Newbie Tow Vehicle Help

trimills wrote:
Hi All,

Complete newbie here so please bear with me. Throughout COVID my fiancee and my jobs have become increasingly flexible and don't expect things to change soon. We are looking to buy a travel trailer to take advantage of this flexibility. I have a truck so want to make sure whatever we end up getting can be towed safely with this vehicle, but want to offer us enough space to live and work on the road. I have been doing research about this and it's making my head spin a bit so would love help to make sure whatever we end up getting will be towed safely. Would love advice from those with experience on what my vehicle can tow. Specs below:


- 2018 Ford F150 XLT Supercrew with 5.0L V8 4x4
- Bed length 6.5'
- Payload Capacity: 1,784#
- GVWR: 7,050 (I think based on the sticker in the door)
- Class IV hitch with weight distributing specs of max trailer weight 11,600# and max tongue weight of 1,160#
- I need to have the trailer brake installed, but have back up assist and 7 pin trailer plug already on the truck

I think we can safely tow a TT in the 7,000# - 8,000# GVWR range, but would love the thoughts of those who have more experience of what they think this vehicle can safely handle.

Thanks in advance for any help and let me know if you need any additional information.

Thanks!

Yes you can safely tow a TT in the LOADED 7000lb range. You will prolly need to find one in the 6000lb UNLOADED range. There is a sticker on new TT telling how much they weigh dry from the factory with the battery and empty propane tanks installed. so a 6000lb empty TT will get you between 7, and 7,500lb loaded.

As to the brake controler. Your truck is already wired for one. it is plug and play. some where in your truck. Either in the dash, console, or with the jack. Is a wiring harness. Under your dash is a wiring harness to plug it in to, after you hook it to the controler you buy. I would suggest a newer version of the Prodigy.. Unless of course you want to get to get the factory controller installed. The harness is there for that as well.

There is also a relay in the truck with the wiring harness that will need to be installed to charge the battery in the trailer.

After that. Just be sure you get the WDH setup correctly. That is the most important thing to do to make the TT follow you like it should