Truck options for towing 273qbxl

[KMU]

Will be picking up a 2021 273qbxl in a few months. About 6,000 dry weight. What trucks should I be looking at?

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Welcome from New Jersey, I'm sure many here will concur, More TV IS better then less! Of course bottom line it all depends on what your wallet says. Ask questions here as the knowledgeable people here are more then willing to help.

[bikendan]

1. What brand is the trailer. FR has almost 100 different brands of RVs.
2. It would help if you posted the specs or provided a link to them, so we don't have to go searching for them.
3. It would help if you specified what you want in a truck:
cab size, bed size, diesel or gas, 4x2 or 4x4, high trim level or lower trim level, used or new, what is your max price, just to name a few things.
In other words, you need to provide much more information than "what trucks should i be looking at".

[The Evil Twin]

Start poking around your local Ford or Chevy dealer lots. You'll want at least 1800 lbs cargo cap.

[KMU]

1. Forest river Salem cruise lite 273 qbxl
2. SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight: 735 lb.UVW 6349 lb.CCC 1386 lb.Exterior Length: 33' 1"Exterior Height: 10' 4"Exterior Width: 96"
3. Crew cab is the only must have. I would like to find something for $20-$25k.

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Evil twin ! What ! No Ram ! Lol Hatter ! Lol

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by KMU

1. Forest river Salem cruise lite 273 qbxl
2. SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight: 735 lb.UVW 6349 lb.CCC 1386 lb.Exterior Length: 33' 1"Exterior Height: 10' 4"Exterior Width: 96"
3. Crew cab is the only must have. I would like to find something for $20-$25k.

I would recommend at least a 3/4 ton. 33+ft isn't for a 1/2 ton.

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by KMU

1. Forest river Salem cruise lite 273 qbxl
2. SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight: 735 lb.UVW 6349 lb.CCC 1386 lb.Exterior Length: 33' 1"Exterior Height: 10' 4"Exterior Width: 96"
3. Crew cab is the only must have. I would like to find something for $20-$25k.

Based on the length and weight of the trailer, 3/4 ton gasser or 1 ton diesel.

Pick one of the big 3 truck makers and you'll be fine.

[flyflotrtim]

A half ton Eco like mine could handle the weight but I wouldn't want to tow something that long with less than a 3/4 ton.

[The Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by Chris Pastuzyn

Evil twin ! What ! No Ram ! Lol Hatter ! Lol

Honestly, the only reason is the coil sprung rear. My friend has a 2500 Ram and the ride is great unless towing. Granted, he rolls 10k GTW but still.
All things said, it is a great truck and LOTS of nice little extra touches. Storage in cab is endless.

[The Evil Twin]

Properly equipped, I'd tow with a 150. Now, if I was putting on 10000 miles a year then for sheer comfort I would go 3/4 ton oil burner. The TT says 33 feet but that likely is coupler to tail. So 30 foot trailer. At 8000 lbs GTW its not at all out of the 1/2 T territory. However, there is no room to move up to a bigger TT in the future.

[KMU]

Originally Posted by The Evil Twin

Properly equipped, I'd tow with a 150. Now, if I was putting on 10000 miles a year then for sheer comfort I would go 3/4 ton oil burner. The TT says 33 feet but that likely is coupler to tail. So 30 foot trailer. At 8000 lbs GTW its not at all out of the 1/2 T territory. However, there is no room to move up to a bigger TT in the future.

What would probably equipped be?

[The Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by KMU

What would probably equipped be?

Depends on what you are towing. If it were the generic TT in the OP then even my neighbors 150 is fine. 2100ish payload, V8, tow package. I've driven with his Impact 29V behind it. I wouldn't cross the Rockies with it, but east coast is ok. Drinks fuel though. IIRC the thing weighs in around 9k as he loads it.

[KMU]

Originally Posted by The Evil Twin

Depends on what you are towing. If it were the generic TT in the OP then even my neighbors 150 is fine. 2100ish payload, V8, tow package. I've driven with his Impact 29V behind it. I wouldn't cross the Rockies with it, but east coast is ok. Drinks fuel though. IIRC the thing weighs in around 9k as he loads it.

Thanks!!
What hitch would you recommend?

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by KMU

Will be picking up a 2021 273qbxl in a few months. About 6,000 dry weight. What trucks should I be looking at?

F150 SCrew, 6.5’ bed, 3.5L Ecoboost with MaxTow package. Ford factory tow mirrors. Choose an XLT over higher trim levels to avoid using up carrying capacity. Good chance you’ll have to order this truck as the vast majority will be short wheel base with the 5.5’ bed. I’ve owned both and there is a definite advantage to that additional foot of wheelbase in terms of towing stability. Spend the money on a good hitch. I recommend the Equalizer 4 point. Don’t grease anything on it, regardless of what the manual and forum members say. It will make noise in slow turns- let it. The friction is what makes the noise and you want the friction for sway control. Make sure it’s setup properly. I have AirLift 5k airbags and Rancho RS9000XL rear shocks as well. This is coming from a guy that currently owns an F450 and an F150 like I described. I’ve had myriad other TVs and pulled a lot of different types of trailers and the F150 setup like I describe is simply the best combination of low end torque coupled with the ability to also rev and produce good horsepower, great unloaded fuel mileage, ride comfort and inexpensive maintenance.

