How Much Truck For This Trailer?

Your Keystone Laredo is right in line with my Keystone Outback (3 slides, and similar floor plan), weight and length. I tow with a Chevy Diesel 3500 duly. The weights are about the same for both trailers, but add the weight for propane tanks and battery, camping supplies, and people / pets, and you can easily reach 13,000.

I can only speak from experience. My 3500 diesel duly tows my trailer incredibly magnificent. To the best of my knowledge, I've never had trailer sway that I know of (I attribute that to the dual wheels), It tows at 60 mph through the mountains of Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Carolina flawless. It retains the speed, doesn't loose power, and truly tows like nothing is behind the truck. Through those mountains, I am usually the one passing 4 wheeled vehicles struggling up those mountains (especially I40 between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC).

I do use an Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch system and apply enough pressure to just keep the truck level. With nearly 900 plus pounds hanging about 7 feet beyond the rear axle, the truck does squat about an inch and a half, enough to make the headlights shine in the trees. The WD hitch levels it back out.

You certainly can get any kind of truck you want, but if you want a very comfortable (never, never, never a white knuckle tow in even the worst weather or the hilliest roads... go bigger and diesel! You'll never regret it!)

The problem is gonna be your hitch weight. The limit on the 2017 F150 is I think 1250. Rig in my Sig - which is far lighter than what you want to tow, sits right at 1100 lbs. on the hitch. There are a few aftermarket hitches that can go higher, but for my 2013 F150 HD, they didn't make one....only for non-HD which made no sense.

As much as I'm a proponent of the F150 EB HD - Engine could handle the mountains no problem, I'd go with the 250/350 for the hitch alone.

On RV.net 1 ) the only thing a 1/2 can safely pull is a pop-up 2) If you need to go over more than an overpass you need a diesel 3) IF you need a 3/4T you should buy a 1T for your families safety and those around them... I'd personally I'd get a 3/4T class pickup.

If one is going to use mtns in context, one should point out elevation is more important, than just mtns! If above 6-7000' frequently, then a forced induction motor is better, be it a turbo on a diesel, or supercharger on a gas rig.
If one has.the ~2500 lbs of payload for hitch, 500-700 lbs for 2 people, plus Mr Winston the supper puppy in my case, hitch etc. 250+ ponies, you should be fine. If below any.of these issues, then, you'll probably.have issues......

Marty

ShinerBock wrote:
Either an F150 3.5L EB with the HD payload package or an F250 will easily pull that. The F250 6.2L will pull it with better stability and better engine braking while the F150 will pull it with better performance and maybe better fuel mileage.

x2

I'll add the Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi, GM 1500 with the 6.2L, and the GM 2500HD with the gas 6.0L to that list to open it up to other than just Ford, though those two choices listed would be fine too.

Ram doesn't make a 1500 that would be suitable for that load IMO.

Maybe if you live where it is flat.
For the mountains you need all the truck you can find which means a diesel, preferably with some upgrades and good gauges.

Either an F150 3.5L EB with the HD payload package or an F250 will easily pull that. The F250 6.2L will pull it with better stability and better engine braking while the F150 will pull it with better performance and maybe better fuel mileage.