will i be ok with this setup?

phillips · 03-03-2016, 02:20 PM

i have a 2013 f-150 5.0L (super crew) with 3.55 ratio. About to buy a 2016 Apex 300bhs ultra light. the unloaded weight of the trailer is 5980lbs. the GVWR is 7680 lbs. wanted to get some input if my truck will be fine hauling this trailer or if its on the heavy side? thanks!

fonzie · 03-03-2016, 02:33 PM

I think you will be at the limit of your truck, if you can post the two door stickers it will help members give you better advice....attached is 2013 Ford towing guide for your reading.

Coachmen RV - Manufacturer of Travel Trailers - Fifth Wheels - Tent Campers - Motorhomes

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...rv&tt_f150.pdf

example of door stickers below.....

**bikendan** · 03-03-2016, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillips

i have a 2013 f-150 5.0L (super crew) with 3.55 ratio. About to buy a 2016 Apex 300bhs ultra light. the unloaded weight of the trailer is 5980lbs. the GVWR is 7680 lbs. wanted to get some input if my truck will be fine hauling this trailer or if its on the heavy side? thanks!

Yep, you need to provide much more info, like the above pics.

Payload and towing capacity and GCWR numbers are the most important.

Your 3.55 ratio is not going to help. With that ratio, you probably have a lower paylod capacity.

phillips · 03-03-2016, 04:49 PM

Click image for larger version

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door sticker

The_Rhino · 03-03-2016, 05:04 PM

Our TT is 6400 w/empty hitch of 640 as per the sticker. However, ready-to-camp we're 8000 with hitch weight of 1200 as per (2) CAT scales. IMO, the F150 w/5.0 is NOT a good match for this size TT.

TURBS · 03-03-2016, 05:13 PM

Op what is the hitch weight of that camper?

2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

phillips · 03-03-2016, 05:17 PM

680lbs hitch weight.

fonzie · 03-03-2016, 05:24 PM

Do you know the rating of your truck hitch receiver?

example below....

doc73 · 03-03-2016, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillips

680lbs hitch weight.

Is that guess, a scaled weight or the one from the brochure?

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phillips · 03-03-2016, 06:13 PM

Those weights are the ones provided by Coachmen

**bikendan** · 03-03-2016, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillips

Those weights are the ones provided by Coachmen

those are dry weights based on a stripped down version of the trailer.

the only reliable brochure/website number is the GVWR.

so your payload capacity is 1584lbs.
anything over a 150lb. driver, in the truck, will subtract from that amount.
so passengers, cargo and WDH all will lower that number.

CWSWine · 03-03-2016, 07:54 PM

You have found that 1584 weight and punched into a What Can My Truck Tow and made some guess on people and stuff in the the truck. You can play with the numbers and get them closer to what you have. Here is the link to a great website. I won't go to the max but that me.

Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

OntarioFireFighter · 03-06-2016, 08:03 AM

I had a '13 F150 5.0; and pulled my '14 Grey Wolf 28bh... Similar weighs to your Apex.

Even though I was within specs, and had a decent WDH / sway setup, it was a lot of trailer for the truck... Didn't have any problems, but the truck was working.

Without knowing the exact weights and specs, obviously no one can say for sure; but in a nutshell - the truck should be able to so it, but it'll be working hard.

Kaadk · 03-06-2016, 08:37 AM

Your payload is at the better range for most 1/2 tons. So you should be able to hook up the trailer as long as you're aware of your weights. In my case I have to make sure I put things like the kids bikes, firewood and whatnot in the trailer vs the bed of the truck so that only a portion of their weight transfers instead of all of it sitting in the bed. Generally when we travel it's just what's in the cab and the tongue weight because I'm hovering right around the payload limit. And no extra passanagers. If the kids want to bring a friend/cousin or whatnot than that means DW loads up all the kids in the minivan and follows me out. So while I 'can' do it, I'd rather have a bigger truck once I can finish paying off this one to give myself some more breathing room. I expect you could find yourself in a similar situation, depending on what your planning to bring with you, how big the kids are, etc. (Assuming your bringing kids, based on the fact you're looking at a bunkhouse model).

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phillips · 03-06-2016, 09:11 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I am planning on trading my 5.0 for a eco boost in the near future. Once I show the wife these responses it should make the process that much quicker.lol. may have to make a haul or 2 with the 5.0 though so was curious to see what everyone thought.

The_Rhino · 03-06-2016, 09:13 AM

I read these forums before purchasing our TT/TV combo & these were my takeaways:

It's MUCH easier to upgrade your TV vs. TT, so within your budget get the TT that fits your family's needs. In our area the RV dealers have rows & rows of 1-2 year-old hybrids & entry-level TTs (with no slides, etc.) that are hard to sell. Friends tried to trade-in their newer hybrid and the dealer would only give them 50% what they paid 2 years earlier... In comparison, used 2-slide bunkhouses (like ours) sell off the lot within days, so they hold their value longer...

You can find a (gas) 3/4 ton for about the same price as your 1/2 ton trade-in, especially if you go easy on trim level... I found a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC ST w/5.7 Hemi for $14K and added a like-new fiberglass cap found on CL for $500. Some 1/2 tons have the same GCVW as my entry-level 3/4 ton, but I have a 3,000 payload capacity. This means we can just load & go and actually use the PU bed to haul stuff we do not want inside the TT.

If you get an Ecoboost, you need the HD upgrade, not just the tow package otherwise you will not have much more payload than you have now...

Consider buying a gently used TT vs. spending your first year having warranty work done... Our (used) 2-slide bunkhouse cost the same as entry-level 1-slide bunkhouses & we've camped for 2 seasons without any issues. In comparison, friends who bought new spent their first season having warranty work done. Lots of camping days lost due to dealer delays finding parts & time in their busy schedule. IMO ours was built near the end of the recession by the (better) employees who kept their jobs when the RV market crashed. In comparison, they cannot keep-up with demand during the current RV boom, so new RVs have more issues.

TreeLady · 03-08-2016, 10:23 AM

Here is a web site that is helpful -- RV Tow Check | Salesperson Fact Checker

Do you really need a TT this big? Or are you just wanting a newer truck?
Do you travel far to a campground or just close by? Do you intend to travel with it or is it just for local weeks/weekends and maybe just parked somewhere? How much stuff do you think you need to camp? I have downsized our camping items three times and every season, find something else that I have never used and we leave it behind.
Kids mean a lot of extra stuff but how much extra stuff?

Load up the truck with what you think you will carry in it -- passengers, chairs, bikes, coolers and go weigh it. Once you get the weight, maybe some of that can go in the camper or not go at all.

We don't carry water in any of the tanks. We don't carry a lot of groceries either. Always a store nearby.
Will you really load up that much stuff in the TT or can you be frugal to keep your weight down?

There are so many other things to consider when buying a TT.
Just my practical two cent thoughts.

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