Help with towing set-up

[minihub67]

I have a 2011 F-150 with 3.55 gears 3.5 liter turbo 9,600 lb tow capacity.

I am looking at the following situation considering new travel trailer and could use some opinions if I should be ok.

I just weighed my truck full of gas with me in it... I'm at 5,830lb my GVWR on the truck is 7,100lb. If I add the wife dog and son I'm at 6,145lb leaving 955lb for tongue weight.

Trailer below: unloaded vehicle weight shipped is 5,900lb It has the kitchen over the rear axle and I suspect I would be around 6,600lb loaded.. I would think adding batteries and filling tanks with equalizer hitch, would add lets say 120lb. Now dry hitch wt (I know not loaded) 630+120=750lb.. Even assuming the trailer were at 6,800lb loaded, I would say using the example of 12% that's used to assume tongue weight I would be at 816lb o the tongue. I should have 955lb to play with so I would think I would be ok..

Any thoughts on my assumptions?

Thanks,

Jayco Whitehawk 27DSRL

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs)
5,355 (should be 5,900 shipped)
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs)
630
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs)
7,500
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs)
2,145
Measurements
Exterior Length
30' 11"
Exterior Width
96"
Exterior Height with A/C
129"
Interior Height
81"
Queen Bed
60 x 74
J-Steel Convertible Sofa
42 x 60
Hide-A-Bed Sofa (Optional)
54 x 74
Wheel Base
241"
Tank Capacities
Fresh Water Capacity (gals) includes water heater
46.2
Gray Waste Water Capacity (gals)
30.5
Black Waste Water Capacity (gals)
30.5
Other
Sleeping Capacity
4-6

[brulaz]

I'm towing right at my F150 Ecoboost's ratings. It definitely has the power. Think the drive train and brakes are good for the GVWR but the weak point is the suspension. The cushy suspension on these "half-tons" is 'cause they are mostly used as commuters, and only rarely fully loaded. They "wallow" about when fully loaded. You can change that of course, but if I had known, would probably have ordered Ford's HD Payload package which upgrades the suspension as well as gives you a stronger rear axle and wheels. A lot of the stripped down, construction F150's I see have the HD Payload.

Your tongue weight may be off: my rear kitchen 7500# trailer has over 15% tongue weight when loaded: ~1130#. Luckily I have 2050# payload.

[APT]

I think you'll be fine. I'm a certified weight policeman and you'll likey be over some rating by a little. I was with my prior half ton. I have never seen any pickup pull into the campground with en empty truck bed. Get a quality WDH with integrated sway control, learn how to properly adjust it, enjoy!

[jaycocreek]

You'll do just fine. I wouldn't think twice about pulling that trailer with my scrawny little 1/2 ton. Some people read to much instead of actually doing it.

Example:

My sons 2500 HD has less power than my F-150..Technically... There all but the same. We pull the very same trailer and loads and there is little if any difference pulling up to 10,000 lbs. None at all other than the 2008 F-150 has a better power band. Breaking is no better with the 3/4 ton pulling a heavy load of firewood without trailer breaks on back roads....

There all but the same other than the label.

[MFL]

I agree with others, that you are reaching the limits of the TV. I am sure you are aware, as it looks like you have done the proper home work. You were wise to weigh the truck, and do all the math on the various weights involved.

Are there better trucks, more suited for this size trailer? Yes, many, but your truck seems to be just inside your ratings, and IMO, will work for you.

With many towing over ratings, it is nice to see someone take the time to do it right.

Welcome to the forum,

Jerry

[nomad297]

Is this another one of those threads where somebody comes here to get the opinions of experienced people, only to rationalize by saying something like "plenty of people towing 8-10k" (with their undersized tow vehicle), so they should be fine?

I think so.

Bruce

[Huntindog]

minihub67 wrote:
Thanks for the reply... If I tow any bikes they would be on the rear of the camper, no firewood or anything like that.
The tires are Michelin that came stock... would upgrade eventually but not yet. I would think the power would be ok even with the 3.55 but could be wrong (plenty of people towing 8-10 k).. There are several more lightweight trailers out there but they have as much or more tongue weight.. this is one of the best set up's I can find for this truck, barring a 24ft trailer. I just sold one of those and need to go bigger, I am not geting rid of the truck so this is going to have to work. Will it be the best set up.. maybe not, but I think it should scale based on these weights.

Please DON"T carry bikes on a rear rack attached to the TT bumper... Many have had the extra weight cause the bumper to fall off....
Imagine arriving at camp to find it and the bikes gone.... And imagine the scenario behind you when it falls off on the highway.
That rear bumper is only suitable to carry a sewer hose... Other than that, it's for decoration only.

[Huntindog]

minihub67 wrote:
P.S.

