Towing 29QBH with F-150 Ecoboost HD Max Tow

[huntnrig]

Hey Everyone,

My wife and I are looking to buy our first TT. We'd really like to join the Jayco family but my only concern is my current Tow Vehicle.

I am looking at the following trailers

2006 Jay Flight 31BHS 6885lbs dry with a tonque weight of 970lbs unloaded.
2014 Jay Flight 29QBH 6400lbs dry with a tonque weight of 800lbs unloaded.

My truck is a 2011 F-150 Ecoboost with Max Tow 3.73 rear and HD Payload (7650 GWVR).

Max Payload = 1615lbs (I might add an add-a-leaf)
Max Tow w/WD hitch = 11,300lbs

I feel the 31BHS is too heavy of a trailer but the 29QBH might be just right.

It's on the heavier side of things, but it's a Jayco and built better than many of the lightweight trailers I've looked at. I'll be hauling this thing all around BC and it needs to hold up well for at least a decade.

We are a family of 6 (4 kids under 12) so my only issue is the payload... (especially as we grow)

With the 29QBH loaded to say 8000-8500lbs (we won't fill the fresh water) my truck payload is going to be pushing the limit with all of us in the truck and the tonque weight of the trailer.

By loading the trailer efficiently we can probably reduce the tonque weight slightly and/or my other idea was to install a set of add-a-leafs which will bring up the payload of my pickup into the realm of an F-250. Many guys have had good results with them.

The truck has the power to pull this trailer all day through our mountains here no problem... But I am open to any rational thoughts from you folk

[spoon059]

Only thing I will mention is that you cannot increase your payload. What it is from the factory is what it is. It might handle better with the add-a-leaf system, but you will still be stressing whatever the weakest link is that limits your payload.


That being said, I am buying a 2015 29QBS and pulling it with a 2010 Tundra with slightly less payload available than you. I only have 2 kids (2 years and a newborn coming in the next month) so I have less weight in truck and less crap to carry everywhere.


I'm optimistic that you and I will both be fine with these weights. I would make sure I have a quality WDH and sway control and be sensible about how you load and what speeds you drive.

[huntnrig]

Only thing I will mention is that you cannot increase your payload. What it is from the factory is what it is. It might handle better with the add-a-leaf system, but you will still be stressing whatever the weakest link is that limits your payload.

Gotcha... On my truck the weakest link would be the 6 bolt rims then. As the next heavier payload package for F-150's has 7 bolt wheels.

The 2011 F-150 has built in trailer sway control with the integrated trailer brake controller. We are pretty good about packing stuff efficiently so in the truck it would be me, my wife and the 4 kids... maybe some snacks etc... and a full tank of fuel.

This trailer has more than enough storage space to hold all our stuff so with that in mind we're going to be right at my Payload capacity in the truck, while the trailer has a payload of almost 3000lbs.

When my boys get older then it'd be a good time to upgrade the TV because I intend on keeping the trailer for a while.

[DJL1967]

I bought a Whitehawk 28DSBH with dry weight of #5900 and prob close to #7000 loaded. I tow it with a 2012 F150, 5.0 and 3.73 gearing with absolutely no issues. Completed an 8,400 km trip to the East coast this summer and couldn't be happier with how it towed. I use a Husky Centerline hitch with #1200 bars and have the trailer set up perfectly. This is a must. I get no bounce, push or sway with this set up and kept my speeds to 105 kph. Plan on heading to the West coast next year to Vancouver Island then back home through Montana, SD and Mn. I don't think I would go any heavier than what I have now without moving up to a 3/4 ton. The Whitehawk 28DSBH has been a great TT for us. Good luck.

[Quahog]

Are you sure yours has the HD payload feature? The GVWR should be 8200# and there should be 7 lugs per wheel.

[huntnrig]

Are you sure yours has the HD payload feature? The GVWR should be 8200# and there should be 7 lugs per wheel.

Yes. There are many different HD payload configurations depending on the truck and it's options. For my truck and it's options it has the HD payload package (#7650). The door sticker says 1615lbs passengers + cargo.

