I'll be purchasing a new to me travel trailer in a few weeks and looking for a tow vehicle and really want to stay with a half ton if I can... Trailer is a 2018 Forest River 272RL. 34 foot box, 7300 dry weight and 845 tongue and a equalizer Weight Distribution Hitch... I figure once loaded with all our stuff the trailer will be in the 8300 pound range and the tongue right around 1000 pounds.

Looking at 2018 and 2019s 3.5 Ecoboosts and want the Super Crew Cab and would prefer the short box if possible. Looking at some of the higher end trims like Platinum and King Ranch but most seem to be light in the payload department. Found a 2018 King Ranch that had the max towing package and the payload was only 1446 (yellow sticker) Found another 2018 King Ranch without max towing package and the payload was 1512. This kind of threw me off since the one with the max tow had less payload then the one without max tow.

I'm thinking I need to be at least around the 1800 payload to allow for the tongue weight, me, the wife and occasionally our grand kids. Thinking between the 4 of us and our luggage will be around 800 pounds..

Question is what should I be looking for in terms of trims and options that are going to get on or over the 1800 payload mark?
- I would think the Max Tow package is a must and I definitely want the 36 gallon tank.
- Can't seem to find anything used with the HDPayload package maybe that's because I'm looking at crew cab and smaller bed?
- Am I looking for a needle in a hay stack in a 1/2 ton truck that will suit my needs?

Don't want to make a big mistake here and if anyone has any recommendations on what features or models I should be looking for when shopping online it would be much appreciated.

Thanks all..

 

if you are looking for all those creature comforts in a 1/2 ton, you have to resign yourself with low payload and towing smaller trailers..

The compromise you aren't looking to make with a plush 3/4 ton truck, has to be made on the backside of the equation...a plush 1/2 ton and a smaller trailer.

 

I have a 2020 Lariat, 3.5, maxtow, 1760 payload (ordered it), all that said, personally I would not pull the scenario you described. You are in F250 territory for a decent experience (unless it's a few times a year, less than 2 hrs). That's a lot of trailer and wind resistance for a F150. People do it, don't get me wrong.

 

Reading your post, you're looking for a box of wine on a juice box budget.

Your trailer is nearly 35' long total, has a GVW of about 9600 lbs and the realistic tongue weight is likely closer to 1100.

For that size and weight of trailer, your money will be better spent on a F250 or F350 gasser.

 

I have to agree that you will be at best, at the very limit for a non-HDPP F150. I have about the same size trailer - 33'5", 9500 lbs GVWR. It's loaded up to about 8300 lbs. Our F150 was a 4x4 SCREW, max tow with 1873 lbs of payload and I had about 40 lbs of rear axle weight to spare and about 150 lbs of payload. That was traveling with just the wife and I and a couple of small dogs in the truck.

No real complaints but this was on shortish (300 mile or less) jaunts. We are heading cross country in about a month and after much discussion, we traded up last night to an F350 gasser. Having to consider each and every thing thing you put in the trailer or wish you could carry in the truck, not to mention driving with the knowledge that you may be in trouble if you have to make a panic stop or maneuver, adds a lot of stress when on the road, and takes a lot of fun out of the camping experience.

 

Thanks Mister. So what model, engine and bed size did you have and I assume you did not have the HDPP?

 

2019 3.5 Ecoboost Max Tow, XLT, shortbed,. Not an HDPP. If you can find/order an HDPP you be in the 2300 lb and up payload range. I also upgraded the P-rated tires to LT and swapped out the factory rear shocks for Bilsteins.

 

Thanks Mr, that helps. You would think the truck would have come with LT tires with the Max Towing Package 👀

 

I tow longer and heavier with my HDPP. trailer is 37ft, 8,400lbs dry, and packs a 1,250lbs wet tongue 😂😂.


The HDPP can handle it just fine, even in breezy and windy conditions...up to a limit. The good thing about the handling limits, is that it can handle gusts and wind at the same speeds most semis can handle the conditions...they have to slow down at the same conditions I do.

I can tow in high winds advisory at around 60mph, and no matter what you are towing, few RVs want to tow in high wind advisory...I won't again.

I got E Rated Goodyear Endurance on the trailer for extra stability against wind. I added E Rated Michelin Defender to the truck for further stiffness over the stock LT-C.

If you take away the tires off either one, I wouldn't tow my trailer with a 1/2 ton.

 

It’s not happening, even with the 1800 lbs of payload that you are looking for. For sure it would t work with the king ranches that you are shopping. I have never towed a 34-35 foot (total length) trailer with a 1/2 ton pickup.....but I would imagine even with hdpp you wouldn’t have the most fun doing it. If you are looking for anything but a 3/4 ton to one ton I think you are seriously missing the mark. Not too mention that you will be out of compliance with safety/traffic/highway regs.
​​​​​​​