My wife and I are looking to take the plunge and get our first TT. I have done a good bit of internet homework on towing parameters, but I wanted to lay out my thinking and gather input.
My tow vehicle is a
2011 F-150 Lariat 5.0 V8 Super Crew, 4x2, 145" WB, 3.55 gears, 6 speed auto transmission, max towing package, with the following specs (taken right from the
Ford website/brochure here, last page):
- Truck GVWR: 7,100
Max Payload: 1,800
Max loaded trailer weight: 8,000
Max GCWR: 13,500
My understanding is that with a half-ton pickup, the limiting factor will be payload, not max trailer weight. As such, we are looking at these two trailers:
- Keystone Passport 2650BH
Length: 29' 4"
Dry weight: 4876
Max cargo: 2324
Hitch weight: 540 (not sure how to use this; see below)
and
- Keystone Bullet 281BHS
Length: 31' 8"
Dry weight: 5125
Max cargo: 2465
Hitch weight: 590 (not sure how to use this; see below)
I've read that dry weights mean nothing, so I thought I'd estimate the true weight as dry weight + 1500 lbs, which totals to 6376 (passport) and 6625 (bullet).
As for truck payload, let's suppose the 2 adults, 2 small kids, plus all the junk in the cab, plus a full tank of gas weighs in at 750 lbs. That leaves me 1800-750=1050 lbs on the hitch.
Here's where things get more sketchy for me: I've read that you want about 12.5% of the total weight of the trailer on the hitch. How does that number fit in vs. the hitch weights listed above? Also, I was thinking that a WD hitch would weigh 150 lbs and batteries, propane, water (stored on the front of the trailer go toward hitch weight?) would weigh another 100 lbs. So now I'm at 1050-150-100=800 lbs tongue weight left.
Even then,
- Loaded Passport: 12.5%*6376=797
Loaded Bullet: 12.5%*6625=828
In retrospect, I guess I am a little surprised that with even this new, pretty nice full sized pick-up, that the real-life numbers tell me these (supposedly "ultra lightweight") travel trailers are, in fact, among the largest/heaviest set ups I can tow. (Assuming of course, that the 12.5% is to be used vs. the listed hitch weight and my other assumptions above hold).
So here are my questions for you veterans:
1. Please critique my thought process, methods of calculation, and estimates here.
2. Do I use the 12.5% of the listed hitch weight number (which is substantially lower) on these set ups?
3. Let me know how "doable" you think these two trailers would be for me.
4. Anything else that I was too green to even know to ask, please send it my way.
Thanks you for taking your time to read and reply!