Need unbiased help!

[Tnturkeyman]

I have a 2010 Ford F-150 4x4 with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. Sticker in door says GCWR 15,500 lbs. Maxium trailer weight 9600 lbs.I am looking at a 2012Keystone Outback 312BH travel trailer. Sticker on trailer says GVW 9000 lbs. with a tongue weight of 765. I have a Programmer on the truck that can be changed from normal to light towing or heavy towing and hauling. The dealer assures me the truck can safely tow this trailer. He is wanting to sell, I understand that. I would lke to know what you experts say, Thanks to all answers. Im new to this and I want to do it right!

[Festus2]

Having a programmer on the truck that "can be changed from normal to light or heavy towing and hauling" will not extend/increase the capacity or towing capability of your tow vehicle beyond its sticker ratings. You should go by the numbers on the truck and match that with the GVWR and pin weight. All the gadgets (programmers) and other helpers (air bags, etc.) won't change the towing capacity and capabilities of that truck. If your dealer is telling you that having a programmer somehow does that, he is, as you said, "wanting to sell".
Don't forget to include the tongue weight and all the additional weight in the truck (fuel, passengers, cargo, hitch, etc.) when crunching your numbers.
Personally, that pairing would not be my choice and I certainly wouldn't want to be hauling the Outback up any steep grades with that size engine and gear ratio!
Others will hopefully chime in regarding whether or not your F150 can safely tow the Outback 312BH.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Tnturkeyman

I have a 2010 Ford F-150 4x4 with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. Sticker in door says GCWR 15,500 lbs. Maxium trailer weight 9600 lbs.I am looking at a 2012Keystone Outback 312BH travel trailer. Sticker on trailer says GVW 9000 lbs. with a tongue weight of 765. I have a Programmer on the truck that can be changed from normal to light towing or heavy towing and hauling. The dealer assures me the truck can safely tow this trailer. He is wanting to sell, I understand that. I would lke to know what you experts say, Thanks to all answers. Im new to this and I want to do it right!

We need more information before making any recommendation. There is a significant difference in towing ratings between regular cab, super cab and crew cab models. Additionally, there are differences in no tow package, regular tow package and max tow package. Each of these can also change the truck GVW as well as the tow rating.

Making a guess, if you're looking at a 4x4 supercrew with tow package and 3.55 gears, you're looking at a max trailer weight of 9600 lbs, with a payload of 15100 lbs and a GVW of 7200 lbs.

If those are the numbers on the truck you're looking at, you'd be hard pressed to tow a 9000 lb conventional travel trailer. The truck has enough "guts" to tow it, but by the time you fill the gas tank, put a few pounds of cargo in the bed, you, wife, 2 kids, and about 800 lbs of tongue weight, you're going to be over your GVW.

As for the "programmer" on the truck, what the dealer is talking about is the "tow-haul" selector on the transmission. All that does is change the shift points on the transmission so the engine reaches a higher RPM before shifting to the next gear, keeping the torque curve higher to allow better accelleration during towing. Also, on descending hills, it will keep the torque converter locked so the engine provides some braking to help slow the vehicle so you don't have to use the brakes as much.

I have a 2010 FX4 supercab with 3.73 gearing a 17100 lb GCVW and a 11200 max trailer weight. I tow a 8100 lb GVW fifth wheel. Although my towing and your travel trailer towing are apples and oranges, I couldn't imagine trying to add another 1000 lbs behind my truck. and certainly I'd never try to tow 3000 pounds more trailer. I'd have to suggest that you need to move up to a bigger truck, probably an F250 or equivalent or look at smaller trailers. That's too much trailer for an F150 with 3.55 gearing.

[SteveC7010]

My yard stick is a simple one. Any trailer in the 9,000# GVWR class needs to be pulled by a 250 or 2500 (or better) truck with the proper specs and equipment.

The F150 has a payload rating in the 1,500# area. The spec'd tongue weight is way too light. Tongue weight should be at least 12% of the weight of the TT. The dry weight on that trailer is over 7,200# which means you need to run with at least 865# of real tongue weight if the trailer is empty. Add food, clothing, and other gear, and you are easily at 8,500# loaded or better. That translates to a minimum tongue weight of 1,020# and that is if you perfectly load the trailer. Most of us don't so plan for a 14% tongue weight, or about 1,190#. Add two adults, and you are at the max payload of the truck.

1/2 ton trucks just don't have the beefy suspensions and wheels/tires for this class of towing. They can pull a lot more than they used to, but the payload ratings haven't improved at all.

By comparison, a properly equipped 3/4 ton truck has a payload rating in the 3,000# area. Now you're talking something that will safely pull and carry the weight.

[jq1031]

I agree 100% with Steve. That outback is about the size & weight of my TT & I would not think of towing it with a lighter truck than I have. Your days on the road with that set up will include alot of white nuckle driving.

[Outbackmel]

B4 trading up to a fifth wheel, I made one trip with my 31 ft Hornet behind an SUV which was rated to pull it. One QUICKLY learns that once you are IN a situation, like steep hills; the value of a 250 series vehicle, properly equipped, regardless of brand.

