Just bought a new Keystone Cougar! What else do I need?

[KC10Chief]

After 12 years of not having a camper, we finally bought another one today! The new trailer is a 2019 Keystone Cougar 29BHS. It is actually still at the factory being assembled but I still had time to make some changes I wanted like theater seating. I enjoyed my buying experience at Floyd's RV in Goldsby, Oklahoma. They had me put 10% down until the trailer arrives by mid February. My tow vehicle is a 2018 F-150 Lariat Supercrew with the 3.5L Ecoboost motor. The family is my wife and I and our 12 year old daughter. Two small dogs.

The trailer is 6,915 pounds and 810 pounds of tongue weight empty according to the manufacturer website. Ford claims my truck has a 13,200 pound towing capacity but my 1,700 pound payload capacity says otherwise. Still, I didn't take any chances and ordered a ProPride 3P-1400 hitch. Been reading a lot about those and look forward to towing with it.

I'm also going to order the usual stuff. Sewer hose, water pressure regulator, leveling blocks, etc. Are there any revolutionary items that I don't know about? Anything I need to get? Somebody was telling me that I need a voltage regulator. Any recommendations on a good one? I went to Camping World since I live a couple miles from one but they sure seem overpriced on a lot of things.

[FishOnOne]

I like to use a external water pressure regulator

[Merrykalia]

KC10Chief, we had a Ford EB and we LOVED it. If I hadn't wanted to upgrade our R to a 43' fifth wheel so we can more easily camp-host, we would still have the 150. Every time I drive by the Ford dealer, I think seriously about going in and trading in our family car, a Honda Pilot. I might still do it.

[KC10Chief]

Thanks for all of the replies! All of this stuff has already been purchased and I've read all of these things about my truck and trailer over and over and over. I'm aware of the risks and feel I'm mitigating them pretty well. I bought the fancy hitch not because I thought my vehicle was inadequate, but because I wanted the best towing experience. We get some nasty cross winds here in Oklahoma and semi trucks. We have a couple long downhills down south on I-35 but they're pretty straight and not terribly steep. And if I find that my tow vehicle is indeed inadequate, this is America! I'll go trade it in on a Super Duty! HA!

[Lwiddis]

"with my 6500 pound loaded travel trailer" But, traqusa3, OP's TT will be 6,915 DRY! And he will be loading everything in the TT since his TV payload is low....8,500...9,000?

"I enjoyed my buying experience at Floyd's RV in Goldsby, Oklahoma." Is that because they said what you wanted to hear? "Oh, that F150 will tow anything on the lot!"

[tragusa3]

I'm as proud an owner as you will find for the EB F150. I've made 4 cross country trips with my 6500 pound loaded travel trailer and family. It did an incredible job in all areas except for the one you've already mentioned. On long descents in the mountains, you will need to drive very smartly. I was a little worried of braking on a few occasions with my lesser weight. Like you said, its what you have now, so it will work. In Oklahoma, you will feel like you have plenty of truck. Not so on downhills.

[ScottG]

I am a big fan of Anderson Levelers Link
They make leveling a trailer extremely easy and precise - even for one person.

[Sandia_Man]

Congrats on your very nice new Cougar TT, let us know how your maiden voyage goes although I don't anticipate any real serious issues with your towing combination particularly since you have purchased a top notch hitch. Traveling through the higher elevations of the mountain west region may diminish your overall towing comfort level, which is pretty much standard procedure for any gasser tow vehicle when towing heavier rigs.

Since you have been RVing in the past I wouldn't fret about getting all the goodies at once as long as you have the basics. We outfitted our rig as a second home and have added as needed what we deemed necessary along the way. We have been looking to get a new rig here in the near future and have liked what we have seen from Cougar lately, sure hope your new rig is all that you expected. Welcome back to the RVing lifestyle!!!

[midnightsadie]

and a good road service plan. I too think the truck is maxed out ,but I,m no expert.poor little six banger gonna work its heart out.

[myredracer]

Specs say that trailer is almost 35' long with a 8800 lb GVWR and listed cargo capacity of 1900 lbs. Always ignore factory dry weights. Optional items you order can reduce a TT's payload/CCC capacity. I would weigh it when you first pick it up and again after it is fully loaded for camping. At an average TW of 12-13%, you could be looking at around 1100 lbs of actual TW and possibly even a bit more. One or more full holding tanks can add a lot of wt. too.

If you haven't, since you are pushing the limits of the F150, if not exceeding them, I would take it to a scale with just driver and see how the actual payload capacity compares to the sticker and also again when it's fully loaded for camping. Our F250 for ex. has a substantially lower payload capacity than the door pillar sticker. Anything you've added to the truck like say a cap/canopy will reduce payload cap. How much will passengers + pets + camping stuff in bed weigh ? Perhaps 800 - 1000 lbs? Perhaps higher? Then you can easily be well over the TV's payload capacity when hooked up to the TT. Besides payload capacity, there's also braking and handling of a TV to consider.

It's not a good idea to use a Pro Pride (or Hensley) WDH to address an under-sized TV or to hide sway issues. You still need to deal with all the things that contribute to sway such as tire pressures on TV & TT, tire type on TV, ensuring TT is level (to slightly nose down), etc. before heading out on the road. I would check the load capacity rating on the TT tires. I've seen Keystone TTs with almost no reserve load capacity. You want at least 15%, and more is better which will help reduce the risk of a blowout. You might benefit from the next load range higher. Also, what brand tires on it?

