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Old 12-08-2019, 09:34 PM   #21
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I'm confused at what you are getting to here. You are nowhere near your GCVW. You are close on your payload, but as others stated, that will usually be the first limit you hit. Maybe move more of the stuff in your truck to your trailer?

I agree with the others here who say that advertised limits are a marketing gimmick. However, you are making it sound like your 12k rated truck can only tow a 6k trailer. I don't think that is accurate.

I am glad that you are so thorough on your weights though. A lot of folks have absolutely no idea where they are in terms of weight.
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Old 12-09-2019, 02:37 AM   #22
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Your Surveyor 251RKS is not a 6000# trailer. It's dry 5800# with a gross weight of #7800. It's no surprise you are maxing out your F-150.
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Old 12-16-2019, 07:36 PM   #23
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Is that the KeepYourDaydream spreadsheet?

If you're referring to the spreadsheet by Marc Leach at KeepYourDaydream, then you should know it's only giving you part of the picture. It leaves out quite a bit that you should be aware of including axle weight, tire capacity, and more. (I forget specifics because it's been a while since i looked at his.)

I heavily modified that spreadsheet to include quite a few more measurements and calculations. I'm still validating it so not ready to post yet, but I've attached a screenshot.

Anyway, you should be aware of those other items:
Axle weight
Tongue weight
Cgvw
Tire capacity
TV and RV payload

And, might be a good idea to actually weigh the TV and RV on a truck scale to get real numbers.
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Old 12-16-2019, 08:51 PM   #24
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900lb tongue weight

Does your 900lb tongue weight include propane and batteries. Like others have said, can you get more weight on the back of your trailer to lower the tongue weight, while maintaining tongue weight of at least 10% of your trailer weight? 12% would be better.
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Old 12-16-2019, 08:56 PM   #25
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900-1,000 tongue weight includes battery, 2 propane bottles empty tanks. Yes, if I put weight in the rear of the trailer it reduces tongue weight until I put stuff in the middle/front, I plan to balance load, but the weight is there.
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Old 12-16-2019, 09:17 PM   #26
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Payload will limit you first, but I never add an additional safety cushion to the safety cushion the Truck manufacturer built into that payload sticker. Rest assured catastrophic destruction will not occur if you load right up to it.
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Old 12-16-2019, 09:23 PM   #27
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F150 12,000 tow

I AM SO PROWED Of you for posting this brake down &
you sir have done it all wright
you are positively correct in you findings
I have been camping towing live stock & Horses all my life ...
I have never been able to get under a 3/4 ton truck
it's just is not safe to use a F150 or 1500 truck for any thing other than showing up at a Square-Dance LMAO

i use a 2000 3500 dodge ram dully 5.9 cummins and it has it's limites
i know it
my trailer dry weight is 5,478 tung 675 this truck is a sleep pulling this ...
and we like it ... go big or dont go at all
thank you for you post
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Old 12-16-2019, 10:24 PM   #28
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My rig totals out a little high but we get down the road real well for a half ton 5th wheel.

Total 13,180 lbs
Front axle - 3040
Rear axle - 4400
Trailer - 7420
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Old 12-16-2019, 10:37 PM   #29
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The F 150 debate will never end! I have a F 150 Max tow and my tt is 7,000 lbs empty.I know its back there at times but so far so good. side note I hope it stays back there and not pass me up!
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Old 12-16-2019, 11:08 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swj View Post
Found an excel spread sheet which calculates tow capacity.
I scaled my trucks' "curb weight" and weight the trailer tongue weight. Other numbers came from Ford website, truck door jam sticker an trailers' mfg sticker. A 6000 lbs travel trailer maxes out a F150 with tow capacity of 12,000, makes no sense.

2018F150SCrew
3.5E max tow 2017 Surveyor 251RKS

Curb Weight 5,040.00 UVW 6,000.00
GVWR 6,750.00 GVWR 7,768.00
GCVWR 17,100.00 Hitch Weight 900.00
Payload 1,732.00
TowCapacity 12,000.00

Estimated Payload
Passengers 350.00
Cargo 400.00
Hitch weight 900.00
Total payload 1650.00

Hitched
Available Payload 82.00
New GVW 6,690.00
NEW GCVW 13,558.00
Towing Capacity 12,000.00

Your GCVWR is 17,100. With the trailer, your “new GCVW” is 13,558.

You nearly maxed out the truck’s payload capacity, but you are not even near the towing capacity.
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Old 12-16-2019, 11:09 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A2pfunk View Post
I'm confused at what you are getting to here. You are nowhere near your GCVW. You are close on your payload, but as others stated, that will usually be the first limit you hit. Maybe move more of the stuff in your truck to your trailer?

