Greetings one and all,

Looking at buying a 2010 Keystone Cougar 1/2 ton model 25rls.

I have a 2010 F 150 s/cab 4x4 5.4,6 speed Auto trans. Factory Tow package. Dry weight of Trailer 6200#,loaded 7800#.

Has anyone pull this style Travel trailer ? What can I expect on long pulls in Mountains and Grades cross country? Would this be to much for my truck?

Thanks in advance

WWR

 

absolutely it will! Me and my pops hunt gators in canadas rocky mountains and boy did we get some whoppers this winter, Id say all them gators had to weigh at least 7800lbs , if not more (some were missing teeth and such so i couldnt get an accurate weight) but man did that truck pull through the mountains

 

You should be fine, remember its not tow capacity that you will exceed its the trucks payload that really controls trailer weight. Your truck weights in from the factory just under 5500lbs, before bed liner truck cap/bed cover and anything else you've added to it Bull bar, offroad lights, etc. It has a 7200 GVWR and a payload rating of 1670 (this will be on the yellow stick in the door). If you are towing the trailer at max weight, 7800lbs, and it actual tongue weight is 1000lbs (12.8% of trailer which is in the range of most TTs), you will have 670 lbs left. The WDH tend has some weight as well, so you can knock of the 70lbs and you have 600lbs left. If you put a cap or hard tonnue on, once you and the significate other hop in with the dogs and kids, etc you may not have the weight capacity to load the bed with firewood, the big gas grill, etc. Remember a 1000lbs on the trailer will only take up 120 to 130 lbs of payload, so try to load the trailer as much as possible, in order to take what you want with you and on over load your truck.

Happy Camping

 

Bojangles - You never did learn when you were a kid........ Looks are not everything!

^^ Just because you look funny does not mean you are funny ^^

PS - I know I didn't........ I still think I am funny

 

Tom,
Thanks for the reply.. One question will the truck pull the grades O.K. say 45 MPH or so generally speaking. I don't want to be pulling at 35 mph on hills.

 

WOW, thats some good crack your on

 

I like the 5.4l but not for towing the Cougar. I think the mtn grades and altitude will really zap its power and you wont be happy.. How does your truck do on the I84 Pendleton grade solo? Life in the slow lane!

 

Goes up and dow cabbage hill no issues.

WWR

 

A lot may depend on the rear end ratio. Think you would want at least 3.73 in the mountains.

 

I have a 2005 FX4 w/ the 5.4L. Unlike most vehicles I have owned it seems to like to be left in drive (OD left ON) when pulling hills and just let the trans do the work. The one issue I would see is if you have someone jump in front of you and you have to make rapid throttle changes otherwise it seems to lock the converter and go at 45 and above. If I lock out OD (use the button to shut it off) then it seems to rev high and does not see to do as well. So if I drop down enough in speed I will physically place the trans in second as it seems to engage the locked torque convert feature in the trans, were Drive-OD off seems to hunt trying to lock up the torque converter, it may be due to speed as well as this is usually between 35 and 45mph that I notice this. Also, you may have Tow/Haul mode switch on the 2010 which I do not. If so engage it as it will set higher shift points and maintain convert lockup better.

FYI: If you are sure you have the max tow option (tow cap over 11,000lbs & GCWR of 17,000 or more) then you definitely have the 3.73 rear. Otherwise you will have a GCWR under 15,000 & Tow Cap of 8300 for the 3.31 rear, if the GCWR is 15,400 & Tow Cap is 9700, then you will need to check the axle tag as it could be either 3.73 or 3.55. The 3.55 is not horrable, it will just struggle more pulling heavy up hill.

For everyone that might think its a trans problem I have a 2002 ranger with the 5 speed auto with the 3.0L and it has the same tendancies as the F150 when it comes to pulling up hill, maybe at little different speed.