I'm in the exact same boat as many people who are considering using the F-150 as their tow vehicle. I'll be purchasing a new 07 F150 4x4 (5.4L) tomorrow so my wife and I can get serious about purchasing a travel trailer in the next year or so. Of course it would be better to purchase a 3/4 ton truck, but many of us need to use our tow vehicle as our daily driver. I've spent a lot of time on RV.net and have come to the conclusion that there really isn't a middle ground where towing is concerned. Dedicated RV'ers will tell you that you should get either the F250 or the F350 if you're serious about towing anything. While I don't dispute this, it leaves those of us who will only tow our RV's for family duty (10 trips/year) wondering what we should do.

For me (us), I've decided to stick with the F150 and load up on all of the available safety features I can get. Air bags, WD hitch, anti-sway, etc. We will also select the lightest travel trailer that will serve our purposes. Since we only have 2 small children (19 mo twin boys), we're looking at the Flagstaff/Forrest River/Rockwood models. These are the approximate specs of the trailer:

Length - 27' - 29' (MAX)
Hitch weight - 336 lbs
Axle Weight - 3,796 lbs
Unit Dry Weight - 4,132 lbs
GVWR - 6,392 lbs

I'll also try to always use "common sense" when loading the camper. For longer trips, I'll wait to fill the water tanks until we near our destination. I'll also make sure that we don't over pack the unit. Easier said than done, I know; but it is possible with a little thought. I'm sure we'll still be considered a risk in the eyes of many towing folk, but I'm not sure what else to do.

Thoughts?

 

A trailer that size wouldn't be anywhere near your tow capacity (your real tow capacity not the factory rated one). I have a trailer (Springdale 260TBL) that is 5100lbs UVW and around 7500lbs GVWR. Out the door we are probably 6500lbs loaded. Taken it all over the state such as to the ocean, up north to birch bay, over snoqualmie and blewett and do just fine. I have an '04 f150 5.4L and we get from 9-12mpg towing.

Check out http://rvtowingtips.com/ for some info on towing ratings in general and also a pretty cool calculator for determining capacities and the weight of different things.

If you stick with the size listed, you will be just fine. Another factor that does come into play but can't be calculated is how comfortable you are towing different sizes/weights.

Oh yeah, get a tranny gauge.

 

I like it. I dont have any experience until now with towing a travel trailer. Just bought one in NJ and going to get it this weekend. Basically I think your plans are right, Ive been reading a ton on this stuff on RV sites etc. and the water is crucial, to just fill when arriving or close to the area, however I know some places charge for that. My unit is about the same, 24' 4000ish and pretty stoked. Came with sways, ball/hitch, just gotta make sure my friends F150 brake controller works. Hes checking it now.

From reading sounds like overpacking is a main issue of tow problems, luckily both my friend and I have F150s(newer) so thats a plus. Plenty of room.

 

[QUOTE=crowe10]A trailer that size wouldn't be anywhere near your tow capacity (your real tow capacity not the factory rated one). I have a trailer (Springdale 260TBL) that is 5100lbs UVW and around 7500lbs GVWR. Out the door we are probably 6500lbs loaded. Taken it all over the state such as to the ocean, up north to birch bay, over snoqualmie and blewett and do just fine. I have an '04 f150 5.4L and we get from 9-12mpg towing.

Thanks Crowe. I also live in WA state and I'm wondering how your F-150 has done over Snoqualmie Pass? Are you at least able to keep up with traffic heading up the pass? Do you use trailer brakes?

I've gotten more comfortable with the idea of towing approximately 7000lbs with the F-150, primarily because I'm not 22 years old anymore. I'll load the trailer correctly, take the hills slowly (probably not by choice), and as I said earlier, utilize every available safety precaution.

 

With trailers that light, I wouldn't sweat the packing too much or the water, etc. Just more hassle than it is worth and not going to gain you much (will save on some mpg's but not much) as most trailers put the tanks right over the axles to help balance the load. Your trucks have plenty of poop for pulling that and more.

 

Let me throw my hat in here as someone who made some costly errors along the way.

Your new F150 will be fine with that weight. Here is the tricky part and the this is what drives me crazy about the 3/4-1 ton ****'s on RV.net.

Remember this line, burn it in memory.

BEFORE YOU GET A TRAILER, SET A PROPER EXPECTATION LEVEL FOR YOURSELF ON HOW IT WILL TOW.

I had a F150 3v, 3.73 and also put in a AF1, Programed from Troyer etc. Only towed a 4900 lb camper (dry) loaded it came in at 6K. Did it tow? Yes. Did I think it would tow better than it did? Yes. Was I disappointed? Yes. Why? B/C I just didn't have the torque and power. The biggest factor, even babying the throttle I was getting around 5.5-6 mpg towing at 60-65 mph on somewhat flat ground. So I traded and got a PSD. It pulled my TT like a shadow.

Net is, if you dont' tow a lot and don't tow far, and you have that proper expecation level from above....you will be fine. Your wallet will be a tad lighter in gas but it will do it. Remember, its not so much the weight, its the 20ft+ block of wood you are towing in head winds that is going to get you.

I just couldn't live with the mileage and to be honest my buddies were all leaving me behind on the highway...(They already had diesels) So I found one that I could afford and traded.

But what do I know....now I don't have that TT anymore, with all that power, we got a 5er.

10K#'s now, still get 13 mpg towing.

 

Hi.

