Finding The Right Options
Scoundrel
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 510
Likes: 218
From: Montrose, Colorado
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..
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..
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 397
Likes: 113
From: Camano Island, Washington
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..
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..
Never found a used HDPP F150. Rare as hen's teeth unless you order one. Those that have them, don't seem to wnat to get rid of them.
also what brand is your 272RL, a Wildwood Heritage Glen? Forest River is the corporate name, not the brand name. Forest River Inc has almost 100 different brands.
"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."
Figuring 12% of GVWR plus your 900lbs of truck cargo(you need to add another 100lbs for the WDH), you'll be easily over 1800lbs of payload capacity.
BUT, that length, weight and tongue weight are too much for any non-HDPP F150. Might be too much tongue weight for a HDPP, when loaded for camping. IMHO, that's a F250 or up trailer.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,975
Likes: 6,035
From: SE Michigan
Always amazes me that people don't read through existing posts where these points are made over and over again.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 65
Likes: 19
Took me 2 years to find a SCREW 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with Max Tow package and payload over 1800lbs.
Never found a used HDPP F150. Rare as hen's teeth unless you order one. Those that have them, don't seem to wnat to get rid of them.
also what brand is your 272RL, a Wildwood Heritage Glen? Forest River is the corporate name, not the brand name. Forest River Inc has almost 100 different brands.
"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."
Figuring 12% of GVWR plus your 900lbs of truck cargo(you need to add another 100lbs for the WDH), you'll be easily over 1800lbs of payload capacity.
BUT, that length, weight and tongue weight are too much for any non-HDPP F150. Might be too much tongue weight for a HDPP, when loaded for camping. IMHO, that's a F250 or up trailer.
Never found a used HDPP F150. Rare as hen's teeth unless you order one. Those that have them, don't seem to wnat to get rid of them.
also what brand is your 272RL, a Wildwood Heritage Glen? Forest River is the corporate name, not the brand name. Forest River Inc has almost 100 different brands.
"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."
Figuring 12% of GVWR plus your 900lbs of truck cargo(you need to add another 100lbs for the WDH), you'll be easily over 1800lbs of payload capacity.
BUT, that length, weight and tongue weight are too much for any non-HDPP F150. Might be too much tongue weight for a HDPP, when loaded for camping. IMHO, that's a F250 or up trailer.
Last edited by njfishing; Jun 20, 2020 at 09:18 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 707
We have pulled a 10,000 lb GVWR (loaded at 8500-9000 lb) car trailer with a Screw 4x4 3.5EB 53A 3.31 and it was stable to 80 mph despite the P tires on the truck but that's about 20% less frontal area, shorter and less tongue weight than your anticipating. We went F250 Crew 160 4x4 6.2L this time around and don't regret it. No more worrying about how far forward we load the cars or where the tool chest is anchored and it hardly notices the trailer in comparison. Also you don't even have to think about engine or trans temps on grades.
The KR is simply to much of a pig for trailers of that class.
The KR is simply to much of a pig for trailers of that class.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 824
Always amazes me that people don't read through existing posts where these points are made over and over again.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
I bet they do. But, those folks hold out hope that their specific trailer and truck combo magically get the nod of approval-even if the numbers are worse off than those other posts.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 65
Likes: 19
Always amazes me that people don't read through existing posts where these points are made over and over again.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
Hope the OP has towing experience because that size TT is going to be "fun" regardless of tow vehicle unless everything is perfectly setup. Tail wagging dog.
And by the way I've been towing RVs for 20 years now.... Just nothing this big...
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 13
From: Yukon,Canada
We'll excuse me for not sifting through 1000s of posts to get an answer to my specific questions Rick. The question is what packages/options should I be looking for in an F150 to potentially tow the RV I'm looking and is it going to be like finding a needle in a haystack... Can you advise me here
And by the way I've been towing RVs for 20 years now.... Just nothing this big...
And by the way I've been towing RVs for 20 years now.... Just nothing this big...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 707
No experienced operator would consider using an F-150 to tow a 37' travel trailer. Find me one post or one photo that shows an F-150 towing a 37' trailer please. I wouldn't want to be the first one. Then you are a test pilot. I am just kidding but if you could find a post or a photo showing precedence you would have a good argument.
Last edited by Gene K; Jun 20, 2020 at 01:47 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 423
Likes: 218
From: Sun City West, AZ
No experienced operator would consider using an F-150 to tow a 37' travel trailer. Find me one post or one photo that shows an F-150 towing a 37' trailer please. I wouldn't want to be the first one. Then you are a test pilot. I am just kidding but if you could find a post or a photo showing precedence you would have a good argument.
