Am I gonna regret this

jcnobile · 02-19-2015, 04:33 PM

Ok I'm new here so please don't be too
Tough on me. By the numbers I think I'm good. My truck info is gcwr 14,500, tongue max 990, hitch max 9900, max trailer weight is 8800. My new trailer is a 2015 fr 8312ss. It weighs 7200lbs. tongue weight is 730? My truck is a 2007 f150. It's got 5.4 motor, 373 gears, 145" wheel base. I have a Reese 1200lb weight distribution hitch and a tenkosha controller. I only had it for a week than had to take back to the dealer😢. When we were playing with it in our driveway we noticed stereo problems. So as we anticipate the return I'm trying to get schooled on camping life. So let's hear some opinoins. Thanks

old guys · 02-19-2015, 05:03 PM

First welcome to the site. Glad you came here. I won't get into equations about what you can tow. There will be many others who will do that for you.

In my humble opinion you should be okay. You don.t say where you live or what the terrain is where you tow but if you feel comfortable with your rig you will quite likely be okay. Just take your time and don't let other drivers try to shame you into a bad decision. They can wait but be courteous and try to accommodate them. As for the stereo that has to be one of the most common complaints and hopefully you have a good dealer who will see you through it okay. Congratulations on your purchase and I hope you have many great trips that leave you with pleasant memories. Maybe some will be to FROG rallies where we can cross paths. Take care and travel safe. Old Guys (Brian and Joanne)

geotex1 · 02-19-2015, 05:04 PM

Your truck's payload is likely the limiting factor, but you should still be fine provided you don't load the bed with the grill, firewood, bikes for all, and more than one case of beer! You can read the payload/CCC right off the sticker on the driver's door or door jamb.

oxcamper · 02-19-2015, 05:11 PM

I'm sure others will have better opinions than mine, but
1. I wouldn't use a 1/2 ton
2. The 5.4 liter sucks
3. get anything else but a Ford

X96mnn · 02-19-2015, 05:19 PM

Numbers will not look great for those who will spend the time number crunching for you.

Based on my experiance towing less with a halfton. I did not like it, was more then what I was compfortable with. Lot of pushing and pulling, just an uncomfortable tow. With that said I did it for 3yrs so it can be done, comes down to your compfort level. I had a 6500pd dry 30ft camper with a ram 1500. I was under all my numbers, anti sway hitch, added airbags and e rated tires but nothing would get rid of the lack of control feeling I had.

My experiance only, again did it for three years and never hurt myself or anyone else. Just got really tired after a few hours of driving and never looked forward to the tow.

The_Rhino · 02-19-2015, 05:21 PM

Do you know your truck's payload capacity?

Your TT has a very similar floor plan to our Tracer 3150 but your TT is slightly heavier empty (7200 vs. our 6500...) Ready-to-camp our TT is about 8,250 with 1,100 of that being tongue weight. This makes our payload 2,200 with (2) adults & (3) kids. We even mounted the bikes in the dinette area to keep weight out of the PU bed...

Some folks on this forum routinely run their trucks over max payload with no major issues... IMO if you watch how you pack, you could have a safe first year camping, etc. without upgrading your truck. However, if you plan to take longer trips and/or more camping gear you should plan to upgrade your TV eventually...

EDIT - We are new to camping also & although our TV is a 3/4 ton, ready-to-camp we are close to our max GCVW (15,000) but NOT our payload of 3,000... Near GCVW our truck handles great because we are 750 or so UNDER each axle's max rating... The 3/4 ton's rear springs keep the back-end up & we ride totally level. We have 13% of our TT's weight on the hitch, which keeps the back-end of the TT from swaying.

jcnobile · 02-19-2015, 05:35 PM

The payload is 1442lbs. I live in York PA.

B and B · 02-19-2015, 05:48 PM

JC, I towed a Rockwood 2703 SS with the same truck. The engine screams a bit, typical V8 climbing hills. I had no problems towing or stoping. Tongue weight was 1000 lbs and trailer was around 8500. Keep the weight out the truck bed, I do the same now with my Fiver and new Ecoboost F150.
Best of luck with your choices and happy camping!

rockfordroo · 02-19-2015, 06:00 PM

Based on a web search your 7200 lb weight number appears to be "dry." That means you're going to be 8000 lb or more after you've loaded batteries, accessories and you're stuff. That'll bring tongue wt up to 800 lbs or so.

