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.

[itguy08]

taken wrote:
You will have plenty of truck with a 11-14 250 6.7. The F250 is identical to the SRW F350 so it will handle your new rig like it's not back there! Enjoy the search. Shopping is half the fun...

Just watch the payloads on the F250 Diesel. They can be as low as the F150. Diesels are HEAVY!

[taken]

You will have plenty of truck with a 11-14 250 6.7. The F250 is identical to the SRW F350 so it will handle your new rig like it's not back there! Enjoy the search. Shopping is half the fun...

[AMG1978]

I'm entertaining some ideas here on getting a 2011-2014 F-250 (various year trucks in my area, of various options and prices), 6.7L Powerstroke, XLT or Lariat, etc. Not sure about various tow options, axle ratios, all that jazz yet. Gotta read up more. Definitely wouldnt want to make a mistake again and have not enough truck.

Still planning on picking the new trailer up tomorrow in the '15 F-150 empty. Then evaluate over the weekend. I have 6/26 - 7/6 off work so gives me time to look around too and decide if I do anything.

[dodge_guy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Yes it does. There is a legal length limit.

At least I have something to look forward to!

You can get a permit for longer!

[Cummins12V98]

Bedlam wrote:
Yes it does. There is a legal length limit.

At least I have something to look forward to!

[Bedlam]

Yes it does. There is a legal length limit.

[Cummins12V98]

minnow wrote:

AMG1978 wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I would buy a 3/4 ton and even consider a one ton. If you do upgrade the truck would you actually consider a larger TH as well? You may have been holding back on the rig size because of the 150's capabilities. It's cheaper to hit the sweet spot the first time no matter how painful it may seem now.

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.

Yeah, we all said that too…… For me it was about five RV's ago.

HA, we went from a 24' then 28' then 32.5' then 36' and now a 39'. Does it ever end?????

[minnow]

AMG1978 wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I would buy a 3/4 ton and even consider a one ton. If you do upgrade the truck would you actually consider a larger TH as well? You may have been holding back on the rig size because of the 150's capabilities. It's cheaper to hit the sweet spot the first time no matter how painful it may seem now.

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.

Yeah, we all said that too…… For me it was about five RV's ago.

[badercubed]

AMG1978 wrote:
I personally have the AirLift bags on my F-150 with the internal jonce's. I love the idea of being able to keep the exact ride height no matter what if I am putting stuff in the bed at Home Depot, or towing. The hitch is always in the right spot, no need to move the bolts and lower or raise by 1 hole in the head L bracket.

I used Firestone RideRite on my Tacoma before I had this F-150 and they were great. I had planned on adding the AirLift dual compressor with wireless control on my F-150 if I keep it.

My wife and I are still strongly considering a F-250 or F-350 or Ram 2500/3500. We just want to get the trailer this Friday, see how it pulls it, be careful and reevaluate. I saw plenty of nice 2012-2014 F-250 Lariat 4x4 6.7L Powerstroke for 42-46k. Funny how with 4500 miles on my 2015 F-150 Carmax offered me 30,000. they just have no idea.

For reference, I got the truck in my sig for $39,290 with the incentives less than a month ago. Sticker MSRP was $46,850. No frills, but not stripped.

[taken]

itguy08 wrote:
Thanks. The dealer dialed it in darn near perfect - there is a little squat but not much at all once the bars are hooked up.

Good deal! Whatever you do, DO NOT post how well it tows here! People will loose their minds...

[AMG1978]

I personally have the AirLift bags on my F-150 with the internal jonce's. I love the idea of being able to keep the exact ride height no matter what if I am putting stuff in the bed at Home Depot, or towing. The hitch is always in the right spot, no need to move the bolts and lower or raise by 1 hole in the head L bracket.

I used Firestone RideRite on my Tacoma before I had this F-150 and they were great. I had planned on adding the AirLift dual compressor with wireless control on my F-150 if I keep it.

My wife and I are still strongly considering a F-250 or F-350 or Ram 2500/3500. We just want to get the trailer this Friday, see how it pulls it, be careful and reevaluate. I saw plenty of nice 2012-2014 F-250 Lariat 4x4 6.7L Powerstroke for 42-46k. Funny how with 4500 miles on my 2015 F-150 Carmax offered me 30,000. they just have no idea.

[itguy08]

Thanks. The dealer dialed it in darn near perfect - there is a little squat but not much at all once the bars are hooked up.

[Bedlam]

If your rear is not sagging much, you might consider the lower StableLoad wedges for your F150 rather than bags. It will take the bounciness out of your ride more than bags. Heavier dampening shocks will also help with bounciness.

Prior to spending money, you can try tilting your hitch head back more to get greater preload on the spring bars...

[itguy08]

Currently doing something similar - 2011 F150 EB with Max Tow, Open Range LT272RLS (35', 8k, 800lbs tongue, 10k GVWR, not a toy hauler).

Many here will say we're crazy for considering that but the #'s all fit within Ford's guidelines. We have one of the better hitches (Equalizer with 14k bars) and on the maiden voyage it did well on the highway and back roads. Kept it at 65 or under, and even getting passed by semi's it didn't sway much. Had a "panic stop" when getting on the turnpike a tanker decided to cut in front of us. No Drama. Towed it to storage and it was windy (flags were blowing) and no sway other than the usual you get.

We do "feel it back there" but for me that's good as it reminds me I'm piloting 15k down the highways.

We definitely will be keeping an eye on it and if conditions warrant an upgrade to an F250 or F350 is an option. For now it tows fine as is and the only thing I'm thinking about is airbags to take some of the bounciness out.

But, you will be over just about every rating on the F150 so I'd think about either a bigger truck or smaller trailer.

[Cummins12V98]

270wsmhunter wrote:
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.

Good call!