Safe towing?

[Bandit7]

My TV is a 2009 F150 4x4 Supercab XLT
Wheelbase 145"
4.6 3v EFI V8 6-SPD
3.55 Ratio Reg Axle Trailer Tow package

Looking at Rockwood Ultra Lite 27033ss
Length 31'11"
Hitch weight 594 lbs
Dry weight 6,048 lbs
Gross weight 7,474 lbs

[Triguy]

Could you also list the towing cap and payload for your Ford?

[Bandit7]

I believe payload is 1550 & tow cap is 7900

[Herk7769]

http://www.trailerlife.com/wp-conten...Guide-2009.pdf

2009 Ford F150 Specifications

F-150 SuperCab Std. Bed 4WD 4.6L V-8 3V 7,900 (a6,d)

F-150 SuperCab Std. Bed 4WD 4.6L V-8 3V 9,400 (a6,e)
a6 = Auto Transmission, six speed
b = 3.15:1 axle ratio
c = 3.31:1 axle ratio
d = 3.55:1 axle ratio
e = 3.73:1 axle ratio

Payload is 1460 based on the driver and a full tank of gas only.
GVWR on the truck is 6950

Watch your tongue weight.

Looks like you have the towing capacity for that camper (watch the max weight because you are at the limit) also be careful of your GVWR and combined weight limits on the truck when loaded for camping.

[Dave_Monica]

Here's the link for Ford Fleet Towing

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...9RVTTguide.pdf

On pg 17, your truck is rated for 7900 lb max towing and 13500 GCWR. The Rockwood fully loaded will put you close to the max. If there's only two of you and you don't load heavy, you should be OK.

Dave

[Bandit7]

I thought it would be close but it's just 2 adults & 2 yorkies

I had one dealer try to sell me a 34'Outback 298 RE
Dry weight 7,400

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Bandit7

I thought it would be close but it's just 2 adults & 2 yorkies

I had one dealer try to sell me a 34'Outback 298 RE
Dry weight 7,400

Yowsa, we hear it all the time here.

[kamp k]

Originally Posted by Bandit7

I had one dealer try to sell me a 34'Outback 298 RE
Dry weight 7,400

Typical. As others have mentioned, you should be ok, if you pack carefully and watch your all of your meaningful weights. Good luck.

[Triguy]

Bandit,
I agree with those guys. You're good.

The only thing to watch for is carrying too much in the bed of the truck. As an example, your trailer if reasonably loaded would be around 7,000lbs which would give you a tongue weight of 900-1,000lbs. This leaves you with a net payload for passengers and other cargo of 460-560lbs.

You should be fine (unless you plan on hauling hundreds of extra pounds in the truck bed when you are camping).

You were right to run away from that Outback dealer. Salesmen can be crazy... and not in a good way.

[Bandit7]

Thanks everyone

[Barney1]

Ok I have the same question:

My TV is a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Crew Cab Big Horn
Specs:
http://www.pscars.com/gallery/Ram/15...rn_327442.html
Wheelbase 140.5"
5.7l V8 5SPD AUTO
4x4 3.55 axle Ratio (front&back)
Max tow /w WDH 8,408 lbs
Max tongue /w WDH 1,008.96 lbs
Max Payload 1,408 lbs
Gross Combined Wt Rating 14,000 lbs
GVWR 6,700 lbs

TT Rockwood Roo 233s
Length 23'8"
Hitch weight 565 lbs
Dry weight 4,093 lbs
Gross weight 5,964 lbs

Confused -- but based on the two Gross weight ratings and the Max Combined Weight I think I am OK ?????????

[Scatman]

Bandit,

My other recommendations would be to watch your payload, don't haul water or waste water with you (little in black tank, 5 gallon in fresh for flushes). You should be OK as long as you don't get into many large hills and climbs.

[pip]

bandit7 -I have the very same truck, I pull a 26 ft. tt & it pulls great but I'm only at 5100lb loaded, in my opinion your at the limit, it will pull it but i don't think you will be happy going up any big hills.

[Scatman]

[QUOTE=Scatman;178053]Bandit,

My only recommendations would be to watch your payload, don't haul fresh water or waste water with you (little in black tank, 5 gallon in fresh for flushes). You should be OK as long as you don't get into many large hills and climbs.

[Triguy]

Barney - You are fine too with regards to your limits. Those are close to my trucks' numbers and I have a 233s.

Like with the OP (and almost everyone who drives a half-ton), the limit we run up against more often than not is the truck's payload.

In your case, you have a payload of 1,400lbs, tongue weight of around 675 or so. That leaves you with 725lbs for passengers and cargo. Very doable - unless you have four or five people in your truck and carry a lot in the bed.

[Herk7769]

Have you been to the scales to get an actual weight?

Here is the thing. How do I say this without sounding like the "Weight Nazi" I have been accused of being.

Published numbers are slippery. For example; you mention hitch weight.

If that came from the brochure it is the weight of an empty camper's tongue with nothing in it; same with dry weight. The weight on the tongue "to be safe" is 10-15% of what the travel trailer actually weighs.

Using max gross weight as a rough estimate only works if you know you are at or under it when actually camping.

For PLANNING purposes; (IE you are looking at a new camper and wonder if your truck can pull it); use the maximum it can weigh and run the numbers.
Travel Trailer Weight Calculator

and

Fifth Wheel Weight Calculator

will let you input the tow vehicle's specs and you can play with the numbers to see what is possible for a potential camper.

Safe and sane is the goal. Good gas mileage and being able to stop the beast would be nice too.

[Barney1]

I haven't been to the scales yet because I don't even have possession of the TT yet. It is at FR getting the leaky bunk-ends fixed. It has never even been hooked up to my TV yet.

[MtnGuy]

I agree with Lou....the scales will tell the tale.

In both of these trucks, I would be concerned with the GVWRs and GCWRs.

With the Ford and 2703SS. That puppy lists a really lite tongue weight compared to the empty weight. That trailer will need to be loaded front heavy to get anywhere close to a 10% tongue weight. The tongue weight will probably need to be in the 700 lb. category if the trailer ends up weighing around 7000 lbs. ready to camp. That 700 lbs. on the truck, along with passengers and cargo is gonna cut the GVWR of 6950 pretty close. Some of the weight can be put back on the trailer axles with the WDH. Also, the 13,500 GCWR of that truck is going to be close, also. Again speculating, but if the trailer weighs in around 7000 lbs., then that is 6500 lbs. left for the truck, cargo and passengers. Compared to my 2006 F150, with me in the seat with a few personal things on board, my rig weighs around 6000 lbs.

The Dodge with a 6700 GVWR is gonna be even closer. The 233S has a pretty hefty tongue weight to start with. That along with the lower GVWR is gonna make the weights really close.

Also, both owners will need to check the stats on their hitches to make sure of the limits there.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Some of the weight can be put back on the trailer axles with the WDH.

Chap, remember that the WD does NOT reduce the tongue weight. The forces on the hitch ball never change. The weight gets distributed from the rear AXLE to the front and trailer axles; that is all.

If his tongue weight is over the limit, a WD hitch will not change that.

[TURBS]

weight nazi ! just sayin !