Overwhelmed and worried about safety
Hi all. I know threads of "can I tow XYZ with my ABC" probably get annoying and I've been reading and reading and reading. But I'm overwhelmed and my partner and I have never towed anything before. Th...
Forum Discussion
I would take the tow vehicle to a scale, fully loaded up with passengers, stuff you'd take camping and a full tank of fuel and subtract that from the GVWR rating on the door pillar sticker. Then you will know for sure what payload capacity you have left. The actual payload capacity of a TV can be somewhat less than what the sticker says. Since it sounds like you will be marginal, you might want to know exactly what you have available.
In the beginning we towed a 5K lb TT with an older V6 F150 that was at it's payload & towing capacity. Accelerated like a slug and couldn't make more than 35mph up steeper hills (around 7% grade). Terrible tow experience. Engine would often run flat out to make enough power just on moderate hills or in moderate headwinds on the flat. After just one season, we upgraded to a longer TT and F250. Sold the F150 to a coworker of DW and they had to replace the transmission shortly after even tho. it had low mileage. Even *if* you are at or just under the tow vehicle max capacities, it can make for a bad towing experience and can be really hard on the drivetrain.
Note that babies quickly grow up into teenagers! Plan on the payload going up over time. :)
In the beginning we towed a 5K lb TT with an older V6 F150 that was at it's payload & towing capacity. Accelerated like a slug and couldn't make more than 35mph up steeper hills (around 7% grade). Terrible tow experience. Engine would often run flat out to make enough power just on moderate hills or in moderate headwinds on the flat. After just one season, we upgraded to a longer TT and F250. Sold the F150 to a coworker of DW and they had to replace the transmission shortly after even tho. it had low mileage. Even *if* you are at or just under the tow vehicle max capacities, it can make for a bad towing experience and can be really hard on the drivetrain.
Note that babies quickly grow up into teenagers! Plan on the payload going up over time. :)
