Crazy or Doable?

[itguy08]

Catchy title, huh? Posted this over on one of the F150 forums I frequent but want an RV'er perspective.

Assuming all goes well next year we are planning on the RV to go with our truck. So we went to the Hershey show over the weekend and found a few we like and just want to make sure the #'s are sane with those that know more than I do.

The Truck
2011 F150 Ecoboost, Max Tow, Supercrew Shortbed. Payload from the yellow sticker - 1820. GVWR - 7650, front 3750, rear 4050. LineX liner and Tonnopro Hard Cover.

Us
Just 2 of us + dog, estimate 710lbs for people, dog, gear in bed, etc. Subtracting that out we should have 1110 lbs of available payload.


Looking at RV's such as the Hemisphere 282RK I see these #'s:
Length - 35'0"
Dry weight - 6620
CCC - 1901
GVWR - 8521
Dry Tongue - 700

So assuming a fully loaded trailer and a 15% tongue weight, that's 1278 lbs or 168lbs over max payload. That's worst case so I'm confident the #'s would be under on all accounts.

Does this all sound reasonable or a recipe for disaster? Thanks!

[mhsmith]

itguy08 wrote:
Catchy title, huh? Posted this over on one of the F150 forums I frequent but want an RV'er perspective.

Assuming all goes well next year we are planning on the RV to go with our truck. So we went to the Hershey show over the weekend and found a few we like and just want to make sure the #'s are sane with those that know more than I do.

The Truck
2011 F150 Ecoboost, Max Tow, Supercrew Shortbed. Payload from the yellow sticker - 1820. GVWR - 7650, front 3750, rear 4050. LineX liner and Tonnopro Hard Cover.

Us
Just 2 of us + dog, estimate 710lbs for people, dog, gear in bed, etc. Subtracting that out we should have 1110 lbs of available payload.


Looking at RV's such as the Hemisphere 282RK I see these #'s:
Length - 35'0"
Dry weight - 6620
CCC - 1901
GVWR - 8521
Dry Tongue - 700

So assuming a fully loaded trailer and a 15% tongue weight, that's 1278 lbs or 168lbs over max payload. That's worst case so I'm confident the #'s would be under on all accounts.

Does this all sound reasonable or a recipe for disaster? Thanks!

We almost pulled the trigger on of these trailers this past weekend at our local show. Nice trailer. I'm just not sure I really want to go another 3ft. over what we have. The tank capicities are nice though. Good Luck.

[alexleblanc]

bdecker wrote:
IMHO That is waaayyyy too long of a trailer for the tow vehicle. The tail wagging the dog comes to mind.

My thoughts as well. That's why I have and F250 now instead of my previous beloved F150 EB max tow.

[Ron_Gratz]

rhagfo wrote:
Best check your math, as you already have the front axle overloaded!

Even 57% of 6,540# is 3,728 very close to overloaded, once the WDH does it's thing the front axle will be over loaded.

Thanks for the catch. I did use 57% of the TV's GVWR instead of 57% of the estimated unhitched loaded weight.

I've corrected the numbers in my previous post.

The estimated numbers with WD applied are:

Front GAW = 3680# versus GAWR = 3750#
WDH restores 400# of the 450# which was removed due to WDH weight and tongue load

Rear GAW = 3760# versus GAWR of 4050#
WDH removes 600# of the 1550# which was added.

GVW = 7440# versus GVWR = 7650#

So, under this scenario, the front axle load was close to its GAWR, but the rear axle load was 290# under its rating.

Ron

[rhagfo]

Ron Gratz wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
The TV will then likely be OVER the rear axle rating, as with only 150# between GVWR and total axle rating!---

The OP's TV with occupants and misc. cargo is estimated to weigh 6540#.

With a 57/43% front/rear weight distribution, the front axle will carry about 4360# and the rear will carry about 3290#.

The estimated 900# of WDH weight plus vertical load induced by the TT will remove about 370# from the front axle and add about 1270# to the rear axle.
The WDH will remove about 560# from the rear leaving a net addition of about 710# for the rear axle.

The total load on the rear axle will be about 3290+710 = 4000# versus the rear GAWR of 4050#.

Ron

Best check your math, as you already have the front axle overloaded!

Even 57% of 6,540# is 3,728 very close to overloaded, once the WDH does it's thing the front axle will be over loaded.

[Ron_Gratz]

rhagfo wrote:
The TV will then likely be OVER the rear axle rating, as with only 150# between GVWR and total axle rating!---

The OP's TV with occupants and misc. cargo is estimated to weigh 6540#.

With a 57/43% front/rear weight distribution, the front axle will carry about 3730# and the rear will carry about 2810#.

The estimated 1100# of WDH weight plus tongue weight will remove about 450# from the front axle and add about 1550# to the rear axle.
The WDH will remove about 600# from the rear leaving a net addition of about 950# for the rear axle.

The total load on the rear axle will be about 2810+950 = 3760# versus the rear GAWR of 4050#.

Ron

[rhagfo]

Ron Gratz wrote:

itguy08 wrote:
So assuming a fully loaded trailer and a 15% tongue weight, that's 1278 lbs or 168lbs over max payload. That's worst case so I'm confident the #'s would be under on all accounts.!

According to the 2011 F-150 Towing Guide, the maximum allowable tongue weight for a 2011 F-150 is 1130#.
You should check your TV's receiver to see if there is a sticker which can verify this rating.

When using a properly-sized and properly-adjusted WDH, a load equal to approximately 20% of tongue weight can be transferred to the TT's axles.
This means the vertical load imposed on the TV by the TT will be equal to about 80% of TW.
If your TW is 1130#, the vertical load on the TV can be about 900#.
To this, you must add about 100# for the weight of the WDH -- making the total added vertical load about 1000#.

