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tow this loaded cargo trailer + keep truck camper on?

LosAngeles
Explorer
Explorer
Can I safely tow this loaded cargo trailer PLUS keep our camper in place?

Pardon my ignorance but I want to do this safely and figure this out. I’m sure the wise people here can guide us.

Yes, I’m aware that the door stickers “cargo” is referring to what is IN the truck, not including towing….. (correct?)

I am driving a 2020 F350.
*Always* on the back is a truck camper.

I want to do a long road trip and on the way back, I’ll have a uHaul 6x12 Cargo Trailer Rental behind.

Inside it will be 250 cubic feet of household goods, that weighs about 1,800 lbs….. so a smaller uHaul wont fit the goods and also wont be rated for 1,800 lbs cargo (the next size smaller i could jam in 250 cubic feet, but would be overweight. I can’t be overweight for reasons I wont go into)

(Must not exceed maximum allowable hitch ball height 25”) from the Uhaul website.

With all of my camping gear, food, clothing, water, gas, propane, etc. I do know the F350 + our camping trailer is 11,300 lbs.
I know this # as I went onto a truck scale nearby and had it weighed, wet and loaded up.

So the *empty* weight of the Uhaul 6 x 12 cargo trailer is: 1,920 lbs..

so the total weight of the whole rig would be
11,300 (truck and camper, wet)
1,800 (my household goods I am picking up)
1,920 (the empty cargo uHaul)

total = 15,020 lbs.

Yes, I want to camp as I go on this trip. (I’ll have to figure out long pull thru sites, of course, to camp at, as I’ll be long.)

So firstly - is this safe? doable?

Secondly - the truck camper hangs off the back about 20” approx….
would I hitch right at the stock hitch?

I suspect it would be best to not use a hitch extension…. (because of leverage) and just hitch right at the usual place.

Does this look workable? Would I have enough safety capacity to tow my cargo?

I have a 6.2 gasser with the new 10 speed transmission, 4.3 back end, and i’m 100% confident that I’ll have enough grunt to tow…..

My concern is just total weight, and safety. (and how safest to hook up the cargo trailer - with or without the hitch extension?)

and… I’ll need to buy a 2.5” shank, 2” ball mount to fit into my F350 - any suggestions?

thanks!!

Here is the Uhaul 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer.

https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/6x12-Cargo-Trailer-Rental/RV/
5 REPLIES 5

joerg68
Nomad III
Nomad III
A DRW would be much better in this case...
When you went to the scale, did you get the individual axle weights?
That would tell you how much weight is left on the rear axle (difference to RAWR).
With an SRW, you are probably pretty close to the max rating of the rear tires as is. Going too far over that number is not adviseable, you don't want one to blow while going down the highway with a TC in the back and a trailer in tow while over max load.
A hitch extension acts as a lever for the tongue weight of the trailer.
Better rent a U-Haul truck? Hire a moving company? Will make life a lot easier... maybe get some quotes before you decide.
2014 Ford F350 XLT 6.2 SCLB + 2017 Northstar Arrow

LosAngeles
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks Jim and 3 tons... it is a SRW.

and...

So one alternative would be to strip out maybe 300 lbs (?) or more (?) of camping gear from the camper. That would get me closer to being ok.... maybe?

It would likely be just me in the truck (no other passengers) and traveling very, very light so that would help too.

Luckily i wont be making this trip for a good long time, so i have plenty of time to figure it out, or a plan B or plan C.

;D

3_tons
Explorer III
Explorer III
BTW, upon a re-read, be advised that due to your considerable overhang you’ll definitely need a hitch extension, else you’ll run the risk of ‘kissing’ the trailer when making turns...I got mine from etrailer...

3 tons

3_tons
Explorer III
Explorer III
Not sure if yours is a DRW or not, but FWIW I have a LB, CC 1 ton, DRW 4x4 Ram with a 4950lb (loaded up) camper aboard and often tow a 7’x16’ enclosed trailer at about 4k lbs with over 400lbs tongue weight, this using a 42” x 2.5” Curt extension (length cut to fit...)...As far as the hitch height goes, you should not have a problem, and in any event the height can easily be attained by using the appropriate drop length ball-hitch (that inserts into the extension)...I would also note that a dual axle trailer is typically more forgiving in these regards..JMO,

3 tons

jimh406
Explorer III
Explorer III
Is your truck a SRW or DRW?

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member