I predict it won't take long before you realize the TV isn't enough. Unless you are just doing short local trips. Long distance trips and/or hilly terrain will not be fun. Not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic based on experience.

Anyway, on things to get in addition to what's mentioned by others: If planning to travel around to numerous CGS, especially older ones, get a Progressive Industries EMS. An autoformer can be a good idea in the summertime when voltage in CGs take a dive which can damage AC units. Make sure to have a 50-30 amp adapter because there are lots of CGs with few 50 amp sites, and some older ones with none. A voltmeter is very useful and a permanent one inside is best.

Good water filtration may help (and not those next to useless inline exterior cartridges with high micron ratings). That looong a TT may bounce a lot when set up on a site and you may want some stacker jacks and also stabilizer struts. Extra lengths of sewer and water hose are a good idea to have on hand and sometimes even a shore power extension cord (could use a 30 amp). A clear sewer elbow helps. Make sure to have at least some basic tools, jack & lug wrench and level for setting up the TT on a site. A GPS is helpful on longer trips along with paper maps. Don't forget the easy to forget stuff like coffee mugs, toothbrushes and the like... :R

[camp-n-family]

KC10Chief wrote:
Most people don’t realize that your payload capacity already takes into account the weight of over 300 pounds of passengers and cargo.

This is incorrect and a common misconception. The tow rating accounts for 300lbs for driver and passenger under the new SAE standards. The payload doesn't account for anything added to the truck other than full fluids. It is simply GVWR minus the curb weight. Everything added into the truck subtracts from payload, including the driver.

[sgfrye]

cork screw and bottle opener

[Birdnst]

Wow I see the expert has responded again by attempting to write a new book.
Get the basics as merrykalla has listed, and then part of the fun is adding something else that you discovered you want or need everytime you go.
You will be fine with that truck and camper, I have over 20000 miles with f150 EcoBoost and 36ft outback.

[KC10Chief]

DutchmenSport, thanks for the reply! I appreciate the time that took! I am also looking into the voltage regulators. I plan on getting a 50A portable one and some 30A adapters for it for when I need those. I had considered just filling my tank rather than hooking up to city water just for that reason. When I bought my house, I discovered that the water pressure coming from the city was 130psi!! It still is too. I have since installed a pressure regulator in the house. The trailer has a 60 gallon fresh water tank. After owning a camper in the past, I know that I will be bringing my own drinking water and use the camper water for showers and dishes and things like that. This camper has an outside fridge as well. That will be my beer fridge though! Ha! I do plan on purchasing pressure regulators though. I still have chocks from our last camper too.

Another thing I am upgrading immediately is the mattress that’s in the camper. It can hardly be called a mattress.

We are super excited about this! I’m looking forward to camping with my family and getting outside more and hiking and biking around and enjoying more of the simple things.

[2edgesword]

Since you've camped before and others have given a lot of advice on other stuff I'd just encourage having the person that sets up the WDH go with you for a test drive while you're hitched up to insure the comb handles to your liking. Better to do it then so that if adjustments are needed they can do it then versus discovering on your way home that things aren't right and you have to have the set-up adjusted.

The general specs for the truck (may be different for your particular model) are 3,230 payload and 13,200 max towing so the truck should have no problem towing that trailer. Truck wheelbase relative to trailer length has some impact but if you keep the speed moderate I think it should be a good towing experience (good is relative to each person's preference).

[KC10Chief]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! Our camper is wired for 50A service and prewired for a second air conditioner. Time will tell if I need another one here in Oklahoma. When running on 30A, the controller will run them in a racetrack. One at a time.

My favorite type of camping is state parks and we are planning to do a lot of that. Many of my favorite ones have 50A service. We will stay at RV parks too. I also plan to do some occasional boondocking for various types of events. I plan on purchasing a 3,000+ watt inverter type generator.

When we had our last camper, we used it almost every single weekend. It was unusual if we were at home on a weekend. We did a lot of boondocking too when I would race my dirt bike. These days, I fly a powered paraglider and go to some events where I’d be camped out in a field. But most of my camping will be at state parks and I’d guess at a minimum, we will be using it every other weekend. Our plan has been to get back into this and when our daughter moves out in another six or seven years, sell everything we own and go full time. In something much bigger of course.

As for my truck, it has almost as much power and torque as the 2002 F-250 I used to have. That won’t be the issue. I figure that I’m going to be at the upper end of my payload capacity. Most people don’t realize that your payload capacity already takes into account the weight of over 300 pounds of passengers and cargo. Still, I’ll be on the upper end of that. I think my biggest issue would be long steep descents. My engine won’t have the engine braking ability that a diesel does. There aren’t any of those here in Oklahoma. But if we go somewhere that does, I’ll choose my route accordingly.

I bought my F-150 for this purpose. I could have afforded a new super duty if I wanted. But that presents other challenges. My commute is 25 miles each way. It also would not fit in my garage and I like to keep my vehicles inside. My F-150 barely fits. But yes, I am fully aware of my capacities, capabilities, and how to mitigate them the best I can.