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Old 10-22-2017, 09:37 PM   #1
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Mini Lite 25XX Owner Tow Questions

So my question is what are people towing their rigs with? Most of the hitch weights on 25XX series of the Mini Lites are between 600-700lbs. Are people pulling these bad boys with half-ton trucks without issue? Have you done anything to beef your truck up? Do you exceed the payload capacity and just not mind?

The reason I ask is because I love the layout of the 2509s. I have a 2013, F150, 4x4, short bed, crew cab with max tow package. The GVWR is 7200#s. Door tag states cargo and occupants should never exceed 1233#s.

It seems to me that I'll approach payload capacity very rapidly if I load up the wife and kids after hitching up. Has anyone had experience towing these models with half ton trucks and how's the ride been? Have you ever gone to the scales to get axel/tongue/total weights?

I appreciate any insight that you all provide. I already know my next truck will be a 3/4 ton HD but until then I want to make sure I'm keeping my family safe by not overtaxing the vehicle I have.

Best,
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Old 10-22-2017, 11:33 PM   #2
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That's pretty low of a payload for a newer F150, especially with the Max Tow Package.
Is it a Lariat or Platinum model?
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Old 10-22-2017, 11:51 PM   #3
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To be honest I'm not sure. All the stickers are "FX4." There's no XLT, Lariat, ect anywhere. It does have heated/cooled leather seats tho if that tells you anything. (I think those might be options for Lariat and above maybe?) Bought the thing used about a year ago.
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Old 10-23-2017, 03:21 AM   #4
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I tow our 2504s w/a 2016 Ram 1500 Eco-Diesel 4x4 3.55 rear axle. Truck tows trailer very well. Of course it doesn't tow like a 2500 would but we did a 2800 mile round trip to Yellowstone this year and averaged 15mpg's for the trip. That is with truck loaded w/myself,DW,2 kids,firewood,generator and everything else needed for camping. Love my truck especially when I am not towing and get 29mpgs at 70mph on the highway.
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Old 10-23-2017, 03:49 AM   #5
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Quote:
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To be honest I'm not sure. All the stickers are "FX4." There's no XLT, Lariat, ect anywhere. It does have heated/cooled leather seats tho if that tells you anything. (I think those might be options for Lariat and above maybe?) Bought the thing used about a year ago.
FX4 is a F150 model, along with King Ranch, Lariat, Platinum, XLT and others.
the thing is the FX4 has extra bling, like the heated/cooled leather seats. this adds weight, therefore decreasing the payload capacity.

I have a 2014 XLT Ecoboost SB with the Max Tow Package and 3.73 rear end ratio. the rear axle is rated for 4080lbs.
my payload capacity is 1828lbs. but i only have the cloth seats and nothing else fancy, like the heated/cooled feature.
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Old 10-23-2017, 05:37 AM   #6
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If you want to know what's in your truck, there are several Ford VIN decoder sites on the web to do a search. Most will give you real numbers for what you're looking for. I looked up the VIN on my 2500 GMC before I bought it and I learned about the things it had that the dealer didn't know were on there. Class V hitch, extra oil/trans fluid coolers, fuel heater.
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Old 10-23-2017, 06:23 AM   #7
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Another point to take into consideration is that you are likely quoting the paper tongue weights, not actual. We have a 2017 2504s which paper tongue weight was 635, however actual is just over 800. I suspect you’ll be over payload unless you tow solo.
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Old 10-23-2017, 06:25 AM   #8
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Knowing the equipment on the truck will be very useful, especially things like the oil cooler and other equipment related to towing.

As for the weight concern, you need to take your truck to a scale with a full tank of fuel and your family on board to get its weight so you can see how much of that 1233# you have left. For trailer tounge weight you can do one of 2 methods:

- take the published dry weight and add 1200#, or
- use 12% of the trailer’s GVWR

The second method is more conservative.

Personally, I don’t look at the payload number specifically. I look at the GVWR and the axle ratings. When I had my ‘09 F-150 I was prepared to be 200# over my GVWR but no more, as long as I was not over the rear axle’s weight rating. With my current trailer that weighs 7300# loaded, I was 600# over the GVWR and 200# over the rear axle’s rating carry my family of 5 including 3 adult sized sons, so I upgraded to my F-250. With my previous Roo hybrid that weighed 5200# loaded, I was within those specs.

It is very surprising how quickly the weight adds up.
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Old 10-23-2017, 06:59 AM   #9
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I towed a 23IKSS for 12K miles with a BMW X5 (3.0l engine).
The X5 tongue rate limit is 600lbs and the IKSS tongue weight (dry) is 5XXlbs.
The X5 Payload is around 16XX lbs so when we went on vacation we had almost nothing in the car other than people and snacks...

With that being said we just moved to a 1/2 ton truck because it's not fun to have to carry all things (including bikes) in the trailer and always be concerned with payload....
We have three kids and we are have our toys, etc....

