Forgive me father, for I have sinned

[Rocketsled]

My conscience is weighing heavy…I saw a family in need and didn’t assist.

They obviously didn’t have a lot of mileage under their belts, and at first I considered taking the guy aside and talking to him about the payload capabilities of Ford F150s…but the more l looked, the more I really didn’t want to engage.

Phrases oveheard like “No Dad, I’m not going to ride in the trailer, it scares the crap out of me”

“We’re going to be full timing when we upgrade the trailer”

We found and returned their (expired) paper plate and they said “Yeah, we have a replacement plate…we don’t know where we put it.”

They’re getting ready to hook-up and leave and one daughter is wandering around up next to the truck and trailer and the other is photographing everything with the camera, mom’s not really engaged and all of them are occasionally telling Dad where he’s at while hooking up.


Initially it was a fear that I wasn’t sure how he’d take the overloaded TV conversation, but the more I looked at the situation the more I just flat didn’t know where to start, and if it was my place to go over the list of everything I was seeing. And there was a lot.

[chuckster57]

Sometimes you just have to step back and “let it go”. I wonder if that was a “G” class, lighter but still a bit much for a 1/2 ton.

[Rocketsled]

Pretty sure it was a 25-G...1100 hitch weight empty.

[Canonman]

I think you did the right thing. Poor guy probably had enough to deal with.
Makes me think of my Dad. 4 kids, Mom wasn't real good at backing directions. Me harassing the 3 younger siblings.
Money was tight but camping was somewhat affordable in a single axle Coleman pulled with a Chevy Biscayne station wagon.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Rocketsled

Pretty sure it was a 25-G...1100 hitch weight empty.

I agree 25G, 7,900# dry weight, 13,000#GVWR and 30’ length. Should have at least stoped and said Boy that is a big trailer, nice for your family. That F150 is not a High Payload unit, short bed.

[Rocketsled]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

I agree 25G, 7,900# dry weight, 13,000#GVWR and 30’ length. Should have at least stoped and said Boy that is a big trailer, nice for your family. That F150 is not a High Payload unit, short bed.

Yeah, you don't just walk up to a stranger and ask if you can see the payload sticker...you have to buy them a drink first.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Rocketsled

Yeah, you don't just walk up to a stranger and ask if you can see the payload sticker...you have to buy them a drink first.

Confused here... you say you sinned and obviously your conscience is talking to you a bit but on the other hand say you couldn't just walk up and talk to the guy. Perhaps you know you could have struck up a conversation and worked into the overloading situation without "ask if you can see the payload sticker". He might have gotten angry or might have been thankful for your advice but in any case your conscience wouldn't be talking right now.

[Rocketsled]

That last was supposed to be funny and obviously didn’t land right.

I DOES bother me, because there was so much going on there. We did make sure the daughter loaded keepyourdaydream.com on her phone and that it has a ton of good information for new campers.

I’m leaving a whole lot out (like running the genset after 10pm ‘’because the batteries aren’t charging’) it just gave off a vibe that said ‘you do not want to get involved in this’.

[Roper46]

Sometimes going with a "gut" feeling is best in my opinion.

[sourdough]

I'm thinking you probably did the right thing so don't let it bug you. To see a newbie, or anyone, struggling with a particular situation (one problem) is one thing and you can kind of step in to help. When it needs to be an entire class on towing from top to bottom that is an entirely different situation and a conversation that would be hard to start or him engage in with all the "stuff" going on around him. Better to let it go unless you saw him about to kill himself or someone else.

[flybouy]

Personally I won't engage unless asked. That's not to say I'm unsocial, typical conversations begin with chat about a dog (lots of that lately with the pup) or folks ask what flag is that when they see our MD state flag below old glory. I've had folks ask how I backed in so easy and I'll explaine my camera, etc. I will not however offer advice unless asked.

If asked about about something indirectly related I may or may not interject. It's contingent upon how the initial conversation goes and the feedback from that conversation. Some folks will respond positively to a "I remember when I towed this camper with our F150. Man was that a mistake but I didn't understand about towing with a proper set up back then". I don't think there's an absolute "rules of engagement " but rather a judgment call.

