2018 F-150 hype....believe it or not?
So while looking into travel trailers, I’m also looking into the trucks to pull it. I’m applying the same rule of weights that I was applying to truck campers when I was looking into them; whatever th...
Forum Discussion
"Max" tow ratings are what they sound like...the maximum amount of weight the vehicle is capable of towing. But that's hardly relative to anything other than a direct load weight.
There is a standard called SAE J2807 (loosely referred to in this thread) which is supposed to identify the methodology behind determining tow ratings. The idea is that all manufacturers could present their tow ratings based on apples-to-apples data. But the standard still lacks many real word application, especially for RVers. You can pay to read the standard or look for the bullet points. Some of them are as follows:
***Vehicle must repeatedly move from rest for a distance of 16 feet on a 12 per cent grade five times in succession in both forward and reverse direction within five minutes*** - Not applicable for constant highway towing.
***Vehicle must maintain a minimum cruising speed, ranging from 30-40 mph (depending on number of rear wheels and GVWR as per acceleration above) while climbing ‘Davis **** grade’ — a notorious 12-mile stretch of highway between Arizona and Nevada. This grade varies from three to seven per cent, averaging five per cent*** - Probably a useful test, but I would like to keep speed at something less 5K - 6K RPM's.
***The vehicle must be capable of stopping within 35-80 feet or less (as per number of rear wheels and GVWR above) from 20 miles per hour without the use of trailer brakes while remaining within a standard 11.5-foot wide lane*** - Since most people are moving WAAAAYYYY faster than 20 MPH, I have a hard time fully understanding this one.
Of course, there are many other tests that go with it, but the idea clearly isn't to identify the maximum tow capabilities for a truck hauling a RV at normal highway speeds and in normal highway conditions. Also, keep in mind that these ratings are developed for BRAND NEW vehicles...when all the systems should be in perfect operating condition. And these tests aren't performed again once the vehicle has 5K miles, 10K miles, etc. They're probably also performed with trailers in perfect operating condition, including balance, alignment, perfectly loaded, etc.
As someone who has been towing trailers big and small with trucks big and small all my driving life, I'll choose the bigger truck.
There is a standard called SAE J2807 (loosely referred to in this thread) which is supposed to identify the methodology behind determining tow ratings. The idea is that all manufacturers could present their tow ratings based on apples-to-apples data. But the standard still lacks many real word application, especially for RVers. You can pay to read the standard or look for the bullet points. Some of them are as follows:
***Vehicle must repeatedly move from rest for a distance of 16 feet on a 12 per cent grade five times in succession in both forward and reverse direction within five minutes*** - Not applicable for constant highway towing.
***Vehicle must maintain a minimum cruising speed, ranging from 30-40 mph (depending on number of rear wheels and GVWR as per acceleration above) while climbing ‘Davis **** grade’ — a notorious 12-mile stretch of highway between Arizona and Nevada. This grade varies from three to seven per cent, averaging five per cent*** - Probably a useful test, but I would like to keep speed at something less 5K - 6K RPM's.
***The vehicle must be capable of stopping within 35-80 feet or less (as per number of rear wheels and GVWR above) from 20 miles per hour without the use of trailer brakes while remaining within a standard 11.5-foot wide lane*** - Since most people are moving WAAAAYYYY faster than 20 MPH, I have a hard time fully understanding this one.
Of course, there are many other tests that go with it, but the idea clearly isn't to identify the maximum tow capabilities for a truck hauling a RV at normal highway speeds and in normal highway conditions. Also, keep in mind that these ratings are developed for BRAND NEW vehicles...when all the systems should be in perfect operating condition. And these tests aren't performed again once the vehicle has 5K miles, 10K miles, etc. They're probably also performed with trailers in perfect operating condition, including balance, alignment, perfectly loaded, etc.
As someone who has been towing trailers big and small with trucks big and small all my driving life, I'll choose the bigger truck.
