I am currently looking to purchase a travel trailer. The problem( or not) is that the trailer that my wife and really like and have found a great deal on is an 05 Jayco 31BHDS. I just bought an 09 F150 screw Lariat. It has the 6.5 bed and 20 inch wheels. Has tow package but not max-tow. It does have the 20 inch wheels with the fourth leaf in the rear, and I plan on going to an 18 inch wheel with lt tires. I will put Firestone airbags on it with an Equal-i-zer hitch. My question is, would this be a bad choice in trailers? It will only be pulled on one long trip a year, and that will be from Chicago to Florida and back. The rest of the time will be no more than say 100 mile trips to the somewhat local campgrounds. Below I have posted a link to the trailer. I am not scared of the weight per say, as I at one time pulled over dimensional loads across this great country of ours.
Thanks in advance.

http://www.jayco.com/php/products/ar...=fp&mod_id=346

 

A lot really depends on the weight of the trailer. I did not see it listed. I have a 30ft travel trailer but it is and ultralight and weighs dry at 6300# best I remember. So loaded I am probably in the 7500# range. My truck does the job fine. But trailers this size greatly vary in weight. I've seen dry weights on 30 footers over 8000# and by the time you load gear and passengers your looking at close to 10,000#'s which is to much IMO.

 

the trailer does have a gvwr of 9000# with a dry weight of 7395#. Click on specs above the floor plan pic.

 

Ahh I see it now. Max weight of 9000# is right on the limits but not impossible for the truck. I am not familiar with the tow and max tow packages on the 09 but I would want a tranny cooler on the truck. The air bags are a good idea too. Be sure to get sway control with the hitch that size trailer will really catch some wind. If I were you I wouldn't worry about replacing the 20's with 18's unless you just want to do that. I would most likely opt for a tuner first that is going to help you out the most power wise.

 

It does have the tranny cooler on it from the factory.

 

That's a lot of trailer for any 1/2 ton truck IMO.... Will it get down the road? Sure.. You'll likely exceed every other weight rating on your truck too.. You should weigh your truck as it sits right now and then subtract that from it's GVWR and that's the available payload your truck has left. The tongue weight DRY is #785 alone... You may find that your truck weighs around #6000 and a GVWR of #7200. Load up the family and other stuff in the bed, plunk down that tongue weight and you'll likely be over your trucks GVWR and rear axle ratings too..

I know on my truck, I am exceeding both of those and I'm only towing a #5000 GVWR trailer! Sure, my limits are a lot less then yours, but your truck is heavier to begin with then mine is too.... I wouldn't worry over a couple hundred or so pounds over the limits, but you sure would be pushing things with a heavy trailer like that.. It'll weigh an easy #8000 by the time you move it out of your driveway..

For your local trips, you could probably get away with it without much stress... That long one might take it's toll on your drivetrain faster then not however.. Even with tires and bags, you'll still be running with a semi-float rear end and a less then HD trans..

My Dad tried to tow an #8000 GVWR TT with a (sic) 1996 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 V8 in it.. Sure, it didn't have the same HP/TQ as your '09 5.4, but it was a dog with that trailer.. He only towed it home from the dealer and decided it wasn't going to work for him.. He traded the truck for a brand new one (2000) with the 24v Cummins in it and never looked back.. (He does still have his 1971 F250 however!!)

I know you really like that trailer... I'd like to get a bigger trailer too, but knowing what I know about my weights, there's no way I can do it...

Mitch

 

I think you'll end up with a truck that is 500-1000 pounds over GVWR when loaded up for a long trip. What does your driver's door/B-pillar sticker say for maximum weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxx pounds? That trailer will be 8500 pounds when ready to roll with 1200 pounds on the tongue. You probably don't have 1200 pounds of payload available (door sticker), let alone 1200 tongue weight plus a family of 4 or 5 and stuff to keep them occupied for 20 hour each way trips.

I would look for under 5000 pounds dry, and you'll still be over the truck's GVWR. Something like this KZ 232SS would be good, Edge M22 would be great! My 2003 has maybe a little more payload than your 2009 (before those stickers were put on starting with 2006 model years, but I've been to scales empty). I have this TT which I know is right near my GVWR and my GCWR when loaded up for long weekends and my family with 3 kids under 6. I do not plan on towing this TT far with my current truck and plan to upgrade in the next couple years. Both those two models were high on my list before realizing how practical the floorplan I chose was and the NT line is a lot nicer for about the same cost. I know I'd replace my current truck soon anyway (bought new 7 years ago), so I decided to test the waters with it and I can then decide if I feel 1 3/4 ton was appropriate or get a newer half ton with more payload, like the 2010 Max Tow packages with 1600+ pounds. So far, I'm really just wishing for more power, better fuel economy and new shocks. The weight is good and truck stance good. You've got the more power and gears, new shocks, but less payload. One more good option from Crossroads RV.

Here is a similar situation, but asking for a little lighter trailer with a(another half ton) Expy with similar payload issues. Everyone says 3/4 ton pickup or SUV.