So we got a F150 with 2700 payload capacity and since the truck can tow more, we also got a 2909WS (9xxlbs tongue weight) trailer.
The truck is a crew cab with a 6 1/2 bed and heavy duty payload package.
I just picked the trailer up this Saturday and since my new WD hitch (Curt round bar 1400lbs tongue limit) didn't arrive yet, I had to tow 15 miles with my old one(Curt round bar 800lbs tongue limit).
This set up towed those 15 miles flawlessly, but I didn't go above 55 mph.....
The picture below is the set up with the under spec WD hitch so you can see how the truck and trailer is level....

I'm sharing all of this just to say this:
You probably can do it with your trailer the way it its PROVIDED that you have only people in it AND your WD is fine tuned properly (forget the dealer set up...) .
But if you want to carry more than people in the truck and you want to be below the specified limit, It's better to find a way to increase your payload or get a truck that has a higher payload capacity.
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:04 AM   #10
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My F250 has the FX4. It is skid plates, 4 Rancho branded shocks (I doubt they are really Rancho), hill descent control and the graphics. I would think the package on an F150 would be similar.

I've never seen an F150 with cargo rating that low. But, if the sticker shows it I believe it. You would want to know how it is calculated, since all manufacturers play games with this number. 150# driver and a full tank of fuel... 150# driver half a tank of fuel... no driver and half a tank, etc., etc. It makes a difference if you are going to press the limit.
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:19 AM   #11
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Your model should be listed on the "F150 logo" on the fenders Similar to the one in the link. Seems like a really low payload number for a Max Tow equipped truck, but not unheard of


2013 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Marks and Logos Photo #71281717 | GTCarLot.com
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:29 AM   #12
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We tow a Micro Lite 23FB with a RAM1500, 2D, 2WD.
Never an issue and we average between 11-12.5mpg towing (4.7L V8).
Only change we made was to the tires on the 1500, changed them out to Firestone LT series.
Never been to any scales but my best guess is the trailer fully loaded will probably come in right around 5k lb's.
The back of the truck (depending on where we are camping) will either have kayaks or mountain bikes.. sometimes both.
It will pull the mountains here in New England with ease, very rarely do the RPM's tack over 3500 and I can maintain 62mph just about anywhere we have traveled.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:44 AM   #13
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Tow a 2504s with a 2014 Silverado 1500.2wd 262 cubic inch V6.3.23 axle. Payload is around 1800 lbs. I have added LT tires and 5400lb timbrens. Tows great but could use more gear in the rear end. 11.8 mpg. Truck is a “double cab” Jay.
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Old 10-23-2017, 11:52 AM   #14
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MT Biker,

Your RAM is a regular cab. The OP has a crew cab and a very low CCC (so its probably got a higher trim level). So there's a significant difference in your tow vehicles. You must have just 2 people in your regular cab truck, not a whole family like the OP, although that bed cap might weigh as much as 2 small kids!

Your Micro Lite 23FB has a GVWR more than 1000# lighter and its 2' shorter that the TT that the OP is looking at. Another significant difference.

So, I don't think your example is really comparable.

I'd be interested in seeing your scaled numbers. RAM trucks are supposed to be notorious for low payload numbers. I bet you're closer to GVWR, CCC and RAWR than you think, maybe even over 1 or 2 of those specs. But, hey, if it tows your 23FB competently, .
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Old 10-23-2017, 12:01 PM   #15
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MT Biker,



I'd be interested in seeing your scaled numbers. RAM trucks are supposed to be notorious for low payload numbers. I bet you're closer to GVWR, CCC and RAWR than you think, maybe even over 1 or 2 of those specs. But, hey, if it tows your 23FB competently, .
My payload numbers are awful
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Old 10-23-2017, 12:55 PM   #16
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I have a 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 or with max tow package, we had a 2013 prime time tra cer 230fbs dry weight 5200,never had any problems. We just purchased a 2018 2109s and it only weighs 4200 dry,it tows very easy.
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Old 10-23-2017, 01:00 PM   #17
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I used this site to figure the towing capacity for my 1/2 ton chevy. Trailer Towing Guides | www.trailerlife.com
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Old 10-23-2017, 01:03 PM   #18
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MT Biker, have you ever towed the trailer with and without the cap on the truck? If so was there any difference in gas mileage? Jay
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Old 10-23-2017, 01:27 PM   #19
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I have a 2016 ford f150 157" platinum 3.5 ecotec loaded and after viewing the
Ford F150 Ecoboost Torture test High quality episodes 1-6 on youtube
it will blow your mind on the strength,durability and longevity especially the tow
endurance test of a 11200#load for 24 hours straight at 90 to 100 mph on a test track
one heck of an engine and I am glad I have one
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Old 10-23-2017, 01:28 PM   #20
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MT Biker, have you ever towed the trailer with and without the cap on the truck? If so was there any difference in gas mileage? Jay
That cap has been on the truck since 2-weeks after purchasing it.
It's like a gigantic wind sail, but it suited my needs I had for this truck at the time.
Now the truck is just used as our tow vehicle for the trailer, the cap works out great for all of our camping essentials we may bring along.
It only has 51k miles on it (2011) and its paid for, so its hard to justify trading it in for something better suited for my needs now and having a payment.
But as far as gas mileage goes, it really doesn't do much better then 15mpg anyway.
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