Need Advice on Hitch Weight

[Texasrose]

Have a 2012 F-150, 3.5 L, V-6, Eco-Boost, 3.55 axle, 145 WB, super crew, with towing package.

Looking to buy a 2014 Windjammer TT, 3025W, 971 hitch weight, 7,559 dry weight, 34' 5" length.

Will my truck adequately pull the trailer?

Will sway be a problem considering length?

Will hitch weight be a problem?

Not finding many answers. Don't want to overload the truck...especially concerned about hitch rating.

Any advice?

[pappcam]

Pretty sure payload may be a problem with that setup. You're looking at a 9000 lb. trailer once it's ready for camping and to me that is out of 1/2 ton territory.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Texasrose

Have a 2012 F-150, 3.5 L, V-6, Eco-Boost, 3.55 axle, 145 WB, super crew, with towing package.

Looking to buy a 2014 Windjammer TT, 3025W, 971 hitch weight, 7,559 dry weight, 34' 5" length.

Will my truck adequately pull the trailer?

Will sway be a problem considering length?

Will hitch weight be a problem?

Not finding many answers. Don't want to overload the truck...especially concerned about hitch rating.

Any advice?

Welcome,I know your new,but please do a Search at the top under many names (Will my 1/2 ton pull a ??) and you will come up with Many Days of reading! If still lost come back here,and the Pages will grow more,but NO solid answers! Youroo!!

[cadman99]

You cannot tow this trailer - Ford specs require a 3.73 axle ratio and then a maximum tow capacity of 5700lbs.

Their specs do not list ANY towing capacity for the 3.55 ratio. You will need a trailer than weighs no more than about 4500lbs empty and a lower axle ratio.

FROM THEIR SPEC SHEET

Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight assumes
a towing vehicle with any mandatory
options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15%
(conventional trailer) or king pin weight
of 15-25% (5th-wheel trailer) and driver
only (150 pounds). Weight of additional
options, passengers, cargo and hitch must
be deducted from this weight. Also check
Required and Recommended Equipment ---

F-150 mandatory option
• For trailers over 5,000 pounds – Trailer Tow
Package or Max Trailer Tow Package

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by cadman99

You cannot tow this trailer - Ford specs require a 3.73 axle ratio and then a maximum tow capacity of 5700lbs.

Their specs do not list ANY towing capacity for the 3.55 ratio. You will need a trailer than weighs no more than about 4500lbs empty and a lower axle ratio.

FROM THEIR SPEC SHEET

Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight assumes
a towing vehicle with any mandatory
options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15%
(conventional trailer) or king pin weight
of 15-25% (5th-wheel trailer) and driver
only (150 pounds). Weight of additional
options, passengers, cargo and hitch must
be deducted from this weight. Also check
Required and Recommended Equipment ---

F-150 mandatory option
• For trailers over 5,000 pounds – Trailer Tow
Package or Max Trailer Tow Package

Ummm.... no.

Where did you get that info?

The towing capacity for pretty much every configuration is available online to whoever wants to find it. This includes the various gear ratios.

Here you go:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...FLRVTT_gde.pdf

I still think the OP has too much trailer for his TV but no need to give him bad info like you're trying to do.

[ChooChooMan74]

That is a heavy trailer with a real heavy tongue. I bet close to 9000lbs ready to camp with 1100 to 1200 on the tongue.

Sent from my Samsung Note 8 Tablet using the FRF Android App!

[fonzie]

Originally Posted by pappcam

Ummm.... no.

Where did you get that info?

The towing capacity for pretty much every configuration is available online to whoever wants to find it. This includes the various gear ratios.

Here you go:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...FLRVTT_gde.pdf

I still think the OP has too much trailer for his TV but no need to give him bad info like you're trying to do.

X2, read PDF file and calculate using all info required from your particular truck.

[cadman99]

pappcam - that is exactly where the info I provided came from.

[fonzie]

The 3.5L ecoboost with 3.55 gear ratio can pull between 9600 lbs and 9800 lbs for the configuration above depending if a 4X2 or 4X4 as it is not provided by OP. Other factors might decrease this rating.

[bobandsue]

My beast would be happy with it. I pull an 8289 just fine. I have two wheel drive, the 3.73 and have air shocks. The beast is amazing going down steep hills and the power going up hill is nice. I am in idaho so have hills a plenty. Fifth wheel vs bumper. I do think a fiver pulls easier. I love my beast but I also have been pulling stock trailers for years so am used to a trailer following me.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by cadman99

pappcam - that is exactly where the info I provided came from.

