Community Forums

TexasCamper · 06-10-2017, 08:44 AM

Newbie here.
Were are with in a few week from pulling the plug on a New/Used trailer.
Looking at Springdale, Aspen Trail, Prowler 25-30 feet. F150, 5.0 will be pulling it.
Weight will be 5500 to 6500 pound range

Suggestions for Weight Dist. system (Sway bars). Breaking systems

Looked a Blue Ox for the WDS. Seemed over priced for what it was $625. Looked like it would only take an hour to set up. Any alternatives ?? Suggestions??

Breaking system... Have no idea about this any help/knowledge would be appreciated.

Thanks All !!!

Loraura · 06-10-2017, 09:20 AM

Can't beat the blue ox unless you go very expensive (2K). Your F150 is going to be near limits with a 28-30 foot. With any crosswind the trailer is going to push your truck around. Do not go cheap on the sway and WDH. DO NOT get a friction sway system that includes sway bars with friction sliders. Trust me on this.

We have a 33 foot (hitch to bumper) TT with a dry weight of 6100. Our RAM 1500 hemi pulled fine in most cases only after I ditched the crap hitch our dealership sold us and bought a blue ox. However after two years and 5K miles towing with this combo, the wind this spring was making me feel unsafe at highway speed (65 mph) so we bought a 2500.

I've owned 3 rvs over the last 7 years, each one bigger than the last. My experience is that no matter what the sticker tells you, if you go over 26 feet or so, or if the trailer is heavier than the the truck, a half ton truck will only tow well in ideal conditions.

TexasCamper · 06-10-2017, 10:14 AM

Thanks Loraura; thats what I was looking for was some advice from season folks. I know the Sales says it will pull anything... Just need to under the limits

Dropthejacks · 06-11-2017, 01:43 PM

I'm with Loraura on this one. Without knowing the specifics on your truck to see the exact tow rating, I think if you hitch 6500 lbs to it and start up a hill you are going to find yourself undergunned. I purchased a TT last year that weighed in at 6300 lbs dry, and hooked it up to my 1500 RAM rated at 8K to take it home. I purchased it at a dealership in the edge of the Smoky Mountains so needless to say, I hit some hills coming home. I could pull it, but I was constantly running 4K+ RPMs to TRY to maintain something close to highway speeds. I would pass a slow car going downhill, they would then pass me going up the other side. A week later the RAM grew into the 2500 Cummins we now have. If there is ANY question in your mind before you sign off, hook the trailer up and take it for a test drive to make sure you can move it comfortably and also (and probably more important) stop it effectively. Play it safe, you don't want to be borderline on this one. Good luck!!

Crasher · 06-11-2017, 01:46 PM

There's a lot of truth to avoid pulling a trailer heavier than the truck. In ND, a suburban pulling what looked like a 32-35' trailer passed me doing about 65 mph based on my 62 mph. A few miles further, I passed the suburban which was jackknifed in the middle of the interstate after a gust of wind flipped the trailer onto it's side. Too fast with too long of a trailer in windy conditions.

I used the Blue Ox WD hitch with sway control on a 28' enclosed trailer behind our motorhome for a few years. Might not had needed it with a 43' MH, but you can not have too much stability

Loraura · 06-11-2017, 04:18 PM

What is your cargo capacity on your truck (drivers side door sticker)?
It will say something like "occupants and cargo should not exceed..."

Does your truck have a built in brake controller?

Take the cargo capacity number and subtract people, pets, the hitch, and everything else that rides in the truck from that number. Jot that number down. Your tongue weight should not exceed that number. Typical half tons may have between 1400-2000 cargo capacity. Subtract the people in the truck, the dog, tool box, ice chest, bikes, and the WDH, and that number will be something like 700-1600 pounds left over.

Now take the GVWR from the TT. This is the most the TT can weight without overloading the axels or frame. Multiple that by .15.

To tow safely, 15% of the TT weight should be on the tongue. Less and you will have more trouble with sway.

For example a TT with a GVWR (not dry weight) of 6500 X .15 = 975.

That means any truck that tows this TT should have 975 pounds of available cargo capacity after subtracting for people, stuff, and hitch.

As you can see, a truck with 1400 CC can't support the tongue weight of this trailer, but one with 2000 could. Trim level, 4x4, and factory options effect the available CC.

So go get the sticker off your truck and do the math. Any TT you consider should have a GVWR X .15 that is less than the available CC you have.

For half ton tow vehicles, the CC is almost always the most restrictive weight limit, and the one that will be exceeded first.

When you find a TT that looks good on weights, take a long hard look t the overall length. Your gas truck doesn't have a big heavy Diesel engine keeping the steer axels glued to the road. The longer the TT, the more wind it will catch. Passing semis and cross winds will push hard on a 30 foot wall attached to the back of your truck.

lcboy · 06-11-2017, 09:05 PM

I have a trailor 6500 lbs and 32 ft long that we picked out. Plenty of power and braking. I bought a new Equilizer 4 pt hitch a week ago and it tamed it down in the wind and it's much better now. I agree my old 28 ft camper was better on windy days than this one. My next one will be 28 ft.

bobbin · 06-12-2017, 12:06 AM

uh, what exactly are your trying to break with a WD ?

TexasCamper · 06-12-2017, 09:03 AM

Okay here is what the door sticker showed...
GVWR 7100# -- Front 3450#, Rear 3850#. Window Sticker shows 7100# with a 3.31 rear end.

7100# - 700# (people & stuff) = 6400#
Anything over 6400# I'd be taxing they system. Right??

Had the truck service a month ago (F150 4 door Lariat 4x2 with tow package) Service said it could tow 9800#... (go figure)??
Stopped by a Fun Time RV place just looking. He said the truck does have a 7/4 pin plug so he said all they would have to do is install a breaking system under the dash. I'm guess this is an electronic unit and not a pendulum type system.. I don't know much about these..

Does your truck have a built in brake controller? Nope.. Suggestions??

TexasCamper · 06-12-2017, 10:53 AM

My numbers were off. Let me try this again...
GVWR 7100# -- Front 3450#, Rear 3850#. Window Sticker shows 7100# with a 3.31 rear end. CC = 1638#..
CC 1638# - 700#(people & stuff) = 938#
This means I have 938# available.. In your example a TT of 6500 x.15 = 975 which is exceeding my max cargo capacity. Have I got that straight?

So a TT of 5500 would be 824# giving me about 100# to spare... Right

lynnmor · 06-13-2017, 07:05 AM

Depending on the year and options, you can install a factory brake controller that is way better than the stuff that hangs under the dash. Look at eBay for prices.

Loraura · 06-14-2017, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasCamper

My numbers were off. Let me try this again...
GVWR 7100# -- Front 3450#, Rear 3850#. Window Sticker shows 7100# with a 3.31 rear end. CC = 1638#..
CC 1638# - 700#(people & stuff) = 938#
This means I have 938# available.. In your example a TT of 6500 x.15 = 975 which is exceeding my max cargo capacity. Have I got that straight?

So a TT of 5500 would be 824# giving me about 100# to spare... Right

Yes, you are understanding it correctly!