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03-31-2019, 10:45 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
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1st time trying to buy a travel trailer!
Hi would really appreciate some input. I’ve never towed a travel trailer before. I’ve tried to read and understand about trailer weights and tongue weights and this and that and I just don’t get it! Here’s the question: I have a 2018 Ford F-150 with a 2.7L eco boost engine. I called Ford and with my VIN they said I could tow 7600 lbs. I’m between a Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S (brochure says it unloaded vehicle weight 4816) and a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS (unloaded vehicle weight 5654). Are these too heavy? I’m not a rocket scientist I just want to go camping! I will be traveling across country so there are those darned mountains!
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03-31-2019, 10:51 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,813
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Check your payload capacity, stated on a yellow sticker on the door jamb. This will be one of your limiting factors. You’ll have to factor in the trailer tongue weight, hitch, passengers and anything you have in the truck.
__________________
2019 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2018 F 150 Supercrew 6.5 bed 3.5 EB Max Tow
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03-31-2019, 10:54 AM
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#3
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Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
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Unloaded dry weight is a meaningless number...
Add at least 1000 pounds to those numbers at minimum.
Traveling the way you are talking about, I'd stick with the lighter one.
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03-31-2019, 10:55 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
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Inside the door jamb of the truck or the trailer?
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03-31-2019, 10:56 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
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Thank you!
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03-31-2019, 10:58 AM
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#6
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Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diana98221
Inside the door jamb of the truck or the trailer?
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Inside of the drivers door of the truck...
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03-31-2019, 02:00 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 324
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Love our MiniLite
How many people will be regularly traveling and sleeping in your TT? Pets? If just you, the Mini would be a great choice! My husband and I snow bird for 4-5 months at a time and we’re quite happy with our space. Every unit has it’s “if only” items—like our unit doesn’t allow bathroom access with slide closed. But we work around that. The MiniLite will pull great with your truck, even in the mountains. We’ve been in the Rockies and the Tetons without any issues. Happy camping once you make your choice
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03-31-2019, 02:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 432
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Most folks these days have the larger engines and are limited by cargo capacity, not towing capacity, but with the 2.7 you'll likely be near the limit on both. The F-150 should have cargo capacity around 1600 or higher, and that includes you, the family and everything else you pack in the truck, including your truck cap if you added one. Your hitch weight as listed by the dealer will be for the dry weight. You probably should add at least a 1000 lb to the trailer weight, and therefore about 120-150 lb to the hitch weight. Most folks carry some water in the fresh water tank and unless you are sure you will always dump when leaving a campground you'll have a few hundred pounds of water or more at 8.3 lb/gal.
My tow weight is around half the maximum allowable, hence I don't really feel the trailer unless I'm heading up a very steep mountain. Maybe someone can comment on towing something 90-100% of the tow weight. I'm guessing that unless you live in the flat lands you'll want the lighter trailer.
__________________
Jeff
2016 APEX 215rbk
2016 F-150 4WD 3.55 3.5l ecoboost
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03-31-2019, 02:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 908
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No matter what you buy, buy the best Weight Distribution Hitch you can afford and MAKE the dealer set it up properly for you before you leave the lot.
Do some research yourself first so you know they are doing it right and you don't get just a "your good".
It takes a couple hours to do it right with all the adjustments IMHO.
Good luck and hope you find what you want!
__________________
Mark B.
2021 GMC 1500
Anderson WDH
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03-31-2019, 02:13 PM
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#10
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,449
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Don't trust the dealer to tell you what will work with your truck, they really don't care as long as it gets towed off their lot. What JohnD10 said about adding a 1000 lb allowance for cargo to the dry weight is a good rule of thumb. Then, try to stay at no more than 80% of the rated tow capacity, unless you are only towing in Florida or similar terrain.
__________________
2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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03-31-2019, 02:40 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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In simple terms
Ignore unloaded weight and towing capacity
Get the load capacity of the truck from door sticker.
From that subtract.
100 lbs for hitch
weight of passengers and cargo in truck
0.13 times the ( unloaded weight of TT plus1000lbs)
if this number is positive you should be OK.
