99TexFan

I never considered payload when shopping for the truck, only looked at the GVWR, and the GCWR in the ford towing guide (7100lbss & 13500lbs). My mistake, and disappointed now that I am starting to understand all this. I bought the truck to hopefully buy a larger trailer, after seeing lots of newer f150's with large trailers all over the road, I didn't think twice about it. Guess I got blinded by marketing, bad salesmen, and ignorance. Now i know I should of gotten a f250. Anyhow, whats done is done, and the truck is what I have to work with.

Figuring out what I can safely tow is tough. The specs on the trailers are all over the place. Mostly they state just hitch weight, some have dry weight, and others have gross weight.

I really want a trailer with a super slide and a bunk house, and finding it difficult to find something in the weight range I need. Especially not knowing how much stuff will be packed onto the trailer from my family, and how much it will all weight.

atwowheelguy

As you have discovered, your desire for a large, heavy camper is not aligned with the payload of your truck. Kudos to you for researching it before you bought the camper.

Many of those F150s you see pulling large campers are significantly overloaded, and the owners are oblivious because they have never put it on a scale.

I bought an F150 because I had ridden in a diesel RAM 2500, and I knew that I did not want that as a daily driver. I bought an XLT in 2013 because the higher trim levels had lower payloads.

I found the specs on line for a toy hauler that I knew met most of my desires (except for the tiny bathroom) and that I thought met the weight limitations of the truck. Then I searched for over a year to find a good used one within a reasonable distance from my home.

When I got the truck and trailer loaded with people, camping gear, riding gear and motorcycles, I weighed it and discovered that the truck's rear axle weight was 50 lbs. under the Rear GAWR and the truck was 180 lbs. under the GVWR. I have since moved more gear from the truck to the trailer when I pack.

Velosprout

Much of a traditional travel trailer uses much of it's length just for sleeping area. With a hybrid expanding camper, you are towing just the length of the living area, and the fold-out ends of the camper provide comfortable queen beds without the excess towing length. A long single slide or double slides provide more floor space than many traditional campers. Check out http://www.forestriverinc.com/produc...156&Image=5057. My 21SS gives me the living space of a 29 foot camper without the towing length or the full weight.

RVerz

Lance

Atlee

You are a little wrong. You state no one tows with a full water tank. I always tow with a full tank. If I only used camp grounds with full hookups, I'd probably not carry a full tank.

But most of my fall camping, (college football season) is of the boondocking variety. Therefore must travel with full tanks. And all the other guys who come to the games also carry full water tanks.

atwowheelguy

If you don't mind being unconventional, you could try this:

https://www.f150forum.com/f82/finall...ked-up-256938/

SixShooter14

Maybe this is a dumb question...but where do I find the "max payload rating"

Martian

Sticker inside your door frame

SixShooter14

crap...how did I miss that?

this one: the 2112#?

schmenke

Yep, that's the one.
That's a hefty payload. Max Payload package?