Towing Help...(I know another one)
First time for a Travel Trailer purchase, and I have been going crazy looking everything up here and Ford F150 sites. When I bought the truck new four years ago I never thought I would be towing anyth...
Forum Discussion
I posted this in an F-150 forum and thought it useful in your situation. I am 6'-3" as well and wanted a higher ceiling height. Keep in mind that I just purchased this trailer this year and have old towed it 10 times.
Below is just my experience and not my suggestion since what I am comfortable driving, you might not be comfortable driving and I do not know everything about you...
First, my setup...
I tow a 2010 Keystone Hideout 30BHDS with my 2013 SCREW 4x4 Max Tow (door sticker gives me 1,834 for payload). It has two slides and a bunkhouse, not a large living space. I have not weighed the trailer, but the side sticker tells me the dry weight is 7,260. I would estimate that I travel with between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds worth of stuff in the trailer depending on the length of travel and the location of travel. I use a Blue Ox Sway Pro set up. Max tongue weight of my factory receiver says 1,150 pounds with a W/D hitch. I have added Air Lift Air Bags to the back and E rated tires. Most of my travel involves two lane state roads with a speed limit at or below 55mph, however I do travel the NYS Thruway sometimes at around 67mph. I rarely go more than 200 miles from home, and usually within 50 miles. Purchasing a larger truck was not an option.
Second, my thoughts...
I have zero problems running up to, or exceeding, the limits of my truck. I am not a full-timer and I rarely go so far that I am doing any damage. I believe that it's a truck, it's made to be a truck. Power wise, it has never struggled or lacked for power in any circumstance that I have encountered, but again, I am not climbing the Rockies. Since I am rarely on a wide open highway, crosswinds have never effected me. The few times on the NYS Thruway that have been "windy" have resulted in little action from the trailer at 67mphs, which gives me confidence in the Blue Ox. I can't tell you if they were 10mph winds or 200mph winds. I know that given the varying setup that I drive with (family, no family, wood, no wood, water, no water, etc.) that my traveling weight of the truck fluctuates greatly but the truck has handled fine regardless of the payload, but that is probably a result of the Air Lift. I do know that I have gone over the max tongue weight as well and have considered changing to a Class V hitch. I average around 7-8mph towing, but my trailer has a very large front wall.
Again, take it as you will, just my experience towing a larger trailer with a half-ton truck. My setup is below.
Below is just my experience and not my suggestion since what I am comfortable driving, you might not be comfortable driving and I do not know everything about you...
First, my setup...
I tow a 2010 Keystone Hideout 30BHDS with my 2013 SCREW 4x4 Max Tow (door sticker gives me 1,834 for payload). It has two slides and a bunkhouse, not a large living space. I have not weighed the trailer, but the side sticker tells me the dry weight is 7,260. I would estimate that I travel with between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds worth of stuff in the trailer depending on the length of travel and the location of travel. I use a Blue Ox Sway Pro set up. Max tongue weight of my factory receiver says 1,150 pounds with a W/D hitch. I have added Air Lift Air Bags to the back and E rated tires. Most of my travel involves two lane state roads with a speed limit at or below 55mph, however I do travel the NYS Thruway sometimes at around 67mph. I rarely go more than 200 miles from home, and usually within 50 miles. Purchasing a larger truck was not an option.
Second, my thoughts...
I have zero problems running up to, or exceeding, the limits of my truck. I am not a full-timer and I rarely go so far that I am doing any damage. I believe that it's a truck, it's made to be a truck. Power wise, it has never struggled or lacked for power in any circumstance that I have encountered, but again, I am not climbing the Rockies. Since I am rarely on a wide open highway, crosswinds have never effected me. The few times on the NYS Thruway that have been "windy" have resulted in little action from the trailer at 67mphs, which gives me confidence in the Blue Ox. I can't tell you if they were 10mph winds or 200mph winds. I know that given the varying setup that I drive with (family, no family, wood, no wood, water, no water, etc.) that my traveling weight of the truck fluctuates greatly but the truck has handled fine regardless of the payload, but that is probably a result of the Air Lift. I do know that I have gone over the max tongue weight as well and have considered changing to a Class V hitch. I average around 7-8mph towing, but my trailer has a very large front wall.
Again, take it as you will, just my experience towing a larger trailer with a half-ton truck. My setup is below.
