Am I ok with this set up?

[Former FAM]

OK, my head is swimming... and I'm a little overloaded with info... Not to mention a little residual math anxiety... Please be patient as I have a couple of questions...

Here's what I have... 2005 F-150 Super crew 4x4 with 3.73 gears and stock 18 in rims, Leer cab high canopy, and a leveling lift up front. I bought it used 3 years ago..

Base Curb wt: 5577
GVWR: 7200
Max payload: 1296
Max Towing: 8700 (Per owners Manual w/ 18 in tires)
GCWR: 14,700
Max Tongue wt w/wt dist: 990

2012 Springdale 260 SRTWE

Length: 28' 6"
Shipped wt: 5032
GVWR: 7570
Tongue wt: 570 (Empty) (I have 2 batteries, and 2, 30lb lp tanks)...

The dealer threw in a Fastway e2 8000 lb, (800 lb tongue) trunion bar hitch which wasn't properly set up... I had to adjust the brackets for the bars up, to compensate for the loaded trailer wt. on our first trip...
The truck towed fine our first trip out, no sway at all but I'm considering upgrading to a 10,000 lb equalizer trunion bar set up for safety. Is the upgrade needed? The thing that's bothering me is not knowing the actual tongue weight.

I plan, at some point getting all loaded up for a trip , piling the wife and kids and all our crap into it and get it weighed on a DOT scale... Just for info the only thing in the bed our first trip out was some wood for leveling, a small table and a 5 lb lp tank for the portable grill...

The previous owner (buddy of mine) installed a prodigy brake controller and towed with it for a number of years... I'm pretty sure his trailer was a bit heavier than mine and he was overloaded quite often... With 83,000 miles on the truck I'm pretty sure I have an axle bearing going out... another issue entirely... We plan on keeping the trailer long term and in a couple of years upgrade to a 3/4 or 1 ton gasser...

When we bought the trailer I thought we would be under our max, now I'm not so sure?? Anyone want to chime in??

Thanks in advance... I've learned a lot on here...

Dave

[Englishman]

I would say that you are over weight or pushing the limites. To be safe upgrade now to the 2500. Imo

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[therink]

Your problem like with most 1/2 tons is payload rating. With 1300 lbs to work with, subtract 800 for tongue, 75 for hitch and the rest is for driver, passengers and what ever else is in the cab or bed. This doesn't leave you any room for bikes, firewood, or more than 2 or 3 people.
If it was me, I would be thinking 3/4 ton. Will it tow it? Sure, but God forbid you have yourself all loaded for a long trip and you have an accident. Assuming no one was hurt, you may have difficulty getting insurance claim if your ins co did their homework. I recently went from a 3/4 ton to 1 ton for that reason alone (peace of mind).
Steve

[rhagfo]

... I'm pretty sure his trailer was a bit heavier than mine and he was overloaded quite often... With 83,000 miles on the truck I'm pretty sure I have an axle bearing going out... another issue entirely...

When we bought the trailer I thought we would be under our max, now I'm not so sure?? Anyone want to chime in??

Thanks in advance... I've learned a lot on here...

Dave

This requires attention now with any TV as this could be big trouble.

[Former FAM]

Oh I'm aware of the issues now... It's going in later in the month for a service of the transmission, transfer case, brakes, axle bearings, or differential, and the dreaded tune up...

[Jim & Kay]

I agree with all 3 previous replies. Not sure of the engine size in your 1500 but the 3.73 gear, tells me you don't have enough truck to tow safely. Rule of thumb is when it comes to towing, it is better to have more than needed than less. I'd not be comfortable with less than a 4.10 gear IMHO. Good luck.

[f6bits]

I’m surprised so many people are critical of this setup. It’s similar to mine and I just got back from the scales after deliberately loading up the front end of my trailer for our trip. With the front end improperly loaded, I was still 350 lbs under my axle and payload limits, and that was with about 850 lbs (14%) on the tongue.

Remember, folks, this is *fully* loaded for a trip, and I put at much in the front of the trailer as I could, including a full fresh water tank. Naturally, my Equalizer setup wasn’t optimal for such a poorly loaded trailer. The trailer was about 1,000 lbs under gross max.

[fla-gypsy]

My concern is the tongue weight and payload. You are easily bumping up to your max tongue weight or over when fully loaded which leave you little to no payload. The GVWR of the trailer does not concern me as much as some others. I am assuming you have the 5.4L motor.

[Former FAM]

Yes it's the 5.4 liter... with the tow package but the door sticker say's my max payload is 1296 lbs

[EcoboostKev]

I agree with all 3 previous replies. Not sure of the engine size in your 1500 but the 3.73 gear, tells me you don't have enough truck to tow safely. Rule of thumb is when it comes to towing, it is better to have more than needed than less. I'd not be comfortable with less than a 4.10 gear IMHO. Good luck.
Not sure why you would think 373 gears are not good for towing????? Its probably the most popular gear used for towing??!! To the OP I would load the truck up with everything you would bring camping along with all passengers and a full fuel tank.Go to a certified Cat scale or any scale for that matter and see what you have. Minus that from your 7200lb GVWR and that's what you have left for trailer tongue weight.Good luck, Kevin