Ricktwuhk

The chart provided several spots away clearly shows the differences in the packages, for example the upgraded stabilizer bar.

TandCPlusRV

I get that. But for the 2.7, it looks like all I'd be missing is the auxiliary cooling - which is what most folks have said is the critical thing for the 2.7 - and the stabilizer bar. So can I have them add the cooling and do I need to bother with the stabilizer (or is that something that can even be added after the fact).

old_programmer

Without the tow pkg your truck's maximum towing is 500/5000 lbs. Yes the auxiliary transmission cooler is needed to go above that. I tow a 3100 lbs TT and personally would tow that without the transmission cooler. Heat is the enemy and towing longer distances or up in the mountains will generate heat.

As far as max towing weight my Scab w/Trailer tow pkg and the way we load it could mathematically handle the maximum Ford spec'ed weight. Realistically I think the max weight would be in the 5K-5.5K range. This is to keep the same driving performance I am seeing today.

I think you are too anxious to buy a new truck. Look around the site and see how many folks didn't buy enough truck and are trading them in after a short time for a higher capacity vehicle. If you intend to tow then you need to wait and get a properly configured truck. Also if you really want to go to higher towing capacities then you should probably be looking at the 3.5L Ecoboost trucks as they have a much higher towing and payload capacity then the 2.7L for the same trim levels. The 2.7L is a good tow vehicle, I own one, but you aren't going to be able to tow the maximum from the Ford charts. You will also be limited compared to the V8 or 3.5L as to how heavy you can go if you decide you want a larger trailer. Another thing to keep in mind is the higher the trim level the lower the towing capacity.

So what you really need to determine is what is the largest trailer you intend to tow during your ownership of the truck? You then buy the truck to match the trailer. This is the same question we asked when we bought ours. We knew any engine/model was enough for our current trailer. We intend to replace it in another year or two with a trailer with a GVW between 5K-5.5K. Knowing this allowed us to go with the 2.7L w/Trailer Tow pkg.

TandCPlusRV

I might very well be! The particular truck I'm close on has been on my radar since February. They still have it and it has gotten cheaper and cheaper. If it had the factory tow package, this would be my ideal truck. It's just my wife and I, no kids, so I don't think we'd end up in a big heavy trailer. We've looked at smaller winnies and lances. We're avid RV'ers but have always had motorized units in the past. Just decided that they were too expensive to maintain/justify while we are still busy working people. Looking to get our first travel trailer. Most of the units we've looked at have a max GVWR of 6000 pounds or less. The lance we like is under 3k dry and under 5k fully loaded to capacity. My questions are mostly because I really like this particular truck in every other way. Just trying to get clarification on whether adding the tow package elements individually after the fact is the same as having the tow package. As many threads as there are floating around out there I never seem to see a definite answer. It seems to me if I added a cooler and front sway bars to a truck that already has the factory hitch and 4/7 connectors (which this does) I'd have a truck with the same specs as the tow package. This trailer towing has been a whole new world. Thanks again to all for your wisdom, insight, and ideas.

old_programmer

We are in the same situation being empty nesters. It sounds like you are looking at similar size trailers to what we are. We currently tow a Palomini 142CK. Loaded it weighs in at 3100 lbs. Its GVW is 36nn lbs. For our next trailer we were leaning towards the Winnabago Micro Minnie, Jaco Jay Feather and CampLite models. All come in with a GVW around 5K-5.5K lbs based on the tags we've seen on the dealer lots. We are still a year or two away so things will likely change by then.

If you are willing to add the transmission cooler and sway bar I think you would have the same equipment as the Trailer Tow Pkg. You will also need to add a brake controller. I really suggest going with the factory one. The only thing you need a dealer for is to activate it (or use Forscan) once it is installed. I was able to find a local dealer who installed it and activated it for me at the hourly rate. Since it only took 30 minutes they only charged me $45. It saved me a little over $100 over the factory installed price. So I guess if you are willing to get the additional work done the truck could work out for you as it has us.

TandCPlusRV

Yep! We're in the same situation looking in a very similar trailer market. How do you like your Palomini? We saw one at an RV show last year and really liked it. Have not found any used in our area and, if memory serves the nearest dealer is a bit of a hike from us. Both the Palomini and the Micro Minnies are on our list as well!

Thanks for the insight on adding the tow package accessories. I feel pretty confident that we don't want to tow anything much bigger than the 5-6k pound range. Part of the reason for getting out of motorized units is the upkeep but we are also trying to simplify a little. We like the cramped little no-slide units no one else buys, it seems. Nothing to do but go hike and drink some beers once we get to the camp site.

spotdog14

Yes, heat is a problem. I noticed that my coolant temp was getting pretty high on our last outing with our 4,000 lbs Jayco. I ended up locking out 6th gear to get the turbo's to stop spooling so much.

old_programmer

Ours was the first year for the Palomini and I'm not even sure Palomino makes our model anymore. We had a couple of issues that were definitely related to new production line screw ups. We bought from a dealer about 3 hrs from here. Other than those I would say the quality is on par for the industry which isn't stellar. Palomino was quick on sending me the parts for those things I decided to repair myself. They also arranged to have a local Forest River dealer handle the bigger manufacturing repairs and had them done the way I wanted.

This was our first trailer. We had always been tenters up until we bought it. We have no regrets buying the trailer. We went into it realizing that this trailer was the one we would learn what we wanted the most in a future trailer. With the 7 ft wide ones a slide is important to us. If one of us is working in the galley there isn't enough space between the counter and table for the other to pass by easily. Likewise we want a walk around bed so one doesn't have to crawl over the other. The last is a larger bath. Since we rarely boon dock and use campground facilities the wet bath in ours is ok but as we get older is getting harder to bet in and out of. So we want a larger bath. Since you already have experience in an MH you should already know what you need.

thrifty biil

Dealers will naturally tell you whatever truck they have in stock is PERFECT for your needs. As a buyer, you need to do your own research.

Myself, I am not buying a truck without the tow package. I would just keep shopping instead.

And realize a lot of camper owners upgrade, always to larger trailers. So extra capacity in your tow vehicle is very handy to have!

spotdog14

I cannot reiterate this enough! My in-laws just bought a camper that they intended to tow with our Expedition. They were originally looking at an R-Pod that weighed 3,750 lbs wet, instead the sales person talked them into something that weighs close to 8,000 lbs wet. The tow rating on our Expedition is only 8,600 lbs. I was mildly upset when I went to pick up their new camper as it was far closer to the max rating as I would want it to be even without including cargo in the TV, passenger weight, etc etc.

In contrast we have a Jayco JayFeather 7 19BH that weighs under 4,000 lbs wet and we tow it with our F-150 that has a rating of like 10,200 lbs or something like that.