Is a 28 foot TH too much for a 2013 F150 with 5.0 V8?

[Thomascrnj]

Have been thinking about getting a Forest River 19RR or 22RR which are lite THs less than 28 feet. Ran across a nice deal on a 2013 Forest River Work n Play which is 28 feet. It looks soooo big. Salesman said my 2013 F150 with 5.0 V8 could handle it with a 900 lb motorcycle and typical camping load. I'm not so sure although it is under the max weigh for my truck. I live in NJ and have to travel lots of interstates to get to good places. Need honest opinion from you experienced folks as to what you think. I am a newbie to RVing and don't want to get myself in trouble. Thanks!

[Chuck_Gail]

No idea. Will say our 2010 Expedition pulls our Ketystone Outback 230RS toyhauler which is 27.5' long with no trouble at all using our Equalizer hitch. Unless the specs of a new 150 with tow package are worse than my SUV, I do not see a problem. FYI my tongue weight is just under 900# fully loaded.

[BobWanderer]

mrkoje wrote:

BobWanderer wrote:
FWIW
SALESMAN LIE !!

We were told that we would have no problem towing a triple axel rig that weighed more empty than Our truck is rated to tow.

I don't mean to sound like an a** but I take personal offense when you denigrate my entire profession.

O K, I will admit I was a bit harsh with that statement. SORRY
On the other hand, I have spent a few weekends over the last 3 months looking for a new rig and can't believe some of the stuff I have been told. My first statement to all of the salesman who ask what were looking for is "a fifth wheel toy hauler around 30' and 13K gross". I do know all the specs on my truck as well as the FEW rigs that fit my requirements. Its painfully obvious that none of the dealers within 50+ miles of here have the smaller rigs in stock. The standard answer is let me show you what we have and then the bull starts flowing about how my truck can handle this rig no problem.
The dealer that told us we could tow the triple axel/triple slide model, did so since that was the smallest fiver he had, we promptly left.
ONE salesman out of ~10 looked up the specs of our truck on his computer and agreed with us that we were looking for a rig in the correct range.
I could go on and on, but I hope you get my point.
I have been in retail sales/service so I DO KNOW a little about customers.
Again, sorry if I offended anyone who is an honest salesman.



Back on topic
I don't know the specs on your truck, and there were 2 models that were 28' according to Forest Rivers website. Both had over 1,000# tongue weight and were 7.5K - 8K dry weight. Add all the weights up for what your loading into the rig and I think you will be near 10K.
My old truck, a 2500 HD Chevy with a 6.0 gas motor struggled with a 24' T H with similar weights.

Just want to clarify what I said about my previous truck.
It always did what we asked of it, including some monster hill climbs in the Eastern Sierras.
Never overheated or broke down, but spent a lot of time in 2nd gear and was spinning at 4-5,000 RPM to maintain a decent speed. Got 3.5 to 4 MPG most of the time towing loaded and 7-8 MPG without the toys. Before you say there was something wrong with it, there wasn't, it got 16+ MPG not towing and I am a retired mechanic with a computer program to scan for codes and monitor vehicle data. It had 4.10 axels and I put larger tires on it, that brought the effective gear ratio to about 3.70, that made a VERY SLIGHT improvement in MPG. I tried a "programmer" and tweaked the shift points to try and get it out of 2nd gear, nothing worked. With a 25 gal fuel tank and 3-4 MPG, we had to carry fuel jugs to transfer gas from the fuel station to the truck on a few trips.
Glad I am done with that.

[Outlander]

I was recently in a similar situation to yours... Through work we have an allowance to have a 1/2 ton 4x4 truck with the 5.3 V8, so I ordered mine with Chevy's "Heavy Duty" towing package with maximum tow rating of 9600 lbs. My wife had to have a front-sleeper toy hauler, so I bought the smallest Forest River I could find with a FS (Shockwave 23FS). The trailer dry is 6000 lbs. and when loaded for camping with water, fuel and 3 bikes sits at 8500 lbs.
I bought a tongue scale to make sure I was loading properly and I usually keep the tongue weight right at 900 lbs. The "Heavy Duty" towing package is kind of a joke, because the suspension is the same as any other Chevy 1/2 ton, and the trailer was still a load for the truck. I took it in to the dealership and had an add-a-leaf and leveling kit put on it, and now the truck tows this 23' just fine, but I definitely would not go any bigger with a 1/2 ton and in fact would not even go this big without spending some coin on beefing up the suspension.

