Under 3000, what do you like in a hard side TT

WTW wrote:
Jon. Thanks for your note. Funny, a buddy and I were at RV dealers learning this AM. Your blog came up. He follows you. But we were having little luck following your TV progression. Thanks for the on-site. Seems you have moved on from the RAV4? My friend likes the Minnie’s, too. Keep it fun. Tomm

The RAV4 towed the 17B for 85000 miles, switched to a 2016 Tacoma for another 15000 miles, then switched trailers to the 21. Tried to keep the Tacoma because I loved the truck, but the new 3.5 engine wasn't really much of a tow vehicle - lots of time at 4000RPM (although within tow ratings, I was also over payload by 200 lbs).

Current tow vehicle is a 2018 F150 3.5 Ecoboost. A great tow for the 21, and with the optional 36 gallon tank, I finally have a tow vehicle that let me choose where to fill up instead of at almost every gas station I drive by!

I’ve never owned one but if I was in the market for that size trailer I would seriously consider r-pod. They seem to kind of lean to the off road side which I am really starting to pursue and enjoying more and more all the time.
Hope you find the perfect one!
Happy shopping!

Jon. Thanks for your note. Funny, a buddy and I were at RV dealers learning this AM. Your blog came up. He follows you. But we were having little luck following your TV progression. Thanks for the on-site. Seems you have moved on from the RAV4? My friend likes the Minnie’s, too. Keep it fun. Tomm

My loaded weight for an Escape 17B was 3010 pounds & 340 pounds tongue weight. Towed it for 100,000 miles, the first 85,000 with a V6 RAV4. My current Escape 21 weighs a bit more at 4600 pounds!

If your target is 3500#, you most likely will be over that. Brochure dry weight is 3227#. The brochure weight is a figment of the marketing department’s mind. To be sure, I’d look at the sticker from the factory.
Best to look at gross weight, which seems to be 4760#.
I really like the roof and general layout. We looked at this model when it was called a Visa. I didn’t like putting that weight on a single axle, though. The tires will be maxed out before the suspension is.
With all that, your truck will be within specs. I pulled our camper all over the US with a Frontier 4 liter V6 with nary a problem. It weighed in at just shy of 5000# most of the time.

WTW, it looks like the 19ERD should tow okay with your F150. Your fuel economy will drop like a rock, but that is the case with most vehicles towing a barn.

Watch the tongue wt, and as said, use a WDH, and you should be okay. Long uphills may heat the engine, but use Tow-Haul, and it should manage the temps okay. Just seems to be a small engine, to me, to be towing a full-height TT. Doable, but I wouldn't want to go any heavier.

Happy camping!

Scamp, Casita, Lil Snoozy and similar molded fiberglass body trailers will give you good fuel economy and easy towing. Expect 2-4 mpg better than a more boxy trailer.

I would go to a few dealers or a rv show and find a floor plan that works for your needs.

I like the floor plan of my TT. Walk around bed up front with dinette on curbside facing own campsite, plus windows all around so it feels bigger, not closed in. It’s about 2600 lbs dry with 3500 gvwr. The brand new ones have identical floor plans but with some upgrades and new model number. It’s an “entry level” TT but good enough for me, no problems or issues at almost 6 years old. I’ve had it several times boondooking in the Rockies and it’s still in one piece!

WTW wrote:
My tow vehicle
2017 F-150 Crew
3.5NA not eco-boost
Rear-end 355
Tow max, per Ford 5000#

I would believe the 5000#, but you will need a weight distribution hitch AND brakes on the trailer.

Watch the temp gauge and if you run into any hills, kick it out of overdrive before the engine bogs down too much.

Installing a 3.73 rear axle ratio gear set will help a lot and not hurt your fuel economy that much.