-150 and TT.
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superdave150 (12-29-2013)
12-30-2013, 02:00 PM
#13
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Folks- I've been watching the comments and really appreciate your inputs. All of what you've provided is very educational for me.
To be clear on the latest, I am now seriously targeting this TT as it will make my wife most happy in terms of features. It's a nice rig, and nicely finished relative to the others I've been looking at:
Palomino Solaire 297RLDS
Yellow Sticker Dry Weight (actual): 6103
Advertised Tongue Weight: 615 (need to weigh at scales to confirm, but consistent with the 10% rule)
Our plan: Most of the time, it's just myself and my wife with full RV service - KOA etc. Will of course take propane but no water since there's no need. Weekends only. I therefore foresee 6500 lbs max gross trailer weight - no more than 400 pounds for food and misc.
Only real concern for me here is payload and GAWR at rear axle. Weight distribution hitch should help keep under my payload max of 1151 since it's only my wife and myself traveling and we won't carry any cargo in the bed of the truck. Ford's advertised GAWR is 4050. I ran the truck and myself through a truck scale (on Christmas!) and I'm getting actual weights of 3500 at front axle and 2840 at rear - with me in the truck and full tank but again without the trailer (vehicle curb weight). If you throw the advertised tongue weight on there (615) and also the small differential for the added gross weight (maybe 40 pounds - 10% of the added junk in the trailer) and also 130 pounds for my wife, but then subtract out the contribution of the WD hitch, then I think we have GAWR to spare. Payload same.
I hooked up the target trailer (no WD hitch - only a test drive) on Saturday and the F150 EB pulls like a mule. No issues with response - even with with a hilly segment of I-80 here in Omaha. Mild sway on freeway at 55-60 (when semis pass) will be reduced by Equalizer. Truck bed was about parallel with surface of ground but WD hitch will only make this better.
But Boulevard, I won't be going 80!! (still, I appreciate your comments!).
Please let me know your thoughts on this latest set of parameters and feedback.
Thanks. Chris.
To be clear on the latest, I am now seriously targeting this TT as it will make my wife most happy in terms of features. It's a nice rig, and nicely finished relative to the others I've been looking at:
Palomino Solaire 297RLDS
Yellow Sticker Dry Weight (actual): 6103
Advertised Tongue Weight: 615 (need to weigh at scales to confirm, but consistent with the 10% rule)
Our plan: Most of the time, it's just myself and my wife with full RV service - KOA etc. Will of course take propane but no water since there's no need. Weekends only. I therefore foresee 6500 lbs max gross trailer weight - no more than 400 pounds for food and misc.
Only real concern for me here is payload and GAWR at rear axle. Weight distribution hitch should help keep under my payload max of 1151 since it's only my wife and myself traveling and we won't carry any cargo in the bed of the truck. Ford's advertised GAWR is 4050. I ran the truck and myself through a truck scale (on Christmas!) and I'm getting actual weights of 3500 at front axle and 2840 at rear - with me in the truck and full tank but again without the trailer (vehicle curb weight). If you throw the advertised tongue weight on there (615) and also the small differential for the added gross weight (maybe 40 pounds - 10% of the added junk in the trailer) and also 130 pounds for my wife, but then subtract out the contribution of the WD hitch, then I think we have GAWR to spare. Payload same.
I hooked up the target trailer (no WD hitch - only a test drive) on Saturday and the F150 EB pulls like a mule. No issues with response - even with with a hilly segment of I-80 here in Omaha. Mild sway on freeway at 55-60 (when semis pass) will be reduced by Equalizer. Truck bed was about parallel with surface of ground but WD hitch will only make this better.
But Boulevard, I won't be going 80!! (still, I appreciate your comments!).
Please let me know your thoughts on this latest set of parameters and feedback.
Thanks. Chris.
12-30-2013, 02:08 PM
#15
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Smokeywren - With an advertised dry hitch weight of 615, how are you getting over a 1000 in tongue weight? Even wet, I'm anticipating a trailer weight of not to exceed 6500 pounds for most trips. Adding the cargo in the trailer, this should add at most 50 pounds (10% of the 400-500 pounds we would throw into the trailer in food, etc). This takes hitch weight to about 650-660, if you believe the factory specs.
I know the best way to check actual tongue weight is to go to the scale or use the bathroom scale + pipe + brick + 2x4 setup w/ 3' spread technique.
But in the absence of all this, I go with my best estimates. And aren't yours a bit high for my situation? If so, I won't even be able to tow a U-Haul and my EB engine would really be disappointed in me...
I know the best way to check actual tongue weight is to go to the scale or use the bathroom scale + pipe + brick + 2x4 setup w/ 3' spread technique.
But in the absence of all this, I go with my best estimates. And aren't yours a bit high for my situation? If so, I won't even be able to tow a U-Haul and my EB engine would really be disappointed in me...
12-30-2013, 02:20 PM
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Are we all accounting for the significant influence of the WD hitch in this thread. I very informative analysis based on solid physics is at this link:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/14265335.cfm
The positive influence of the WD hitch and the clear benefits to GAWR cannot be underestimated...
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/14265335.cfm
The positive influence of the WD hitch and the clear benefits to GAWR cannot be underestimated...
12-30-2013, 02:26 PM
#17
12-30-2013, 02:58 PM
#19
12-30-2013, 04:45 PM
#20
Smokeywren - With an advertised dry hitch weight of 615, how are you getting over a 1000 in tongue weight? Even wet, I'm anticipating a trailer weight of not to exceed 6500 pounds for most trips. Adding the cargo in the trailer, this should add at most 50 pounds (10% of the 400-500 pounds we would throw into the trailer in food, etc). This takes hitch weight to about 650-660, if you believe the factory specs. I know the best way to check actual tongue weight is to go to the scale or use the bathroom scale + pipe + brick + 2x4 setup w/ 3' spread technique. But in the absence of all this, I go with my best estimates. And aren't yours a bit high for my situation? If so, I won't even be able to tow a U-Haul and my EB engine would really be disappointed in me...