Good luck!

[PUCampin]

carringb wrote:
You will be way over payload on that truck. That size TH will probably have at least 1600 pounds of tongue weight.

1/2-tons now have some great PULL ratings, but they still can't CARRY very much.

THIS!!!

Can you do it? It depends.

IF you have the HD PAYLOAD package with the HD axle and springs, it will be reflected on the door sticker by the 8200lb GVWR, 7 lug wheels, and a maximum of all passengers and cargo number north of 2300lbs on the yellow sticker. If you do not have the HD PAYLOAD package the yellow sticker will likely be in the 1500-1600 lb range and I would say forget a large toy hauler.

Subtract the weight of passengers and stuff and this is what you have left for tongue weight. You will then need to replace the stock receiver with a class IV/V because the stock class III/IV is almost always good for only 1000lbs tongue weight with weight distribution.



In general Half tons have always been limited by payload, not pulling ability, and here lies the problem. The total payload of the half ton is often low, sometimes not much above the maximum tongue weight, check the loading sticker for actual payload. Mine is 1675lbs, I have seen much lower on half ton trucks. If you have the HD package yours should be a little higher. Then you also have to be carefull about the rear axle capacity, the max payload sticker assumes some distribution across the axles, not everything over the rear.


The "Max Tow" rating is based on an Ideal trailer. An ideal trailer has little frontal area and the weight low and over the trailer axles, like a loaded flat deck or boat. These trailers have a tongue weight around 10%. This is why the F150 with towing package is rated around 10,000 lbs ..... but with a class III /IV receiver rated at 1000 lbs tongue weight.

Travel trailers are the OPPOSITE of ideal. Weight is higher up, unevenly distributed. They have huge frontal area which creates instability requiring heavier tongue weight to keep them stable. For a regular pull behind that is 13-15% So now that 1000lb max tongue weight means a loaded travel trailer weight of around 7600lbs.

Toy haulers are even worse!! To offset the potental toy load in back, they are VERY tongue heavy, and only some of that is returned when the toys are loaded.

[fly-boy]

Those of us who are familiar with that trailer know for certain there is no way you can haul it with am F-150. Good choice on going a different route.

[mark1228]

derwud wrote:
Since most people's knowledge of their vehicle does do not extend past how to put Gas in it, even a few fail at that, knowing what their truck can handle and what trailer they can tow is far beyond their grasp!! True, buyer beware, but come on, a commissioned salesperson is by Job title a liar!! Trust me, I is one!!

Sorry, but "I is one" to and you should be ashamed of yourself if you ever lie to get a sale. I live and work in a community of under 50k people and have been in sales for 23 years. Word like that gets around a town like mine and I would starve if I acted that way.

[derwud]

Since most people's knowledge of their vehicle does do not extend past how to put Gas in it, even a few fail at that, knowing what their truck can handle and what trailer they can tow is far beyond their grasp!! True, buyer beware, but come on, a commissioned salesperson is by Job title a liar!! Trust me, I is one!!

[Thomascrnj]

Tvov, yes it does. While it is rated to handle the weight, my fear is that if I "push the envelope" to borrow a flying term, I reduce the safety factor and the rig would be very sluggish in fast interstate traffic.

I very much appreciate all these comments!! I think I will pass on the bigger trailer and go with my original plans. Thomascrnj

[Tvov]

To the original poster... does your 2013 F150 have the heavy duty tow package? Or whatever Ford calls it now. Some of the newer F150 trucks have remarkably high tow ratings, like 10,000lbs or more. Your truck might be "factory rated" for that TT.

I think you would find that a larger, heavier truck would give you a much more comfortable towing experience.

[Lantley]

dedmiston wrote:

mrkoje wrote:
I don't mean to sound like an a** but I take personal offense when you denigrate my entire profession.

I'm glad to hear that you are an honest salesman, but I think you are in the minority. We've seen years and years of stories to the contrary in these forums. I think nine out of ten of us (maybe even ten out of ten of us) have had similar experiences.

I'm glad that you have a conscience though.

