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Old 05-05-2017, 10:48 PM   #1
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towing 30WFKSS w/ an f150

I'm looking at purchasing a 30WFKSS v light travel trailer. From what I can see it has a tongue weight of 742 lbs and a dry weight of 7127 lbs. Does anyone pull these with 1/2 tons? I have an '11 F-150 with a 3.5 ecoboost/ 3.55 gears. It seems to me that that's basically maxed out for my pickup. It's a beautiful tt, but upgrading to a 3/4 ton is a deal breaker.

Thanks for the help!
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:00 PM   #2
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My 2 cents: if you're only towing 100 miles or less on flat ground you'll be fine. Otherwise you'll be maxed out and not safe.
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:05 PM   #3
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Get a quality WD hitch, watch your payload in the truck, and you'll be fine. That is plenty of truck. Same truck I have- tows great. Just be smart
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:12 PM   #4
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That drive train is very capable. Bigger question - are you inside your weight limits? My version of figuring that out is to base your tongue weight on the TT GVW - not dry weight. If your truck can handle 13%+ of GVW as tongue weight with some room to spare after deducting people and stuff from the truck cargo capacity...

Also make sure you are under GCWR, and again use the TT GVW.
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:18 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by SailorSam20500 View Post
That drive train is very capable. Bigger question - are you inside your weight limits? My version of figuring that out is to base your tongue weight on the TT GVW - not dry weight. If your truck can handle 13%+ of GVW as tongue weight with some room to spare after deducting people and stuff from the truck cargo capacity...

Also make sure you are under GCWR, and again use the TT GVW.
X2.

Dry weight's for suckers. Strike it from your vocabulary. The trailer only weighed that much once, at the factory, and it will never be that light again. Dry weight is only used by unscrupulous dealers and manufacturers to sell ignorant people more RV than their TV should be pulling.
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:24 PM   #6
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8742 is the listed gross weight for the TT
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:30 PM   #7
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8742 is the listed gross weight for the TT
So figure 8742 * 0.13 = 1136 tongue weight. Add 50-75 lbs for a weight distribution hitch (which you will need). Then add weight of wife, kids, dog, and anything else you put in the truck, and make sure the total is less than the payload figure on the sticker on your drivers door jamb.

I'm guessing you'll be overloaded; most people exceed payload before towing capacity.

Good luck.
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:32 PM   #8
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I had the Rockwood version of this trailer (3008W) and pulled it with a half ton Silverado for four years. My loaded hitch weight was probably around 950 pounds so I had to be very careful as to what additional stuff was loaded in the truck bed when the trailer was attached. I used an Equalizer 4 point 1200/12000 hitch and had no issues with sway. The truck did struggle a bit in steep hills.
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Old 05-05-2017, 11:37 PM   #9
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AWe had a 2009 Ford f150 with a 5.4 liter and the max tow package rated for 11,000 pound trailer capacity. 99.5 percent of the time it was Ok. The 0.5 percent was not, this was downhill with 6 percent grades. We did not feel comfortable with the braking or the control. The trailer we had was a Keystone Hornet 30BHS with a dry weight of 7200 pounds, and a dry tongue weight of 780 pounds. Actual loaded weight was 8600 pounds with a tongue weight of 1170 pounds. The big difference in the tongue weight was due to propane tanks, batteries(2) not included in the manufacturers dry weight. Also the tongue weight must include the wdh and cargo in the box behind the truck axle. We also no longer believe the manufacturers tow figures and use the SAE calculations to determine the towing capacity. We have upgraded to a ram 3500 and are much happier with the control and braking. Go to fifyhwheelst.com for SAE calculator.
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Old 05-06-2017, 12:21 PM   #10
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F150: Not a problem

My F150 is exactly the same (2011, Ecoboost, 3.55). My Windjammer weighs around 8600 pounds loaded for a trip (both LP tanks full, food, clothing, bicycles, etc.); combined weight of 14,500 lbs (fully loaded truck and camper weight on a CAT scale) and I have towed it approx. 17,000 miles without an problem using an E-qui-lizer 1200 hitch. The longest trip I've taken was to Yellowstone/Grand Teton which was 1500 miles one way. Highest pass was 9800 feet going into GT. Pulled it to Florida numerous times on I75 and the I75, I40, I26 route over the Smokies, Hudson Valley in New York and Upper Michigan. Just go slow and steady which for me is 60-63 mph.

The bottom line is you'll be OK.
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Old 05-06-2017, 12:53 PM   #11
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If you have the 3.5 ecoboost motor you will never have a problem pulling a trailer flat or uphill, but your payload is what you have to watch. I have a 2015 F150 Kingranch with the max tow package. My trailer maxed out is 9500 lbs, water, batteries, propane tanks and cargo. My tongue weight comes in at just over 700 lbs. I carry very little in the bed of the truck because the trailer is carries the majority of what I need. The 3.5 twin turbo pulls like gangbusters but I have a very good WD hitch and use friction/sway control along with it. No problems at all. There is just me the wife and a 40 lb dog which helps.
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Old 05-06-2017, 01:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tcburch View Post
I'm looking at purchasing a 30WFKSS v light travel trailer. From what I can see it has a tongue weight of 742 lbs and a dry weight of 7127 lbs. Does anyone pull these with 1/2 tons? I have an '11 F-150 with a 3.5 ecoboost/ 3.55 gears. It seems to me that that's basically maxed out for my pickup. It's a beautiful tt, but upgrading to a 3/4 ton is a deal breaker.

Thanks for the help!
One of the reasons nobody talks about on here to upgrade to a 3/4 ton is braking. A 3/4 ton has a MUCH more robust braking system. If you right at the max, will your current truck pull it...sure. BUT, you are possibly betting your life that you will never encounter an emergency while driving that will require that additional braking capability......even on flat roads within 100 miles from home. After all, most accidents happen within 25 miles from home.

