look at signature for the truck I have..

I found a 20' TT I really like but it's a bit heavier then I wanted.. Currently I have a 16' tt that weighs 2500lbs dry & I also haul a 600 ATV in the back of the truck. The new trailer weighs 3100lbs dry. I dont mind how my truck pulls my current trailer, but I'm going up 900 lbs. with tanks full ( old tt didnt have tanks) should I be concerned? I do bog down on hills of course with my current set up, & would like a little more power, but seams to do okay.. What are some opinions? I will also be getting a equilizer hitch & dont use one now..

 

The only thing I'd worry about is the clutch. I had a '97 F150 4.6 3:55's with the trailer tow package and auto. It would pull 8000 lbs. with no problems (with a ATV in the bed). It did have a bit of a problem going up steep hills.

 

Check your owners manual. The tow limit with a manual transmission is much lower than with an auto.

 

The thing to be most concerned about will be exceeding the rear GAWR..... It's probably only around #3200 or so..... Figure the tongue weight of any travel trailer to be a minumum of 10% of the actual weight of the trailer. Optimal tongue weight is around 12% however.....

Remember, the 8.8 and the 9.75 axles are only a "semi floater" which means the axle carries all the weight AND provides the torque to move. Besides, going too heavy will really heat up that diff fluid and that's not a good thing!

If you notice a bog with a #2500 trailer, then you'll really notice it with one that's close to #1000 more..... Also, you quoted "dry" weights and depending on how those weights were obtained, you could be up to #1000 more then that when it's all loaded up!

Good luck!

 

well I took the trailer for a spin to see how it pulled, it actually seamed to pull better then my 16' tt.. I could go 70mph with the 19' (tandem axle) & the 16' I could stay at only around 65mph, I guess this is because a tandom pulls better then a single axle? is this correct? Only explanation I can come up with. My rear axle rating is 3400lbs, the trailer tongue weight is 340lbs & the ATV is 600lbs so I would assume I'm okay??

 

if your old tt didn't have tanks why fill the tanks on the new tt until you get to where your going that way you'll not have to tow has much weight.