Rockwood ultra lite with 1/2 ton tow vehicle

[ov845]

[itat]

Originally Posted by Jeff from Burlington Ont

I have a F150 pickup with a 3.5 litre ecoboost engine, I ordered the max towing package with the integrated brake controller when I had a jayco hybrid. I added an air bag option to the rear for $500 (installed) from my local truck parts store when I bought a 35ft jayco Eagle 5th wheel with a weight of 9800 lbs. the air bags took my towing capacity from 11500 to 13500 lbs. I as not aware that my tires were only 4 ply for 2 years. When I found out I upgraded the tires to 10 ply michilins. I have towed the trailer for over 30,000 km from Burlington to Florida 3 times, and all around the eastern US with no problems or concerns at all. We have traded in the Jayco and are waiting for a FR Heritage Wildwood 42 ft with a weight of 10,600 lbs to be built and delivered.. We are going to pull the new trailer around Ontario and Quebec in 2016 to see how it goes.

The air bags made a great deal of difference in taking the bounce out of the back of the truck. I pump the 10 ply tires up to 70 lbs when I am towing and that eliminates the tire roll .. With the right small enhancements a 150 should be fine.

Jeff, adding air bags and LT tires does nothing to increase your towing capacity. Also, it does nothing to improve your payload capacity. Air bags will only help level and the LT tires will help stabilize your truck's ride.

Please take your setup (fully loaded and ready to camp) to the nearest CAT scales and get it weighed. Use this tool to help figure out how to weigh it and calculate your critical numbers. With your 35' Jayco, I'd be very surprised if you're not exceeding your payload rating. The 42' 5er will kill your truck.

[ov845]

Sorry,

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by Jeff from Burlington Ont

I have a F150 pickup with a 3.5 litre ecoboost engine, I ordered the max towing package with the integrated brake controller when I had a jayco hybrid. I added an air bag option to the rear for $500 (installed) from my local truck parts store when I bought a 35ft jayco Eagle 5th wheel with a weight of 9800 lbs. the air bags took my towing capacity from 11500 to 13500 lbs. I as not aware that my tires were only 4 ply for 2 years. When I found out I upgraded the tires to 10 ply michilins. I have towed the trailer for over 30,000 km from Burlington to Florida 3 times, and all around the eastern US with no problems or concerns at all. We have traded in the Jayco and are waiting for a FR Heritage Wildwood 42 ft with a weight of 10,600 lbs to be built and delivered.. We are going to pull the new trailer around Ontario and Quebec in 2016 to see how it goes.

The air bags made a great deal of difference in taking the bounce out of the back of the truck. I pump the 10 ply tires up to 70 lbs when I am towing and that eliminates the tire roll .. With the right small enhancements a 150 should be fine.

this is at least 2 posts you have passed on this very inaccurate information in. Again, you will be WAY overweight with your new 5th wheel. You have added nothing more than stability. Please do more research on air bags before passing on recommendations to others. You could be steering people to make unsafe decisions..

[camping baba]

We have a 8280 and tow it with a 1/2 ton Silverdo 4x4 . It has the factory tow package and we have no problem anywhere in New England

[troiker]

Originally Posted by Terry104410

I don't have the tv yet. Now Im fine 2500hd 8.1 gas Allison transmission. I wanted to down size to a light weight f150. Being here in the rust belt and it being my main vehicle. Pin weight is the main concern. Anybody towing with the new light weight truck?

RE: 2650

Yes all Rockwood products fall under half-ton towable.



Sales Representative
Chad Sterkenburg
616-432-8644
chad@terrytownrv.com

So as you can see this 2650 has three slides and is half ton towable. Come on really?

Terry, I had a 2014 F150 to pull my 2015 Rockwood 8285 IKWS. After I stocked the 5er with what I normally used for my camping trips I was 500 lbs over my maximum payload capacity. My F150 had the max tow trailer package. The F150 had no problem pulling it but I heard stories about broken axles from exceeding payload capacity so I installed an airbag suspension to help prevent that. I pulled my 5er for a year but never felt like I had total control when I would hit the dips in the road. My trips were all within 2 hours from home. We are thinking about getting a larger 5er in the next year and there is no way the F150 could handle anything larger. This past Sept I traded it for a 2012 F350 Power stroke and now I no longer worry about those dips or about not being able to buy a larger unit. My suggestion would be for you to stick with what you have. The power stroke gives me the better all around mileage over the F150 Ecoboost and peace of mind. Good luck!

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by davel1971

this is at least 2 posts you have passed on this very inaccurate information in. Again, you will be WAY overweight with your new 5th wheel. You have added nothing more than stability. Please do more research on air bags before passing on recommendations to others. You could be steering people to make unsafe decisions..

X2

Bruce

[aceinspp]

this is at least 2 posts you have passed on this very inaccurate information in. Again, you will be WAY overweight with your new 5th wheel. You have added nothing more than stability. Please do more research on air bags before passing on recommendations to others. You could be steering people to make unsafe decisions.. __________________

David & Lynn

X 3 Later RJD

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by Terry104410

Looking to get an 8288 or alternate able to be towed with half ton truck. Dealers says all are half ton towable. What have you got and towing with? How does it tow on long trips? I'm new to 5ers so help would be great. We also got a couple golden retrievers that will need some open room.

Terry104410

I have an 08 8280ss 5er and tow with an 07 Dodge 1500 witth a full tow package, 5.7 liter Hemi. I haven't had it on a long trip but don't ex[ect any problems. Don't need much weight capacity because it is just me and my chocolate lab.

