Hi, this is my first time towing my Travel trailer and I have no idea if I'm doing it right.
I have a
Gulfstream, Kingsport 286
30' long
Weight 6900 lbs (actual weight when I will be towing it)
Towing vehicle:
1995 Ford F150 super cab short bed
Total towing Weight: 7300
GVWR 6050
Base payload capacity 1850
I'm very confused about 3 things:
1 - Is this truck able to tow my trailer (looks like it is since its able to tow 7300
2 - how much weight can I put ON THE TRUCK in terms of cargo? I have some boxes I want to take with me and have to calculate what to keep and what throw away.
3 - what hitch class do I need?
I'm driving from Florida to Maine, what is the ideal speed on interstate?
Please any help will be appreciated I really dont know where to start to get information.
1. Barely, It will be very hard on the truck to tow that much weight.
2. Very little cargo after you subtract the trailer tongue weight, Gas, passengers, big gulps, etc count as added cargo.
3. class IV with a weight distribution hitch.
Too much trailer for too little of a truck IMHO
2009 Komfort 256TS Yamaha EF2400iS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2001 Sebring Convertible
2005 DRZ400 - 2005 CRF150 - 2001 XR80
1 Wife 2 Boys
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 27 years to retirement!!!!
Sorry, but at 6900 lbs you are already closer to your towing capacity than most on this site would be comfortable towing. Throw in minimal cargo and you'll be at or above the TV capacity. I'd be looking hard at a 3/4 ton truck or a lighter camper. Browse through this site and you will find a wealth of info on towing.
Mr. B
Reading, OH
2007 Jayco JayFeather 29X
Reese Dual Cam Sway, WDH, Progidy Brake Controller, McKesh Mirrors
2004 Suburban Z71
'07 Trips: 7, Nights Camping: 22, Miles Logged on TT: 2,010
'08 Trips: 11, Nights Camping: 33, Miles Logged on TT: 2,189
In answer to a question like this, you will always get posts from those that believe you need a 3/4 ton truck with a deisel to tow a Casita..
We tow a trialer that is loaded at 6600 lbs with a 1500 Silverado (tow capacity 7500lbs) and It works fine for us. We have been over 20,000 miles ranging from Death valley to over 10,500 ft and that confirms this. We are not the fastest thing up long grades but are far from the slowest..Zero problems (of course it is a Chevy )
The only way to tell if it suits you is to try it out and see. You do have a smaller margin than we do..
First of all, welcome to the Open Roads Forum. Second, I agree with ArticDodge as it is very close. The tow rating on a vehicle usually includes just the driver and a half take of fuel. Take into account a full tank of fuel (at a gazillion $$ per litre), other passangers and what cargo you are taking in the truck/trailer as well. There use to be a rule of thumb awhile ago that said to take 80% of the tow rating for your vehicle and that is a comfortable/safe weight to be towing. In addition to the Class IV with weight distrubution, I would add a anti-sway friction bar. Take your time and don't push the truck. You do a tranny cooler, right? Good luck on your first tow.
2003 Chev Silverado 2500HD 4X4, 6.6L Duramax/Allison, Prodigy.
2005 Springdale 260TBL
7.5 Western Pro-plow (something to do in the winter)
Welcome to the club. This is now why I own a F250 Diesel. I had a 1/2 ton Suburban with about your pulling specs and found on my first trip, even on flat roads my tow rig was 'constantly' dropping into low gear hitting 4k rpms+. You will learn that your dry trailer weight is vague and in some cases doesn't even include the 'options' on your trailer ie: awnings, microwave etc. You also need to consider every passenger in your car as tralier weight, in my case of a family of 6 we had nearly 700-800 lb's.
If everywhere you go is going to be down hill then you might be ok....if you get my point. Hell, overpasses threw my previous vehicle into 2-3rd gear, it drove us crazy and makes for huge amoutns of stress between you and your wife. "Honey, why is it doing that?"..."Honey, is that normal, is it ever going to stop being so loud?" etc
If you never want to go through mountians and go everywhere with no wind and on flat roads you 'may' be ok. And we both know this will not be the case, everywhere fun ie: going to the coast, going to the mountains involves hills in which you will have the gas pedal to the floor scared shartless that you are not going to make it or eventually blowing out your tranny.
Zinger ZT29DB
F250 Super Duty Turbo Diesel Crew Cab
I know this is not what you want to hear, but if I were you I would want to hear it. So.... IMHO you will be overloaded at a minimum and if you pack like me you will be dangerously overloaded. I run at @80% fully loaded and would not want to pull much more than that. Good luck and hope you can work it out.
Alyson & Mark plus kids
Toyota Tundra 2004 Double Cab w/ Tow Package
2005 Citrus Cruiser C243S hybrid
$3k+ in warranty repairs & climbing plus
$3k+ of my time to finish building this one
Stay away from R-Vision like your life depends on it
I have to agree with those who say that you've got too much weight for your truck. I know that it's now what you want to hear....good luck in whatever you decide to do.
2001 Dodge 3500 DRW V10 Magnum
2002 Sunline T280SR
Arrow Hensley Hitch
10' Porta Bote My photo galleries.
OK. It will tow it. Will you be close to your max? Yep. Can you carry much in the truck? Nope. However, as you have stated. This is the ready to camp weight, and not the dry weight, and you are inside your rateing. It will do it. Will you be the first to the top of the hill? Nope. But you should get there.
How well it towes, is up to your expectations. If you want to tow like it isn't there. You won't like it. If you expect to know the TT is there. You will be fine. Many opt for the like it's not there. That is why you see so many 250s and diesels towing 6500 and 7000lb trailers. I personally understand that a 6500lb TT will be noticed. Of course. My TT is only 6000lbs loaded. My 150 is more than a match for it. Even after I load the firewood.
Since it is you first time. Go slow. Take your time, and learn how it handels before you take off. Go somewhere and ride around a empty lot to get the feel of the TT, and how wide you will need to swing, and how it stops. And how it starts from a stop.
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