I agree but the poster brings up an interesting point that is seldom mentioned. The consumer is not always as truthful or as knowledgeable as they should be either. It is more of a two way street than we care to admit.

[dedmiston]

mrkoje wrote:
I don't mean to sound like an a** but I take personal offense when you denigrate my entire profession.

I'm glad to hear that you are an honest salesman, but I think you are in the minority. We've seen years and years of stories to the contrary in these forums. I think nine out of ten of us (maybe even ten out of ten of us) have had similar experiences.

I'm glad that you have a conscience though.

[mrkoje]

BobWanderer wrote:
FWIW
SALESMAN LIE !!

We were told that we would have no problem towing a triple axel rig that weighed more empty than Our truck is rated to tow.

I don't agree with this - few salespeople out right lie. Most salespeople have no idea about what they are talking about when it comes it ratings or capabilities of their product let alone the 1000s of combinations of TV configurations. Similarly a lot of customers who buy trailers don't even have a clue about their own TV or towing in general. This can make for some interesting "Beavis and Butthead" type back and forth conversation on the show room floor.

So when it comes to the question: "Will my such and such TV tow this trailer?" It's the buyer's responsibility 100% end of story. In your example, BobWanderer, why were you even looking at a trailer that weighs more than your rig is capable to tow? Why would you even consider asking that question to the salesperson? I doubt the salesperson just came up to you and said, "Hey you... see that triple axle trailer... your such and such can tow that no problem!" Get my point? Do you not know the capabilities of your truck or maybe you are some type of sadist getting a kick out making a poor salesperson struggle for an answer? :B I don't mean to sound like an a** but I take personal offense when you denigrate my entire profession.

Tow ratings (not payload necessarily) but tow ratings can be funny things. The rear axle ratio on a TV can play a big part in how the manufacturer rates the towing capability. How is a salesperson to know if you have a 3.42 rear end or a 4.10 rear end? That alone could boost the factory towing rating by 1000's of pounds. Forget about the salesperson reading your mind about max payload packages or max tow packages and the like. I would say with confidence that most people that buy pickups don't even know what a rear end is though so I digress.

In my profession I believe customers intentionally lie more than the salespeople do. So much so that there is a universal saying: "Buyers are liers" and anyone in the sales profession should be able to attest to that. In the end do salespeople lie? Sure but not any more than a customer does and often times less. It's YOUR TV and YOU are the one looking to purchase the TT or 5ver. You better know what YOUR TV can do. It is not the responsibility of a salesperson. The END.

[Mike_E_]

Perhaps the first step is to:

1: Get specs of trailer....gvwr and tongue weight (it will be a dry published weight, so assume the real-life weight will be higher)

2: Get specs for your truck, including the rating on the receiver.

Compare and see if they are compatible......

This is the ONLY way you're going to know if it will work.
That way, you will be able to make the decision yourself, without all the online "help". 🙂

All the best, and enjoy whichever trailer you end up with.

Mike

[Hap_Hazard]

We have a 2005 28’ Weekend Warrior and a 2012 F-250 6.7 diesel. The F-250 (any year) would be my minimum Ford truck for that 28'TH. My package (truck & TH) tip the scales at just over 19,000 lbs. with my Yamaha roadstar and loaded with full gear, water, and fuel. You’ll have to check your trucks numbers to be sure but I suspect you’ll be over for your truck.

I picture the strong man on the runway with a chain around his shoulders and connected to a 747. He’s pulling the plane at about 1 MPH in front of the cameras. It can be done but would you want to travel five miles that way (and don’t even get in front of that plane if it starts downhill).

Good Luck and Happy Shopping,
Hap

[mark1228]

Don't listen to all the "experts" here or at the dealer. Go to your local Ford dealer and ask the service manager to pull up all the ratings on your truck. If the trailer dry weight plus all items you will put in it including water, battery's, toys, etc are less than the ratings, you may want to consider it further. Then ask the RV dealer if you can do a test tow. Some will allow this, some won't. If they won't, walk away from this trailer. If they will, go for a test tow and see how YOU feel with it behind your truck empty.

Many sales people are honest, hard working folks. I know of a case here at one of our local dealers where the dealer would not sell a travel trailer to a customer with a new F150 Ecoboost until the customer towed it and was happy even though the trailer was well within the ratings.