How big of a truck do you need?

We travel with propane full, water only 5-6 gallons for the toilet. Why carry unnecessary weight. If boon docking fill towards the destination when possible. If not boon docking we never fill the tank, run off park water.

Dave

Thanks for the input folks. Yes I understand what dry weight is. We honestly do not plan on traveling with the TT loaded. Granted a 40 gallon water tank and full propane tanks will add about 400 pounds, but otherwise, we plan on buying food, etc, when we get to the destination. Our goal will be to keep the total traveling weight at 6000 or less.

There are folks on forums who would have you towing with a Mack truck. You can't go wrong with bigger, but you might not need it. Read the specs on your truck and your trailer and do the math.

You will be close to maxed out. I believe with the 6 speed trans the truck will pull and stop ok. More than likely you will be less than impressed with its towing ability. Where you will really notice the lack of power and stability is on longer days, you will stop in the evening and be exhausted from driving.

If you keep your loaded weight to about 6500 or less you should be fine, 300/320 and a 6 speed will get that kind of weight going just fine unless you have the least tow friendly gears. For comparison the fast lane truck guys took a 2016 GMC with the 5.3 (350/380) and pulled a 9,000lb horse trailer up the Ike (11,000 feet, 7 percent grade), 60/60 isn't going to make a 33 percent lighter trailer any more difficult to tow.

My TT has a GVWR of #5000... Towed it with a 97 F150 with the 5.4 in it and it did pretty good for the most part...

I only had the 4 speed trans and 3.55 gears, but I was in 2nd gear on most grades over 4 percent.. Towing on the flats, 3rd was best for all around towing. It would go into 4th going down hill or on the flats with a tail wind.. ;)

But, it towed it comfortably, no sway, no worries.. Just had to deal with the high rpms.. Not a bad thing, really, but....

Then I got my current F150.. Tow the same TT with it and OMG... What a different towing experience it is..

My wife and I can actually hear the radio or carry on a conversation while pulling a grade now.. I have never had to 'mat' the gas pedal going up a grade, or just trying to merge into traffic with the new truck.. With the old 97... Well, that pedal went to the floor at times..

JMO, but I'd stick to something in the #5000 GVWR for a TT with the 4.6...

Good luck!

Mitch

Do you understand what dry weight is?

Forget dry weight, nobody travels with a bare bones trailer straight off the carrier. You need to be more concerned with how much it is loaded with propane, water, groceries, bedding etc. Did I mention beer and Cheetos?
That trailer will weigh 7,000 + lb ready to go. Having tried towing with a 4.0 Ranger I would suggest your F-150 won't be up to the task. Power won't be there, handling will be marginal and gas mileage will be somewhere south of Argentina.