You must be looking at the wrong page:

[asquared]

The best way to find out exactly what you can tow is to load your truck up ready to camp with all passengers, pets, gear and full tank of fuel and go weigh it at a Cat scale. Weigh each axle on a separate scale pad so you can learn those numbers as well as overall truck weight. Take the actual truck weight and subtract it from your trucks gcwr to get your adjusted towing capacity. Take the trucks actual weight and subtract it from the truck gvwr to get your available payload. Take your rear axle weight and subtract it from the max RAWR to see how much room you have for weight on your rear axle. Understand that your loaded tongue weight (not dry tongue weight) must be less than your available payload and your loaded tt weight must be less than your adjusted towing capacity.

Understand that you will never tow a dry or unloaded tt. If this is your first tt then you have no idea how much cargo you will add (average is 1000-1500 lbs) so it is safer to calculate using tt gvwr. Ideal tongue weight is 13-15% of loaded tt weight. So if you look at worst case scenario here, you are looking 9050 lbs tt gvwr x 15% loaded tongue weight = 1350 lbs. Realistically, at best you will be at the top of the trucks capabilities. I agree with the others, it is too much tt for the truck.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by ChooChooMan74

That is a heavy trailer with a real heavy tongue. I bet close to 9000lbs ready to camp with 1100 to 1200 on the tongue.

Sent from my Samsung Note 8 Tablet using the FRF Android App!

X2 and that length of a trailer is going to feel like towing a highway billboard with the 1/2 ton...definetly will have to make sure to have stiffer sidewall tires on the truck and a great (not cheap) WD hitch setup to help with sway, etc..

[cobiker]

Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy

X2 and that length of a trailer is going to feel like towing a highway billboard with the 1/2 ton...definetly will have to make sure to have stiffer sidewall tires on the truck and a great (not cheap) WD hitch setup to help with sway, etc..

The comment from Cajun Po-Boy about towing a billboard is no joke. You really want to get your hitch setup right with that big sail behind you.

Newbies to the RV scene last spring, we bought our Windjammer 3008W and the dealer set us up with a EAZ lift WD hitch. Thinking everything was great to head home, got on the interstate and the first semi that passed us pretty much pushed us off the road just from the air coming off his rig.

I know I'm pushing the limits on my Titan with our trailer, but we've got it setup now where I feel confident pulling our Windjammer regardless how windy it gets.

Can't stress enough the importance of Sway control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwOqARlw1EI

[10Boomer]

I have the same TV. You have to know all your weights to come up with the answer. But in short, that's a lot of tongue weight, and don't know if your TT weight is loaded or not, you would be close if not over possibly. My loaded TT when leaving the barn, 5,500lb with 438 tongue weight.

[Noneyerbusiness]

I tow a 3008W with my 1/2 ton .... using properly adjusted weight distribution hitch, with 4 point sway control, I have zero issues.

As for weight distribution, have a QUALIFIED technician set it up.

I have the 12000# version of this hitch .. all is good.

Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original� with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

[Noneyerbusiness]

As for weight allowed, my truck has the 7700# tow package. it can TOW, (gross weight, truck and trailer) up to 13,000 pounds. I have weighed it several times with different onboard loads, I have never exceeded 11,000 #'s ...... my major advise, get a GOOD brake controller for the trailer. I made the mistake of using a cheap off the shelf model, and trashed the front brakes on the truck.

I intend to install this controller before we begin our trip out west this August. (Unless someone has a better solution)

Prodigy P2 Brake Control - Cequent 90885 - Braking Controls - Camping World

[CLT]

Originally Posted by Noneyerbusiness

I tow a 3008W with my 1/2 ton .... using properly adjusted weight distribution hitch, with 4 point sway control, I have zero issues.

As for weight distribution, have a QUALIFIED technician set it up.

I have the 12000# version of this hitch .. all is good.

Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original� with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

I'd say towing experience might be a factor in this one. You have over 40 years as a trucker. Who knows what the OP has. Is this their first TT? Are they upgrading from a 30 foot TT? We don't know. BTW, go P3 on the brake controller. Many menu options and ability to change display color plus a nice "boost" feature. For the $20 difference it seemed worth it to me.

[Noneyerbusiness]

Well, there is that pesky truck diving thing, CLT. But I do know the setup I have works for me .. and thanks for the tip on the P3 ...

[skcerny]

We have a F150 Ecoboost with the HD package and 3.73 gears and we pull a 8310. I am pleased with the power of the Ecoboost and the amount of power to pull our trailer. Our problem has been with the hitch. We were adventurous and tried the new Andersen weight distribution hitch and it was terrible...so terrible that our dealer bought the hitch back. We installing a Blue Ox now and am anxious to pull the trailer in the near future.