Hello Everyone. I've been researching travel trailers for over 6 months and have found this forum extremely valuable. Thanks to all that take the time to respond to the questions posted by the members. It has become increasingly difficult to evaluate information you get from the RV dealerships on trailer/tow combinations. My family of four is looking at the Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH as our first travel trailer and thought this would be a good choice. The 28DSBH yellow sticker is around 5700 dry and 7500 max. In addition, I am looking at upgrading one of my vehicles to tow the Jayco and would appreciate anyone's experiences or comments including use of WDH, Sway controllers, and brake controllers. I want to "enjoy the tow" as much as the camping.1. 2013 Dodge Ram Express 4x4, Crew cab, Hemi, tow pkg with 3.92 gears (10,000 max tow)2. 2013 Chevy Silverado 4x4, Crew cab, 5.3, tow pkg(9,600 max tow)3. 2011 Nissan Armada SL 4x4, 5.6, tow pkg ( either the 2.93 or 3.35 rear end) (9000 max tow)4. 2013 Ford F150 FX4 4x4, crew cab, 3.5 Ecoboost, 3.73 gears(11,000 max tow)

Any one of those trucks has the tow capacity for your max 7500# trailer but do any of them have the payload?The payload is on the door sticker and will tell you how much you can safely load onto the truck. For a 7500# TT you will want a minimum 12% tongue weight to reduce sway. That's 900# right there. The hitch could weigh 50#. You're looking at Crew Cabs. Do you plan to fill them with people and gear? Firewood? You have to add it all up. Depending upon the options, and how many people you plan to carry, it may be that all of those trucks will be overloaded.As for brake controllers, get the OEM built in ones. Ford's is fantastic, and I heard that Chevy's is good too.

brulaz wrote:Any one of those trucks has the tow capacity for your max 7500# trailer but do any of them have the payload?The payload is on the door sticker and will tell you how much you can safely load onto the truck. For a 7500# TT you will want a minimum 12% tongue weight to reduce sway. That's 900# right there. The hitch could weigh 50#. You're looking at Crew Cabs. Do you plan to fill them with people and gear? Firewood? You have to add it all up. Depending upon the options, and how many people you plan to carry, it may be that all of those trucks will be overloaded.As for brake controllers, get the OEM built in ones. Ford's is fantastic, and I heard that Chevy's is good too.X2 on truck payload. Ram and Chevy half tons seems to come up short there, The F-150 with the Ecoboost, max tow/max payload package might do it for you, but at a price. Alternatively, the F-150 with the 5.0 V8 (not your father's 5.0) and the 8200 gvw package and max tow will you get you close to the EB version's numbers at a lower price.FWIW: I tow a WhiteHawk 27DSRL with similar hitch weight & GVW numbers to what you're looking at with a Ram 3500 (used to own a fifth wheel that weighed over 2x the Whitehawk's weight). Don't need that much truck now, but it's paid for. I also use a Reese Straitline Hitch, which some may say is totally unnecessary for such a light trailer hooked to a one ton truck. But, according to the truck's owners' manual, "some" would be wrong. :B

Thanks for the quick reply and the useful information. I "plan" to pack the truck pretty light with 2 adults, 2 small kids, and few lightweight items in the truck bed and pack most of the camping equipment including 4 bikes with the TT and don't see loading it with more than 1000#'s. I would rather not go above a 1/2 truck so I may need to look at a smaller/lighter TT with similar features.

thomasmnile wrote:X2 on truck payload. Ram and Chevy half tons seems to come up short there, The F-150 with the Ecoboost, max tow/max payload package might do it for you, but at a price. Alternatively, the F-150 with the 5.0 V8 (not your father's 5.0) and the 8200 gvw package and max tow will you get you close to the EB version's numbers at a lower price....Ford's HD Payload package (8200# GVWR) really turns the truck into a different beast, something in between an F150 and F250. Wish I had one.It comes with 7 lug wheels and HD rear axle (higher rGAWR), stiffer suspension (leafs and shocks) and LT tires instead of the P metrics. The suspension/tires alone would be worth it as the regular F150's is pretty wimpy.It's just not available in all models and usually has to be ordered. Hard to find a used one too.But I would never give up my Ecoboost. The low end torque is what you want for towing.

