Can my F150 Handle Towing This Travel Trailer?

[Sojourner]

Great thread here (as well as some others on the subject that have recently popped up).

Given that I failed math in HS (or at least felt like I did) my head is exploding reading all of this.

"The numbers! The numbers!" (written using Marlon Brando's "Apocalypse Now" voice).

We were thinking of switching to a TT, but having read all of this I feel better sticking with our older Class C!

Too much math for my numbers-disabled noggin!

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[rockfish]

For what its worth, take the naysayers with a bit of salt. Some people act like if you go 1 pound over the hitch or payload capacity the truck will self-destruct. Some say don't go up to 100% of the rated capacity, but I'm sure Ford and others already take at least 80% into account when coming up with tow ratings. I have a Powerboost with 6.5 bed and max tow package and one of these days will be pulling a smaller fifth wheel that will take most of my 1320 pound payload. Have to be careful with some of the things others have mentioned.

 

[780]

Yep. It's good to be cautious. Just saw this on another forum.

I guess today on I-65 north:

Trailer looks just a titch large for a Pathfinder. Maybe the tongue weight was less than his payload so he figured he was fine......

 

[CaptainAmericaRob]

We are new to the travel trailer world, and I wanted to see if anyone else is running a similar setup successfully or if we are under specced? We are in PA and won't be traveling more than 5-6hrs and nothing out west.

Looking to purchase a Flagstaff Classic 826MBR with the following specs:
Hitch Weight: 1065
Length: 29' 11"
UVW: 7809
CCC: 2056
https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/flagstaff-classic-travel-trailers/826MBR/8029

Truck Specs
2022 F150 3.5L Eco-Boost 5.5' bed with Max Tow Package
GVWR: 7050
GCWR: 19400
Max payload: 1697
Max Tongue Load: 1390
Max Trailer Rating: 1374

The sticker on the hitch itself says:
Weigh Distributing:
Max Gross Trlr Weight: 14000lb
Max Tongue Weight: 1400lb

These specs were pulled from ford site which assumes you have 300lb of occupants. We are under that, but if you factor in the bed cover, we are probably right there so these numbers are correct.

We were looking at the Stabilizer E2 10k hitch as part of this.

That's about max size and weight i like towing with a 1/2 ton.
The weight... sure, not too heavy, but its more about the dimensions and frontal area of the trailer that when combined with the weight, that casue issues.
on a flat road in good weather, sure no sweat. It's winds and rolling hills that will you feel like you should be driving a SuperDuty.
my rule o thumb with an F150 is to not tow a large "BOX" that weighs much more than the truck does.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Here is where I'm at for my '21 Limited but not certain that this is correct.

1) Trailer weight is topped out at 11K#s.
2) GCWR (total weight of truck and trailer) is limited to 17K#s.
3) Rear axle rating is 4,150#s. A base CC SB has a rear axle weight listed as 2200#s, but mine is certainly heavier.
4) I have upgraded tires as mentioned before, but even the OEM tires can reach that 4,150# RAWR.

So, the way I see it is that I need to get 500# of tongue weight from my 5K# trailer (how to even measure this?) and weigh the rear axle of my truck with the RV attached and just make certain it's not over that 4,150# number when I'm fully loaded up and ready to drive. And if it is, then I need to install a WDH to get some of that load further off.

Sound correct to you guys?

 

[{tpc}]

Can you post the specs of your truck & trailer for comparison? I've heard other people say this and would love to know what your weights are.

I have a salem hemisphere hyper light 25rbhl. Just google it. My truck has max tow and I think its 1897 lbs of payload ( I don't recall exactly).

 

[780]

So, the way I see it is that I need to get 500# of tongue weight from my 5K# trailer (how to even measure this?)

Get yourself a tongue weight scale.

https://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-1000-Trailer-Tongue/dp/B007REJTGI

 

[Chris GTO TT]

Get yourself a tongue weight scale.

https://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-1000-Trailer-Tongue/dp/B007REJTGI

Or a hitch with one built in... https://a.co/d/4OuWF04

I have this version and their weight distribution hitche for my travel trailer

 

[Larry Arizona]

As others have mentioned, you will hit max payload before you exceed claimed max trailer rating.

that is a heavy tongue weight at nearly 14%

It will absolutely pull it, and a WDH will help immensely, just be mindful of your payload and frankly you can probably haul your added gear in the trailer versus the bed.

