New TT: Towing Capacities/Questions

[pal216]

Hey Guys,

I am brand new to the forum and my wife and I are purchasing our first TT this week and I have some questions I wanted to run by you. Below is the TT we will be purchasing and the truck I will be towing it with. My biggest question is am I riding my weights to the max and do I need to consider purchasing a tuck that is better equipped to handle this TT?

TT: 2014 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2905SS
5941 dry weight
1814 pay load
793 hitch weight

TV: 2012 F150 3.5L Ecoboost short bed
3.73 rear end
7200 GVRW
15,500 GCWR
Dealer will set me up with the WD at the time of purchase

Am I way out of my league attempting to pull this TT with my truck or if I am wise about what I put in the truck vs what I load in the trailer before hitting the road I will be in good shape.

I thank everyone in advance!!

Mike

[m2kamp]

I am towing near my limits with a similar trailer, but higher tongue weight (870lbs).

You should do just fine with that setup and from what I've read, the ecoboost should easily get the job done with that trailer. It also depends on how much camping you plan on doing. If just a weekend warrior you should be good to go. Always camping, consider 3/4 ton truck.

Getting the hitch setup properly is a big factor in stability on the highway. Switching to LT tires should help too. Hope that helps!

[The_Rhino]

When towing a TT with family members onboard, the F150 Ecoboost runs out of payload before maxing-out tow capacity or its GCVW of 15,500... However, if you don't have kids, don't pack heavy and/or add airbags, etc. IMO it's a great TV for TTs in the 7,000 range with the added benefit of getting better MPG unloaded.

For instance, our TT is 6,500 empty w/empty tongue of 640. However, ready-to-camp we're at 8,000+ w/GCVW close to 15,000 & loaded tongue of 1,200. This is because the empty tongue weight does not factor-in the battery, full propane tanks, gear in the pass-through storage, or gear stowed under the front master bed, etc. Our family of 5 & 1 dog add 800 to the TV, so we reach a payload of 2,000 before adding any tools, etc. in the PU bed.

Although our entry-level Ram 2500 CC w/lowly 5.7 Hemi only has a GCVW of 15,000 (actually LESS than the Ecoboost...), it has a payload of 3,000. Therefore we have added a fiberglass cap to keep our bikes, firewood, and tools dry. With 5 bikes, 3 scooters, tools, and enough firewood for a week our actual payload hovers around 2,500...

I have considered "upgrading" to a F150 Ecoboost with HD payload option but the HD versions are pricey and used ones are hard to find... In comparison, in 2013 I found a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC for only $14K & its nearly paid-off after just 3 years of $250/mo. payments. Can't beat the Ram for bang/buck!

[pal216]

Thank you kamp and rhino.

I am trying to think through everything so I hopefully do not have to step up to a different truc. I only have 12 more months to pay and only have 40k miles on it. However, the safety of my family is my number 1 priority. We do have 2 small children (20 months and 9 months) and the last thing I want to do is put them in danger. I did snap 2 pics of my numbers from in side the door and will post them from my phone in a separate reply.

My biggest fear is my payload rating which is only 1,193. I am hoping my packing the truck and trailer strategically I can stay within my numbers and have peace of mind while traveling wherever the road takes us.

How to CAT stations work? Do i need to setup an appointment or just show up, pay whatever the fee is and that is it? I think I would be wise to be weighed when all loaded up and see where I am.

Thanks again,

Mike

[pal216]

Here are my numbers.

[HONDAMAN174]

I am estimating your tongue to be close to 900 once you are loaded up. So some ideas to help. Do you NEED to campfire while you are there? Do you bring wood or purchase once arrived. Or go low effort route for now and use a propane campfire and run off your units propane.

Place cooler inside TT for traveling.

Do you need to bring full tank of water or will you have hookups?

Large dog to come with? Maybe bringing a kennel?

Be sure to bring your tires up to max side wall pressure before towing.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[pal216]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

I am estimating your tongue to be close to 900 once you are loaded up. So some ideas to help. Do you NEED to campfire while you are there? Do you bring wood or purchase once arrived. Or go low effort route for now and use a propane campfire and run off your units propane.

Place cooler inside TT for traveling.

Do you need to bring full tank of water or will you have hookups?

Large dog to come with? Maybe bringing a kennel?

Be sure to bring your tires up to max side wall pressure before towing.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

I will definitely take my own wood for the fires. In an effort to stay within my payload range, putting the coolers in the TT is a wise idea. Most of the places we will go have hookups so I will not have the added weight in the tanks. No large dogs thankfully. Just 2 that weigh about 15 pounds total. I am running BFG KO2 275 60 20 that are D rated so I will certainly max out the rear PSI before hitting the road.

Based on everyone's feedback so far it sounds like I will be in good shape but right around my max. As long as I take it slow and steady, I should be in good shape. I still want to hit the scales and see where I am at. The truth will be in my experience after the first trip. I should know after a time or two out whether or not I need to reconsider a better equipped truck or not.

[HONDAMAN174]

If you have d rated tires, then they are LT tires and not P so the stronger sidewalls will help with confidence. I'm sure you will play around with the rear pressures to find the sweet spot- I only run 60 lbs in the rear and 45 in front.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[lbrjet]

Truck and trailer should be a good match. Get a good hitch with integrated sway control and you should be good to go.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[The_Rhino]

My biggest fear is my payload rating which is only 1,193. I am hoping my packing the truck and trailer strategically I can stay within my numbers and have peace of mind

I didn't realize your payload was so low... While your kids are still lightweight you can get a few years in as long as you pack light. You might want to add airbags for an affordable extra measure of stability and safety.