I think the EcoBoost F-150 may be a great option and found one local with low miles with Max Tow pkg for a pretty good deal. It's a certified 2011 but I've been reading there are a lot of customer complaints with EcoBoost for this year.

Looking at a Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

brulaz
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
thomasmnile wrote:

X2 on truck payload. Ram and Chevy half tons seems to come up short there, The F-150 with the Ecoboost, max tow/max payload package might do it for you, but at a price. Alternatively, the F-150 with the 5.0 V8 (not your father's 5.0) and the 8200 gvw package and max tow will you get you close to the EB version's numbers at a lower price.
...

Ford's HD Payload package (8200# GVWR) really turns the truck into a different beast, something in between an F150 and F250. Wish I had one.

It comes with 7 lug wheels and HD rear axle (higher rGAWR), stiffer suspension (leafs and shocks) and LT tires instead of the P metrics. The suspension/tires alone would be worth it as the regular F150's is pretty wimpy.

It's just not available in all models and usually has to be ordered. Hard to find a used one too.

But I would never give up my Ecoboost. The low end torque is what you want for towing.
bbweasel
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013
Thanks for the quick reply and the useful information. I "plan" to pack the truck pretty light with 2 adults, 2 small kids, and few lightweight items in the truck bed and pack most of the camping equipment including 4 bikes with the TT and don't see loading it with more than 1000#'s. I would rather not go above a 1/2 truck so I may need to look at a smaller/lighter TT with similar features.
thomasmnile
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013
brulaz wrote:
Any one of those trucks has the tow capacity for your max 7500# trailer but do any of them have the payload?

The payload is on the door sticker and will tell you how much you can safely load onto the truck. For a 7500# TT you will want a minimum 12% tongue weight to reduce sway. That's 900# right there. The hitch could weigh 50#. You're looking at Crew Cabs. Do you plan to fill them with people and gear? Firewood? You have to add it all up. Depending upon the options, and how many people you plan to carry, it may be that all of those trucks will be overloaded.

As for brake controllers, get the OEM built in ones. Ford's is fantastic, and I heard that Chevy's is good too.

X2 on truck payload. Ram and Chevy half tons seems to come up short there, The F-150 with the Ecoboost, max tow/max payload package might do it for you, but at a price. Alternatively, the F-150 with the 5.0 V8 (not your father's 5.0) and the 8200 gvw package and max tow will you get you close to the EB version's numbers at a lower price.

FWIW: I tow a WhiteHawk 27DSRL with similar hitch weight & GVW numbers to what you're looking at with a Ram 3500 (used to own a fifth wheel that weighed over 2x the Whitehawk's weight). Don't need that much truck now, but it's paid for. I also use a Reese Straitline Hitch, which some may say is totally unnecessary for such a light trailer hooked to a one ton truck. But, according to the truck's owners' manual, "some" would be wrong. :B
brulaz
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013
Any one of those trucks has the tow capacity for your max 7500# trailer but do any of them have the payload?

The payload is on the door sticker and will tell you how much you can safely load onto the truck. For a 7500# TT you will want a minimum 12% tongue weight to reduce sway. That's 900# right there. The hitch could weigh 50#. You're looking at Crew Cabs. Do you plan to fill them with people and gear? Firewood? You have to add it all up. Depending upon the options, and how many people you plan to carry, it may be that all of those trucks will be overloaded.

As for brake controllers, get the OEM built in ones. Ford's is fantastic, and I heard that Chevy's is good too.

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Looking at a Jayco White Hawk 28DSBH

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