First Timer from Michigan--Semper Fi

[USMCbh1983]

Hey ya'll. I am obviously new to this site and new to the RV world. I am looking at different trailers right now and have my eyes on a 2020 Salem 32BHDS. I have a 5 and 6 year old and my girlfriend that would be with me. We like the separate room to put them when they get annoying. She says the dual entry into the bathroom is a must.

With that said, I'm starting to question my towing capacity. I've got a 2013 Ford F150 FX4 Super Crew. No clue on my wheel base.

Anyway, here I am. Hoping to learn from you all!

 

[a32deuce]

Welcome to both from South Jersey and thank you for Your Service.

 

[A2pfunk]

Hello from another Michigander! Our situation when we got our current camper was similar to yours. We have two kids (now 8 and 11). We wanted a separate bedroom. For some reason I wanted an actual door, not that paper slider thing. Mind you, it's a camper. So even when I am in bed with the door closed I can still hear everything the kids are doing... We needed room for the kids so we wanted bunks. We stumbled upon a Coachmen Catlina 274 TBS. It does not seem to be a popular model as I don't see many out there. But we have been extremely happy with it. The only downside so far is that OURS is a triple bunk which means the three bunks are all very small.

But here is my recommendation to YOU. I have seen a newer version of the Catalina which I would buy in a HEARTBEAT if I were in the market today. It only has two bunks and they are wider. It also has a separate door which goes directly to the bathroom which I have always thought would be a great feature.
Here is a link to the model and it happens to be at the same dealership where we bought ours in 2016. It's a smaller family dealership, but they came down in price and we were happy with them. It's about an hour from where we live and we just happened to find it while searching rvtrader.com after we got burned by General RV.

Good luck!
https://klinesrv.com/inventory/trav...283+ddsck-warren-mi-5dbc41afb0583b4e6546df33/

 

[bikendan]

Hey ya'll. I am obviously new to this site and new to the RV world. I am looking at different trailers right now and have my eyes on a 2020 Salem 32BHDS. I have a 5 and 6 year old and my girlfriend that would be with me. We like the separate room to put them when they get annoying. She says the dual entry into the bathroom is a must.

With that said, I'm starting to question my towing capacity. I've got a 2013 Ford F150 FX4 Super Crew. No clue on my wheel base.

Anyway, here I am. Hoping to learn from you all!

Hi and welcome to FRF and thank you for your service.
I own a 2014 F150 SCREW 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and that's WAY too much trailer.
You're going to need a 3/4 or 1 ton for that trailer. If you don't want to change trucks, you'll need to look for something smaller.
Actual real world tongue weight will exceed your truck's max hitch weight and your payload capacity.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers-and-fifth-wheels/salem/32BHDS/991

it's nearly 36' long and a GVWR over 9800lbs!

 

[wmtire]

Hey ya'll. I am obviously new to this site and new to the RV world.

Here is some reading that may help:


https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f88/new-to-rvs-helpful-hints-157524.html

 

[geeman53]

Welcome from SW Ohio , you can not ever have enough power .

 

[tomkatb]

Shop hard. Ask questions here.

Be careful with sales persons. They typically have little to no knowledge of towing capacity. Yes, your truck will pull it off the lot.

This trailer is a hd truck TV model. While possible with one Ford truck you do not have. Study up! Reading truck and trailer specs is hard.

Generally a trailer over 30’ feet long or much over #6000 unloaded is pushing a half ton.

Study up! Ask questions.

 

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Welcome from New Jersey, Thank you for your service![emoji631] Definitely agree with the previous responses, Google is your friend as well as the plethora of knowledgeable people here to help! Definitely shop around !

 

[USMCbh1983]

I’m trying to use the calculator that was linked in the towing forum, but I’m completely lost. I’ve got pictures of the information that I think is needed. I’ve run the calculator, but definitely didn’t do it right.

 

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Post the picture of it, There are plenty of people here who will help explain it.

 

[NJKris]

Semper Fi from NJ. I went small (20 footer) for my F150, nothing useful to add. Just me and my old lady.

 

[USMCbh1983]

Post the picture of it, There are plenty of people here who will help explain it.

Here you go. Let me know what else you need.

 

[tomkatb]

Not sure of the payload?

Seems to say #1159.

Which means this is for very small trailers.

What vehicle is this. You need a payload of #2000 minimum.

 

[ddurig]

With a payload in the 1100 range you are kind of limited to something in the 6000lb range for a trailer even if you think you can tow 12000lbs. You can go heavier but you had better be able to do the math. Even doing the math you would have to find the perfectly balanced trailer to get to 7k with that payload and would not be able to put the gear in the truck. Note that kids go from 50lbs to 150 in two seasons at the right age...that will eat into payload quickly with 2 of them.

