Newbie here and appreciate what I have gathered from this forum so far. Just looking for opinions from some experienced people. Have a 2011 Ford F150 Super Crew with 3.73 rear axel, 5.0 L V8, 4x4, 145" WB, and tow package with anti sway control. Bought 2014 Keystone Hideout 31 RBDS (weight lists at 7660lbs). Have a dealer installed Curt WD hitch, and Primus Brake Controller installed. Checked Ford website for towing and it lists GCVWR as 15,100 and max trailer weight as 9300#. Towed home from dealership and everything rode well. Here is the but, my brother in law, who tows a lot for his job said that I need something bigger than my F150. I don't see why if I am within max truck payload, GCVWR and everything else. Looking for other's opinions. Thanks to all.

Welcome to the forum.Until you get your rig weighed in all-up, ready-to-go-camping configuration with gas, gear, and passengers you won't know if you're within limits or not. 1/2-ton trucks run out of payload before running out of towing capacity. Since you have a SCREW my guess is you have more than DW with you? Generator? Firewood? Bikes?

The listed max payload for my truck is 1440#, max payload for trailer I believe is around 2000#. We actually travel fairly light as far as equipment goes as our trips are usually shorter but I understand what you are saying. Curb weight of truck is listed as 5577#'s, weight of occupants would be about 800#'s, so I am figuring that as far as truck cargo goes, I could carry no more than around 600#'s of additional cargo and or no more than around 1100#'s of cargo in trailer if having little to nothing in the truck other than passengers. Am I figuring right or wrong? I am planning on getting my truck weighed with me and wife and WD hitch on so I know where I am at with the truck weight.

Not enough truck as you are well over its payload. If you only load 1,000# in the trailer and most folks, especially with a trailer that large, load far more than that, you will have more than 1100# of tongue weight + the 800# you acknowledge already loading. This puts you at least 500# over your trucks payload. The 5L is a fine motor and will pull it well.... on the flat but hit any real mountains and the not only will it be no fun going up coming down is going to be white knuckle city. Yours is the classic half ton contradiction, you cannot get close to its rated tow capacity without going well over payload. Get it to the scale and you will immediately see the problem. Good luck! :C

vmacky wrote:Newbie here and appreciate what I have gathered from this forum so far. Just looking for opinions from some experienced people. Have a 2011 Ford F150 Super Crew with 3.73 rear axel, 5.0 L V8, 4x4, 145" WB, and tow package with anti sway control. Bought 2014 Keystone Hideout 31 RBDS (weight lists at 7660lbs). Have a dealer installed Curt WD hitch, and Primus Brake Controller installed. Checked Ford website for towing and it lists GCVWR as 15,100 and max trailer weight as 9300#. Towed home from dealership and everything rode well. Here is the but, my brother in law, who tows a lot for his job said that I need something bigger than my F150. I don't see why if I am within max truck payload, GCVWR and everything else. Looking for other's opinions. Thanks to all.I have the same truck except I have the 3.55 axle. I tow the trailer in my sig that's around 6300lbs. loaded up and I wouldn't go any bigger than that. I'm close to my payload max with my setup so I can only assume you're over on yours. That thing will be over 8000lbs. if not 9000lbs. when it's ready for camping and that's pretty well super duty territory..

Your brothers right, not enough truck. If the delivered weight of your trailer is 7660 plus say around 1k of gear inside it puts you over 8500lbs ready to travel. The average tongue weight for trailers is around 13% which gives you at least 1100lbs in tongue weight (probably more)which counts against your trucks payload of 1440lbs. If you have 800lbs of passengers and stuff in the truck, you only have 640lbs left for the tongue weight. You also have to account for the weight of the hitch (~75lbs)800+1100+75=1975 lbs1440-1975= 535lbs over weightYou're at least 500lbs over you trucks payload and that's probably a best case scenario. Since you already bought the trailer it would be a good idea to load it up and take it all to the scales.