This isn't entirely germaine to this discussion, but, why would you think that an '08 250 SD would not be suitable as a DD? Lots of folks here use them as such. The '08's are very refined.

And - any safety / loading concerns that you cited here would vanish. Pack & go.

Granted - they do command a premium price.

Be safe.


MGD

EDIT - crap, RR done beat me to it, lol!

 

Made the trip over snoqualmie probably 5 times this year with at least 3 of those times being fully watered as we were dirt camping and could maintain 60 just fine. We could go faster but I don't want to pound on the truck plus I keep a close eye on the tranny temps. Drops into second right at the top for a second but the truck does that unloaded. Don't be afraid to get some RPMs as that is where the truck is making its power. Yes, any trailer in WA over 3000lbs requires trailer brakes according to here.

Edited my first post to direct you to getting a tranny gauge. I have a dashhawk as it monitors a bunch of other stuff also that I like to keep an eye on but you can install some regular gauges or an Edge if you ever get one. 7k lbs. would probably be my limit but that's just my comfort zone. If you can get a trailer that weighs less and it can do the job go for it.

 

Damn. good point, forgot to mention...mine is a DD. There are MANY, MANY old timers on RV.net that have just a TV and a sep DD...and not to mention, they don't have anything better to do then tell all the noobs that they are right and they are wrong.

 

No, no, no. I have nothing against the F250's as daily drivers. Most of this has to do with the fact that we're only going to tow our trailer 10 times each year (at the most) and that I'm picking up the F150 for $28K and 0% interest. The 250's (new) are running in the high $37K range.

We're not even going to purchase the TT until this time next year, and by then my company will have paid ($500/mo) $6,000 of the purchase price. If we need an HD (maybe a diesel?) in a couple of years, we'll make the swap. Right now it just seems like overkill.

 

While there is no debate that a diesel 250 or whatever will out tow a 150, a 6k load pulled fairly infrequently isn't anywhere near too much for a 150.

 

sounds like a plan, I was in a VERY similar situation as you. But in my case, it was the tail wagging the dog. My first TT was a Jayco 27BH, 4950 dry, 6K loaded. Regardless of brand, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toy....that's more weight than you think. Do yourself a favor, if you are going to get the TT, try and get the 4.10 gears now or at least the 3.73. Like I said earlier, your F150 can do it....but set a proper expectation level and don't listen to the RV dealers. They don't know chit.

Watch your tranny temps, and stay to the right on the highway so I and everyone else have enough room to pass you.

You'll be fine.

Cheers

JP

 

I just posted about this a minute ago with the same scenario. Watch it. Although the truck can haul it, your payload may be maxed. Add up your togue weight with your gear in the bed and you with your passengers. If you are doing a Supercrew, you may be suprised to find you are close to your payload, if not over.

 

Sounds like my 2000 F150 will do just fine pulling my Layton 16' (that's what it says on the title - seems bigger)

I'd like to find a place that has the weights for it because it's in the storage yard right now, and I haven't a clue what it weighs.

I am glad to have stumbled across this site - I've managed to learn a lot about my truck - like I don't need anything except a brake controller (prodigy) and the harness to connect it - AND the relay - which since I bought it used, I need to see if it's in there, or get to Ford and get one.

Speaking of the controller - is there anyplace near Seattle that has them reasonably priced?

 

Bobbyg,

In the past year I went thru the angst of looking for a tow vehicle for our travel trailer. Diesel was out of the question, as the truck is used everyday, plus with the winters up here, warm up times for a 10 min drive to work...

Anyhow, we have a '6 Jayco 29BHS, 5600 empty, 7500 loaded.

Our '06 F150 SuperCrew 5.4, 3.73.

Of all the 1/2 tons I looked at, only the F150 met the GCWR (with 17" rims-15,000lbs) for my needs.

The truck is rated for 7200 GVWR, my trailer 7500, combine the two I'm 300lbs under the GCWR. With 18 inch rims I am over by 200 lbs.

This past August we travelled from Winnipeg to Prince George BC via the Yellow head Highway and back home via the No.1 Trans Canada. About 4,000 mile round trip I figure.

The truck performed well, it held its speed going down hill and going up, no probs, which really surprised me. If I remember correctly pulling 3000 rpm doing 50 mph, geez I wished I wrote my observations down. Engine was pretty quiet pulling uphill, I would try and stay at the 3750 rpm range were the eng developes its peak torque. Above 4,000 noise was more audible.

I did get some sway when a would semi passed me, he's pushing a lot of air out of the way.

Gas mileage? Ha! Towing a trailer! Between 55 and 60 mph is your best bet for best mileage with OD off.

I drove with overdrive off. I fine tuned my hitch adjustments, no probs, except the brake controller is somewhat temperature sensitive and set the veh alarm at 2 am in an RV park in heavy rain.

I would suggest tho, a heavier sidewall ply tire, mine were a bit challanged on this trip.

For your travel trailer choice, the diff between a 7'6" and a 8' wide is very noticeable inside. Go hard top if you can, minimum set up, especially when it is lousy weather, and with two small children, the wife will appreciate the least amount of hassle. A Jayco 27 BH or similiar may be worth a boo.

I know safety is your primary concern, because mine was. Let that be your guiding light. As for my choice it was the best compromise factoring in towing capacity, diesel vs gas, interior room, 1/2 gas vs 3/4 gas. I would be happy with a V10 3/4 ton but try and find one up here that is not a company/fleet vehicle.

F150, darn good truck, for a recreational tow vehicle, pretty good choice.