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Most of the year in Louisiana it's to hot to sleep in a tent or even boondocking in a trailer. Long gone are the days when I slept in the rear of my truck that had a sofa bed under the bed topper. Used a deep cycle battery for lights and to run a small fan on. Pee'd in the woods and poo'ed in a 5 gallon bucket with a seat on it!
I agree that in hot places the AC is definitely a godsend. My TT has AC but we only used it once this summer. TV's, especially with kids, nuh uh, go outside and play, or if the weather is bad, sit in an color, do a puzzle, play a game! Absolutely no screens!
This is our camping:
And we get the odd visitor to our sites
She walked right past the truck and looked into our dining room window as we were getting ready to eat, then she walked into the trees to eat. I came out and took pics, she didn't care I was there and never got spooked.
Just a portable Bluetooth speaker for music. No power or water hookups, no neighbors, no problems
Last edited by BlackBoost; 09-05-2018 at 03:29 PM.
2.7TT towing max - about 7,600 pounds. Everything is in the trailer so I'm good on payload (sticker says 1,500). Tongue weight is about 900lbs and my family is skinny (minus me). Pulled well through the AZ mountains but had to slow a little on the biggest hills. For those familiar with the area, it was I-17 up to Camp Verde (couple decent pulls), but then the big hills on highway 260 out of Camp Verde up to the rim. 8% extended grade brought me down to about 45MPH, but I'd consider that to still be pretty good for the load and the grade. Temperatures got a little hot; saw 246 on the coolant temp at the top of the hill but never got the reduced power warning I've read about. Temps dropped instantly once the grade leveled out a bit. Back was a little squishy so I'm thinking about air bags (already using an Equalizer 4-point). Overall, really impressed with the little motor towing up to its max!
2.7TT towing max - about 7,600 pounds. Everything is in the trailer so I'm good on payload (sticker says 1,500). Tongue weight is about 900lbs and my family is skinny (minus me). Pulled well through the AZ mountains but had to slow a little on the biggest hills. For those familiar with the area, it was I-17 up to Camp Verde (couple decent pulls), but then the big hills on highway 260 out of Camp Verde up to the rim. 8% extended grade brought me down to about 45MPH, but I'd consider that to still be pretty good for the load and the grade. Temperatures got a little hot; saw 246 on the coolant temp at the top of the hill but never got the reduced power warning I've read about. Temps dropped instantly once the grade leveled out a bit. Back was a little squishy so I'm thinking about air bags (already using an Equalizer 4-point). Overall, really impressed with the little motor towing up to its max!
Ditch the stock shocks in the back if you haven't, it will help a lot. I don't even use my air bags, screws with the hitch too much since its a dual cam but the truck sits level anyways. What weight bars are you using?
2.7TT towing max - about 7,600 pounds. Everything is in the trailer so I'm good on payload (sticker says 1,500). Tongue weight is about 900lbs and my family is skinny (minus me). Pulled well through the AZ mountains but had to slow a little on the biggest hills. For those familiar with the area, it was I-17 up to Camp Verde (couple decent pulls), but then the big hills on highway 260 out of Camp Verde up to the rim. 8% extended grade brought me down to about 45MPH, but I'd consider that to still be pretty good for the load and the grade. Temperatures got a little hot; saw 246 on the coolant temp at the top of the hill but never got the reduced power warning I've read about. Temps dropped instantly once the grade leveled out a bit. Back was a little squishy so I'm thinking about air bags (already using an Equalizer 4-point). Overall, really impressed with the little motor towing up to its max!
I started with a 2.7 also with 7600# max. Get some stronger sidewall tires and better rear shocks. I now have a 5.0 with 11k max tow. The tires will make a huge difference in stability and will improve the softness issues you felt.
Ditch the stock shocks in the back if you haven't, it will help a lot. I don't even use my air bags, screws with the hitch too much since its a dual cam but the truck sits level anyways. What weight bars are you using?
Ya, I've thought about changing the shocks. A lot of people seem to be happy with the Billstiens but I'm pretty happy with the unloaded ride. Would different shocks make the unloaded ride stiffer?
Using 1,000lb bars but I think I should tighten them just a little....no sway though.
I started with a 2.7 also with 7600# max. Get some stronger sidewall tires and better rear shocks. I now have a 5.0 with 11k max tow. The tires will make a huge difference in stability and will improve the softness issues you felt.
Yup, once the stock tires wear out definitely upgrading. Probably move up to an LT tire. The ride wasn't bad by any means...just could be a little better
Ya, I've thought about changing the shocks. A lot of people seem to be happy with the Billstiens but I'm pretty happy with the unloaded ride. Would different shocks make the unloaded ride stiffer?
Using 1,000lb bars but I think I should tighten them just a little....no sway though.
I went with the Rancho's because they are adjustable, set them to 9 for towing and 5 for a slightly stiffer ride unloaded. Bilsteins will be a bit stiffer but not bad, the truck needs it honestly. You can try to tighten it up some more, see how it feels when towing, if its better leave it if no put it back no big deal. It takes time to find the right settings.
Trailer has a GVWR of 5000lbs
Havent taken it across the scale.
TV: 2016 2.7 ecoboost with 3.73 gears Lariat SCREW. Payload 1408lbs per door sticker.
Added a Tonneau cover and factory running boards.
87 performance/tow tune through 5star.
Did weigh the truck with a full tank of gas, my 2 kids, all the added accessories and came in at 5520lbs. Only missing was my wife and she’s around 110lbs. Leaves around 800lbs left for my tongue weight and hitch which puts me close to max if I use 15%.
I really do need to see where I’m at with the trailer fully loaded. I’m “guessing” around 4800lbs when we’re boondocking and minus the weight of 32 gallons of water when we’re not.
Per Fuelly, I get between 11-13 mpg.
Still on P rated tires, but will switch them out for E rated ones when it’s due.
Previous tow vehicles were an 08 Durango with the 5.7 hemi and a 06 F150 with the 5.4. All three vehicles towed it great
Last edited by Darnell Umagat; 09-07-2018 at 03:12 PM.
Reason: TT details
09-05-2018, 11:46 AM