 

[Aron]

Get yourself a tongue weight scale.

https://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-1000-Trailer-Tongue/dp/B007REJTGI

You can even build your own if you're handy:



(You just have to make sure that the measurements are correct, since it's all based upon leverage to get the correct weight reading.)

 

[RickBullotta]

We are new to the travel trailer world, and I wanted to see if anyone else is running a similar setup successfully or if we are under specced? We are in PA and won't be traveling more than 5-6hrs and nothing out west.

Looking to purchase a Flagstaff Classic 826MBR with the following specs:
Hitch Weight: 1065
Length: 29' 11"
UVW: 7809
CCC: 2056
https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/flagstaff-classic-travel-trailers/826MBR/8029

Truck Specs
2022 F150 3.5L Eco-Boost 5.5' bed with Max Tow Package
GVWR: 7050
GCWR: 19400
Max payload: 1697
Max Tongue Load: 1390
Max Trailer Rating: 1374

The sticker on the hitch itself says:
Weigh Distributing:
Max Gross Trlr Weight: 14000lb
Max Tongue Weight: 1400lb

These specs were pulled from ford site which assumes you have 300lb of occupants. We are under that, but if you factor in the bed cover, we are probably right there so these numbers are correct.

We were looking at the Stabilizer E2 10k hitch as part of this.

No.

 

[Aron]

Here is where I'm at for my '21 Limited but not certain that this is correct.

1) Trailer weight is topped out at 11K#s.
2) GCWR (total weight of truck and trailer) is limited to 17K#s.
3) Rear axle rating is 4,150#s. A base CC SB has a rear axle weight listed as 2200#s, but mine is certainly heavier.
4) I have upgraded tires as mentioned before, but even the OEM tires can reach that 4,150# RAWR.

So, the way I see it is that I need to get 500# of tongue weight from my 5K# trailer (how to even measure this?) and weigh the rear axle of my truck with the RV attached and just make certain it's not over that 4,150# number when I'm fully loaded up and ready to drive. And if it is, then I need to install a WDH to get some of that load further off.

Sound correct to you guys?

Per the sticker on the bottom of the truck near the hitch (basically gotta crawl under the truck to see it), you will need to use a WDH if the tongue load is greater than 500 lbs. Even if you're slightly below 500#, I would recommend using one anyway, since it will a) both take load off of the rear axle and spread that load to both the front axle and the trailer axle(s), giving you better stability, and b) many good WDHs will help reduce trailer sway, so there's a secondary towing/safety benefit as well.

The WDHs take a bit longer to hitch up, but the benefits are usually worth it, at least in my opinion.

 

[Suns_PSD]

I just watched a video on what exactly a WDH does, and it seems to me that any trailer over about 4K#s, that you plan on towing more than short distances, should probably have a WDH. Once you get into a loaded 6K# trailer hauling over mountain passes, I'd say a WDH is more of a requirement.

In addition to all of the other concerns (headlights pointing up, tire wear, etc.), it really seems like a WDH nullifies the concerns that people have about overloading the rear axle rating.

It's important to note that adding tongue weight on a standard hitch, adds more than the tongue weight to the rear tires. Since your standard hitch is actually behind your rear axle the ball weight is going to remove weight from the front axle (like a wheelie) and then add that weight, plus the ball weight solely to your rear axle.

 

[Eighthtry]

I suggest an F250. Your risk with the f150 is that the trailer may end up towing you.

 

[Ranger621]

We have a 2024 Flagstaff 26RBWS super lite. Its 1200 pounds lighter with 200 pounds less tongue weight than the model your looking at. Its 29' 9" and my 2022 Lariat with max tow handles this trailer with no problem. I would suggest looking at the Super lite models instead of the Classics.
https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/flagstaff-super-lite-travel-trailers

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