New F150, soliciting input before buying a TT

[jeshoffstall]

Wife and I have been without an RV for a couple of years are are ready to get back in the game.

Current tow vehicle is a 2017 F150, supercrew, 5.0 liter, 3.55 rear, 4x4. It has to tow package that comes with equipment group 302A as well as integrated brake controller and electronic sway controller. The 2017 Ford towing guides shows my truck to have 9,000 pound maximum trailer weight for conventional towing. My payload sticker shows 1,875 lbs. Hitch is rated for 500lbs without WDH or 1,100 lbs with.

Looking at two trailers that I am sure are within this trucks capabilities, just wondering if I am going to be more comfortable pulling the lighter/shorter camper or I would even notice the difference. Going to use an Equalizer WDH.

First trailer is a Flagstaff Microlite 21FBRS:
UVH 4296
Hitch Weight 415
GVWR 5799
Length 21' 7"

Second is a Grand Design 2150 RB:
UVW 5195 lbs
Hitch Weight* 427 lbs
GVWR 6695 lbs
Length** 26' 9"
Height 10' 11"

We would gladly settle from the Microlite, but the Grand design obviously has more space - just concerned about 27 ft of camper behind an aluminum half ton truck.

I also find it odd that the Grand Design, being a thousand pounds heavier has a similar hitch weight. I assume both do not include propane bottles or battery.

Thanks,
Jack

[goducks10]

Properly setup either will work great. contrary to popular belief you don't need a 3/4 ton for those TT's.
JMO but I'd get the GD 2150RB. The 21FBRS has a built in sofa with exterior storage. If you don't like it after using it it will be really tough to replace.
The 2150RB has a bigger bathroom, replaceable sofa and a closed off bedroom with a full size queen bed.
Hands down a more user friendly TT with a good reputation for build quality and CS.

[Hannibal]

Between the two, definitely the Grand Design. If the axles are located under the pantry, it stands the better chance of proper loading to bring tongue weight up to where it should be and a rear bath doesn't lend itself to automatically loading heavy aft of the axles like a rear kitchen. The 80" queen bed is a big plus. Store anything heavy ahead of the axles. Excellent choice of hitch as well. I've about talked myself into ordering an Equalizer for our rig. No drilling the frame and no question about whether it works as advertised.

[Lwiddis]

Will you be moving often? Will your favorite CGs and/or those you expect use be ok with a 27 foot box and about 31 feet overall? Any chance you could pull the bigger one around for a bit to make some right and left turns at intersections? On the otherside of this discussion, my TT has 22 feet of box and if we didn't move often I'd want a longer unit. We stay in lots of smaller BLM, USFS and California parks.

[Sandia_Man]

The Flagstaff would be an easy tow for the most part, but the GD unit would work as long as you didn't carry too much in the truck. GD tongue weight is dangerously low particularly if loaded anywhere near GVWR. Best towing results are attained when tongue weight is 12-15 percent of TT weight. If fully loaded to GVWR the GD unit will eat up a major portion of available payload, if you don't tend to over pack you may be able stay within limits. Good luck and enjoy whatever new rig you get.

[Second_Chance]

First of all, the published hitch weights are almost meaningless. They often don't include the propane or batteries and never include anything you put in the front storage compartment. With that in mind, the Flagstaff should put about 690 lbs. on the ball and the Imagine about 800 lbs. In either case, you will need a weight-distributing hitch for multiple reasons. The best way to calculate your payload (stickers don't reflect true weights with occupants, full fuel, junk, etc.) is to weigh your truck at the nearest CAT scale with all that stuff on board. Add in another 100 lbs. or so for a good WD hitch and subtract from the truck's GVWR (and subtract the rear axle weight from the GVWRR). These numbers will tell you what you really have left over for payload.

With all 1/2-ton and many 3/4-ton trucks you will reach the payload max before you reach the max towing capacity. If you can stay within the payload limits - especially the rear axle of the truck - fully loaded, I think you will be fine with either trailer (and the Imagines are nice... but I'm prejudiced).

Rob