Being practical you have 450lbs of people with 4 so that puts you at 600ish lbs of gear accessories and trailer tongue. That is 6000lbs at 10% tongue weight. You will have less because very few trailers come in at 10% loaded.

I have not looked extensively for trailers with a 2 bedrooms but generally they will fall in 3/4 to 1ton truck territory from the few I have investigated. The majority in the 6k lb range are bunk house models without a room but I never really looked that close.

I have a 7000ish lb gross weight trailer at 30ft, wife and one kid and while I could pull it and get close on the weights with my half ton (1680 payload) it was a lot of work to "make it work" until I could upgrade to a 1 ton. Now the truck is overkill but ready for my next trailer and a lot easier to load, unload, and pull. Every truck and trailer is different.

1. Ignore dry weights.
2. Figure 12.5-15% tongue weight based on trailer gross weight when calculating payload
3. always remember to add truck aftermarket accessories (cover, bedliner, cap, etc) and the WDH weight to your numbers.
4. As mentioned earlier kids grow fast! Calculate that as well based on age and leave some room if needed.

To me payload is a tool to figure out before you buy.
Axle weights (and gross weights) are the real world numbers when you did buy.
Tow capacity and dry weights are just creative marketing to get you into buying more than you should.

Happy camping!

 

[bikendan]

Here you go. Let me know what else you need.

HOLY SMOKES![emoji32][emoji1786]
1159lbs for payload, YIKES! Your truck is no way safe to tow that trailer.
Even with the the fictional/fantasy "dry tongue weight of 859lbs, once you add that, 50lbs for battery, 100lbs for the WDH, you're left with only 150lbs for driver and passengers, anything in the Truck, water and trailer cargo.
Your F150 is woefully under equipped to tow that trailer.
Truthfully, your truck's low payload is going to limit you to much smaller trailers.
What engine, cab size, bed size and rear end ratio does it have? Your truck is not spec'd for any real towing duties.
My 2014 F150 SCREW 4x4 has a payload capacity of 1828lbs. But it has the 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package.

 

[USMCbh1983]

HOLY SMOKES![emoji32][emoji1786]
1159lbs for payload, YIKES! Your truck is no way safe to tow that trailer.
Even with the the fictional/fantasy "dry tongue weight of 859lbs, once you add that, 50lbs for battery, 100lbs for the WDH, you're left with only 150lbs for driver and passengers, anything in the Truck, water and trailer cargo.
Your F150 is woefully under equipped to tow that trailer.
Truthfully, your truck's low payload is going to limit you to much smaller trailers.
What engine, cab size, bed size and rear end ratio does it have? Your truck is not spec'd for any real towing duties.
My 2014 F150 SCREW 4x4 has a payload capacity of 1828lbs. But it has the 3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package.

How do you calculate the payload?

My truck is a 2013 F-150 FX4 Supercrew, 3.5L Ecoboost, and I *think* it might have the max tow package (how can I tell?).

 

[USMCbh1983]

2013 Ford F-150 FX4 Supercrew 3.5L Ecoboost


From the 2013 F-150 towing manual found online and using the numbers on the sticker, here’s what I found:

GVWR = 7200 (sticker)
GVWR Rear = 4050 (sticker)
Wheel Base = 145 (sticker)
Axle Ratio = 3.55 (used sticker code and translated it using the towing manual)
GCWR = 9600 (towing manual)
Max Carrying Capacity = 1159 (sticker)
Curb Weight = 5461-5716 (searching curb weight online)
Max Payload = 1520 (towing manual)

I’m so lost.

 

[bikendan]

How do you calculate the payload?

My truck is a 2013 F-150 FX4 Supercrew, 3.5L Ecoboost, and I *think* it might have the max tow package (how can I tell?).

You dont have to calculate the truck's payload capacity, it's the 1159lbs on the sticker. That's its official payload capacity when it left the factory as equipped. There's nothing you can do to improve that number.
If you or the dealer added any additional things, like a bed topper or bed liner, then your payload is lower.
Of course, weighing it at a CAT scale would be the best.
Have no idea where you got the 1520 number from the manual. The sticker number, not the manual number, is the official number.

 

[USMCbh1983]

Have no idea where you got the 1520 number from the manual. The sticker number, not the manual number, is the official number.

It was from the online manual———-and that’s unfortunate.


So, basically I have a overpriced car that can’t tow anything?

 

[a32deuce]

Sad, but sometimes that happens. Very hard sometimes getting what you need/want to work together.