Hi All,

I've been reading the forums, towing guides etc and I just wanted to get your insight on what weight range I should be looking at for a trailer. I've done a reasonable amount of towing but it has been all very light stuff, nothing that would approach the weights involved with a travel trailer so I wanted to check my thinking before I got myself in on something too big for the truck.

My truck is a 2013 XLT SCab EB with Max Tow.

From the various posts and the Ford towing guide the hitch weight for a travel trailer should be in the range of 10-15% of the actual trailer weight.

It looks like 10% is the optimistic number and 15% is the conservative number with a number of towing guides saying "use 12.5% as a base".

My hitch has a sticker giving the rating at 1150lbs with a weight distributing hitch, which at 10% would be 11,500lbs (though the max tow rating for my EB Truck is only 11,300 so that should be the real limit at 10%, I assume that is rounded up by Ford because the actual GCWR - truck weight gives 11283) and at 15% it would be 7666lbs.

Now my Tread Act sticker says a max payload of 1883lbs so I should be left with 773lbs for passengers etc in the truck with the max weight on the hitch which should carry the wife and I along with the stuff we normally have in the truck on trips (not camping gear etc though).

From what I've read the best way to approach the trailer weight is to always work from the trailer GVWR and not any of the dry numbers.

So based on the above I should really only be considering a trailer in the 7500 to 9000lb GVWR.

Does that sound reasonable? Have I missed anything?

Ideally I'd like to have proper scale weights but I don't see how I can do that without actually buying the trailer at some point - Is the veteran advice here just to go with something well below the limits above to be safe (say a trailer GVWR in the 5000-6000lb range) and if I need a bigger trailer move up to a F250+ to get move capacity?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

First, I have to say, IGNORE the max tow weight given by Ford (or any manufacturer). It is unrealistic.
As far as your 7500 to 9000 range, it sounds reasonable, but I would stay closer to the 7500 region.
You have to look at other numbers besides GCWR and the trailer GVWR. You also have to make sure you do not go over the GVWR of the truck. An example. If your truck weighs 5600lbs empty and has a GVWR of 7500lbs, that gives you a payload of about 1900lbs. Subtract from that weight of all passengers and cargo. Use as an example, 700lbs. That leaves 1200lb for trailer tongue. That does not mean you can tow a 10,000lb trailer as you would be over your GCWR (probably 15000lb). Unfortunately you have to look at all the numbers.
You should be able to find someplace to weigh your vehicle, possibly even a trash dump that allows individuals to dump by the weight.

Hope I have helped, Realistically, if you stay around 7500lb GVWR of the trailer you should be okay. If you want to go bigger, then definitely go F250 or F350.

PS - Never go by trailer dry weight, because it never is going to be that weight except at the factory.

 

With that, you should be safe up to about 1000# tongue weight. That points to about a 8000# GVW trailer loaded carefully.

 

Thanks GLC - The GCWR of the truck is 17,100lb and the GVWR is 7700lb.

Is there a general consensus in terms of length that the SCab can handle at that 7500lb weight? My concern there is wind/turbulence pushing the truck round. From my poking around it seems that 28' - 32' in length seem to be in that 7500 GVWR range.

I'm just wondering how the 145" wheelbase (6.5' bed) handles the trailer length.

Thanks again for your comments. It sounds like it is worth it for me to go and get a front/rear & overall truck weights from the scales anyway.

 

Keep it as short as you can - the longbeds and Supercrews are better tow vehicles. 30' should be okay. I assume you have the factory brake controller? That's good, it ties into the traction and stability control, and has a very effective anti-sway. You shouldn't have any problem towing 7500# at all unless you throw a ton of crap in the bed.

 

Thanks Kingfish & GLC for the comments. I'll probably try to follow what seems to be the standard trailer path of getting a smaller used one first, trying it out and then upgrading once or twice before ending on the final unit and tow vehicle.

Thanks again guys for taking the time to respond - Very helpful.

 

I have pulled a couple dozen different trailers behind my 09 Scab from 16ft to 32ft travel trailers to cargo trailers and boat trailers. I have not yet towed my 26ft boat that will be the real test. Other than the weight I find 24 to 30ft travel trailers all pull the same and actually pulled better than smaller trailers in terms of ride and handling the weight made them sit better behind the truck but does slow you a bit more on hills. But running 80mph with a 32ft was much smoother than 80mph with a 16ft travel trailer.

 

Thanks Mainiac - Wouldn't have expected that.

 

Before you even think about towing a trailer at 80 mph, you need to see what the max speed rating is on the trailer tires. A lot of them are only rated to 65.

 

When we are doing show setups we tend to haul butt as it often means towing 6 or more trailers a day. Usually 15 to 30 mile trips with empty brand new inspected trailers so tires are not a issue. They never even get a chance to warm up much. I did make a 150 mile trip in a 45ft motor home and ran it 105 for a 70 mile section of the trip since that was as fast as the cruise would set.

 

There's a big difference between what you are doing and what this guy wants to do - haul his family around safely.

 

I understand that which is why I point out what I do is part of my job. It is nice to get to haul a lot of different trailers and with different trucks gives you a new perspective. Like passing the company owned Duramax on a hill he was pulling a 27ft TT I was pulling a 31ft TT

 

...and in a lot of states the max trailer tow speed is 70mph or lower.

 

I did not know none of you ever went over the speed limit LOL.

 

Your truck will tow 7000lbs-8500lbs without a problem. These little V6 Ecoboosts are amazing! Like the others have said the only big thing you need to watch is not going over your trucks GVWR once your are hooked to the trailer and loaded up with the family and gear. My trailer is 33' and 7500lbs loaded and my truck pulls it great. I only have 1700 lbs of payload and once I'm hooked to the trailer and loaded up my truck is 180lbs from its 7700lb GVWR. You have almost 1900lbs of payload so you should be fine.
The easiest thing to do is load your truck up with everything you would bring on a trip along with the family and whatever gear in the bed. Go to your local Cat scale and have it weighed. Minus that # from your 7700lb GVWR and what ever is left is for your trailers tongue weight. When looking at trailers always figure 12% of the trailers GVWR for the tongue weight and you will be fine...