Add a wife, a couple/3 kids, and all their stuff to the vehicle and IMHO, you're overloaded.

You should have asked before you pulled the trigger on the trailer. Oh, wait. I'll bet the salesman told you, "oh sure, you can pull this with a 1/2 ton!" Right?

mlangdn · 02-19-2015, 06:01 PM

MY TV for last year was a 97 F150 with the 4.6 V8. However, the engine was a rebuilt Jasper engine with a lot of power. Yes, it screamed going up the steep grades if I wanted to maintain speed, but I just let it slow. 4400 rpm makes a bit of noise when I'm listening to the radio. On every trip I took, I was overweight, but by no more than 300 lbs.

All that said, the truck was up to the task. No problems starting or stopping. But the transmission has 283,000, and I just wanted to get an F250 Diesel - its in my sig.

With the F250, I don't realize a big jump in payload, but I can nearly pull the face off a mountain. The payload is smaller because I have nearly option known to man. I also wanted creature comforts. However, its plenty and I have room to upgrade if I want.

I never had a "white knuckle" event with the F150. It did its job.

I should have added that the overload was in payload - not the trailer or tow capacity.

MtnGuy · 02-19-2015, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B and B

JC, I towed a Rockwood 2703 SS with the same truck. The engine screams a bit, typical V8 climbing hills.

I have a 2006 with the 5.4L and 3.73s, and the engine seldom revs over 3500 rpms in the hills around here. I have seen a little over 4000 rpms with some "surprise" downshifts into 2nd starting up some slopes, but I make sure now that I slow down before that happens. In 2nd gear at 55 mpg going up 7-8% grades, I say the engine is purring, not screaming.

jcnobile · 02-19-2015, 06:20 PM

Now,we are planning this summer to go to Bradford county. It's up toward New York. I know there is mountains on the way. This could be the test or what I'm considering proof for my dw(this means dear not dumb right?)for a 3/4 ton. The only bad thing is I really love my truck, Im kinda funny (an_l)with my vehicles. I'm driving myself nuts looking at trucks. I'm a ford guy sorry , but I don't like the 6.0 diesel heard too many nightmares. Also I'm not rich either. Sometimes I think I have too much time thinking about this.

The_Rhino · 02-19-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Also I'm not rich either

I think you could get-by with the F150 for the first year but you'll have to pack carefully which can be tedious... This likely means having tubs with some of your gear in the rear bunk room vs. storing it all conveniently in the pass-through storage or under the front queen bed...

To keep weight off of the tongue, I added 5/8 ply under the dinette seats so when inverted they have quick-release fork holders for 4 bikes. That's 200 lbs. of bikes added to our tow rating but not our tongue weight/payload... I also placed tubs of firewood inside our rear bath door vs. the PU bed, etc. Even though we have a Ram 2500, I wanted to see if I could down-grade to a F150 EB to gain better mileage in my daily commute...

In the end I kept the Ram 2500 because its payload of 3000 means I can add a fiberglass cap, kayaks, etc., and all of the firewood we need for a 10+ day trip.... In our case, the '11 Ram 2500 @ only $14K was less than any used F150 Ecoboost I could find... We're not rich either... Not like some folks on this forum who are continually upgrading... Our combined TV & TT payments are less than $400 which means more $$$ for camping.

sonic2 · 02-19-2015, 09:09 PM

Years ago I had the same set-up you have (same TV and same size TT). I overloaded the TV with bikes, firewood, 3 big dogs and a lot of extra stuff. I added the Super Springs to level the TV and to improve handling. Where I live, no mountains, only flat and rolling plains.

I've been RVing since the 90s; I'm not rich; my current set is stretching the max limits and I know I'm over; but I only travel 100 miles from home 5 times a year (and 1 trip to the Black Hills once every 4th year). I bought the most I could afford and stay within safe limits and have left over $ for fun! I do not pack 1/2 of what I did in years back, I only take what I need.

I'm still learning. I didn't understand the importance of payload and the difference of floating and semi-floating axle. This site is full of reviews by many people "schooled by experience" . When I buy my next 5th wheel and F250/F350, I will have even more knowledge.

You should be OK on flat land; mountains you're go 'in slow and hot.

