Community Forums

Reevesfamily · 03-08-2017, 08:08 PM

As long as you are within the weight limits of your TV, tires, and TT everything else is someone's opinion based on their experience. I pull about 8500 lbs with 900 lbs on the tongue with a great hitch and have zero issues with fatigue or fear. 2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch 2wd with 3:55 gear, good rubber, and we don't over load the truck. Don't understand all the paranoia about the 150 but I respect others opinions on it and it they are fearful of it then it's best to upgrade the TV. We don't try to kill it by setting daily distance records and that is helpful to the work load. The older we get the less distance we want to travel each day and the earlier we like to get set up and kicked back listening to the crickets.

parkerbill · 03-09-2017, 06:26 AM

We tow a 31' overall, ~6,500 lb loaded for travel (7,500 GVW) travel trailer with a '13 F150 Platinum 4x4 Screw 3.5 Ecoboost with Max Tow and 3.73 rear using a Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH and it is a relaxing, one hand drive. Would a 250 class truck do it easier and better? Yep, probably would, but our rig is a very sweet handling setup.

Randy the sly old fox · 03-10-2017, 11:26 PM

My DD and SIL tow a 32' Keystone Cougar Dry wt around 6200 lbs they tow with an F150 Eco Boost 3.6L I have not driven this combo - SIL says it drives fine. Just that the MPG towing is in the toilet - but the 20MPG light makes up for it. He also runs premium fuel. I have driven the truck light and it does ride nice and has great get up an go.

I tow an Arctic Fox 22H that weighs (actual scale wt) loaded for camping (no water) at 6000 lbs. I towed it with a 1999 Chev Tahoe 5.7L 3.73 rear end - it was white knuckle all the way. Switched to a 2500HD 6.0L 4.11 rear gears and the new 6speed transmission and it was a whole new world. Enough that I ventured out from Portland OR to Glacier NP and back and forth to Spokane a couple of times as well as a swing through Eastern Oregon pulling over the blue Mts.

In the next few months I expect to make another set of big moves - a new truck and TT.

jason_sos · 03-11-2017, 10:12 AM

Check out the Coachman Freedom Express 292BHDSLE. It appears to be exactly what you are looking for. My friend has this model from a few years back and it's great.

Badlands Bob · 03-20-2017, 07:12 PM

With the 1/2 ton you're going to be looking at bunkhouse/ outside kitchen configurations like the 2455BHS from Winnebago. You need to keep the gross trailer weight around 7,000 lbs and under 30 feet in length.

https://winnebagoind.com/products/tr...nie/floorplans

lcboy · 03-20-2017, 07:57 PM

I pull a 272 bh vibe with a half ton Chevy z71 it weights 6500 lbs and it's 32 ft long but it's a little big. My next one will be 28 ft.

grmaestas · 03-20-2017, 07:59 PM

I'm with the majority, I towed a 30' 1991 Dutchmen classic,dry weight 4,800, with my F150. Although I never felt unsafe, it was a gas hog,lacked any power in the mountains here in Colorado, the truck just struggled on long/steep grades. Last two trips the tranny started slipping once we arrived at camp. Upgraded to F-350 6.7 PSD,it was like night and day! Our excuse to upgrade to a larger unit at around #10,000. Love the new setup!

patriot07 · 03-20-2017, 08:02 PM

Your F-150 with ecoboost should be fine with 6k lbs unloaded. I'm looking in that range for my Ram ecodiesel, and I don't even think they make an F-150 EB model with a tow rating as low as my ED.

What are the specs on your truck? UVW, GCWR, etc.? Or what cab/axle/2wd/4wd/etc. do you have?

dexters · 03-20-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcham

5k empty = 7k loaded = 800-850lb tongue weight + hitch + people in truck + gear in bed = rear axle overloaded by 200-300lbs = unstable driving at highway speeds (without any wind). Add crosswinds and it gets really unpleasant.

This is the answer.

patriot07 · 03-20-2017, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dexters

This is the answer.

What are you putting in your trailer that weighs 2,000 lbs? Literally a ton of gear? That seems pretty unrealistic.

54Fun · 03-20-2017, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriot07

Your F-150 with ecoboost should be fine with 6k lbs unloaded. I'm looking in that range for my Ram ecodiesel, and I don't even think they make an F-150 EB model with a tow rating as low as my ED.

What are the specs on your truck? UVW, GCWR, etc.? Or what cab/axle/2wd/4wd/etc. do you have?

Mine is a 2016 F-150 3.5L Ecoboost crew cab, 3.55, 4x4 with Max Tow package (rated 12,200 towing, has trans cooler, integrated brake controller, stabilizer bar, heavy duty bumper, tow/haul mode, etc)...365HP, 425 ft lbs torque. Mine is GVWR of 7000, 1482 on cargo. This truck is absolutely amazing with TONS of power (yes, I know...its not a Powerstroke diesel, but it is amazing). I've only had it less than a year, and am between the trailer I want, and mixed opinions on what it can/should be able to safely tow. As much as I'd love a new Super Duty- i just can't pull it off with a trade.

I'm getting a lot of input that if I have an anti-sway/WD hitch (willing to buy a top of the line like a ProPride or Hensley) and with the capabilities of this truck I should easily be able to pull, handle and stop an 8000lb gross weight trailer. That "this is not your half ton of 5-10 years ago". Still looking, still open...we found one we like that is 6800 dry, with only 510lb tongue weight (Mallard M32).

Thanks for everyone's input

dexters · 03-20-2017, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriot07

What are you putting in your trailer that weighs 2,000 lbs? Literally a ton of gear? That seems pretty unrealistic.

You need to do some research on the payload of a F150 and the math of it with a travel trailer.

Here's a hint it isn't 2,000 lbs.

Badlands Bob · 03-20-2017, 09:50 PM

The payload on my 2015 F-150 FX4 is 1,840 lbs. A 2 wheel drive will be over 1,900 lbs. This is from the sticker on the door frame. Certain configurations will be even higher. When they went to the aluminum body, it really raised the carrying capacity.

dexters · 03-20-2017, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badlands Bob

The payload on my 2015 F-150 FX4 is 1,840 lbs. A 2 wheel drive will be over 1,900 lbs. This is from the sticker on the door frame. Certain configurations will be even higher. When they went to the aluminum body, it really raised the carrying capacity.

The hitch limit seems to be 1,220lbs.

https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/..._F150_Sep7.pdf

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/tow...ing_charts.pdf

Ram 1500 is 1,100 lbs.