Need to Learn

[Bud 1]

Just purchased a 2021 Cougar Half Ton 26RBS. Will be towing with a 2012 F-150 Lariat Super Crew with a 5.0L engine. First time owning a travel trailer or RV camping.

[chuckster57]

welcome to the forum

Congrats on your new purchase, We are here to assist in your quest for knowledge. Feel free to start a thread in the appropriate sub forum and ask away!!!

[sourdough]

Welcome and congrats on the new trailer! Since this is your first time towing an RV just some things to check/do;

Get a good weight distribution hitch with built in 4 POINT sway control. That's an 8800lb. gvw trailer behind your truck and it will want to wag it.

Check the receiver on your truck and see what the weight ratings are. Is it a Class III, IV?

Hopefully it's time for new tires on your truck. Put LT tires on it to help control the sway the trailer will induce.

Make sure your springs and shocks are in excellent shape as the trailer is going to put a heavy load on them.

If you have questions, and you probably will, just fire away in the appropriate forum. Have fun getting ready to "hit the trail"!

[Gary R.]

Greetings and welcome to the forum!

In addition to the excellent advise already given, I might suggest is "camping out" in your driveway. This would give you an opportunity to learn the systems, and identify anything you might have forgotten to toss in.

Congrats and enjoy your new Cougar!

Stay safe.

[markcee]

Originally Posted by Bud 1

Just purchased a 2021 Cougar Half Ton 26RBS. Will be towing with a 2012 F-150 Lariat Super Crew with a 5.0L engine. First time owning a travel trailer or RV camping.

Congrats on the new trailer! As a fellow '1/2 ton' owner I suggest you post a pic of the yellow/white Tire Loading Information sticker on your driver's side door pillar as well as the other sticker there that lists your axle ratings and GVWR. These limits are what you will need to stay within to tow safely.

That '1/2 ton towable' business is largely a marketing ploy and you will need to look at the numbers on your particular truck compared to your trailer's numbers to ensure you don't bust any weight ratings. Typically the only half-ton pickups that can tow the '1/2 ton' model TT's without worrying too much are specially optioned models, such as the F150 equipped with the HDPP (heavy duty payload package) option.

Your trailer has a GVWR of 8800 lbs and will likely have a tongue weight over 1000 lbs. That 1000 is going to come right off the payload capacity of your pickup. Whatever payload you have left will be used by a weight distributing hitch (100+ lbs) and all passengers and gear you place in the truck cab and bed. Any aftermarket items you or anyone else added also needs to be deducted from the number on the payload sticker. These would include tool box, bedliner, tonneau cover etc.

I am by no means saying you can't tow this trailer safely, but it would be a good idea to post your door sticker data so others can evaluate/suggest.

[Camping family]

Welcome camping is very relaxing. This group is available to answer all your questions you may have. I to am new and have found there is someone in the group who can answer any question. Also as suggested camp out in the driveway checking everything. I found it does a few things. 1. Will let you know what you need to put in the camper. 2. Allows you to test everything and be close to home if something doesn’t work. Next I found after driveway camping do a few short trips. And as always enjoy its relaxing

[Gegrad]

Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania!