X213 and Tow Vehicle

[RVSpiritGypsies]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and just looked at the X213 and love it. Now to purchase a truck to tow it. Can a Ford F150, Ram 1500, Chevy/GMC 1500 pull this kind of trailer safely? I have read and been told the tongue weight is already heavy which has me worried as we will have 4 adults, 4 small dogs and 4 bicycles that we will take with us. I figure I will need a max tow package as well. I went to the Ford dealership close to me and they said it would tow it no problem, but I have concerns after reading some information on this forum. I appreciate what everyone posts - it helps this newbie learn before I even purchase my trailer and head out camping! I've been browsing on here for weeks and thought it time to join as I have settled on the X213. Thank you!!

[NVGun40]

No question about it. The 1/2 ton class pickup with tow packages will tow this TT around just fine.
I am sure one (or more) of the F150 with max tow and eco boost owners will chime in. They are very worthy of their reputation. However, it is worth remembering, they are still a 1/2 ton pickup. If you are absolutely 150% sure you will not be upgrading the TT to a bigger platform in the not to distant future, you cannot go wrong with any of the trucks in the 1/2 ton class. If you have that funny feeling along the back of your neck that an upgrade in a couple of years may be possible, save yourself the trouble and "go ugly early" with a 3/4 ton class.

[RVSpiritGypsies]

Thanks NVGun40, I may have to rethink this then. I just wanted to start with something I feel comfortable towing but I could see us going bigger as I get used to it. Hmm, I may need to think about a 3/4 ton then. This will be my second vehicle for around town driving as well, not just for towing. I didn't want to go bigger if I didn't need to. Food for thought - thank you so much!

[NVGun40]

I started life with my first vehicle being a 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive. What a beast for a high school kid to have. After that, my second truck was a 1/2 ton. With the off roading, camping, hunting, wood cutting, backwoods lifestyle I live I vowed to never get another 1/2 ton truck. I have never regretted that decision. Even though the 3/4 ton and upwards don't have the soft ride and gas mileage of the 1/2 tons when used as daily drivers, I still don't mind and have never been disappointed. Especially when life's little hiccups happen. The peace of mind is comforting. For example, when a neighbor needed his TT towed while his TV was in the shop; or when I came across the minivan which had slid off the road into the ditch during a snow storm, or the January day my wife and I went out "killing time" after watching the first have of a Seattle Seahawks playoff game and they were doing absolutely lousy. We ended up coming home with a brand new Jayco. Every time, it was a comfort knowing I didn't have to second guess whether I had enough truck to do the job.

[ladamski]

Welcome to the world of TT and TV. I currently have a 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 with a Max Tow Package and the 6.2l engine. My Max Payload for the TV is 1800#, with a Max Tongue weight of 1100#. I pull a 2011 298RLS with a GVWR of 7900#, well within the tow limits of the truck. However, I am always adjusting the items in the front storage, as I can easily exceed my tongue weight. I say all of that to give you an idea of how big you can go before needing to look at a larger TV. My Sierra has all the muscle to pull the weight, but it's the frame, hitch, tires, etc, that limit my actual capacity. Good luck and enjoy the new TT.

[Subaru297]

What is the weight of the 4 adults in question? 600lbs?
Dogs? another 50lbs
4 bikes? 160lbs

That is 800lbs of cargo without the trailer. 1/2 ton trucks come in around 1400 on the low end to 1800lbs on the high end. If you get a half ton with 1600lbs of payload capacity (this is listed on a sticker on teh driver side door jamb) and with 800lbs of cargo you have 800lbs left for tongue weight. A trailer of roughly 6000lbs will have a tongue weight around 800lbs and should be a comfortable tow with a 1/2 ton truck.

The X213 will be fine for almost any half ton truck but as mentioned if you ever upgrade trailers you will probably want a more capable truck unless you get a 1/2 ton with 1800lbs+ of payload.

[Jorgen]

Welcome to the site and congratulations for being on the verge of buying a X213! Very exciting! I did the same earlier this year and am very happy. I've been diving into modifications and upgrades. At any rate I wanted to share that I've been pulling my TT with a 1/2 ton 2013 Ram (image here) and it's very comfortable. I was new to trailering so got a weight distribution hitch (a Curtis but there are many to choose from) and it pulls like a dream with the 4 of us and all our stuff. I've never done the math on the tongue but it hasn't been an issue - very stable. Good luck and happy camping!

