Bought new TT today, 2016 Stealth, worried I cant pull it!

[AMG1978]

Today I bought a 2016 Forest River Stealth WA2916 toy hauler. I have a 2015 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost, 6.5' bed, 4x4, SuperCrew, MaxTow package, 3.55 axle, 157" wheelbase. ford site: http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/15RV&TT_Ford_F150_r1_Jan12.pdf

My truck shows with a full 36 gallon tank, I have a payload of 1630lbs (with a full tank, @ 300lbs of fuel). Ford.com shows my maximum loaded trailer weight of 11,700lbs. I planned on using an Anderson WDH with "no-sway". I haven't bought it yet, but will. I used a ProSeries bar unit on my current TT, and it was noisy, heavy, and couldn't back up. Want something better. (http://www.amazon.com/Andersen-3380-Distribution-Universal-Brackets/dp/B006X21BH0).

My truck has AirLift airbags installed too. I do not plan on having anything in the bed of the truck, simply myself, my wife, son, daughter and dog in the cab. In the rear of the toy hauler, I thought any weight REAR of the axles (dirt bikes, boxes, gear, etc.) may reduce the hitch weight, am I grasping on this one? I definitely have no plans to load it up anywhere near the max. I don't own sand rails or quads, just a few motorcycles and normal gear. We keep minimal water in it until we get to close to where we are going, or where we are going directly, then fill 'er up.

My biggest concern right now is the hitch weight on their site shows 1025lbs, I can't say what the ACTUAL hitch weight is on this model, it hasn't been delivered to the dealer yet, but we did sign papers and put $1,000 down.

Am I crazy?
Do I scramble this week to trade my F-150 in on an F-250?
I might add, that I am replacing my 25' TT that weighs about 1/2 dry (4000'ish) and a 500lb hitch weight. I pulled it with ease.

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[270wsmhunter]

I have helped a few friends make educated and informed decisions about upcoming purchases on campers after dealers have "helped" them. I've never had any close calls but have now erred on side of caution and when we ordered our last truck went with a 3500HD diesel. Better to be safe than sorry.

[taken]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
To "safely" tow a TT you need more truck than you would think!

If you want the RV get the bigger truck to go with it!

Good thing for the OP that your definition of safe isn't the only one.

[Cummins12V98]

To "safely" tow a TT you need more truck than you would think!

If you want the RV get the bigger truck to go with it!

[genekiwi]

"Yes, they did and they even brought out a few different "supposed gurus" to go over ford.com specs, and they all said, yes we can pull it no problem. Then they had us sign a sheet of paper that says we understand they make no claims to what we can pull, absolving them of any liability."

And the Chevy dealer told me that my 1500 could tow my 8,000 pound trailer because this truck could tow 9600 pounds. No way would it do it safely.

Should have known better, luckily my trailer only weighed 6200 loaded and even at that, I am close at the CCC. But am very happy with the towing.

Rv dealers and car dealers are of the same ilk, anything to make the sale.

[badercubed]

AMG1978 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

badercubed wrote:
So I had a 2013 F-150 Crew Cab Max Tow and rushed into purchasing a 35ft TT. The truck handled the 9600lb trailer with 1300lb tongue weight admirably, but I could tell I was undersized after making a few trips.

Will it do it? Yes.
Will you be pleased? Maybe to start.

I upgraded my truck because once I got the new trailer I wanted to take longer trips. I wasn't comfortable going on a 2,000mi ride with it. A 200mi ride, I could bear it

GVW of his TT is 12,100#....quite a bit heavier than your 9600# TT.

True. I am thinking we will try to keep the GVW of the trailer low right now as we figure out the TV over the next few months. The 2015 F-150 has higher tow and payload capacity than the 2013 and 2014 did too (assuming he had the 3.4L EcoBoost, not the 5.0L V8), but still 9600 is less, and I hear ya.

Yeah, I was assuming you'd be in the 10,000lb range and not loaded to the gills. I had the 3.5L Ecoboost (1,860 payload on the door) and trust me, I don't think you will ever lack for power even if you were towing 12k.

But, like I said, try it. If I stayed on two lane 55mph state roads I would tow that trailer all day long. It was the highway and the anticipation of longer trips that made me go with a larger TV.

[NC_Hauler]

AMG1978 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

badercubed wrote:
So I had a 2013 F-150 Crew Cab Max Tow and rushed into purchasing a 35ft TT. The truck handled the 9600lb trailer with 1300lb tongue weight admirably, but I could tell I was undersized after making a few trips.