If these 3/4 tons didn't cost what a small house does.. this would be a non-issue... for now most of us are in the 1/2 tons for practical reasons.
if I hadnt found a deal on this one used I would have gotten the max tow HD payload package.. but then again we are in Lexus price point with one of those.. dang expensive trucks these days.
A supercab would have been sufficient for us.. but we have what we have. The family is not going to grow.. the kid may add some weight though.
Thanks

It doesn't cost all that much upfront to move up to a 3/4 ton. The cost of the leather seat option will likely cover it.
The cost is in feeding the 3/4 ton when it is not being used for towing.

[minihub67]

P.S.

If these 3/4 tons didn't cost what a small house does.. this would be a non-issue... for now most of us are in the 1/2 tons for practical reasons.
if I hadnt found a deal on this one used I would have gotten the max tow HD payload package.. but then again we are in Lexus price point with one of those.. dang expensive trucks these days.
A supercab would have been sufficient for us.. but we have what we have. The family is not going to grow.. the kid may add some weight though.
Thanks

[minihub67]

Thanks for the reply... If I tow any bikes they would be on the rear of the camper, no firewood or anything like that.
The tires are Michelin that came stock... would upgrade eventually but not yet. I would think the power would be ok even with the 3.55 but could be wrong (plenty of people towing 8-10 k).. There are several more lightweight trailers out there but they have as much or more tongue weight.. this is one of the best set up's I can find for this truck, barring a 24ft trailer. I just sold one of those and need to go bigger, I am not geting rid of the truck so this is going to have to work. Will it be the best set up.. maybe not, but I think it should scale based on these weights.

[LarryJM]

minihub67 wrote:
I have a 2011 F-150 with 3.55 gears 3.5 liter turbo 9,600 lb tow capacity.

I am looking at the following situation considering new travel trailer and could use some opinions if I should be ok.

I just weighed my truck full of gas with me in it... I'm at 5,830lb my GVWR on the truck is 7,100lb. If I add the wife dog and son I'm at 6,145lb leaving 955lb for tongue weight.

Trailer below: unloaded vehicle weight shipped is 5,900lb It has the kitchen over the rear axle and I suspect I would be around 6,600lb loaded.. I would think adding batteries and filling tanks with equalizer hitch, would add lets say 120lb. Now dry hitch wt (Iknow not loaded) 630+120=750lb.. Even assuming the trailer were at 6,800lb loaded, I would say using that x 12% that's used to assume tongue weight I would be at 816lb o the tongue. I should have 955lb to play with so I would think I would be ok..

Any thoughts on my assumptions?

Thanks,

Jayco Whitehawk 27DSRL

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs)
5,355 (should be 5,900 shipped)
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs)
630
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs)
7,500
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs)
2,145
Measurements
Exterior Length
30' 11"
Exterior Width
96"
Exterior Height with A/C
129"
Interior Height
81"
Queen Bed
60 x 74
J-Steel Convertible Sofa
42 x 60
Hide-A-Bed Sofa (Optional)
54 x 74
Wheel Base
241"
Tank Capacities
Fresh Water Capacity (gals) includes water heater
46.2
Gray Waste Water Capacity (gals)
30.5
Black Waste Water Capacity (gals)
30.5
Other
Sleeping Capacity
4-6

Yea you can squeak by, but remember you will probably never be able to throw those bikes, firewood, generator, extra cooler, etc. into that "COMPLETELY EMPTY" bed w/o going over at least your TVs GVWR and you might have to limit your family growth to zero in the future for the same reasons. Your truck is probably a "crew cab" and to be honest I just don't understand why folks would buy a truck with all these great features like all that seating and pickup bed and then use it to tow something that in and of it's self negates what basically makes the truck attractive in the first place.

Many, many here will disagree with me, but I just think all these 1/2 tons with the exception of a few of the higher rated F-150s should be generally reserved for tent/pop up or very small TTs with tongue wt. below 500lbs. That way you have some reserve capacity to use the capabilities of that the truck has cargo wise. I just think for full profile trailers above about 25' you are better served with a 3/4 T with a decent V8, but again you will get .....Many, Many saying that is not needed ... However it is IMO rare to find an individual that has not said if they have moved up from a 1/2T to a 3/4 or better vehicle not saying either "I can't believe how much better this is" or "It's a night and day experience", or something to those effects.

Finally HERE is a current ongoing thread that you might find interesting.

Larry

[therink]

I believe you will be pushing beyond the payload limits of the truck once you add a bike or two, firewood and whatever else you put in the bed of the truck.
While the ECO boost has proven to be a good towing platform, the 3:55 gears will likely be an issue, especially on Hills.
Also, not sure what tires are on the truck, but you may want to check the load rating (lbs) and make sure you aren't exceeding there. You should consider 10ply load range E tires if you don't have them already.