2011 Ford F150 and Travel Trailer | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

spud1957
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
vmacky wrote:
So thanks to everyone from previous responses, went with Ford F350 diesel as my new tow vehicle and made the first trip. Quickly realized that the super duty was much needed and made the 4 hour trip pleasurable.

Wow. Nice upgrade!!!

Pictures ??
vmacky
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
So thanks to everyone from previous responses, went with Ford F350 diesel as my new tow vehicle and made the first trip. Quickly realized that the super duty was much needed and made the 4 hour trip pleasurable.
vmacky
Explorer
Nov 03, 2013
This is why I already love this forum. I appreciate everyone's responses and the time to respond. Since I bought this in October and it was already winterized, the trailer is in storage and I will look for a Super Duty come April or May. Thanks again and happy camping to all.
Hybridhunter
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
The rear axle on the F150 can bear almost the entire payload and not be overloaded on most models. Not really a concern on his model, as the axle is derated to the spring rating.
Ford does "recommend" only restoring 1/2 the weight post 2011. However, if "required" to keep things below GAWR, I doubt there would be an issue. It was a change in recommendation in 2011, prior to that they stated differently. (Only change at that point was a switch to EPS) However, the WDH setup instructions from Ford, if followed, can lead to near 80%+ restoration if followed. Some conflict there.....
APT
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
I'd like to point out the Ford recommend for 2011+ F-150 that only half of the front axle load is restored by using a WDH, which would put even less weight back on TT axles.

7600 pounds dry is too much for the most capable half tons, and OP does not have the most capable half ton.

I recommend the OP weighing the setup, 3 passes like GIJoe listed. Then he can compare with all his ratings (GCWR, axle, GVWR, etc). I suspect he is traveling at least 500 pounds over rear axle and over truck GVWR.
lbrjet
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
Hybridhunter wrote:
lbrjet wrote:
1/3 of the TW does not get transferred to the trailer, show me your weight tickets. Typically it is more like 15-20%. There are numerous examples of three scale weightings on this forum and I have never seen 1/3. It is usually less than 20%.

I stated 1/3 of the weight removed from the rear axle goes rearward to the trailer. I concur with 15-20% of gross tongue weight as an accurate number. I have spreadsheets for a couple trailers that show in between those, shank length, TV length, and trailer length determining actual.

Sorry, I misunderstood your post.
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
I agree with you Barney, frontal area makes a big difference and I was remiss in not including that. For example it is much easier towing a boat than a TT. Just mentioning that TTs are expected to have 10 to 15% whereas manufacturers specs often assume 10%. My current setup is closer to 15%. Therefore would recommend getting the loaded rig on the scales so real numbers are available and then the math is easy.

Good luck,
Stu
Hybridhunter
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
lbrjet wrote:
1/3 of the TW does not get transferred to the trailer, show me your weight tickets. Typically it is more like 15-20%. There are numerous examples of three scale weightings on this forum and I have never seen 1/3. It is usually less than 20%.

I stated 1/3 of the weight removed from the rear axle goes rearward to the trailer. I concur with 15-20% of gross tongue weight as an accurate number. I have spreadsheets for a couple trailers that show in between those, shank length, TV length, and trailer length determining actual.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Oct 13, 2013
AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
Snip...

As far as the trucks tow weighting the manufacturer assumes you are pulling a flatbed when making those numbers. A travel trailer is different, primarily with more tongue weight.

Good luck,
Stu

Primarily it is the frontal area that makes towing a TT different from a flat bed. Tongue weights could easily be the same but the TT will tow much harder.
Barney
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013
As mentioned you want to load up like you will be camping and get it on a scale. I suspect your brother in law is right. Don't forget to look at the receiver rating as well.

I have the HD Towing and Max Payload and tow a fraction over 8,000. My tongue weight is near the receiver max of 1,150. Your receiver may be less and your payload will likely be exceeded.

As far as the trucks tow weighting the manufacturer assumes you are pulling a flatbed when making those numbers. A travel trailer is different, primarily with more tongue weight.

Good luck,
Stu