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RobWNY's avatar
RobWNY
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014

Help with the towing math

Hello. I am a new member here and this is my first post. This is a question often asked on here and the answers that have been given are always helpful to those that have asked but I am having a difficult time understanding and figuring out whether my Tow Vehicle is ok with the Travel Trailer I purchased this past November. I know that the bigger heavy duty Tow Vehicles I could purchase would be better but will my setup work and how much wiggle room do I have for gear (How much weight can I safely add to the Trailer and how much additional weight can I put in the truck? I weigh 200 LBS and my wife weighs 130 Lbs.)? The Travel Trailer we purchased is a 2014 Heartland Trail Runner 27RKS and the truck I have is a 2012 F150 with Ecoboost. it does not have the Max Tow Package and has the 3.55 rear end. Below I have added the specs of both the Travel Trailer and the Truck. At least as much info as I could find. Unfortunately, I don't have a weigh station close by either as some have suggested should be used to get actual weights of truck, trailer and both combined. Thanks in advance for any information that will be helpful.

Travel Trailer Specs

Dry Weight 6,442
Hitch Weight 500
Width 8'0"
Height 11'2"
Length 33'5"
Axles (2) 3500
Tires ST205/75R15-C
Fresh Tank 47 Gal.
Gray Tank 70 Gal.
Black Tank 35 Gal.
Propane (2) 30 Lb Tanks
Awning Length 17'


Cargo Carrying Capacity 1698 Lbs
Calculated with the Fresh Water Tanks Full Cold 240 Lbs Hot 50 Lbs
Waste Water when tanks are Full 872 Lbs

GVWR 9000 Lbs

Truck Specs

The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1486 Lbs
GVWR 7200 Lbs
Front GAWR 3750 Lbs
Rear GAWR 3850

GCWR 15400
Max Loaded Trailer 9700
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Mar 01, 2014
    On paper, it looks like it should work.. MAX TOW gets you higher GVW ratings that would be a bit more of a cushion for that trailer IMO.. ;)

    I'd probably consider towing that with my 13 F150, but I'd bet it would be maxed out on even it's GVW ratings..

    Sounds like you already have both rigs, so I guess the last thing to do is hitch it up and see how you like it.. ;)

    You either like how it tows or not, regardless of what the paper math says..

    Good luck and I hope it all works for you!

    Mitch
  • VintageRacer's avatar
    VintageRacer
    Explorer
    Mar 01, 2014
    You will probably be fine but at the upper limit. You don't have some critical information - actual unloaded axle weights, which you can probably get reasonable numbers on from Ford literature if you look hard. That will tell you how much tongue weight you can put on to the rear axle and how much cargo capacity you will have after passengers, fuel and tongue weight. Your trailer is probably going to weigh 7,000 with propane and fresh water full, and 8,000 with your camping stuff loaded (either in the trailer or in the truck bed). That puts a tongue weight around 800 - 1000 lbs, maybe 15% less with a good weight distribution hitch. All within the capacity of the truck. If it will perform to your hopes in those east coast hills with a 3.55 differential is another question, but it should be safe. I would personally invest in some high end shocks, probably Bilsteins. The stock truck suspension is pretty floaty.

    Brian

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