Buying our first TT and can we tow this

[ben31]

I had a 2004 5.4 F150. I had a 21RBS, weighing 4990 lbs Dry. We never filled the fresh water tank and had about 900 lbs of stuff. The F150 would pull it, but going up hills was always slow and it sounded like the engine was going to fly out of thhe front of the truck. I would say you can do it, but you will put a strain on your truck. Also, I would not want to be moving it every couple of days. Lastly, get a good brake controller, because you will be relying on it a lot! Bottom line is, you may do it, but be aware of the increased maintenance you will need on the truck.

[Stovebolt]

You need more truck. The Ford 4.6 motor wasn't a good towing motor. The 5.4 would handle it if equipped properly for towing.

[rockfordroo]

If you don't mind fold out bunks and dealing with canvas, take a look at the Rockwood Roo/Flagstaff Shamrock's. These are called "hybrids" because they are hardsided, but have bunks that fold out with canvas tents over them like a popup camper. The new 23IKSS and 23WS seem pretty nice. The Roo/Shamrock's give you quite a bit of room inside because the bunks fold out.

Usually pop-up people gravitate to the Roo/Shamock's. You have to like what the canvas offers (more room, listening to the birds and the rain) and not mind having to fold up wet canvas once in a while. A few people have had leaky bunk doors, but most don't.

The Roo's and Shamrocks are identical except for interior colors. They come off the same line. The Mini Lites and Micro Lites are also identical except for interior colors and come of the same line.

Rockwood Roo/Mini-Lites will have the same layouts as the Flagstaffs (although they give them slightly different identification numbers).

Here's the Shamrock/Micro Lite brochure:
http://forestriverinc.com/brochures/...ckbrochure.pdf

Here's the Roo/Mini Lite brochure:
http://www.forestriverinc.com/brochu...oobrochure.pdf

Another suggestion if you think you won't be buying right away is to visit one (or more) RV shows if you can. This lets you see a lot of campers at once. Also, ignore any signs the dealer has put up saying anything about weight, as it will be dry weight. Instead, go around to the front left side of the trailer and look at the sticker (as shown in Post #8). It will give you the GVWR, which is the real number you should be working with.

[CaptnJohn]

All these wonderful suggestions of a 23' - 25' TT for 2 people and a large dog to spend a year in. Too tight for me for a year as they plan.

[Mrpsyko]

I towed my Microlite 25KS with a 2006 F150 with the 4.6 engine and it is under powered. This camper is close to the same weight as the EVO. I had a valve stick on 2 different occasions and it cost $1800 to have both heads rebuilt the 1st time, the second time I had the engine replaced for $4000. I have since bought a 2014 F150 with the 5.0 v8 and it has a lot more horse power and torque than the 4.6.
But that is just me.

[itat]

Because you plan on living in the trailer full time for a year, you should plan on packing 1500 pounds of stuff in it. Brochure weights are notoriously optimistic so assume the real weight will be 400-500 pounds more.

For your F-150, I would stick to something with a real weight of well under 4000 pounds. Personally, I wouldn't want to full time in any travel trailer that your F-150 will be competent pulling.

I would recommend that you upgrade your truck and, to save some expense, look for a used, bigger trailer. If you can find a used F-150 with a 5.4L engine and the max. towing package you should able to handle a travel trailer up to 29 or 30 feet long which will be a lot more comfortable to live in full time.

[gfarmcafe]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

All these wonderful suggestions of a 23' - 25' TT for 2 people and a large dog to spend a year in. Too tight for me for a year as they plan.

Agree. We have a 23' Salem Cruise Lite with no slides and it is tight for the two of us and our Sheltie. He prefers sleeping in our TV when weather allows!

[Kidder]

Agree with everyone. In my opinion, I would upgrade your truck and go with what you were originally going to purchase.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Do yourself a favor and save your money , wish I did. Read this forum and its full of problems with these piles of craps.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by miagigirl

We've finally found the TT we like. Any thought on th Forest River Evo ats 22rb? We have a 2007 Ford F-150, V8, 4.6 engine ford says it can tow 6,600. We are taking a 1 year road trip around the US and parts of Canada. Will our truck tow this fine and is it a good starter TT?

You asked the wrong question when you said what I can tow, the weight police on this site would have most people not even getting out of there driveway. I saw a Ford F-150 pulling a 16,000 pound fifth wheel, it was a 5.4. I see people all the time living in a Scamp full time. You don't have to take everything you own when you go on the road. Walmart is always close by, you don't have to take enough food to last a month. You don't have to take enough clothes to last a month, there are places to wash your clothes at in near bout every campground.


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[Kidder]

Originally Posted by spock123

You asked the wrong question when you said what I can tow, the weight police on this site would have most people not even getting out of there driveway. I saw a Ford F-150 pulling a 16,000 pound fifth wheel, it was a 5.4. I see people all the time living in a Scamp full time. You don't have to take everything you own when you go on the road. Walmart is always close by, you don't have to take enough food to last a month. You don't have to take enough clothes to last a month, there are places to wash your clothes at in near bout every campground.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

The ignorant route is also an option.

[Stetay]

Just get a bigger truck be safe and have fun. I really like my evo. But it's the first one I've ever had.

[B and B]

Lady asks a nice question. The trailer is too heavy for truck. Especially with a year long trip. The truck being older and small V8 will be stressed not to mention the transmission.

You need room for a year long trip. Finding a alternative truck would be the best bet if finances allow.

[davel1971]

I used to have a F150 with a 4.6. Great truck and great engine, but wasn't much for towing. I wouldn't have wanted to tow more than 5000 for long distance, and much less if hills were involved

[KDHfan]

My opinion is to find a truck to fit the camper you want. Once you're ready, you'll be able to get the Evo. I wouldn't settle for a camper your current truck will tow... It's an older truck, and to be frank, no matter what TT you buy, you'll probably wish you had a better TV. Take it from a guy who had to upgrade his tow vehicle because of the TT I purchased (twice!&#128563.

[miagigirl]

Will do. Thank you.

[wzpsjm]

X2, X2, X2!!!


QUOTE=KDHfan;1259224]My opinion is to find a truck to fit the camper you want. Once you're ready, you'll be able to get the Evo. I wouldn't settle for a camper your current truck will tow... It's an older truck, and to be frank, no matter what TT you buy, you'll probably wish you had a better TV. Take it from a guy who had to upgrade his tow vehicle because of the TT I purchased (twice!&#128563.[/QUOTE]

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

My opinion is to find a truck to fit the camper you want. Once you're ready, you'll be able to get the Evo. I wouldn't settle for a camper your current truck will tow... It's an older truck, and to be frank, no matter what TT you buy, you'll probably wish you had a better TV. Take it from a guy who had to upgrade his tow vehicle because of the TT I purchased (twice!&#128563.

TWICE???? Thought I was the only one that did that. Learned not to take my wife to the dealer when taking a camper in for service.

[miagigirl]

Thanks, but we can't do both a truck and TT. We will not be working so we will have zero income. Everything will be done with the cash we have. We really like the rock wood mini lite. We will probably go buy that Monday.

[MT Biker]

You will be very happy with the Mini Lite series, we have its sister series the Micro Lite and they are great trailers.
We only have a small 4.7l V8 in our truck and it pulls our ML23FB with ease.