2011 Ford F150 and Travel Trailer

vmacky wrote:
I don't see why if I am within max truck payload, GCVWR and everything else.

As others have indicated, you're probably not with 800# of people/stuff in the truck. You can try to lighten the tongue, but that leads to sway problems if you go too far. At only 10% TW you're still going to be over, so I'd look for another TV.

Hybridhunter wrote:
With the WDH set up correctly, factoring in that a portion of the tongue weight is sent back to the trailer axles, it is realistic to use a the rated 865 as hitch weight as a ballpark, with a bit of that sent back to the trailer. Maybe a bit more when loaded
So 1400lbs - 800 tongue leaves you with 600lbs for people and stuff. Put the cargo in the trailer, and people only in the truck and you should have adequate payload for you and yours. (EDIT - Not only that but the springs are the low rated item on your truck, the axles and suspension are designed and rated for much more, it's the springs that dictate your vehicles GAWR, and GVWR).
But that's all a guess, but folks who tow full time have a vastly different bent as far as running heavy / daily driver compromise. you certainly are no over by much, and if set up correctly should be plenty safe. Being a few pounds heavy because of lower rated springs is not the end of the world.
Some pretty whacko tongue weight assumptions and lack of real world experience with regards to what ends up on the truck axles being posted, as usual.

"IF" the OP only loads 1100# into the trailer and most folks with a trailer that size load considerably more (we would routinely load 1200# into a 22' TT),... then he will have 1138# of TW (based upon 13% which is considered about right). "IF" that WDH transfers 20% of that weight back to the trailers axels (a very big IF), then he has 911# of TW + another 100 for the WDH + 800# of passengers he now has 1800#+ with only 1400# of payload. Do the math, he is at least, bare minimum, 400# (about 30%) over his payload and probably much more than that.

The above numbers assume minimal loading, empty tanks all around but that is just not how it works in the real world. Dump stations can be out of order or just backed up to the point that waiting an hour isn't an option so now add another 600 to 700# to the equation. Often you are probably headed downhill, now at 500 to 600# over your TV's GVWR....can you say white knuckle ride?

The OP gave us his numbers and asked for input and he can take or leave it but the numbers do not change. Nothing "Whacko" about the the TW numbers quoted here. The best advice here has been load it up and get to the scales and the numbers will be glaringly apparent but the bottom line is that to run hundreds of pounds in excess of your trucks rated GVWR is foolish, dangerous and illegal. :S

With the WDH set up correctly, factoring in that a portion of the tongue weight is sent back to the trailer axles, it is realistic to use a the rated 865 as hitch weight as a ballpark, with a bit of that sent back to the trailer. Maybe a bit more when loaded
So 1400lbs - 800 tongue leaves you with 600lbs for people and stuff. Put the cargo in the trailer, and people only in the truck and you should have adequate payload for you and yours. (EDIT - Not only that but the springs are the low rated item on your truck, the axles and suspension are designed and rated for much more, it's the springs that dictate your vehicles GAWR, and GVWR).
But that's all a guess, but folks who tow full time have a vastly different bent as far as running heavy / daily driver compromise. you certainly are no over by much, and if set up correctly should be plenty safe. Being a few pounds heavy because of lower rated springs is not the end of the world.
Some pretty whacko tongue weight assumptions and lack of real world experience with regards to what ends up on the truck axles being posted, as usual.

camp-n-family wrote:
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 lbs
1440-1975= 535lbs over weight

You'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.

I have to agree

Your truck is rated for a MAX trailer weight of 9300lbs. On paper, the truck will handle it. But given the (lack of) available payload in the 1/2-ton supercrews, you will quickly run up on the max payload as others have mentioned.

It may be OK, but it'll be pushing the limits of the tow vehicle's capabilities.

I have quite a bit more payload than you and use it up pretty quickly with four people and "stuff", and I only tow about 8000 lbs. I'm gonna guess you'll be over quite a bit and will not like the experience at all. More truck, IMO.

If you are going cross country get a bigger truck. For local camping put the other occupants in a car and you should be within ratings.

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 lbs
1440-1975= 535lbs over weight

You'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.

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..

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