New member and owner Washington State

[Bisjoe]

Saturday we bought a 2017 Springdale 202QBWE, though we won't pick it up for a couple of weeks. There was a minor defect on one wall panel that they had to order. We will be pulling with my 2007 Supercab Ranger 4.0, and stay mostly within the state until we get ready to retire and buy a larger truck. It's rated 6,000 lbs, so at a bit over 4,000 the trailer is well within that. We got a great deal and service at the place we bought it. We are in Sammamish, about 23 miles east of Seattle.

[CrazyCain]

Welcome to the forum from SE Michigan..pack light

[sourdough]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new trailer!

I hate to post anything negative on your initial post but feel I should. You may want to rethink that new truck sooner rather than later. I'm afraid you may have misunderstood what your truck can do as well as the trailer specs.

The trailer is 4282 dry. It has a cargo capacity of 2218 for a gvw of 6500 lbs. That's too much for a Ranger. The truck's max towing capacity is 6000 if properly equipped (4.0L, regular cab, 4x2, long box). If you have any different configuration it's less. The 6000 lb towing capacity is with "no cargo". Add people, doggies, fuel, hitch and tongue weight and you have reduced that by probably 1000 lbs or more. GCWR is 9500 lbs. if you have the 4.0, 6000 with anything else. The hitch and tongue weight will probably be in the vicinity of 880 lbs. (fully loaded; 100 hitch + 6500 x .12 = 780). If that were the number I wouldn't be surprised if it alone didn't max or exceed your payload. Look at your door sticker to find that.

I hope for, and wish you, the best of luck but there are LOTS of red flags - too many for me. I'm afraid you will exceed every weight limitation there is for the truck. And, I've towed with a Ranger; that's what almost got me killed. They just aren't much of a towing platform. I hope you reconsider and if you don't you need to buy the best WDH/SC they make.....but I still don't think it will keep you safe. And again, I apologize for bringing this up but I sure don't want you to find out sliding down the side of a hill.

[14george]

Welcome to the fourm congrats

[Bisjoe]

We do have the properly equipped 4.0 Ranger, and I even asked the Ford dealer who was anxious to sell me an F150. He agreed that it will handle 6,000 with the weight distributing hitch, which we are getting installed. We will travel light and not go up any passes until we pay off my wife's car and buy a bigger truck, and will travel light. I did the math and we are close, for now the plan is to get used to it and do local trips. I appreciate your warnings, and if it struggles, it will remain parked until I get the bigger truck.

[Tbos]

Welcome to the forum from Southern MD. I hope you enjoy your new rig when you get it. Having started our TT journey with a truck and TT that ended up being over the trucks GCWR we had to upgrade the truck. Don't be surprised if you end up doing the same.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[NorskeBob]

Welcome to the forum from upstate NY. Enjoy your new RV.

[Alpine]

Welcome indeed from just a lil' south of the border...in Oregon!

[Bisjoe]

OK sourdough, and others, you were right. The Ranger made it home safe and sound but it was a bit of a struggle up some of the hills. I'll be looking at F150s Monday, either 5.0 or 3.5 turbo and buy before we go out, probably October. Meanwhile we love it and will spend tonight camping in the yard.

[sourdough]

Great to hear things went OK, and that you will be looking at a larger truck. Camping in the yard is fun. We have the kids down on Thanksgiving each year and use that as an excuse to fire up the trailer and go live in it for several days by the house.

As far as the new truck, there was a thread on here recently discussing the 5.0 vs 3.5. Here: http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=30009

There are many more threads on the merits of the 3.5, 5.0 et al. Good luck on your choice; you are really going to appreciate the difference towing.

[14george]

Go for a 3/4 ton I wish I did that way if you get a bigger camper you have the truck

[Bisjoe]

Interesting thread on this engines, I'll be driving both. My wife has a turbo 2014 Escape, and there isn't much lag when you jump on it, but either would be fine for my 4,000 lb. trailer, and a great improvement from the 4.0 with only 207 hp.