Towing a Travel trailer with a nATV in the bed
 

2010 F150 SCAB with the 6.5 box. 5.4L engine 3.73 gear and tow package

I have a 20' foot TT with a gvw of about 4000 pounds.

I carry a Polaris Sportsman 800 touring model ATV (factory two up so a little longer) when ATVing locally. I want to carry it in the bed of my truck (when strapped down, the tail gate has to stay open) and then using a 'stinger' extension (to allow for clearance when turning because of the lowered tailgate) on the tow bar.

The Polaris rides fine (it's about 1,000 pounds) when driving at road speed (70 mph) but I have not yet tried it with the trailer.

As I have never attempted this i have some concerns about safety. Any thoughts or does anyone else ever do it and if so, what has been your experience?

thanks in advance!

What is the payload on your truck?

I imagine you will be over unless you have max tow. And the stinger extension will make it ride even heavier with the TT.

1000# atv
Tongue weight of at least 400# (probably more like 500-600 when loaded)
At least 160# per adult, plus any kids, plus atv riding gear.

At bear minimum you are looking at 1700#. And that's probably a light guess.

I have towed with an extension, it is a horror show. The side sway is amplified, the bounce is as well. I pulled a 20 foot flat with 3 tent trailers on it at about 3000 lbs total load. This was behind a 3500 Chev and even empty the trailer drove the truck. Good luck if you go that way, I found it was white knuckle time at anything over about 40 miles an hour.

Does your truck have the trailer sway control installed?

I do have max tow and the payload is 7700. I use a WD hitch and the truck does have the sway control. I will also be adding Ride-rite air bag system to the shocks.

Your gvwr is 7700. Your payload is more like 1750

Why don't you take off the tailgate instead of the extension? Only the tires will stick out a smidge.

And I have almost the same atv and if you build blocks under the tires to get any bumpers OVER the tailgate and front part of the bed it will fit with closing the tailgate. I don't like doing it because you literally have 2" before the winch plate will come through the back window.

Or you can get a deck over the bed and put it on there. I've seen them around here, but I have no clue how they get the atv's up there :)

Oh and you'll be close on your payload, 400+1000 is 1400, and then whatever else you have in your truck.