In 2014 we bought a 3 year-old 2011 Primetime Tracer 3150 for around $20K from a local dealer & they included the Equalizer 4 1200 as a part of the deal. IMO the Equalizer 4 1200 WDH offers the best bang/buck & most dealers know how to install them correctly.

The dealer also included a pressurized leak test & re-caulking, new CO2 detector for safety, new battery, and full propane tanks. I spent about 2 hours checking the TT over & making a list of cosmetic repairs. Then we spent 2.5 hours doing a PDI where they adjusted both slide-outs & the awning for proper tracking. We have enjoyed 2 years of trouble-free camping but I am fixing our fridge before next season - it no longer cools in temps above 75...

The best things about our 6,500 lb. TT are the roomy rear bunk room & outdoor kitchen. For a 2 slide TT our (empty) tongue is only 640 which is better suited for your F150... (The TT you are looking at has a front master slide that adds weight up-front vs. in the rear like ours...) We pack heavy chairs under the master bed & unnecessary backup items in the pass-through storage so our loaded tongue is a little high. However, I am certain we could keep our (loaded) tongue around 800 by moving our camping chairs to the rear bedroom & leaving behind unnecessary stuff. For instance, we don't need 2 full propane tanks in the summer...

IMO our PT Tracer would not only give you more room for the kids but 400 lbs. of remaining payload for your family/firewood. We live in the country w/free firewood off our land & neighbors who give us theirs... We have also brought firewood home when tenters & popups left early due to rain... As your kids get older their bikes, etc. get bigger with them... We actually mount our bikes to the dinette area on fork-mounts - so in your case they would not add to payload.

[bikendan]

That's a TERRIBLE payload capacity for a 1/2 ton truck.
I would only tow short distances until I could get a better vehicle.
Or get a different TT with a lower hitch weight.

[pal216]

i can't understand why my payload is so low. Our first trip will only be about 75 minutes from our house without any major climbs/decents. The moment i feel that anything is unsafe, I will start searching for a different truck. I figure me, the wife and kids weigh 450 pounds. 100 pounds worth of firewood and the hitch weight of say 600-700 with the WD installed and i am right at my payload max. I will certainly be right at the max or slightly over.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by pal216

I will definitely take my own wood for the fires. In an effort to stay within my payload range, putting the coolers in the TT is a wise idea. Most of the places we will go have hookups so I will not have the added weight in the tanks. No large dogs thankfully. Just 2 that weigh about 15 pounds total. I am running BFG KO2 275 60 20 that are D rated so I will certainly max out the rear PSI before hitting the road.

Based on everyone's feedback so far it sounds like I will be in good shape but right around my max. As long as I take it slow and steady, I should be in good shape. I still want to hit the scales and see where I am at. The truth will be in my experience after the first trip. I should know after a time or two out whether or not I need to reconsider a better equipped truck or not.

This is becoming illegal in more and more places due to emerald ash borers and other such insects being spread around. Better to purchase wood locally. Save your truck and the woods at the same time.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by pal216

i can't understand why my payload is so low. Our first trip will only be about 75 minutes from our house without any major climbs/decents. The moment i feel that anything is unsafe, I will start searching for a different truck. I figure me, the wife and kids weigh 450 pounds. 100 pounds worth of firewood and the hitch weight of say 600-700 with the WD installed and i am right at my payload max. I will certainly be right at the max or slightly over.

If you want a real shock.
Put your family in, ready to camp, and go drive over a scale.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[madmaxmutt]

Pal216,

You have one of those oddity F150s with the upgraded rear suspension because you have 20" wheels. While your GVWR is 7200 and the payload is calculated on that figure, Ford seems to have forgotten to recalculate that GVWR when they upgraded the rear of the truck. So your Axle ratings add up to 7800, which is exactly the same as a MAX-TOW equipped F150 of that year. But you didn't get the upgraded GVWR of 7650 when they added the 20s. Hard to tell what Ford was thinking or not thinking, but 450 lbs is basically missing from your payload sticker because of this.

And Kenny is right on target, your curb weight without passengers or firewood is probably 6200 lbs.

[pal216]

Thanks madmaxmutt!

I have been looking at data online and the numbers weren't adding up to me. I think it's a pretty big miss on Ford's part to not have the correct numbers on the sticker of my truck.

So it's safe to say that my payload is definitely higher than what it says due to my axle ratings?

[pal216]

I don't know if it helps anything or not but here is my window sticker.

[madmaxmutt]

Depends on what you are talking about. There are those that will tell you that you will end up in Super Max if you go a pound over that sticker. I am not one of those believers. My truck is very similar and has dragged a very similar trailer all over the place including up every 11K pass in this state without an issue one.

1. Join this since you are new Boostie owner. F150 Ecoboost Forum You won't have to put up with the big 150 forum and the should've bought a V8 attitude.

2. Go to Etis and you will find all the info on your truck you can handle. You do have the Super cooling radiator and the aux trans cooler on your truck. Your Ford vehicle information lookup site

[Kenny kustom]

The only number that means anything is gvwr.

The rest is pulled out of thin air.
A real scale will tell you everything you need to know.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[nomad297]

I'd say that the way your F-150 is optioned out to the max, it is all show and no go. You lost all of your payload with the options you did get and the two most important ones you didn't get. Your door sticker is correct.

Bruce