[clubhouse]

I suspect with the QBH you will be over on payload, I wouldn't want to tow like that, but many do and swear that 2500/250 trucks aren't necessary. I disagree and that is why I got a durmax before we got our 29QBH.

I also use a Husky Centerline, it has performed flawlessly for thousands of miles with different TV and TT. It is however very heavy, much heavier than the comparable Equal-I-Zer and Dual Cam sets ups are have seen.

Including dual Grp 24 batteries and the Centerline Hitch my TW is just why of 1100 lbs.

[Quahog]

Mine is a 2012 XLT with HD Payload and it's pretty much loaded but I've got like 800 lbs more capacity that you do. I agree that depending on the options installed, the available cargo capacity will be affected but that shouldn't change the lug configuration. BTW, I haven't seen an HD payload package that's less than 8200#.

[huntnrig]

Mine is a 2012 XLT with HD Payload and it's pretty much loaded but I've got like 800 lbs more capacity that you do. I agree that depending on the options installed, the available cargo capacity will be affected but that shouldn't change the lug configuration. BTW, I haven't seen a non-HD payload package that's less than 8200#.

If my truck didn't come with the 7650GVW package it would only have a payload of 1000-1300lbs. My last Ecoboost had the 7700GVW package.

You are right it's not listed as HD just as "7650GVW package" on the MSRP sheet. I do know the truck has got more payload than those without this package.

[huntnrig]

I suspect with the QBH you will be over on payload, I wouldn't want to tow like that, but many do and swear that 2500/250 trucks aren't necessary. I disagree and that is why I got a durmax before we got our 29QBH.

In 2012 it says the 29QBH had a dry weight of 6745 with 880 on the tongue vs the 2014 29 QBH which is 6415 dry and 800 tongue. Lighter materials?

[njdanmc]

Don't loose sight of your gross combined vehicle weight rating. by loading more into your trailer and less into your truck you still have to consider what the gross combined weight will be. If you exceed the gross combined vehicle weight rating, you're over weight.

[huntnrig]

Don't loose sight of your gross combined vehicle weight rating. by loading more into your trailer and less into your truck you still have to consider what the gross combined weight will be. If you exceed the gross combined vehicle weight rating, you're over weight.

My max GCWR is 17,100 lbs. With a curb weight on my truck of 5800lbs approx... That leaves 11,300lbs for trailer and cargo.

Considering the trailer will weigh around 8000-8500 loaded I should be well under the GCWR with enough room to shoot a moose and bring him home too.

[ALJO]

Check your GCWR


TV GVWR + TT or 5er GVWR = GCWR you can not be over

[gtsum2]

family of 6? Take your weight as a family and subtract that from your payload...then consider your tongue weight with hitch and anything in the bed of the truck (bikes, firewood, chairs, tools, etc, etc)..go to a cat scale with all the above and see what your weight is. IMO you will be way over payload with a family of 6 (and everything you will take in the truck and the trailer to appease everyone). There is a reason there are 3/4 and 1T trucks...use the right tool for the job imo

I have first hand experience..had a 2013 ram 1500...wanted a 28dsbh....with family, etc on board, I would have been way, way over on payload....I sold it and ordered a 1T diesel as I was not comfortable with the weights). Not to mention I could really feel a 4000lb trailer behind me, let alone a 8k lb trailer. The power was fine, but the P tires and soft suspension wasnt good at all. Good luck

PS- if your F150 was one of the newer (and rare unless ordered) ones with close to 2k payload and the EB engine, I would say you would be good to go

[huntnrig]

TV GVWR + TT or 5er GVWR = GCWR you can not be over

7650 + 9250 = 16,900. The GCWR = 17,100. So I am under but never intend on having this thing loaded to it's GVWR of 9250lbs.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by huntnrig

My max GCWR is 17,100 lbs. With a curb weight on my truck of 5800lbs approx... That leaves 11,300lbs for trailer and cargo.

Considering the trailer will weigh around 8000-8500 loaded I should be well under the GCWR with enough room to shoot a moose and bring him home too.

Don't forget to add the weight of all passengers and what they have in the truck.