In the case of endangering others that's a judgement call as well. I'm the type that would, and have, stepped in if I thought a child was in immenant danger and calling the authorities would take to long to respond. But someone struggling with camping would be a judgement call. Typically I can tell from the expressions and dialog if someone would be receptive to advice or not.

[Javi]

When this happens to me... I get my best and most comfortable chair, 3 fingers of The GLENLIVET 21 Year Old "neat" and find a shady spot..

[Rocketsled]

Oh, the occupants of our trailer spent quite a bit of time observing the neighbors.

[meaz93*]

Not to whip a dead horse...but, the F150 Ecoboost properly optioned will tow a good size trailer comfortably. That being said I know first hand towing with a half ton as I have towed my 2018 328RL Keystone Outback for 4yrs with a 2014 F150 Max Tow / Payload Package and my setup was perfectly level doing so, but I also knew what the truck needed to safely tow that 38' 9.5k TT and boy did I add alot of mods!
For me I want to go to a 5th Wheel trailer....so the opportunity to purchase a 2021 F250 6.7L came up in April; and this being my first diesel all I can say is why didnt I do it sooner!
The problem is Ford has not addressed the cooling issue on the Ecoboost when towing heavy. It just gets way hot pulling 6-7% grades in the Arizona summer heat.
Other than that it is a beast of a truck.
In regards to observing OP's towing ; you pretty much know which ones are newbies by how their trailer / truck is setup.
Going down the road I will point things out to my wife as we are rolling down the highway trailer in tow.....she seems to be very disinterested[emoji848][emoji16], but I cant help it-lol
If I'm in a campground; gas station, parking lot wherever I will approach that OP cautiously and strike up a conversation.....give advice etc...try and help them out.
I've had my 2014 F150 sitting in front of my business since April with a ForSale sign, and honestly it makes me sick to have to do it as I know I could at anytime slide the Curt WDH out of the F250 and put it back into the F150 and tow my Outback anywhere.
Here she is; airbags, rear swaybar, aluminum Diff cover, powerstop drilled & slotted rotors/ brakes, Bilstein shocks, E rated Wranglers, AFE dish aluminum transmission pan, etc....theirs more!

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by Javi

When this happens to me... I get my best and most comfortable chair, 3 fingers of The GLENLIVET 21 Year Old "neat" and find a shady spot..

Well now you've done it.


All the camp grounds I am going to be looking for you so as to persuade you to share. And now I know for sure you got that Glenlivet in there


Oak

[meaz93*]

Originally Posted by German Shepherd Guy

Well now you've done it.


All the camp grounds I am going to be looking for you so as to persuade you to share. And now I know for sure you got that Glenlivet in there [emoji38]


Oak

I roll with Chocolate Martini's/Shaker and all-lol......the wifes a Reisling girl[emoji109]
We may have to restock the liquor cabinet?...ehh[emoji6]
You'll find me with the Antimatter F250 with the F150Ecoboost.net sticker.....so the wife can pick it out of a loaded parking lot>she says....

[Rocketsled]

Our 3/4 ton handled the 12k trailer well, both up and down hills, where it got a little sketchy was hauling through the Wyoming Winds! Hours of 30 degree left turn then hours of 30 degree right turn, followed by the well practiced steering wheel jog as a semi overtakes us...the long bed and 4 tires of the 1 ton took a LOT of the drama out

[Mikendebbie]

That's a great story to post here! Seems like I have been in the same situation before. I was more of a helper in my younger days. DW generally shakes her head "NO!" which is the easier route to take these days for a number of reasons mostly associated with ailments.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by Rocketsled

Pretty sure it was a 25-G...1100 hitch weight empty.

I sold them for a few years, based on the microwave vent in the slide, it’s either a 25G or 28G. Only real difference other than length and weight, is the longer slide that includes a sofa.

[dutchmensport]

I think you did the right thing. You might want to try to save the entire world, but the fact is, the world doesn't want to be saved. Let it go!