I agree with the others here who say that advertised limits are a marketing gimmick. However, you are making it sound like your 12k rated truck can only tow a 6k trailer. I don't think that is accurate.

I am glad that you are so thorough on your weights though. A lot of folks have absolutely no idea where they are in terms of weight.
Agreed!
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Old 12-18-2019, 05:51 AM   #32
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19’ Expedition vs 10’ Explorer

Hi, I felt this would be the best thread to post this on.
Just purchased a 2020 FR Wildwood Xlite 263Bhxl. Dry weight is 5840. Current TV is a 2010 Explorer V8 AWD with a mfg tow spec of 7,300 and tongue weight of 730.
My plans are to use it for the season and upgrade in the fall. I’ve towed it twice since the purchase in November, and surprisingly it towed very well. (Empty) I have a Blue Ox WDH, and Brake controller with helps.
I’m looking at 19’ Expeditions as I do feel I need a 1/2 ton. Wife doesn’t want aF150, and is adamant about having a SUV. F150’s are easy to find .
My 2010 Explorer has more towing capacity then the Expeditions..I’ve been looking at the Expeditions and 99% of them out there are equipped with the 3.31 gears which brings the towing way down.
Unless I order a brand new one at the tune of 65-70g and get the 3.73 gears, I may as well just stick with my current TV
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Old 12-18-2019, 05:52 AM   #33
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First pick is Explorer specs. Second is Expedition with 3.31 and 3.73 gears
Third is my Explorers hutch sticker
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Old 12-18-2019, 06:23 AM   #34
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The truck can handle it, it's the 3.5 engine that is having the problem.
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Old 12-18-2019, 06:33 AM   #35
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Tell wife she needs a F150 max tow to tow your Trailer. $40K. Some will say you need a F250, for $42K. 2019 F250 SCrew 6.2 gas engine/Xlt premium packages are still out there.

Go out and buy a Sherline tongue weight scale.($100) Look at the payload number on the door jam of your TV. Your tongue weight is probably 1000 lbs. Subtract the actual tongue weigh from your payload #. What's left is the weight for you/wife/cargo the TV can handle. From there, go to CAT scale and weight your loaded TV/Trailer. Look at the AXLE weight on the TV. You are most likely over payload as well as over TV axle weight. Being over payload, AXLE weight is a no go. Nuff said?
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Old 12-18-2019, 06:43 AM   #36
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Thanks for the replies. I’ll need to figure something out. She I buying all kinds of stuff for the trailer to put inside
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Old 12-18-2019, 07:32 AM   #37
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your pic shows 730 tongue weight, buy the sherline tongue scale. Add "over hitch weight" to the other weight overages.
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Old 12-18-2019, 07:51 AM   #38
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I have a scale. I weigh it dry and the TW was 425
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Old 12-18-2019, 08:34 AM   #39
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The Explorer is a relatively small tow vehicle.

You will likely be over payload and trailer weight. Hitch weight is posted weight + cargo weight*12% + weight distribution hitch.

Due to the relatively short wheelbase of the Explorer and the relatively long length of the trailer the tail is likely to wag the dog.

The frontal area of the trailer is larger than listed in most documents for a Ford. Thus, not recommended. Remember, Ford used a flat bed short trailer to get their trailer max size. Not an 8’x10’x31’ box.

I would be very careful towing that way.

The Expedition is really not much better for a trailer of this size. All that glass in the back is heavy!

My wife drives our Ram diesel every day. She would have no other vehicle.

A properly set up half ton truck would be ok. Likely you would have to order it.

When shopping for our first rv years ago we wanted a SUV type vehicle. I soon found out they no longer have great towing ability as they did in the 90’s. No more 3/4 ton Suburbans. We ended up with a fifth wheel and a full sized Ram.
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Old 12-18-2019, 08:58 AM   #40
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Your 500 lbs tongue weight is suspect.

Battery and 2 propane bottles weigh close to 200 lbs. Was a bathroom scale and 2 by 4s used? Not sure how accurate CAT scales are under 500 lbs. Trailer level? Did you use a Sherline or another specific tongue weight scale?? All these different weights add up and need to be within specs.

My 5880 dry trailer and F150 SCrew 3.5 eco max tow trailer scaled 3400 lbs on the rear axle, 3000 lbs front axle. And, 1000 lbs tongue weight. What are your TV front and rear axle lbs ratings. TV was 200 lbs under Payload rating.
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