Will it do it? Yes.
Will you be pleased? Maybe to start.

I upgraded my truck because once I got the new trailer I wanted to take longer trips. I wasn't comfortable going on a 2,000mi ride with it. A 200mi ride, I could bear it

GVW of his TT is 12,100#....quite a bit heavier than your 9600# TT.

True. I am thinking we will try to keep the GVW of the trailer low right now as we figure out the TV over the next few months. The 2015 F-150 has higher tow and payload capacity than the 2013 and 2014 did too (assuming he had the 3.4L EcoBoost, not the 5.0L V8), but still 9600 is less, and I hear ya.

unloaded weight, which I detest using is just a little over 8100#, so , depending on how much you load up, (ie 1500#), then you would fall in at the 9600# weight other poster was talking about....

[2112]

I tow a 32' FW with my F150 but would never consider towing this TH.

[AMG1978]

NC Hauler wrote:

badercubed wrote:
So I had a 2013 F-150 Crew Cab Max Tow and rushed into purchasing a 35ft TT. The truck handled the 9600lb trailer with 1300lb tongue weight admirably, but I could tell I was undersized after making a few trips.

Will it do it? Yes.
Will you be pleased? Maybe to start.

I upgraded my truck because once I got the new trailer I wanted to take longer trips. I wasn't comfortable going on a 2,000mi ride with it. A 200mi ride, I could bear it

GVW of his TT is 12,100#....quite a bit heavier than your 9600# TT.

True. I am thinking we will try to keep the GVW of the trailer low right now as we figure out the TV over the next few months. The 2015 F-150 has higher tow and payload capacity than the 2013 and 2014 did too (assuming he had the 3.4L EcoBoost, not the 5.0L V8), but still 9600 is less, and I hear ya.

[NC_Hauler]

badercubed wrote:
So I had a 2013 F-150 Crew Cab Max Tow and rushed into purchasing a 35ft TT. The truck handled the 9600lb trailer with 1300lb tongue weight admirably, but I could tell I was undersized after making a few trips.

Will it do it? Yes.
Will you be pleased? Maybe to start.

I upgraded my truck because once I got the new trailer I wanted to take longer trips. I wasn't comfortable going on a 2,000mi ride with it. A 200mi ride, I could bear it

GVW of his TT is 12,100#....quite a bit heavier than your 9600# TT. Don't know how much OP will load it, would have to weigh it, but OP definitely doesn't need a 1 ton dually as stated earlier..a 250/2500 would handle OP's TT, even in a gasser.....heck, OP's truck might handle it depending on how heavy he loads it....but I personally, if it were mine, would want a 3/4 ton.

I also go back to the dealer that took your deposit and asked them how they "figured" your truck could handle that TT to where you wouldn't have ANY concerns.

[Bedlam]

Better RV dealers will have a scale to at least measure actual tongue weight of the trailer in which have interest. This will at least give you an idea whether your rear axle and receiver have sufficient capacity. I would expect the rear of your truck to weigh over 2000 lbs when empty and maybe closer 2500 lbs if it is a short bed crew cab.

[gmw_photos]

There will be those that chastise me for saying this. But, if you do this, you will later on say, "wow, this pulls this toyhauler nice".

So, my words to you are: "one ton dually".

over and out.

[BenK]

Tongue weight is just one aspect of a good setup, or not...

Moving or loading more stuff back there does reduce any trailer's tongue weight, but
handling will become more and more of an issue as the actual percentage tongue
weight goes down

Orientation of the setup is another aspect...will the trailer be level or better
yet, pointed slightly down?

Will your TV squat too much after dialing in the WD Hitch ?

Where will you be in reference to your RGAWR? What is your RGAWR ?

That is a BIG trailer & tongue weight for 'P' class tires (passenger class).

Keep us posted on how it goes

[AMG1978]

I can appreciate that. I remember all the cars and trucks I bought saying "No reason to lease. I'm going to keep this one for the long haul." I cant even count back without losing count how many vehicles ago I started that trend.

[taken]

campigloo wrote:



Famous last words.

Oh indeed. We're on RV number 4 and number 1 was "all we ever needed..."

[campigloo]

You can never say never, but I just can't see myself going with a larger trailer anytime in the many years. This is more than we need, it was a big deal going from what we have to this. I just dont see how we will desire anything more.


Famous last words.