Grey Wolf 26DBH W/2013 F-150

[smnavalley]

Hello out there! Hoping to get some insight and peace of mind in regards to towing. My wife and I recently placed a deposit on a 2017 26DBH.

Dry hitch weight is estimated at 765 pounds. Unloaded vehicle weight is estimated at 6300 pounds. Trailer GVWR is estimated at 7700 pounds. Our 2013 F-150, 4x4 has the 5.0 with 3.55 rear axle ratio. Truck has "tow package". We're purchasing a weight distribution hitch with the trailer which will hopefully help. I've attached two photos in hopes of answering any questions I may have failed to answer. I know our truck isn't ideal for this trailer but I'm hoping my calculations show the truck will tow our new toy without any problems. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[drittal]

Full loaded you can expect 900-1000 lbs of tongue weight. How much stuff do you plan on carrying in your truck besides a 150 lb driver and a full fuel tank?

You should be ok as long as you don't have a large family or plan on carrying a ton of stuff in the truck bed.

[smnavalley]

Unfortunately I haven't weight 150 lbs since high school 🤣! Also, the family includes 4 in addition to two labs! Do I have any options? Does the weight distribution hitch help at all?

[Rich84]

Originally Posted by smnavalley

Unfortunately I haven't weight 150 lbs since high school 🤣! Also, the family includes 4 in addition to two labs! Do I have any options? Does the weight distribution hitch help at all?

It will help, it's just a bad gear ratio. I have a 2017 26dbh as well but my truck is a 2011 ram 2500 with 4:10 gears. Last truck was a 2000 chevy 2500 with 4:10 gears. As long as you don't tow in overdrive you might be ok but your truck will constantly be going back and forth from 3rd and 4th gear trying to find the correct rpm to pull that trailer. With a higher gear ratio, your rpms will be higher therefore being closer to the higher power displacement. If you find your truck searching, just downshift another gear, only downfall is more gasoline usage...

[Steeljag]

Your weight minus the 150lbs, =

add total family & K9 weights =

add approx 90 lbs for WDH, plus about 800 lbs hitch weight =

How close are you to the CCC # ?

Do you need to carry water ?

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by Rich84

It will help, it's just a bad gear ratio. I have a 2017 26dbh as well but my truck is a 2011 ram 2500 with 4:10 gears. Last truck was a 2000 chevy 2500 with 4:10 gears. As long as you don't tow in overdrive you might be ok but your truck will constantly be going back and forth from 3rd and 4th gear trying to find the correct rpm to pull that trailer. With a higher gear ratio, your rpms will be higher therefore being closer to the higher power displacement. If you find your truck searching, just downshift another gear, only downfall is more gasoline usage...

First of all, thank you for taking the time to provide such thorough feedback! It truly is appreciated.

Our truck has a "Tow/Haul" button. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but I'm assuming I'd tow with the tow/haul at all times while towing. Is that assumption correct? If so, will that help with the constant searching between gears?

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by Steeljag

Your weight minus the 150lbs, =

add total family & K9 weights =

add approx 90 lbs for WDH, plus about 800 lbs hitch weight =

How close are you to the CCC # ?

Do you need to carry water ?

What is CCC #?

[lbrjet]

Forget about the 150lbs. Tow rating assumes a 150lb driver, the payload rating does not. That is why the sticker always says 'occupants and cargo', not passengers and cargo.

Yes, use your tow/haul button.

I would highly recommend a good weight distributing hitch WITH integrated sway control, not a cheap WDH which many dealers sell with a separate sway bar.

You have a decent payload rating on your truck and shouldn't have to worry much about exceeding it.

CCC stands for cargo carrying capacity.

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

Forget about the 150lbs. Tow rating assumes a 150lb driver, the payload rating does not. That is why the sticker always says 'occupants and cargo', not passengers and cargo.

Yes, use your tow/haul button.

I would highly recommend a good weight distributing hitch WITH integrated sway control, not a cheap WDH which many dealers sell with a separate sway bar.

You have a decent payload rating on your truck and shouldn't have to worry much about exceeding it.

CCC stands for cargo carrying capacity.

Great, thank you. Apparently our truck also has a built in tow/sway function as well. I'm assuming this will also help with our scenario...

