Were looking at a 2012 KZ Spree 323CSS. UVW 6413, GVWR 7900 Hitch weight 894 Length 32'4". My truck is a 2003 F150 Screw 4x4 with a 5.4 and 3.73 rear end, GCWR 13500. Is this to much trailer for my truck?
2010 Coleman CT 250
2003 Ford F150 4x4 Screw
1993 Searay 170
Flowmaster SI/DO
K&N CAI
Prodigy Brake Controller
It sounds like you would be pushing the envelope on GCWR, I'm guessing your truck weighs in at something close to 6000# added to the 7900 you would be over. Payload will be your biggest challenge. Again guessing, that your payload is right at (or even under), 1500# and that trailer will be 1000# of Tongue weight which doesn't leave much. The 5.4 will pull it no question but I doubt it would be much fun and the mileage will be around 8 if you're lucky. Nice trailer but it sure sounds like a great candidate for a 3/4 ton. As always...opinions and YMMV.
My TT is about the same weight and size as yours. I was towing with a 2010 F-150 5.4L, max tow, blah, blah, blah... I took a HUGE loss on trading that 2010 for a 2011 F-250. So what would make me do such a thing? You already know the answer.
When they tell you that you can pull it but you won't enjoy it, they are really under estimating that "won't enjoy it" part.
I generally find people around here like a lot of truck for there trailer. In this case outside of non mountainous 2 hr trips your pushing it IMO. I wouldn't say to much for a half-ton, just the one you currently have.
2012 Heartland North Trail Caliber Edition 26RLSS
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4.7L QC 4x4 long box 3.92 tow-package
Too much IMHO. I pull with an '06 Scab 5.4 3.73, etc. My TT has a dry weight of about 5100 lbs. I've weighed out a few times completely loaded; my loaded weight is around 6k lbs (last time it was 6k on the nose). At this weight, I wouldn't dare go any heavier. My TV does very well with this trailer except for on very steep grades, which in those situations, it can do it if slowed down but you can tell it's working. In any event, I just personally think that even I'm pusing the limits with what I have, so I definitely wouldn't be comfortable going as heavy as what you're looking at. You should also note that I had to move some things around to avoid exceeding my rear axle capacity. That is a consideration in itself with a 1/2 ton vehicle.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
BigSur2
2012 Keystone Bullet 286QBS
2006 Ford F150 5.4 V8
PoppynDinks wrote: Were looking at a 2012 KZ Spree 323CSS. UVW 6413, GVWR 7900 Hitch weight 894 Length 32'4". My truck is a 2003 F150 Screw 4x4 with a 5.4 and 3.73 rear end, GCWR 13500. Is this to much trailer for my truck?
In my opinion, yes. Unless you will be pulling it only on flat terrain with no wind.
Depends on the truck but under the BEST or circumstances I doubt if you'll be happy in many parts of the country with the power of the old 5.4 two valve engine with that much weight. When I towed a 6,000 lb. 25 footer with the HD version of the same truck (7700 series) I found it wanting in the power department.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
PoppynDinks wrote: Were looking at a 2012 KZ Spree 323CSS. UVW 6413, GVWR 7900 Hitch weight 894 Length 32'4". My truck is a 2003 F150 Screw 4x4 with a 5.4 and 3.73 rear end, GCWR 13500. Is this to much trailer for my truck?
The first thing to do is to look at label on the truck's hitch receiver. There should be a rating for Tongue Weight -- "Weight Distributing". Let's assume tha value is 850#. Assuming your TT's tongue weight will be 13% of its loaded weight, a maximum tongue weight of 850# would correspond to maximum loaded weight of approximately 6550#. OTOH, if the hitch receiver's TW rating is 1000#, the maximum allowable loaded TT weight would be about 7700#.
So it looks as though the truck's receiver rating might be the limiting factor in determining how much trailer can be towed. If the receiver does not appear to be the limiting factor, you then need to look at GCWR and TV GVWR ratings.
The "Maximum Trailer Weight" specification is a short-cut method of determining how much trailer weight can be handled withing the GCWR. You need to estimate the weight of extras which are carried in or on the TV. The extras include passengers (excluding driver), optional equipment, cargo, and about 80# for a weight distributing hitch. The weight of the "extras" must be subtracted from the "MTW" to determine the maximum allowable trailer weight consistent with GCWR.
For example, lets assume the "MTW" is 8200# and the weight of "extras" is 500#. For these assumptions, the maximum trailer weight would be 7700#.
You also need to estimate how much additional load, in excess of the TV's curb weight, will be added to the TV. This weight should not exceed the TV's payload. Let's assume the TV's payload value is 1400# and the weight of "extras" is 700#. This means the trailer-induced vertical load should not exceed 1400-700 = 700#.
With a properly adjusted WDH, the trailer-induced vertical load added to the TV will be equal to about 75% of the tongue weight. This means that given these assumptions, for TV GVWR considerations, the tongue weight should not exceed 700/0.75 = approximately 900#. And, using the 13% TW assumption, a 900# TW would correspond to a trailer weight of about 6900#.
Based on the TV's ratings and the above assumptions we can calculate maximum allowable trailer weights ranging from 6550# to 7700#. If you want an accurate value for how much trailer can be towed without exceeding the TV's ratings, we need to know the following:
1) GCWR (you've told us it is 13,500#)
2) The allowable maximum weight of cargo (from TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION placard on driver's door)
3) Receiver's tongue weight (weight distributing) rating
4) Weight of TV as loaded for camping, including about 80# for WDH.
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