Got a new camper need help!

DeLander · #1 03-22-2010, 06:36 AM

I have a 05 F150 with a 4.6. I bought a 28 foot bumper pull camper that is suppose to weight #5800. I brought it home Saturday and I could not get the truck above 65 on the highway and it was a struggle to get it there. It stayed between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm's. I currently have a modded intake and Superchips flashpaq tuner. What can I do to upgrade the truck to better handle it? I am assuming some Rearend modifications.....Please give me your ideas.

glc · #2 03-22-2010, 10:44 AM

Go get the thing weighed and find out what the actual weight is. Take it to a truck scale and get the slip, then drop the trailer and weigh just the truck. I suspect that you are over max for your particular truck, the 4.6 doesn't have much low end torque.

Get a tow tune for your programmer. Put a set of 4.56 gears in it.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 65 with that kind of load to begin with.

Zaairman · #3 03-22-2010, 09:51 PM

I'm betting it all on 6500lbs.

canadian_screw · #4 03-23-2010, 12:12 AM

Holy smokes dude. Your probably at your gcwr with a DRY trailer. You need the 5.4

dsq3973 · #5 03-23-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaairman

I'm betting it all on 6500lbs.

I would put money on that as well Zach. Loaded that trailer is going to put a hurt on your truck with or with out mods. And I agree with glc you shouldnt be going over 65 with that trailer when I pull our fifth wheel I normally dont do over 60.

glc · #6 03-24-2010, 02:26 PM

There are some states that have a 55 mph speed limit while towing. They must have a good reason for that other than just revenue generation. I know ST-rated trailer duty tires state plainly on the sidewall not to exceed 65 mph.

dsq3973 · #7 03-24-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glc

There are some states that have a 55 mph speed limit while towing. They must have a good reason for that other than just revenue generation. I know ST-rated trailer duty tires state plainly on the sidewall not to exceed 65 mph.

Is that commercial or non commercial? I know most states the speed limit for 18 wheelers is 55 still. I have done a few 60 to 0 panick stops with loaded trailers and its not a fun feeling when the load starts pushing the truck around.

DeLander · #8 03-24-2010, 08:11 PM

I know about the speed guys. But my point is, I'm just not thinking my truck is enough to haul this camper around much. We're taking a trip with it this weekend. Our destination is about 3 hours away. I guess that'll be a good test to see if I need a bigger truck. Thanks for the help.

Zaairman · #9 03-24-2010, 08:59 PM

Please let us know where you're located at... so we can stay the hell out of your way. That camper is too big for your 4.6. Time to upgrade the truck or get a smaller camper.

Micheal · #10 03-24-2010, 09:43 PM

Kiss your tranny good bye.

MitchF150 · #11 03-25-2010, 02:57 AM

What size are your tires and what gear ratio do you have? What is the make and model # of your trailer? If #5800 is the 'dry' weight, then it probably was over #6000 as you drove it off the lot..

Sounds like you were in 2nd gear if your rpms were that high... I pull those kind of rpms when I'm pulling a 5% grade... The only time I've had a hard time maintaining speed on the flats is when I had a 30-40 mph head wind to contend with... At least it wasn't coming from the side!

Sounds like you are pretty much maxed out on the truck however... See how your trip goes and that will tell you what's in store for you with that trailer..

Mitch

glc · #12 03-25-2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Is that commercial or non commercial? I know most states the speed limit for 18 wheelers is 55 still.

I don't think there's a distinction - if you are towing anything with anything, 55. Doesn't matter whether it's a car towing a little popup or a dualie towing a 40 foot 5er.

DeLander · #13 03-29-2010, 05:28 PM

Well, the weekend trip went okay. Being in Florida, I didn't have hills/mountains to contend with. But, I'll for sure need a different tow vehicle for trips to N.C. and Kentucky this summer. I'm thinking Titan.

Colorado Osprey · #14 03-29-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glc

I know ST-rated trailer duty tires state plainly on the sidewall not to exceed 65 mph.

Thats not entirely correct.
Some ST tires say that but nowhere near all.

Zaairman · #15 03-29-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLander

Well, the weekend trip went okay. Being in Florida, I didn't have hills/mountains to contend with. But, I'll for sure need a different tow vehicle for trips to N.C. and Kentucky this summer. I'm thinking Titan.

I hope that was a joke....?