Tow Vehichle

[donandcarol]

I have a 2012 ford f250 FX4 with short bed. Gas engine 6.2 liter. Thinking about buying a 2012 Keystone Cougar 326MKS. Does anyone know if I can tow this with my truck safely?

(Moderator's Note: This post moved from New Member Check In to TV section)

[GaryWT]

With the very limit info, I would say yes based on the 250 but usually you need to supply engine, axle and weights of the truck and weights of the trailer.

[JRTJH]

The 2012 F205 FX4 gas engine truck (6.2L FVV) is usually a 10K GVW truck with a payload of about 2700 lbs. (assuming you have a supercab or crew cab model). The max trailer is 12.5K and max combined truck/trailer rating is about 19K with the 3.73 rear end.

You should have no issues towing a 36' fifth wheel with a pin weight of about 2000 lbs and a GVW of 12K. Realize that you will be at the "upper end" of your towing limits and will have some performance issues climbing hills and maintaining highway speeds against a strong headwind. You will be in 4th gear much of the time and will be downshifting out of 6th gear with almost any "overpass climb" as well as when passing 18 wheelers at highway speeds. Remember that 4th gear is "drive" and 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears, so you'll be running about 3200 RPM at 65MPH in 4th gear.

It is doable, your truck is capable of towing this trailer, you won't be "overloaded" as long as you watch what you put in the truck and carry in the bed of the truck. You may find that any "mountain travel" will be slow and in low gears, max MPG will be around 7.5-9 travelling around 60-65 MPH.

[msp2jxr]

I have an F250 2008 diesel and it handled my 326mks very nicely. With that said I was rated to pull 15,000# plus. I believe your truck is rated to pull a little over 11,000 #. You would need to know the gearing on your truck. My guess is you will be barley under at empty and over once you fill the trailer up. My trailer was just over 11,000 pounds loaded and no fresh water or grey and black tanks with anything in them.

[Brantlaker]

I just traded in a 2012 F250,6.2L,Extended Cab,6.5 Bed.Towing a 318SAB Cougar and it was a tough pull on long slow grades and almost imposable on a steep grade. My new truck is a F350, 6.7 Diesel Crew Cab and the difference is night and day. I just towed my 5er 1,300 miles and the hills that I slowed down to 30-40 mph I now take at 60 with no slowdown. My feeling is if you get the 6.2L Gasser you will be disappointed down the road and limiting yourself to a 5er of max 12,500lb.

[rhagfo]

Well don't have the TV specs, but the 5er are below. I pull a slightly heaver 5er with a 2001 Ram 2500 Cummins without issue, other than a bit over the 8,800# GVWR of the TV. I am still well within the axle and tire ratings, and don't slow down for almost all hills. I do need to drop my 5 speed to 4th for steeper hills.
The 6.2 should do Ok at the about 11,000# I tow at.

2012 Keystone Cougar 326MKS Specifications

Technical Specifications:
Width 96"
Height 144"
Length 36' 1"
Dry Weight 9,957 lbs.
Payload Capacity 2008 lbs
GVWR 11,965 lbs
Hitch Weight 1,565 lbs