I'm looking at purchasing a camper in the very near future and have been leaning towards the 2015 Keystone Passport 2810BH (31'10" total length and 5290 lbs dry weight). They are offering a free Equalizer weight distribution hitch.

I've towed car haulers and boats, but new to campers. I'm looking for opinions/suggestions on how my truck will handle this camper. The truck will be hauling a four person family (approximately 600lbs.). Truck specs:

2010 F150 5.4L Supercrew 4x4
3.55 gears
275/60r20 tires
Firestone Ride Rite Airbags
Factory brake controller

Thanks for any help.

 

it will be a load for it for sure. I dont think you will have too much issue with it. Just dont get in a hurry. That camper is almost identical to mine. My wife and I are currently looking at new campers and I can tell you the dry weight they list is always very low. Plan on adding 1000lbs when your camper is loaded up maybe more if you carry water in the tanks. Plus your family so around 1500- 2000 lbs by the time your said and done. The equalizer hitch makes all the difference when towing. I have one and It definitely helps with sway and weight distribution. I pull mine with a old F350 diesel and a good hitch makes a huge difference.

Good luck and enjoy camping!

 

Payload is the overriding limit for nearly everyone. Lots of great posts including get one in my signature.

 

Thanks for the help. I was hoping to find someone with a similar setup to mine and see how theirs did pulling it. Thanks.

 

I tow a 26', 6000lb travel trailer with my F150 so I am somewhat similar.


If you buy a good hitch like a Blue Ox and than take the time to set it up properly than the ride will be a breeze. It really is a matter of good gear that is well set up.


If the hitch is free than ask for the make and model. If it turns out to be a good hitch than take it, if its junk than ask how much it would cost you to upgrade to one of the better hitches (as you can tell I have a Blue Ox and I am a big fan of their stuff).

 

Thanks for the help...what truck do you have?

 

I had a '10, 5.4 3.55s with a camper that weighed 4900 dry. Ready to camp we were 55-5600. It was only 26' though. I can say that I wouldn't have gone much bigger than that. The 5.4 runs out of breath real fast. Great motor for durability, but on any hills mine was screaming it's guts out to hold any kind of reasonable speed. As long as you are willing to take the reigns from the onboard systems and "drive" the engine, it'll tug that all day long without issue but you need to be more in tune with it than some others meaning you can't rely on cruise control as much. Engine braking on the downhill was ok. Not stellar, but not horrible. All in all a stout little mill as long as you know and accept its limitations. That 5.4 will be working for its meal

I'll second the recommendation for a good quality hitch like a Blue Ox. If they are offering a free Equal-i-zer brand hitch that's good. But often people refer to any weight distribution hitch- whether quality or crap- as an equalizer. So be careful on that one. You might get a freebie china-bomb

 

It's an actual Equal-I-zer brand hitch. The reviews I have read so far on it sound good. The dry weight on this camper is what's listed on the tag of the actual camper I'm looking at too. Hopefully this truck does ok...love the truck, but really wanting a camper. Thanks.

 

It'll do just fine. I wouldn't give it a second thought and just hook and go.

 

I have a 2013 supercrew, 4x4 with the 6'box. The engine is the 5.0 and the gear set is the 3.55. I cruise easily at the speed limit on all highways including the 70mph interstates. Yours is the 5.4 and they are a good engine. I had a 5.4 and I have to say it is no coyote but it is still a very capable puller.


I would still go for top of the line hooking and nothing else. Look at it this way, do you really want to spend the first day of your vacation on a white knuckle roller coaster ride screaming and yelling at the wife and kids because your low quality hitch cannot handle the trailer and is now scaring the **** out of everyone in the truck, not only that but you know the trip back is going to be just as bad so it lingers on your brain like death and taxes....it blows the whole trip!