[norty1]

It's your decision. Four kids are gonna grow. It would be putting the safety of my family at to much risk.

[huntnrig]

I have first hand experience..had a 2013 ram 1500...wanted a 28dsbh....with family, etc on board, I would have been way, way over on payload....I sold it and ordered a 1T diesel as I was not comfortable with the weights). Not to mention I could really feel a 4000lb trailer behind me, let alone a 8k lb trailer. The power was fine, but the P tires and soft suspension wasnt good at all. Good luck

Damn... 4000lbs and you didn't like it? You might be hard to please, lol... Tow 4000lbs with a Max-Tow Eco and you won't know it's there. My enclosed with two big atv's a trailer, a boat/motor, fuel, all our hunting camp/gear for 2 weeks. That is easily over 6000lbs and the Eco has no trouble at all. The same trip with my 2005 5.4 L V8 cost me $340 MORE in fuel than with the Eco and fuel prices were the same.

That's a 6000km round trip journey with many mountain passes and no handling issues whatsoever.

The payload of my truck is definitely cutting it close with the whole family but my kids are all under 12 and not big. We don't need any additional gear in the truck like bikes etc.... It can all fit in the trailer if it needs to.

If the tongue weight was around 900lbs loaded we'd be on the money.

Payload = 1615
Me = 200
Wife = 130 and her "bag"
Kids = 250 including their "gadgets"
Hitch = 80-100 (haven't bought one yet)
Tongue = 936 (assuming 12% loaded at 7800lbs)
= 1616 lbs.

A Full tank of fuel is factored into the payload already.

An add-a-leaf to the rear adds 500-800lbs of payload capacity... Not on the door sticker, but the suspension would be quite a bit beefier.

[gtsum2]

Originally Posted by huntnrig

Damn... 4000lbs and you didn't like it? You might be hard to please, lol... Tow 4000lbs with a Max-Tow Eco and you won't know it's there. My enclosed with two big atv's a trailer, a boat/motor, fuel, all our hunting camp/gear for 2 weeks. That is easily over 6000lbs and the Eco has no trouble at all. The same trip with my 2005 5.4 L V8 cost me $340 MORE in fuel than with the Eco and fuel prices were the same.



That's a 6000km round trip journey with many mountain passes and no handling issues whatsoever.



The payload of my truck is definitely cutting it close with the whole family but my kids are all under 12 and not big. We don't need any additional gear in the truck like bikes etc.... It can all fit in the trailer if it needs to.



If the tongue weight was around 900lbs loaded we'd be on the money.



Payload = 1615

Me = 200

Wife = 130 and her "bag"

Kids = 250 including their "gadgets"

Hitch = 80-100 (haven't bought one yet)

Tongue = 936 (assuming 12% loaded at 7800lbs)

= 1616 lbs.



A Full tank of fuel is factored into the payload already.



An add-a-leaf to the rear adds 500-800lbs of payload capacity... Not on the door sticker, but the suspension would be quite a bit beefier.

the power was fine, but I could feel the trailer back there a good bit. Those that say "tows 8000lbs like its not even there" are full of it, or are oblivious to what is going on IMO. The EB engine is a sweet gas mill..no doubt about it..I like it better than the Hemi I had as the torque was right there with the EB, where the Hemi liked to rev to get into the power...but it is still in a 1/2 ton truck. The term 1/2 ton towable is vague at best...lots of trailer can be towed with 1/2 tons for sure, but many more are better suited for heavier trucks imo.

Your tires, lug nuts, suspension, brakes, everything goes into payload. You cannot increase your payload by adding springs. It is what it is...its up to you to determine if you are OK with being right up to the limits or a bit over. You add a leaf, but you are still running P tires I am guessing? Lots of flex in the sidewalls...I will say that after towing with my Cummins, I would never, ever go back to a gas engine. A HD truck is just more stable...more weight, bigger brakes, much higher load rated tires, etc, etc. Yeah it costs more and rides rougher, but it does the job much, much better...and I use it for a DD

[huntnrig]

You add a leaf, but you are still running P tires I am guessing?

10 ply LT tires. We don't run P tires on the roads up here I like to travel and expect them to last very long.