Jim

[stuart38npb]

Originally Posted by itat

Never believe salesmen on this topic.

The FR website claims a pin weight of 1581# which says to me it'll be closer to 1700# in reality. Then add in the typical 700-1000# of cargo, batteries and propane and the pin weight could easily creep up over 2000#.

Take your 1/2 ton truck to a set of scales to find out what it weighs without the camper but with a full tank and all passengers, and compare that to the door sticker numbers. Unless you have a heavy duty payload package you'll likely be well over the rated payload capacity when you hitch up.

I have a similar 5er towing with a 2015 F250 SD, 6.2L 6 spd. Handles very well even in a 30mph crosswind, and does very well on a 6% grade. Wouldn't consider anything smaller.

[bruane]

Originally Posted by itat

They all say that but it's based only on UVW weight and doesn't account for pin weight. Everyone agrees that with a 1/2 ton pickup, the weakest point is payload capacity.

The new Ford F-150 with aluminum body may have better payload numbers but to be safe you'd really want to get their heavy duty payload option.

I have a 2013 and its rated at 2300 LBS payload. I expect that the aluminium body one carries more (800LBS) but I believe that Ford has yet to release any with the heavy duty options which are a must. Mine runs magnificantly and has been on regular trips through the Rockies and last week the Applachians with 7/8% grades and it sails past the avearge tractor trailer and its tow/haul feature pretty well give you a hands off run on the down hill side.

[itat]

Originally Posted by bruane

I have a 2013 and its rated at 2300 LBS payload. I expect that the aluminium body one carries more (800LBS) but I believe that Ford has yet to release any with the heavy duty options which are a must. Mine runs magnificantly and has been on regular trips through the Rockies and last week the Applachians with 7/8% grades and it sails past the avearge tractor trailer and its tow/haul feature pretty well give you a hands off run on the down hill side.

Does yours have the heavy duty payload option with the 7 lug wheels? My F-150 has no where near 2300# payload rating.

[D. J. Schuler]

Here we go again with the 1/2 ton baloney. Look on the driver door frame for max payload label good time to check tire rating - 5r should be E. Guess what that includes (read your manual) - whats in the bed (5r hitch 100-300 lbs.) and other gear plus you and what ever else is in the cab.
Example again: 2011 Eco-boost #8200 package HD tow 11,200, HD payload 2,393 (HD axle, springs, 7 lug and E tires). With about a 1,950 pin/hitch I can carry four in the cab, rest goes in the 5r. Most 1/2 ton PU payloads is 1,900 or less, don't forget TT hitch weight even with equalizer counts as payload. According to my manual I can pull 11,200 if the TT has brakes.

[Kels4g]

We have a Salem Cruise Lite 261BHXL that we tow with a Silverado 1500. Our truck has a tow capacity of 9500 pounds.

[itat]

D.J. Schuler, your "1/2 ton" has the HD payload package putting it in 3/4 ton territory. It's not a typical 1/2 ton.

My 1/2 ton has the max. towing package and is rated for towing 11200#, but without the HD payload package it only has a 7200# GVWR, 4000# GAWR (rear axle), a 1560# payload according to the 2009 Ford spec sheet and a CCC of 1360# according to the yellow sticker in the drivers door.

[ov845]

Originally Posted by troiker

Terry, I had a 2014 F150 to pull my 2015 Rockwood 8285 IKWS. After I stocked the 5er with what I normally used for my camping trips I was 500 lbs over my maximum payload capacity. My F150 had the max tow trailer package. The F150 had no problem pulling it but I heard stories about broken axles from exceeding payload capacity so I installed an airbag suspension to help prevent that. I pulled my 5er for a year but never felt like I had total control when I would hit the dips in the road. My trips were all within 2 hours from home. We are thinking about getting a larger 5er in the next year and there is no way the F150 could handle anything larger. This past Sept I traded it for a 2012 F350 Power stroke and now I no longer worry about those dips or about not being able to buy a larger unit. My suggestion would be for you to stick with what you have. The power stroke gives me the better all around mileage over the F150 Ecoboost and peace of mind. Good luck!

Just out curiosity, how does installing an airbags strengthen the axles when you're exceeding payload? It doesn't change axle diameter or metal composition, reinforce axle bearings. Airbags level and stabilize the vehicle. Overloading your vehicle's payload capacity weakens your vehicle's suspension and axles over a period of time.

[tande]

Originally Posted by ov845

Just out curiosity, how does installing an airbags strengthen the axles when you're exceeding payload? It doesn't change axle diameter or metal composition, reinforce axle bearings. Airbags level and stabilize the vehicle. Overloading your vehicle's payload capacity weakens your vehicle's suspension and axles over a period of time.

[D. J. Schuler]

Yes it does, had it weighed with me and the hitch, still had 2,300 between the #8200 and actual truck weight. I checked the axle rating - 4,800 rear, 4,050 front. It is easy for manufactures to up the HP and rear end ratio and call it HD Tow without the ability to put any weight on the hitch.

[bruane]

Originally Posted by itat

Does yours have the heavy duty payload option with the 7 lug wheels? My F-150 has no where near 2300# payload rating.

Yes and the heavy duty towing package and the tow haul package etc and the ecoboost engine. Does everything. It is rated with a tow capacity of approximatly 11,000+ LBS. A common or garden F150 only allows a tow capacity of about 7,000 ILBS and a lot less payload.