[Mr Towed]

Originally Posted by The Evil Twin

Depends on what you are towing. If it were the generic TT in the OP then even my neighbors 150 is fine. 2100ish payload, V8, tow package. I've driven with his Impact 29V behind it. I wouldn't cross the Rockies with it, but east coast is ok. Drinks fuel though. IIRC the thing weighs in around 9k as he loads it.

I'm not saying it's not true or impossible or anything like that, but 2100 payload in a 150 is pretty atypical, I think. You said 150 so most likely you mean Ford... Maybe a 2 wheel drive, or not a crew cab, or lower trim package, or all three of those. I'd be interested in what year and configuration your friend's truck is ( I know you said V8 with tow package, but i'm curious about 2wd/4wd, bed/cab, trim level)

[The Big Toe]

Originally Posted by The Evil Twin

Honestly, the only reason is the coil sprung rear. My friend has a 2500 Ram and the ride is great unless towing. Granted, he rolls 10k GTW but still.
All things said, it is a great truck and LOTS of nice little extra touches. Storage in cab is endless.

10k GTW is child's play for a Ram 2500 CTD. Your friend is doing something wrong or you'rre not used to being in a HD truck. More professional RV delivery people use the Ram 2500 Cummins than any other truck. By far.

They can stay under the 26k GCWR DOT number easier and they pull like a freight train. Never read or heard any of them complain about the coil springs. They just hook and go. Don't even bother with a WDH.

The leaf vs coil spring debate is mostly nonsense until we get well over 20k. And then it's only because Ram's coils aren't set up ideally. Leaf springs are cheap and easier. 18th century engineering.

Freight Trains use coil suspension and the Big Rigs don't even bother with springs, they use airbags.

Is there a limit to what they can pull? Sure, they start getting over 17,000 lbs TW and it gets a little iffy but other than that...... Not.

As to the OP, a Gen II 3.5 Ecobeast with the 10 speed transmission will pull the FACE off that trailer. Might wanna put some airbags on it and a rear stabilizer bar but there's no dire need to go to a 3/4 ton (no such thing but we'll use it for familiarity purposes) unless he wants to.

The only reason I'd consider a diesel is if I wanted an exhaust brake.

Now, you start putting a dollar limit on things and it all changes.

Good luck to the OP. Remember, it cost far more to re-do something than it does to do it right from the beginning. Invest in the right truck. Over time, it will cost less.

And remember, diesels are a PITD. I know. I own one. A Ram 2500 CTD with 22,000 miles on it. I love that truck but I wouldn't do it again for anything less that 10,000 lbs.

[KMU]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

F150 SCrew, 6.5’ bed, 3.5L Ecoboost with MaxTow package. Ford factory tow mirrors. Choose an XLT over higher trim levels to avoid using up carrying capacity. Good chance you’ll have to order this truck as the vast majority will be short wheel base with the 5.5’ bed. I’ve owned both and there is a definite advantage to that additional foot of wheelbase in terms of towing stability. Spend the money on a good hitch. I recommend the Equalizer 4 point. Don’t grease anything on it, regardless of what the manual and forum members say. It will make noise in slow turns- let it. The friction is what makes the noise and you want the friction for sway control. Make sure it’s setup properly. I have AirLift 5k airbags and Rancho RS9000XL rear shocks as well. This is coming from a guy that currently owns an F450 and an F150 like I described. I’ve had myriad other TVs and pulled a lot of different types of trailers and the F150 setup like I describe is simply the best combination of low end torque coupled with the ability to also rev and produce good horsepower, great unloaded fuel mileage, ride comfort and inexpensive maintenance.

Thanks for the details!!
I had some concerns about buying a 1/2 ton based on the first couple of responses. But it seems like it could be doable with the right features.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by KMU

1. Forest river Salem cruise lite 273 qbxl
2. SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight: 735 lb.UVW 6349 lb.CCC 1386 lb.Exterior Length: 33' 1"Exterior Height: 10' 4"Exterior Width: 96"
3. Crew cab is the only must have. I would like to find something for $20-$25k.

Good luck finding a properly equipped F150 in that price range. You are looking for a 10 year old truck.

[KMU]

Originally Posted by upflying

Good luck finding a properly equipped F150 in that price range. You are looking for a 10 year old truck.

Yeah, there's not much in that price range. If I'm going to spend more, I'd rather have an F-250. Is it safe to assume that any F-250 would be fine to tow this trailer?