You are better off biting the bullet now and not putting yourself through mental torture and physical anxiety. My wife was not crazy about me buying a 2500 Dodge diesel; BUT, every trip we take; no complaints, not one. No fear; none.

Our biggest "concern" is we can't even feel the RV back there and often think we left it at the campground.

Not having the right set up is like riding a scooter to a Harley rally. Might as well stay home

Life is short. Why compromise fun and safety?!

[Tnturkeyman]

Thanks for all the help. Everyone just backed up what i was thinking. the bigger truck is not an option. i already have the F150. dont want to trade. I guess i will go with a lighter trailer. I have the 5.5 ft bed so I was not looking at a 5th wheel. just a travel trailer. as for the programmer it is not the tow haul mode switch on the truck it is an aftermarket Superchips programmer that adds horse power and tourqe. You can set it to economy, performance or towing, Light or heavy. the dealer was not using that as a sell point. I added this to my truck last year. The dealer just said my truck would be plenty for the trailer. I am looking at Keystone Bullet, premeir and Passport now. Thank you for you help. Greg Smith
Oh yea to JRTJH It is a 2010 f-150 Supercrew 5.4 L. 3.55 gears 4x4 with a tow pkg.(not the max tow).

[JRTJH]

Greg, The real problem you would face with the F150 has nothing to do with power. The standard 5.4 3valve engine produces more HP and nearly as much torque as the 7.3L diesel I had in my 93 F250. We towed a 34' 10K trailer with that thing and never had problems except for air starvation at high altitudes on the mountain passes. There's plenty of power in your F150 to tow a 9000lb trailer as easily as that diesel towed it. But, the payload is the key limiting factor. Programmer chips don't do anything to suspension, brakes, axle ratings, frame rigidity. Those are the issues with such a large trailer in your scenario. Good luck finding a trailer that is better matched to your TV. They're our there, just got to keep looking for "your" perfect match.

[ftwildernessguy]

I have a 2005 F150 5.4l V8 and 3.73 rear end. My 2009 Outback 210rs is a great companion to the truck, but I wouldn't go any bigger. We just got back from Tenn. and I can't imagine pulling a bigger trailer up those hills with that truck.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by ftwildernessguy

I have a 2005 F150 5.4l V8 and 3.73 rear end. My 2009 Outback 210rs is a great companion to the truck, but I wouldn't go any bigger. We just got back from Tenn. and I can't imagine pulling a bigger trailer up those hills with that truck.

Your trailer grosses out about 7500 lbs, about 600 lbs less than mine. I think the addition of the 6 speed transmission really "awakened the beast" in the 5.4 as did some fuel injection changes. So towing is improved, but unfortunately, not much changed in the F150 since your model as far as payload. Payload has been the same pretty much since the 80's. You're right, the outback 210RS is a great companion to the F150 size truck.

[W5WI]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Greg, The real problem you would face with the F150 has nothing to do with power. The standard 5.4 3valve engine produces more HP and nearly as much torque as the 7.3L diesel I had in my 93 F250. We towed a 34' 10K trailer with that thing and never had problems except for air starvation at high altitudes on the mountain passes. There's plenty of power in your F150 to tow a 9000lb trailer as easily as that diesel towed it. But, the payload is the key limiting factor. Programmer chips don't do anything to suspension, brakes, axle ratings, frame rigidity. Those are the issues with such a large trailer in your scenario. Good luck finding a trailer that is better matched to your TV. They're our there, just got to keep looking for "your" perfect match.

X2

cheers,

dale

[ktmracer]

the 765 tongue weight is really
765 + propane (60lbs) + battery(s) (60-150lbs) at a minimum. assuming 2 batteries, + propane your looking at near 1000lb tongue weight or more depending on how the trailer is loaded. I'd expect real tongue weight once loaded to be in the 1200lb range. add to that passengers etc. and you could end up over GVWR. And give the trailer length, IMHO your asking a bit much from a 1/2 ton truck.

[Rowdy51]

I have a 2011 312BH and was told that my Chevy Av would pull it..., first highway trip I started weaving anytime I would reach 45 mph or a truck past. When I arrived at my extended stay location, I un-hitched, drove home and bought a new chevy hd 2500 LTZ with a durmax/Allison.

Love the set-up now but would not tow that TT with a 1/2 ton. My Av had the power to pull but you didn't know which direction.

Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

[therink]

That's too much trailer for an F150 with 3.55 gearing.[/QUOTE]
X2- you would likely be experiencing a short tranny life.

[28Bunkhouse]

I am towing a 28 ft TT with a Ram 2500 equiped with a 6 speed manual tranny and a 5.9 Cummins. I would not tow the same trailer with my 1500 Dodge Laramie due to the loading concerns I have heard expressed here. I certainly would not even think about a 31 ft! Smaller TT or bigger truck.

[chuck&gail]

Note I'll bet TONGUE WEIGHT spec is 960#, and that is your real limit. You want 13% or more of the TT FULLY LOADED (use GVWR if needbe) weight on the tongue for safety. That means your maximum FULLY LOADED TT weight is around 7300#.

Just my opinion.

[Exsailor]

Nothing is more labor that towing beyond your trucks ability. The motor will go, it's your brakes, suspension, and tranny that would worry me. Jmo