[micron]

I have an x213 and originally towed it with a Toyota Tacoma. I was at the max for the Tacoma. I now have an F-150 Ecoboost 3.5 w/max tow pkg. It tows fine and I am mindful of the tongue wt when loading up. We don't have any plans on upgrading for quite a few years so this set up is perfect for us. Best of luck with whatever you get!

[mitchmitchell]

I just went through this discussion with folks on the Jayco Facebook group. An F-150 *properly configured* can tow the X213, but some of the configurations would be over their limits. So check the ratings on the Ford website for the different configurations can the be purchased - engine, axle ratio, wheel base, factory add-ons etc. The payload capacity for the F-150 ranges from 1,590lbs to 3,270lbs depending on configuration. Towing capacities range from a low of 5,000lbs to a high of 12,200lbs.

[RVSpiritGypsies]

Thanks everyone, I REALLY appreciate the input. I was a little concerned we were starting out with a lot of weight with the passengers, dogs and bikes before we ever loaded anything into to the trailer. We would probably travel with full propane tanks and some water in the other tanks. I will check into a weight distribution hitch as well. So much to learn. I found a Ram 1500 with max payload 1479 and max towing at 8250 here in town. It is a 5.7 Liter V8 with axle ratio of 3.21. I think it would work, but will have to watch what we load. I may look at a 3/4 ton so I don't have to worry and have peace of mind. You guys have been great!!

[mitchmitchell]

Originally Posted by RVSpiritGypsies

Thanks everyone, I REALLY appreciate the input. I was a little concerned we were starting out with a lot of weight with the passengers, dogs and bikes before we ever loaded anything into to the trailer. We would probably travel with full propane tanks and some water in the other tanks. I will check into a weight distribution hitch as well. So much to learn. I found a Ram 1500 with max payload 1479 and max towing at 8250 here in town. It is a 5.7 Liter V8 with axle ratio of 3.21. I think it would work, but will have to watch what we load. I may look at a 3/4 ton so I don't have to worry and have peace of mind. You guys have been great!!

That sounds like a very close margin -- given that the X213 tongue can weigh in anywhere from 750-1000lbs (especially with four bikes in it) you would have room for four 119lbs adults and no dogs.

EDIT:
I forgot to include the weight of any weight distribution hitch here as well so the numbers for adult weights would be even lower.

[RVSpiritGypsies]

Thanks mitchmitchell, you are right. I think I will turn my attention to a bigger vehicle for towing. I do not want to have to worry about the weight when we are going out having a good time.

[mitchmitchell]

If you plan on loading things close to your limits I'd recommend investing in one of these small tongue weight scales:


https://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-2...e+weight+scale


There is nothing better than knowing your numbers for certain -- after that its simple math to stay safe!

[RVSpiritGypsies]

I will add this to my list of items to buy mitchmitchell. I see you have an X213 and pull with an Ford F450. You never have to worry about weight I'm sure. Thanks for all your help!

[mitchmitchell]

Originally Posted by RVSpiritGypsies

I will add this to my list of items to buy mitchmitchell. I see you have an X213 and pull with an Ford F450. You never have to worry about weight I'm sure. Thanks for all your help!

LOL, no I don't -- and contrary to what's often said, your TV does not explode just because you exceed a limit on a sticker. BUT if you are just starting out its not something I would recommend. It can add wear and tear to your TV that it wasn't designed for and make driving an unpleasant experience.

However, the X213 is a very stable tow, in part due to its tongue heavy design. I'd still recommend a weight distribution hitch with sway control though.

[jmarkhenn]

Welcome to the wonderful world of travel trailering. I own a Jayco X2 13 and I love it. I tow with a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with absolutely no problems at all. The secret is to make sure that you have a good Weight distribution hitch with sway control. Happy trails. Mark

[Greenman]

We started towing our 213 with a GMC 1500 with a full tow package and a 4:10 rear end. I was always maxed out for weight and although the truck pulled the trailer "okay" and since the majority of our towing was in the mountains, I was never fully comfortable with that setup. Since we switched to a 2500, even fully loaded with 4 adults, camping gear, fishing equipment and an inflatable boat I have never come close to exceeding GVWR. The ride is "solid" and for me much more relaxing with the 2500.

[RVSpiritGypsies]

Greenman, is your GMC Sierra a 2WD or 4WD? Been looking at some 2500 Sierra's today.

[RVSpiritGypsies]

jmarkhenn, is your Chevy 1500 a 2WD or 4WD? Thank you!!

[Greenman]

My 2500 is a 4X4 crew cab, 6.0 l litre gas with 3:73 rear end and tow pkg.