F150 tow

[Mrbillsa]

This is my 1st post pls be patient with a newbie. My wife and I make a 900 mile 1 way trip to visit kids a couple of times a year. Been using Airbnb but last couple of times it wasn't such a great experience. We are thinking about a TT, but really don't want the expense of a TT and a better TV. Currently have 09 F150 Screw with 6.5' box FX4 3.73 elec lock rear end, 5.4 v8. I am thinking it should pull a 4k dry wt TT ok. Probably be 6k by the time we get everything in truck and TT. Any advice is appreciated. Thinking about a Jayco x213. Thanks.

[RPreeb]

Mrbillsa wrote:
This is my 1st post pls be patient with a newbie. My wife and I make a 900 mile 1 way trip to visit kids a couple of times a year. Been using Airbnb but last couple of times it wasn't such a great experience. We are thinking about a TT, but really don't want the expense of a TT and a better TV. Currently have 09 F150 Screw with 6.5' box FX4 3.73 elec lock rear end, 5.4 v8. I am thinking it should pull a 4k dry wt TT ok. Probably be 6k by the time we get everything in truck and TT. Any advice is appreciated. Thinking about a Jayco x213. Thanks.

I have a 2017 X213 and I pull with a 2016 F-150 Super Crew 4x4 short box, but mine has the 3.5 Ecoboost V6 engine that delivers more torque than the V8. Mine also came with the tow package which includes a 3:55 rear end along with the extra cooling and trailer brakes. It pulls the X213 with little effort, and I haven't yet invested in a WDH (probably next spring). Since the gross weight for the X213 is 5500 lbs, You shouldn't have any problems with it.

[time2roll]

Keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating for best results.
Forget dry weight.

Click my truck link in the signature for tow ratings.

[rbpru]

I have a 2011 F-150 4x4 and have towed a TT that weighs 6200 lb. across the CAT scales. We have accumulated 25,000 miles.

You have to accept,
+ 10 mpg towing mileage.
+ 60 mph or less speed.
+ 6 to 7 hrs or less driving time.
+ Increased truck wear and tear.
+ A fair amount of upkeep.

RVing has a lot of advantages, cost effectiveness is not one of them.

Good luck

[Flatfoot-Rogue]

last time I weighed my trailer fully loaded it was almost 7000lbs. I tow with a 2004 f150 with a max tow rating of 9800lbs. other than fuel mileage dropping to 12mpg (even lower in the mountains) my truck does great. Just make sure you have at least D rated tires. E would be better and up the cooling capacity (rad and transmission) or you will have no fun in mountains and hot weather.

[2112]

hohenwald48 wrote:

2112 wrote:
Welcome
I'm not trying to talk you out of it but here's my opinion for the sake of discussion:

It's not always cheaper to travel with a camper....

You didn't consider the "value" of sleeping in your own bed, using your own bathroom and having your own coffee pot. Priceless! 🙂

Yes I do. There is merit to your comment if you stay at roach motel's and many Fire Star's but the OP has been using AirBNB.

I'm curious what issues he had with AirBNB. My son is considering offering his Florida condo on AirBNB.

On a side note, regardless of where we stay excluding our camper the first thing I do when walking in a hotel, resort, cruise ship, condo, cabin, etc. is wrap the tv remote in something. I usually use the sealed plastic wrap from a drinking cup found in the room. I refuse to touch the remote or room phone. They NEVER get sanitized.

[hohenwald48]

2112 wrote:
Welcome
I'm not trying to talk you out of it but here's my opinion for the sake of discussion:

It's not always cheaper to travel with a camper. Ownership has its cost. Figure ~$3k/yr for that unit, loan if you take one on, and insurance. More if you have to pay for storage. Factor in you will use twice the fuel towing compared to not towing so fuel cost doubles. Unless you're boondocking camp sites are not free.

It would take me two hard days to tow 900 miles but can easily do it in one if not towing. The ST tires that come with the camper are rated for 65 mph. This can be corrected with LT tires for an additional cost but do you want to tow much faster?

Camper maintenance and repairs should not be ignored. This is not a big deal or time consuming until you find problems. You just have to be aware and stay on top of it. Being mechanically inclined is a big plus.

I say this because we sometimes find it better/cheaper/easier to travel without our camper. The deciding factors are usually distance to tow, distance from the closest airport, how long we plan to stay at destination, how much time we have, overall cost, etc.. Do I want to spend 4 days driving or catch a 2 hour flight to get there? I can spend 4 days in Vegas or drive 3 days to get there.

You didn't consider the "value" of sleeping in your own bed, using your own bathroom and having your own coffee pot. Priceless! 🙂

[Hannibal]

More than twice the fuel for us 2112. We take the ultra high performance black XSP race Prius when we're not taking the TT. At 48mpg 72mph verses 8.5~mpg towing with the F250, it's far cheaper for us to take the car. We almost got out of it a few years ago and my cousins got into it so the fun returned.

[2112]

Welcome
I'm not trying to talk you out of it but here's my opinion for the sake of discussion:

It's not always cheaper to travel with a camper. Ownership has its cost. Figure ~$3k/yr for that unit, loan if you take one on, and insurance. More if you have to pay for storage. Factor in you will use twice the fuel towing compared to not towing so fuel cost doubles. Unless you're boondocking camp sites are not free.

It would take me two hard days to tow 900 miles but can easily do it in one if not towing. The ST tires that come with the camper are rated for 65 mph. This can be corrected with LT tires for an additional cost but do you want to tow much faster?

Camper maintenance and repairs should not be ignored. This is not a big deal or time consuming until you find problems. You just have to be aware and stay on top of it. Being mechanically inclined is a big plus.

I say this because we sometimes find it better/cheaper/easier to travel without our camper. The deciding factors are usually distance to tow, distance from the closest airport, how long we plan to stay at destination, how much time we have, overall cost, etc.. Do I want to spend 4 days driving or catch a 2 hour flight to get there? I can spend 4 days in Vegas or drive 3 days to get there.

[Hannibal]

We tow our Jayco 28RLS with a 5.4L and 3.73 in our F250. It does a fine job in my humble opinion. I'd tow that 24' Jayco (properly loaded) anywhere you wanted to go with your F150. There again, that's just me. Most folks get a migraine if they hear a downshift and wet the seat if they feel a gust of wind. :B

[Alabama_Jim]

I pull a 24ft with ease using F-150 eight cylinder. I think it is the same as your truck.

[MitchF150]

... ugh..

[Old-Biscuit]

seaeagle2 wrote:
You need to check to see what your tow rating really is, F150's are all over the map. My 2010 F150 with no tow package, 5000 lb maximum tow weight, right out of the manual.

And there in lies the problem......those max tow ratings

Nothing more than a magical mfg. marketing ploy using a based model with 150# driver and 20# cargo.

Real world.....data sticker listing specific 'cargo carrying capacity' (payload) for that specific vehicle on door jamb

That number is for that truck with the factory equipment.

The MAX TOW Rating number.......HA. You will run out of payload, GVWR and be close of over RAWR/possibly rear tire load rating LONG before reaching that marketing number.

Then finally 2013 SAE J2807 was adopted so that a more level playing field and closer to real world numbers are being published my mfg.
At least is is a start at honesty in advertisement with a set standard.
Still not complete but much better than numbers bantered about 2012 and previous year models.

[seaeagle2]

You need to check to see what your tow rating really is, F150's are all over the map. My 2010 F150 with no tow package, 5000 lb maximum tow weight, right out of the manual.

[VoodooMedicineM]

clickable link