Just food for thought.
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Old 05-06-2017, 01:45 PM   #13
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X2.

Dry weight's for suckers. Strike it from your vocabulary. The trailer only weighed that much once, at the factory, and it will never be that light again. Dry weight is only used by unscrupulous dealers and manufacturers to sell ignorant people more RV than their TV should be pulling.
Wow rockfordroo did something hit a sore spot? You are normally right on I can't argue that. Dry weight is used to sell RVs to folks just getting started who can't be expected to know as much as the more enlightened seasoned RV user.
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Old 05-06-2017, 02:08 PM   #14
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Wow rockfordroo did something hit a sore spot? You are normally right on I can't argue that. Dry weight is used to sell RVs to folks just getting started who can't be expected to know as much as the more enlightened seasoned RV user.
Dry weights are one of my (many) pet peeves!

When at the RV shows, I NEVER read dry weights. I walk around to the street side (usually have to duck behind curtains or climb over the tongue or something, because they don't seem to want you looking back there!) to check the GVWR sticker.

Another is the salesman who says, "Oh, your fill-in-the-blank-vehicle can pull this trailer!"
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Old 05-06-2017, 02:59 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by tcburch View Post
I'm looking at purchasing a 30WFKSS v light travel trailer. From what I can see it has a tongue weight of 742 lbs and a dry weight of 7127 lbs. Does anyone pull these with 1/2 tons? I have an '11 F-150 with a 3.5 ecoboost/ 3.55 gears. It seems to me that that's basically maxed out for my pickup. It's a beautiful tt, but upgrading to a 3/4 ton is a deal breaker.

Thanks for the help!
Hi tcburch, I have a 2016 F150 4X4 SC 2.7 Ecoboost 3:55 rear end. I tow a 2016 Vlite 30WIKSS (7700 lbs dry). I have cut and pasted an exchange I just had with another member about this issue. See below.....


Quote:
Originally Posted by lbrjet
Most people have never towed with both because it was not necessary to buy a Propride. I would like to hear more about your bad Equal-i-zer 4 point experience. How many miles you drove, who set up the hitch, did you torque the socket bolts to spec, was that your first TT towing experience, etc. There are dozens of happy EQ campers on here and you are way in the minority. I am glad you like your Propride, but how much experience did you really have with the EQ? Just trying to figure out why your experience was so far outside of the norm.

My experience started last year with my new truck, new tt, new equalizer 4p. AS I had stated several times before, there is nothing wrong (nor have I ever inferred) with the Equalizer hitch for those that have had no issues.
I have always stated that my personal issue had everything to do with my truck with P rated tires/TT combination. Light, powerful truck, heavy and long TT. After confirming with my dealer that the hitch was set up per spec, I continued to tow last fall. Took an instate trip (200 miles round trip) with about 1/2 interstate. Other than the sudden shift in the rig when a crosswind would hit at any speed above 40 mph, the faster the speed, the more unstable it got. Loaded/unloaded, didn't really change.

I started google searching anything I could to find about my situation and to figure out if I had made a a very expensive mistake with my truck. I understand mechanical things and the common sense about swapping tires, adding airbags etc.. After reading several posts about the Hensley/Propride hitch (on this, Airstream, Ford F150 forums etc.) I decided to get the Propride 3P 1400.

Once I installed (with several calls during installation to Sean from Propride)and took it out on some two lane/55 mph roads near my home. The positive difference was almost to good to be true! I truly went to one handed towing even on some curvy, hilly 55 mph roads. I have since had several trips on both freeways and back country roads and still as stable as advertised. Like I had stated in past posts, I will get heavier walled tires once the OEM, P rated junk wears out. If I feel I need more stability with more weight added to the bed, I may add airbags?

There are many reasons for many situations with unstable towing on this forum, what I noticed was there were several closely related to mine. Light tow vehicle, heavy long TT. My input was always based on my personal experience. I do seem to get questions and concerns from those (like yourself) and when they describe their rig, they usually have 3/4 ton trucks?
There are many like me (who have owned 3/4-one ton dually diesels) and now have no desire to drive every day. I love the way my 2016 F150 4X4 SC 2.7 Ecoboost drives for my daily driver. I may tow up to 10% of the miles I accumulate. This hitch solved many (possibly expensive) issues for me like going back to the dealer, getting a 3/4 truck (that I don't want to drive every day and won't fit in my garage), taking a beating on the first year loss as well.

These Hensley/Propride hitches are amazing for people like me..

Sorry

P.S. The squeaking, crunching loud sounds of the friction bars on the Equalizer are completely gone as well..
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Old 05-06-2017, 06:18 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Dry weights are one of my (many) pet peeves!

When at the RV shows, I NEVER read dry weights. I walk around to the street side (usually have to duck behind curtains or climb over the tongue or something, because they don't seem to want you looking back there!) to check the GVWR sticker.

Another is the salesman who says, "Oh, your fill-in-the-blank-vehicle can pull this trailer!"
Dry heaves have always been one of my pet peeves.
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Old 05-06-2017, 06:35 PM   #17
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Bottom line is if you aren't exceeding any of the "maxes" you are good to go.

Lots of people like to go bigger but that's preference not necessity.
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Old 05-07-2017, 01:44 PM   #18
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Get a weight distribution hitch & you will be fine. Very capable truck!
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Old 05-07-2017, 01:54 PM   #19
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Rather than can you tow it, you should be asking can you stop it quickly in an emergency?
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Old 05-08-2017, 11:07 AM   #20
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Should have maxtow package, 3.73 gears and LT/ D or E rated tires.
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