Pmr8519

Hello everyone, as 1 month ago after hard consideration, me and my wife decided that we will be living full time in a travel trailer along with our kid and two small dogs for 2-3 years as I am a travel nurse and she has her private online business and we tend to move once every year. Having to move from one place to another with a moving truck was expensive, and time consuming.

I am now in the process of truck hunting. Specifically a 2014-2017 f150 ecoboost with a 3.5L engine and rear axle ratios of 3.73 that fits 2 adults 1 child and 2 small dogs. now that you guys know exactly what truck I want, I have come to a spot where I really need help in regards to tow packages which I am ABSOLUTELY CONFUSED about, i checked ford website but as a new guy I honestly have no clue what the info means, and also I do not want to make an error buying the wrong towing package.


Here is a few details of what I will be towing around:

Travel Trailer:
GVWR (with personal cargo included) in between 8,500 to 9,000 lbs (this could be less but I am over estimating for good measure)
Size of trailer: 26ft-28ft

On the truck: 2 adults, one 7 year old and 2 small dogs 3 steel bicycles, miscellaneous equipment.

Total weight: 780 (again I overestimated weight in regards to equipment)

So know that you guys know my plan and weight my questions are:


Do I need a regular tow package or a max tow package?

what is the difference with both and how much would I be able to tow with either the regular trailer tow package or max trailer tow package?

I really need a detailed explanation broken down barney style please. I am in the learning process 😊😊

Steve Osborne

Would depend on distance traveled ....max tow will help the truck/tranny.....but the big thing is the payload......the load of family plus trailer i know youll be short......start looking at adding the hd package or looking at a f250...

Pmr8519

OK I will also start looking for f250's.

Few questions?

So I add payload, plus trailer gvwr and the trucks gvwr to see if I am exceeding the max?

Steve Osborne

The payload....the choice of truck...09-14 was a different type of calculation...here in canada...was different....15 up is a new standard.....so that being said....the payload for my 13 ruby was 1680lbs with max tow....my new 16 with max tow payload is 1740lbs.....now remember commercial 700lbs lighter..aluminum body........where did that go in payload.........

Payload is what truck carries....so on average....base models max is 1500lbs....max tow....may add up to 1700/1800...... and hd 2000....this is thinking in crew cabs...for others....not reg cabs.....reg cabs...up 3000 or more...lol

Nighthawk87

Just get a f350 and don't worry about weight. You'll upgrade to a 5th wheel if living full time I'm sure. Then you won't need a new truck...

BRUTE448

ill echo this, a f350 single rear wheel with the 6.7 power stroke diesel (PSD) will mate up to any thing u can thing of.

since you going full rv living id spend now vs trade and spend later

Pmr8519

Hey guys thanks for the info. We checked 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They are too big for us I know the max tow rating increases well enough to haul our trailer but the truck itself will be used for commutting. Here is the exact weights for the travel trailer. I found a few f150 ecoboost with maximum trailer towing capacity and some with the HD payload package. Thats the heaviest it will get. We are not planning to buy a 5th wheel even though we are staying full time for 2 years possibly 3 years max.

charles_slc

So you could have about 800 to 1200# of tongue weight with that camper. That tongue weight gets transferred to truck taking up available payload.

Given that you're going to be living in it, I'd plan on the max.

With the 780# for you, the family and other equipment in the truck ...plus another 100# for a WDH...

You're looking for a truck with at least 2100# of payload available...

You won't find that in an F-150 unless it has the Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP)

Assuming you're looking for a new or late model F-150...HDPP is only available in
XL base pkg (100a) & mid (101a)
XLT base (300a) & mid (301a)
Larient base (500a)

BRUTE448

either a low optioned xlt 11-14 eco max tow or HDPP or a 15+ max tow with or with out HDPP should spec out to fit that trailer. but to get 2100 payload or more dictates hdpp

Mike Up

IF your going to be living full time out of it, do it like everyone else and go up to a F350 diesel and a fifth wheel. That combination has been found over the years to be the best for towing long hauls, where people are living out of them. Then of course a class A motor home with a tag along econobox car.

Travel trailers are harder to tow and a 1/2 tons have a light duty class 4 hitch. For well loaded slide model travel trailers, you most likely will exceed the F150's hitch rating.

Most full timers I know or have met, either have the Fifth wheel/F350 diesel combination or a Class A Diesel Motorhome.

If your stuck on getting a 1/2 ton, I'd only recommend a Heavy Duty Payload Model with the 3.73 differential (can only get 3.5L Ecoboost and a 3.73 differential with the HD payload package), LT Tires and a 6 1/2' bed. You'll still be limited on a light duty hitch rating of 1200 lbs.

Diesel hitch ratings go from 14K to 17K but you can tow a much larger trailer that has a fifth wheel.

Also if you've never towed a trailer, going to such a large travel trailer will take some getting use to so you don't wreck it from not knowing how to handle it when you're getting blown around by high winds. Going with a fifth wheel and much heavier f350 truck will make it much more easier to tow in those situations.

Good luck.