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Jeff_R1's avatar
Jeff_R1
Explorer
Jun 29, 2016

Buying today or tomorrow

Morning all.

For those who remember or frequent the thread, I originally posted my aspirations on this thread with hopes to get my needs while doing it with a large SUV.

After some thought, the wife and I scratched the SUV idea and are closing a deal today for a new F150 crew cab with a 3.5l ecoboost and upgraded Tow package. This eliminates the limits on trailer choice. We also increased our trailer budget to $45k CAD. We've narrowed our choices down somewhat but have not committed to either as of yet.

There's the Puma which has everything in our wishlist. Separated bunk house with a true door, outdoor kitchen, second entrance, and internal decor the wife can live with (she prefers lighter neutral colors opposed to the dark's that are more common)

Our current second option is the Rockwood.

Anyone out there have or currently camping with either of these models or similar? Thanks in advance to any advice or suggestions

20 Replies

  • rockhillmanor wrote:
    Whatever weight the truck says it supposedly 'can' tow. Take that and cut that figure in half add a 1,000 lbs. Buy a TT that weighs that much and you will be a very safe and happy camper running down the road.:C
    ++++ And if you intend to tow in the mountains a lot, consider more truck.
  • Whatever weight the truck says it supposedly 'can' tow. Take that and cut that figure in half add a 1,000 lbs. Buy a TT that weighs that much and you will be a very safe and happy camper running down the road.:C
  • I'm thinking it's too late on the truck. Maybe find a lighter trailer
  • I would really consider the F250 instead of the F150. It's better to have a little more truck than not enough. I have a 2016 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2906WS which is great for my wife and I, but it weighs 8200# loaded and has a 1200# tongue weight. I use a Reese Striat Line dual cam hitch with 1500# bars and the system works great. I bought an F250 because I've had 1/2 ton trucks and they just don't have the stability of a 3/4 ton truck. Good luck with what every you decide.
  • We have a similar puma we got back in 2010 and it's been rock solid minus some routine maintenance. Check out Cheyenne camping center in Iowa on the web. They have cheap prices and will give you a good reference on where to start with price. When we bought the trailer Also bought a new truck at the same time. Silverado 1500 max tow 9300lbs. I did not understand all the weights as far as towing goes and thought I would be good to go. About three trips in I told the wife we need to get a smaller trailer as it was white knuckle all the way. I never spent much time trying to tweak things as I really didn't know much about it. I was going to trade it in and I stumbled across the propride hitch and thought I would give it a try 2k later it was a substantial difference still not ideal but I was able to pull the rig with the truck 5 more seasons until I got a new 2500 last fall. Its where I should of started. The truck is a pain to park gets lousy gas mileage but tows hands down better.
  • When we upgraded to a 33 ft trailer (about 8000 lb) our F150 with tow package did not do well and we got an excursion just to pull the TT with. If you want relaxed driving ,read the numbers be for you buy.
  • Jeff_R wrote:
    After some thought, the wife and I scratched the SUV idea and are closing a deal today for a new F150 crew cab with a 3.5l ecoboost and upgraded Tow package. This eliminates the limits on trailer choice.


    With any trailer weighing 8000 lbs dry I wouldn't be quite so confident ... every vehicle has it's limits and towing at 100% is no fun no matter what vehicle you have. ;)
  • Those are still big trailers even for the truck spec'd for max towing. I second the integrated WD/sway control system, I think you will need it.
  • 8k dry is really getting high for even a max tow package F-150. Get a good WDH with integrated sway control.