Just thought I would pass along a report of my first lengthy towing trip with my new F150 SuperCrew and my 30 foot travel trailer.

My F150 Supercrew is a stock 4x2 Lariat 2008 with the 5.4 engine, 3.73 gears, and 20 inch factory wheels. My travel trailer is a 30 foot Cherokee Lite which weighs about 5700 pounds. I estimate we put about 400 pounds more of stuff in the trailer and about 100 pounds of load in the bed.

Our trip was from Austin, Texas to Big Bend National Park which is 500 miles away. The trip to Big Bend was ideal. There was little to no wind, some hills around Austin for the first 100 miles then a fair number of hills the last 150 miles. I averaged about 9.9 miles per gallon for the trip to Big Bend. The truck pulled the trailer wonderfully. I kept the RPMs no higher than 2500 which was about 63 miles per hour with Overdrive turned off. On some of the really steep hills on the interstate the truck would down shift and I would dip down to about 55 or 55 miles per hour. Once we got off the interstate and closer to Big Bend the hills got worse and the road speed was slower so I dipped down to about 40 worst case. Overall, I was very pleased. The key was just taking it easy and not trying to drive like I would with no trailer behind me (I know, common sense but a lot people try to drive with a trailer the way they drive without a trailer.).

The trip back was not as ideal. We had about a 15 to 25 mile per hour head wind and tons of gusts higher than 25. Needless to say this had a profound effect on my gas mileage. I was down to about 8 miles per gallon. On some of the worst hills with the head wind i was dropping to about 35 (back roads). On the interstate with the head wind I pull about 2700 RPMs to maintain about 62 miles per hour. Again, the truck performed great it was just not ideal driving conditions.

I am contemplating getting an Edge unit and seeing what that does for me. Overall, the F150 was a great towing platform and I could not be happier.

- Chris

 

Sounds like a typical towing experience, huh.....Good tow one way, headwind going home. Seems you did great and the truck pulled it fine. I have to say that your truck looks great. That color combination makes for a real nice looking ride. I hope you continue to have good towing stories for many miles.
Rich

 

Glad the trucked performed so well for you!!

With regards to getting some aftermarket software, have you considered Troyers stuff? I got a package deal from him of an Airforce 1 intake, Magnaflow SIDO exhaust and Xcal tuner with three tunes. I set it up for economy, performance and towing. The economy has produced 2-3 mpg better consistently. We went from 14-15 mpg to 17-17.5 mpg per tank.

I never towed without the Troyer stuff but I've been really pleased with it. I pull an enclosed trailer loaded to ~7500lbs. At 65mph I get 9mpg consistently. Going across the appellations the lowest speed I saw was 50-55mph. I have no experience of what the truck would be like without the add ons, but I'm totally content with my setup as it is now. Just food for thought.

 

Robert,

Great advice. Thank you. I have never done mods to a truck before so I am newbie in that category.. I have a few questions for you:
1. Is there a website you can direct me to for these package deal?
2. The Magnaflow exhaust, does it have to be loud? I hate loud vehicles and one of the things I like about my stock exhaust is I can heardly hear the truck running. Most everyone I know that has aftermarket exhaust packages has a loud sound to it.
3. Will any of this affect my standard warranty and extended warranty? I purchased a 75000 mile / 5 year extended warranty and I dont' want to to put that at risk.

Thanks,
Chris

 

If you are satisfied with your towing performance and are concerned about the warranty, there is no need to do any mods. Just be **** about your maintenance, follow the severe duty schedule.

 

The software is uploaded/downloaded from teh OBDII port under your dash. If you ever have a problem with the truck you'll want to reinstall the 'stock' tune before taking it to the dealer. If you have an engine problem and they found out you had other software on there they would void your engine warranty. Air intake and muffler are ok though, I've never heard of either causing a probelm. Remember they can only void things that they can prove were adversly effected by whatever aftermarket item you add.

Also, I don't believe this applies to the extended warranty. Someone else would have to chime in on that though.

As for the loudness of the Magnaflow, it is louder than stock. Cruising around I think it sounds really good, more grumbly but not intruisive at all. Towing though it gets a little bothersome. You wouldn't like if you don't want louder than stock. I believe there are some near factory sound exhausts out there though.

 

You probably already know this, but those factory 20" significantly (negatively) impact your tow rating, MPG, and torque per axle. It sounds like you're already getting great results, but dropping down to 17" wheels will up your tow rating 500lbs and improve MPG at least 1-1.5/gal.

 

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

 

Wow. 30ft and only 5700lbs, what are they making these things out of now rice paper? The flatbed i have weighs 2500 and its only 20ft.

 

This is not even considered an "ultra light" travel trailer. Here is a link to the specs on my travel trailer:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/flo...&series=LiteTT

It is a great RV. We have really enjoyed it.

Later.

 

We're also looking at the Cherokee 28A+, so I'm glad to hear that you've had such a positive experience with it. Have you taken it to a scale for an ACTUAL weight rating? I know that Forrest River says it comes in at 5700lbs dry, but with all option, propane, etc. I bet you're looking at a "real" dry weight of around 6200lbs.

Either way, that's still pretty low for a trailer with dual sliders. Glad to hear that you're enjoying it. Please keep me posted on how your towing goes. I live in Seattle and we have negotiate a pretty good sized mountain pass.

 

http://keystone-outback.com/index.ht...008&model=21RS

I just purchased this trailer and it lists at 4585 dry.
I hit the scale on the way home with battery and two full propane tanks plus whatever else isn't part of the est. weight and it weighed in at 4520 with the WD bars hooked up to the truck and a total weight of 10360.

So that weight isn't too bad if that is close to correct.

bobbyg123, I know what you mean about having some mountains to get over.

 

I highly recommend the Cherokee 28A+. It is a great TT. We literally looked about every other TT in this weight and length range at RV shows and this one came out on top each time for the following reasons:

1. Overall weight for a 30 foot trailer
2. 2 slide outs instead of one
3. Lots of counter space in the kitchen for my wife
4. Quality and look and feel of the interior
5. Outside shower
6. Sani flush system for the black water tank

Here is a link to some of the photos of our TT:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cgaskins...rSeptember2007

We have taken it out 4 times since purchase last September (2007) and we have not been disappointed.

As far as hills go with my F150 as the tow vehicle, as long as you understand you are not going to run 60 MPH up the hills you will not be disappointed.

Oh, one more thing... You will definitely want the weight distribution hitch and the anti-sway bar. Makes a huge difference. I would not tow without it.

Regards,
Chris

 

That is good to know. Thanks for the info.

- Chris

 

Thanks for the info Chris. Your timing is perfect. The Cherokee 28A+, Pilgrim 29PBHSE, and the TravelStar (Starcraft) 28SSO all have similar floorplans and that's what we'll eventually settle on. Right now our twin boys are only 2 years old, so we're looking to purchase a trailer at the end of the season and have it ready to go next Spring.

It's encouraging to hear that the 5.4L F150 can tow these rigs OK. I don't expect to break any records going up steep grades, nor do I intend on racing down the freeway at 70+ MPH towing a 7000 trailer with my kids and wife in the truck. I just want to make sure that my truck isn't maxed out to the point of damage if the total tow weight hits 7000lbs. I'd also like to be able to do 45MPH up a grade with the overdrive switched off. Other than that, I'm conservative with my expectations. We'll only be weekend warriors and will rarely travel over 300 miles away from our home for the foreseeable future.

Thanks again for the feedback on the Cherokee.