[rockfordroo]

Here are a couple sites that may be useful that I just shamelessly stole from asquared on another similar thread:


Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

Fifth Wheel Weight Calculator

[Flybob]

Using rough numbers your truck load capacity is 1580.
Subtract from that the hitch weight ( probably 900 lbs), approximately 100 lbs for the hitch,
the weight of the family minus the driver ( assumes 150 lbs),
and any equipment carried in the truck.
The remaining amount is your margin. If the number is negative, you are over your Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC).

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Using rough numbers your truck load capacity is 1580.
Subtract from that the hitch weight ( probably 900 lbs), approximately 100 lbs for the hitch,
the weight of the family minus the driver ( assumes 150 lbs),
and any equipment carried in the truck.
The remaining amount is your margin. If the number is negative, you are over your Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC).

Well crap, that was disappointing...

[TKPINSC]

Originally Posted by smnavalley

First of all, thank you for taking the time to provide such thorough feedback! It truly is appreciated.

Our truck has a "Tow/Haul" button. Sorry for my lack of knowledge but I'm assuming I'd tow with the tow/haul at all times while towing. Is that assumption correct? If so, will that help with the constant searching between gears?

Just put it tow haul mode and set the cruise control. The transmission computer will do the rest. In tow haul mode the transmission will allow the speed to vary more resulting in fewer shifts. It will also shift to a lower gear when needed to provide additional engine braking. Expect to be in 3rd and 4th most the time with 3.55 gears. 5th and 6th are both overdrive ratios. Don't worry about the RPM. The computer is smart enough not to hurt the engine.

[First trailer]

We bought a 2016 26DBH last year and towed it about 2,000 miles last year with a 2014 expedition EL with the tow package. It towed great with no issues at all and we are a family of 6. I believe our unloaded trailer weight is 5,622. Have fun.

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by TKPINSC

Just put it tow haul mode and set the cruise control. The transmission computer will do the rest. In tow haul mode the transmission will allow the speed to vary more resulting in fewer shifts. It will also shift to a lower gear when needed to provide additional engine braking. Expect to be in 3rd and 4th most the time with 3.55 gears. 5th and 6th are both overdrive ratios. Don't worry about the RPM. The computer is smart enough not to hurt the engine.

Thank you for the info. Can't wait to see how it'll tow!

[SailorSam20500]

I'm a Ford guy, so I'm not bashing them. Personally, I run with the truck anti-sway off. Saw a video from the Fast Lane truck guys. They have one on anti-sway. Setup a 5500 lb trailer so that it had about 0 tongue weight (guy could lift the tongue with one hand). Ran it down a 1/4 mile track with the truck anti-sway on, very scary.
Then they put an electronic gizmo on the trailer that controlled sway via the trailer brakes - that was a more controlled run.

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

I'm a Ford guy, so I'm not bashing them. Personally, I run with the truck anti-sway off. Saw a video from the Fast Lane truck guys. They have one on anti-sway. Setup a 5500 lb trailer so that it had about 0 tongue weight (guy could lift the tongue with one hand). Ran it down a 1/4 mile track with the truck anti-sway on, very scary.
Then they put an electronic gizmo on the trailer that controlled sway via the trailer brakes - that was a more controlled run.

Sorry for my ignorance but what was scary about the video?

[drittal]

Originally Posted by smnavalley

Sorry for my ignorance but what was scary about the video?

Uncontrollable sway with too little tongue weight

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by smnavalley

Sorry for my ignorance but what was scary about the video?

The degree that the truck applied brakes attempting to stop the sway. Granted the truck didn't get totally out of control. But I wonder if a situation could occur where the trucks actions could make things worse.
To this end, I spent a lot more on my hitch than many other do. It won't allow the trailer to sway.

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by First trailer

We bought a 2016 26DBH last year and towed it about 2,000 miles last year with a 2014 expedition EL with the tow package. It towed great with no issues at all and we are a family of 6. I believe our unloaded trailer weight is 5,622. Have fun.

What rear end is your rig equipped with? What's your payload? I'm a little annoyed because the brochure lists the dry weight is 5553 lbs. Once we dropped the deposit, the dealer informed is the dry weight is about 6300 lbs. I would greatly appreciate any info you could provide. Thank you!