As mentioned, don't trust the dealer his only job is to sell trailers.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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03-31-2019, 02:49 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DMMILLER55
How many people will be regularly traveling and sleeping in your TT? Pets? If just you, the Mini would be a great choice! My husband and I snow bird for 4-5 months at a time and we’re quite happy with our space. Every unit has it’s “if only” items—like our unit doesn’t allow bathroom access with slide closed. But we work around that. The MiniLite will pull great with your truck, even in the mountains. We’ve been in the Rockies and the Tetons without any issues. Happy camping once you make your choice
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Thanks for the advice! We’re definitely leaning toward the Mini
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03-31-2019, 02:50 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
In simple terms
Ignore unloaded weight and towing capacity
Get the load capacity of the truck from door sticker.
From that subtract.
100 lbs for hitch
weight of passengers and cargo in truck
0.13 times the ( unloaded weight of TT plus1000lbs)
if this number is positive you should be OK.
As mentioned, don't trust the dealer his only job is to sell trailers.
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Oh thank you so much!
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03-31-2019, 02:57 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 878
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
In simple terms
Ignore unloaded weight and towing capacity
Get the load capacity of the truck from door sticker.
From that subtract.
100 lbs for hitch
weight of passengers and cargo in truck
0.13 times the ( unloaded weight of TT plus 1000lbs)
if this number is positive you should be OK.
As mentioned, don't trust the dealer his only job is to sell trailers.
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This is the basics of the one area must trucks fail first when towing a trailer that is too heavy so use this as the guideline. Some people want a significant safety margin after doing this calculation ( A couple hundred lbs). Others are ok with being 1 lb under or even a few over.
No truer statement has ever been made than don't trust the dealer to tell you the right thing. Some don't care, many don't have a clue. I had a salesman tell me that my truck would haul any RV I could buy, lol. I told him not so say something like that, it makes him look stupid. He was a bit shocked but after I explained cargo carrying capacity to him and how it was the thing many trucks were way over on when hauling something right up against the "TOW RATING" for a vehicle that he wanted to use, he thanked me for educating him.
__________________
2020 Chevrolet 2500 LTZ, 2019 Forest River Wolfpack 23Pack15, 2014 EZGO Golf Cart.
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03-31-2019, 02:59 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 88
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I have a 2018 10 speed 2.7 EB and a Flagstaff 25BDS. That engine is a workhorse. We climbed the hills just north of Chattanooga no problem. 55 mph. More important, went down other side 5% grade in tow mode touching brakes only 1 time to engage downshift. CGVW was 11,100 leaving on 3 week vacation. Hitch wt was 800 loaded.
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==============
2021 Flagstaff 26FKBS (manuf. 3/20/2020)
2019 Ford F150 XLT-3.5EB, Ext Cab, 3.55, Max Tow, 1,910# Payload, Blue Ox 1500
2018-12 days/2019-83 days/2020-12
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03-31-2019, 03:21 PM
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#16
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Insert witty title here
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,032
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This is the formulal I use.
Trailer GVWR * 0.15 + 1000 = minimum vehicle cargo capacity
This will give you plenty of extra cargo capacity for passengers and cargo.
__________________
2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
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03-31-2019, 03:56 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Media, PA
Posts: 2,931
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Do not buy based on the trailer advertised weights. There can be significant differences if the dealer orders options that his customers prefer.
Only go by the weight sticker on the trailer and then use that to find a good match for your truck.
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03-31-2019, 04:10 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 125
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A great couples trailer is the Rockwood 2104S same as Flagstaff 21FBRS.
Easy to tow (with the correct hitch), plenty of storage and you can use the bathroom without extending the slide for those roadside pit stops.
412#/4171#. Add weight to the total as others have suggested, and do not rely on the dealer for advice or to setup your hitch.
Have fun.
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03-31-2019, 04:13 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 477
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How many people and pets will you be carrying?
__________________
McCormickJim
2017 GT 31L5
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03-31-2019, 04:19 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,713
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While shopping for a trailer, make sure the salesperson does a walk-through and a meet and greet with the staff in the service department.
Your new trailer will spend some time in there before and after the sale. The service department is a good indicator of the management or lack of it.
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
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