Given your estimated 1100# of available payload, you would be left with 100# of remaining payload.

Ron

The TV will then likely be OVER the rear axle rating, as with only 150# between GVWR and total axle rating!
That F150 has a GVWR that is 98% of total axle rating.

Yep, tow over GVWR, but I have 1,284# of axle rating to go and 634# of that is on the rear axle.

[Ron_Gratz]

itguy08 wrote:
So assuming a fully loaded trailer and a 15% tongue weight, that's 1278 lbs or 168lbs over max payload. That's worst case so I'm confident the #'s would be under on all accounts.!

According to the 2011 F-150 Towing Guide, the maximum allowable tongue weight for a 2011 F-150 is 1130#.
You should check your TV's receiver to see if there is a sticker which can verify this rating.

When using a properly-sized and properly-adjusted WDH, a load equal to approximately 20% of tongue weight can be transferred to the TT's axles.
This means the vertical load imposed on the TV by the TT will be equal to about 80% of TW.
If your TW is 1130#, the vertical load on the TV can be about 900#.
To this, you must add about 100# for the weight of the WDH -- making the total added vertical load about 1000#.

Given your estimated 1100# of available payload, you would be left with 100# of remaining payload.

Ron

[2Macs]

IMHO, It is more TT than the truck will handle. I have a 35' TT which I tow with a diesel dually. Weights are comparable. The dually handles the TT easily. A 1/2 ton truck with Ecoboost will have a hard time on hills, mountains, and headwinds.

[rhagfo]

goducks10 wrote:
Those are brochure weights you listed. Add 2-400lbs for post delivery. Now you're at 68-7000lbs dry. Add the typical 1000lbs of gear and you're at 8000lbs. Figure 12% for TW and your at 960lbs. Close to your trucks GVW. Did you figure in the bed cover in your estimates? IMO 8000lbs and 35' is too much for you F150. I towed 7300lbs and 31' with my 2010 F150 Super Crew 5.5 bed Max Tow and 1857lb payload. I was 50lbs under my RAWR of 4050lbs. 80% of the time it was fine. I did the LT tire upgrade and installed SuperSprings. Moved up to a 3/4 ton CC LB and it was a night and day difference. TT no longer wanted to moved the truck around.

My advice is if you're going to tow maxed out then invest in a Hensley Arrow or ProPride hitch. It will be the best money you spend on that setup. Better than LT tires, shocks and any suspension mods you will think you need to make because the TT is pushing your truck around in less than ideal conditions.

I might add also that with the rear kitchen most of your added weight will be in the rear. Which will keep the TW lower but may increase the chance of swaying.

Not only worry about GVWR, but also rear GAWR! GVWR is 7,650# axle total weight rating is 7,800# that is only 150# difference, very easy to be within GVWR and over on the rear axle.

[goducks10]

Those are brochure weights you listed. Add 2-400lbs for post delivery. Now you're at 68-7000lbs dry. Add the typical 1000lbs of gear and you're at 8000lbs. Figure 12% for TW and your at 960lbs. Close to your trucks GVW. Did you figure in the bed cover in your estimates? IMO 8000lbs and 35' is too much for you F150. I towed 7300lbs and 31' with my 2010 F150 Super Crew 5.5 bed Max Tow and 1857lb payload. I was 50lbs under my RAWR of 4050lbs. 80% of the time it was fine. I did the LT tire upgrade and installed SuperSprings. Moved up to a 3/4 ton CC LB and it was a night and day difference. TT no longer wanted to moved the truck around.

My advice is if you're going to tow maxed out then invest in a Hensley Arrow or ProPride hitch. It will be the best money you spend on that setup. Better than LT tires, shocks and any suspension mods you will think you need to make because the TT is pushing your truck around in less than ideal conditions.

I might add also that with the rear kitchen most of your added weight will be in the rear. Which will keep the TW lower but may increase the chance of swaying.

[goducks10]

Roman Duck wrote:
Probably doable,as long as your max overload is 200 lbs over your GVCWR.
One thing to keep in mind; liabilities issues are possible. The insurance company and truck warranty's could void coverage and any submitted claims refused.
Another item that might be considered, some state DOTs are pulling in RVs and checking their weight to see if any are over gross registered weight, or the manufactures wt ratings posted on the door jamb,but if your only over 200 pounds then your ticket for being over gross will be only $200.00.
either way I would say be extra careful.
Might want to think smaller RV, or bigger truck; to give yourself an extra bit of cushion to play with.

Can you list the states and ins companies that are doing this? I would like to know so I can avoid both as I'm 200lbs over GVW.

[bid_time]

Roman Duck wrote:
Probably doable,as long as your max overload is 200 lbs over your GVCWR.
One thing to keep in mind; liabilities issues are possible. The insurance company and truck warranty's could void coverage and any submitted claims refused.
Another item that might be considered, some state DOTs are pulling in RVs and checking their weight to see if any are over gross registered weight, or the manufactures wt ratings posted on the door jamb,but if your only over 200 pounds then your ticket for being over gross will be only $200.00.
either way I would say be extra careful.
Might want to think smaller RV, or bigger truck; to give yourself an extra bit of cushion to play with.

Pure HogWash!

[APT]

I don't see any issues. I doubt you'll add 550 pounds of TW, probably 250-300. That will settle near 8k loaded with 1000 pounds of TW. Use a quality WDH with integrated sway control.

No need to weigh the base truck. That is the legal purpose of the Tire and Loading sticker, to provide a payload (which subtracted from GVWR provides curb weight) with a full tank a of full. Now maybe you want to weigh with people and dog and stuff in the bed to check your estimate.

[Steeljag]

I also think the length may be a factor to consider!