spawndn72

My wife and I are looking to buy a travel trailer.

I have a 2015 Supercab with the 2.7L, 3.73 gears, normal payload package and I think I have the 53B towing package.

The towing guide from Ford says I can tow 8100lbs, but what is a realistic weight that I can tow comfortably. I am a complete newb at towing. The only thing I have towed at this point was a pop-up camper that weighed 1800lbs. Honestly, I could not even tell it was back there.

Also does the length of the camper factor into the equation?

Thanks in advance.

acadianbob

Don't look at the overall weight of the trailer too much. More important is the WET (loaded) tongue weight of the trailer and the weight of people, pets, hitch, stuff, that goes into (onto) your truck. All of the that stuff (including you) comes out of payload capacity. That is very likely the first limit that you will approach.

The payload capacity of YOUR truck is on a yellow sticker in the door jam.

spawndn72

Ok, My sticker says 1625 lbs.

So - 720lbs for people, 120 lbs for gas, 100 lbs for WDH, 100lbs of stuff leaves 585 for the tounge weight of the trailer. Assuming 10% for the tounge weight, that gives me a maximum trailer weight of 5850lbs or there abouts, does that sound right?

SixShooter14

10% TW is on the light end of the spectrum. (10-15%) typically 13% is a good target tongue weight, that leaves you with a 4500# WET trailer. That sure isn't much trailer for 720lbs of people.

you have 120# for gas. Is that extra gas in the bed? I believe your PL sticker includes a full 23gal. tank. (someone please correct me if wrong)


also try to load as much of that other 100# of stuff in the trailer.

spawndn72

Yes, we are big people, that's two adults and 2 kids.
I was not aware that the weight of gas was already included.

SixShooter14

I believe it is... BUT I could be wrong, my memory isn't exactly top notch.

regardless, that's still not much trailer. anything to lighten the load on the truck would help. Maybe even taking a second vehicle to haul people and stuff, perhaps a high mpg car.

Unless you're happy with a 5k# WET (loaded) trailer. In which case, go have some fun.

11screw50

Yup, the weight of the gas is already taken into account, the payload number assumes a full tank of gas.

humblerb

The weight of the people is going to limit your trailer size.
The Dry Weights are fairly useless.
But I typically add 1,200# to them for the gear that we would normally add.
You are left with 900# after factoring in the passenger weight. After you take out the other things you have listed (except gas), you are down to around 700#.
At 13% tongue weight, you have 5400# wet, which would be 4200# dry for me.
If you move that 100# of other out of the truck and to the trailer, you can add about 85# to your available payload (785#), which allows you about 600# more in trailer weight.
If you are looking at short tows and can take another vehicle, getting the passengers out of your truck is going to give you a lot of added payload. If not, about 6000# wet is all you have.
Just a tip, if you do decide to move the passengers out, try to stay at about 6,000# dry (7200# wet). Our first trailer was about 8500# wet. While my truck would tow it, every trip ( all 4-5 of them) were white knuckle. Decided to bite the bullet and trade it in after about 6 months.
I can't describe the difference between a 7500# load and an 8500# load. A world of difference to me.

spawndn72

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to know what I could buy before I started shopping. I did not want to fall in love with something only to find out I could not tow it.

Thinking the 1700BH version of this would be perfect for us and it looks like I could tow it with room to spare.

http://winnebagoind.com/products/tra...innie/overview

Thanks again.

acdii

I have a Coleman 274BH, sleeps 6-8 people. My truck has a 1470# payload, and with just me and two kids, not a problem, add two more adults and I am 300# over gross. We solved this by taking a second car for long trips. Short trips under 50 miles we will all pile in the truck.