I just bought a Salem 27RBLE travel trailer. I have a 2004 FX4 with the 5.4L. The weight of the trailer unloaded is approximately 5500lbs. I was told by the Ford dealer (also where I purchased the trailer) that I would have no problem towing this trailer. I see on some of these threads some people feel otherwise. Please chime in with your opinion.
Thanks

 

Yes you can pull it.

 

Assuming 5500lb is the GVW of the trailer, yes you can pull it with the correctly equipped vehicle. You will need a WD hitch and trailer brakes, including the setup on the tow vehicle.
You should look at what the GVW of the trailer is. 5500lbs may be what it weighs empty. You will still be able to pull it in either case. I expect if 5500 is empty, GVW will be between 7000 and 7500.

 

by the model #, I'd say you have a 27 foot, rear bunk model. It may have a slide for the dinette, as most do now a days..

You already said the 'unloaded' weight is #5500, so it's GVWR is probably in the #7000-#7500 range.

You are going to feel it for sure and it's not going to just 'blast' up the hills, but your truck will handle it okay.. Would a BBD F350 tow it easier?? Sure.... But, you have your F150 and that's the trailer you bought, so it's going to be how comfortable YOU are with towing it...

Get a decent WD hitch setup, like the Dual Cam or the Equal-I-Zer and you should be fine.. You'll slow down and be in second gear on the grades, and you'll have to stay in 3rd gear while cruising and you'll have to keep your speed to around 60 mph for the most part, but THAT'S OKAY! Only YOU know what your performance expectations are, so if your F150 delivers that, then your are fine... If not, then you have to pony up the $$ and get that BBD F350!

Good luck and have fun with your new RV! I grew up as a kid with a camping family and that totally enriched my life and I had the time of my life!

This was back in the 70's too, so we didn't have all the BBD and fancy TT's of today, and it was still a blast!

Mitch

 

The trailer is a non-slide model, so the GVWR is 7652, a little less then the slide version. I have a good equalizing anti sway hitch so I am set in that respect.

Thanks for the replys.

 

Are you going to monitor your transmission temperature?

How fast are you going to travel?

When I pull stuff the transmission temperature can really rise quickly over 60MPH when you let it shift to overdrive.

Wind pressure is probably the largest factor over 55MPH.

 

The OD will be off when I pull it. I plan on driving at approximately 55MPH to 60MPH. I have a transmission cooler (tow package) on my FX4 so I am not too worried about the tranny heating up on me.

 

Even with a trans cooler, your torque converter temps will spike and can get over 300* if you don't have some way of monitoring it....

It's when the TC unlocks that you have to worry about things... The TC will unlock in all the gears and only lock in 2nd, 3rd and OD. 1st and reverse will never lock...

You have to monitor the tach and the 'feel' of the pull to KNOW that your TC is locked.. It's something that you can only experience to know for sure, but in general, if you are in any gear and pulling hard, if you press the gas pedal and you see the rpms rise, but you don't gain any speed, then your TC is NOT locked. This will generate a ton of heat, BEFORE it even reaches your cooler, so you have to adjust your driving to get the TC to lock as soon as you can. In most cases, if you mat the pedal, the TC will lock... I say in 'most' cases.... That's what mine will do, but I've got a very old truck too!

I've got aftermarket TRANS and WATER temp gauges and the trans temp is read as the fluid is leaving the trans, so it's the hottest it is and just after it leaves the TC. I try to keep it below 210* at all times... It's gotten that hot before, but not any higher! Also, it's only been for short periods of time, and not a sustained temp.. Sustained, it'll run 195* in the hottest of summer days, but usually around 180* while towing. Water is the same thing, so it's good info to know for sure...

Good luck!

Mitch

 

You can get a little more margin with tranny temps by changing to a full synthetic fluid such as Amsoil.

 

i would recommend a trans temp gauge. I shelled a trans real fast on my 1998. mine is autometer. they have a nice roof column mount. I just put the probe in the pan and I don't let it get above 150 but a T like MitchF150 did on the outlet of the trans is much better. Amazing how fast the temp rises when you are pulling something. You will need the feedback about how hard you are pulling.