(Also, I was told that DW means "dishwasher")

rana · 02-19-2015, 10:36 PM

I'm a Ford guy myself.

I just took a look at your rig and the GVWR is 8200 pounds. With a estimated dry weight of 7200, by the time you add on just your batteries, propane tanks, water and 2 average size adults.. that's already almost putting you at max. Your hitch and tongue weights might be fine, but it's a pretty safe bet you're going to be WAY over by the time you add in food and personal equipment. The other concern is that the tongue weight with 2 average size adults just about ate up your cargo capacity.

You might get away with it... many do... but in my book it's a pretty unsafe practice for you as well as other drivers. A smidge over max isn't uncommon, but loaded.. you might pushing 800+ over.

Lucky7RV owner · 02-19-2015, 11:47 PM

JcNoble: Congrats on Your new TT.

I have the same TV as you have with 43,000 miles on it. I was pulling a 20' TT which had a DRY weight of 3265 lbs. Sold it because the Wife and I wanted one a little bit larger with a slide out.

I did a HUGE amount of RESEARCH on what Brand of TT we should purchase. AM very Happy with my Decision and feel SAFE going down the ROAD.

We ended up with a 24' TT with a Slide out Couch, which came in at 4018 lbs. and Hitch Wt, of 416lbs. I loaded up the trailer with Cargo we wanted to take with US Camping. No water in the Fresh water or other tanks, 2- full 20 lb. propane tanks , and battery up front. Filled truck with gas, Wife and I, and another 300 lbs of gear under the TV box. Added 4 Pt. sway Equalizer hitch. Also put E Rated Michelon tires on the Truck- this really kept the truck with less Squishy feeling, with the old P Rated tires.

Then took the TT and TV to a scale and weight came in at 2000 lbs. under what my Truck is rated at.

I have seen so many RVers put the Cart in front of the Horse, in Many different RV Forums I've looked at. They listen to a Salesman, who apparently don't know what they are talking about OR & have never towed anything in their Life. RESEAR

CH is very Important when pursueing the purchase of TT and TV combination.

I hope and wish you & yours Safe travels with Camping. Apologize for the LONG Wind.

sparky67 · 02-20-2015, 12:44 AM

2 comments concerning towing overweight

1-I have heard that if you have an accident, and the insurance company can show you were overweight, they can deny the claim completely, not sure if true, but makes sense.

2-Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

I would crunch the numbers, but more important, get an actual weight when fully loaded at a CAT scale, that way you have proof you are within limits, and you can have a little piece of mind.

I agree with the comments that sales people are out to make the sale, and that many half tons are just not upon the mob.

Best wishes and enjoy your new camper.

grayfox · 02-20-2015, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcnobile

Ok I'm new here so please don't be too
Tough on me. By the numbers I think I'm good. My truck info is gcwr 14,500, tongue max 990, hitch max 9900, max trailer weight is 8800. My new trailer is a 2015 fr 8312ss. It weighs 7200lbs. tongue weight is 730? My truck is a 2007 f150. It's got 5.4 motor, 373 gears, 145" wheel base. I have a Reese 1200lb weight distribution hitch and a tenkosha controller. I only had it for a week than had to take back to the dealer😢. When we were playing with it in our driveway we noticed stereo problems. So as we anticipate the return I'm trying to get schooled on camping life. So let's hear some opinoins. Thanks

You might want to do the math yourself.

Tow Vehicle Sizing

tomrob1161 · 02-20-2015, 03:02 PM

You didn't say whether you had a Sway Control. If not, I would recommend adding that to your weight distribution hitch. We have been pulling TT since 1970, latest hitch set up, a Reese Sway Control Weight Distribution Hitch, but I added a Sway Control and feel much more comfortable, especially in high winds and when big trucks go by.

Safe travels

robert.beck.7737 · 02-20-2015, 04:22 PM

Don't want to discourage you, but the safety of you and your family is top priority. We began with a 26 ft. four Winds and a 2002 RAM 1500 with a 5.9L V-8. TV pulled the TT ok, but I never felt completely satisfied. At your first opportunity I would suggest that you step up to at least an F-250 or a Chevy or RAM HD. It is better to be safe than sorry. I agree with the Old Guys to take your time and see how it goes. If you decide to step up to a heavier truck at some point look at trucks that are three or four years old. New trucks are just priced at the extreme. I don't think I will ever buy another new vehicle.

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