can I tow this

[deewaltguy]

I'm not the most experienced RVer on this site, but it seems to me that when posts like this appear, the OP already knows the answer.
It's like many things in life, if you have to ask if you can tow a specific TT with a specific TV, you probably can't (or shouldn't)

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by deewaltguy

snip...... it seems to me that when posts like this appear, the OP already knows the answer.......snip

It may appear that way from those of us that have already gone through our learning curve....., but I do give the OP credit to ask what is the process to confirm his suspicions.

Bob

[deewaltguy]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

It may appear that way from those of us that have already gone through our learning curve....., but I do give the OP credit to ask what is the process to confirm his suspicions.

Bob

Heartily agreed, I've seen many of these posts and responded, but the technical aspects were already covered better than I could.
Better safe than sorry, and the only dumb question is the one that wasn't asked

[STRETCH]

I have read over everyone's posts and have decided to go with a 30 RLS instead. this will give me a bit more leeway in my payload. If you have some insight on this choice please feel free to chime in

Much respect and appreciation for all.

Chris

30RLS
Dry Weight (lbs) 6880
Payload Capacity (lbs) 1620
GVWR (lbs) 8500
Hitch Weight (lbs) 690




31RL
Dry Weight (lbs) 7560
Payload Capacity (lbs) 1690
GVWR (lbs) 9250
Hitch Weight (lbs) 810

[Subaru297]

Sorry to be negative again but that is still an enormous trailer for a half ton. I think the truck would be fine with the weight if you were pulling a cargo trailer or flat deck but that weight combined with the size of the travel trailer won't give you a great towing experience.
My opinion was formed with a F150 and a 32' 7000lb trailer and we did not enjoy the towing experience at all. We upgraded to a F250 and are much happier but we still feel the trailer back there due to its size. You are pulling a big sail and that is much more noticeable than the weight.

Our F150 was not quite as capable as yours as we had a lower payload but it was the long box (6.5') and 157" wheel base crew cab.

You aren't looking at bunkhouses or anything so I am assuming it is just two people in the trailer?? Why not look at something smaller if you are committed to keeping the truck?

Cheers

[STRETCH]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

Sorry to be negative again but that is still an enormous trailer for a half ton. I think the truck would be fine with the weight if you were pulling a cargo trailer or flat deck but that weight combined with the size of the travel trailer won't give you a great towing experience.
My opinion was formed with a F150 and a 32' 7000lb trailer and we did not enjoy the towing experience at all. We upgraded to a F250 and are much happier but we still feel the trailer back there due to its size. You are pulling a big sail and that is much more noticeable that the weight.

Our F150 was not quite as capable as yours as we had a lower payload but it was the long box (6.5') and 157" wheel base crew cab.

You aren't looking at bunkhouses or anything so I am assuming it is just two people in the trailer?? Why not look at something smaller if you are committed to keeping the truck.

Cheers

You are correct, just me ant the wife and the occasional guest. The issue is this, I am 6'5" 250 in other words a big guy. I like my space.

[alegria]

A friend of mine had a 26' trailer that he originally towed with an F-150. The transmission gave out and the truck was scrap about two years later. He also had a lot of difficulty on our trip from Seattle to Denver, and could barely make it up and over the Rockies, due to the lack of towing power.

I would not feel comfortable towing near any kind of trailer with just a half-ton truck. A 36' trailer? No way in hell, not for any kind of distance. To take it from dealer to a permanent site once? Maybe, but even that would make me kind of leery. I've driven a 35' trailer with my 3/4 ton truck through heavy crosswinds, and the amount of sideways pull exerted on the trailer was enough to make one of my dogs in the cab of the truck sick. I definitely would NOT want to be doing that with a less powerful truck.

[Murff]

After reading all of the comments, and recalling Ford F150s usually have a bigger payload rating than what STRETCH stated his is, I checked the Ford brochure.

For having the Max Tow Package, he must have the Minimum Payload Package, too.

Murff

[Rustic Eagle]

Chris,

Originally Posted by STRETCH

I have read over everyone's posts and have decided to go with a 30 RLS instead. this will give me a bit more leeway in my payload......snip

Your correct on the weight reduction effect of the 30RLS in lieu of the 31RL can have on your TV.

Here's another way to look at the 30RLS (or any TT)..........

The 30RLS has a published UVW of 6,880lbs, my on-line search found a 2018 30RLS with a as-shipped UVW of 7,280lbs. Here's a hypothetical 30RLS under moderate loaded conditions: (7,280lbs) + (50lbs dealer battery) + (700lbs cargo, no fluids) = 8,030lbs loaded weight.

With a 36ft long TT one would want a loaded tongue weight in the 13% to 15% range of gross weight......, 15% desirable for enhanced TV handling in less then ideal towing conditions (cross winds, sudden maneuvers, etc..). Gross weight of 8,030lbs = 1,044lbs (13%) to 1,204lbs (15%). If one towed with fluids the loaded tongue weight range would increase proportionality (% of adjusted gross).

As mentioned in my earlier post knowing your TV's "available" payload capacity (CAT visit) can be referenced when looking at a TT's projected loaded tongue weight range. Also, the previous hypothetical scenario tells me that a WDH rated at 1,200lb minimum should be considered for the 30RLS.

We all have different TV handling expectations and loading habits, but when possible it's good to know if our TV will be potentially towing at, below, or above it's specified GVWR.

What ever your decision taking your TV/TT combination to CAT scale under "loaded" conditions is highly recommended to confirm all your weights and insure that the WDH is adjusted for correct weight distribution. The CAT provides a wealth of information.

CAT Scale how-to: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...v-tt-3871.html

Just food for thought.

Bob

[Macaw]

Don't forget to check your weight limits on the hitch itself.

On my '16 F150 my payload is 1978 lbs but the hitch limits are:

without WDH 10,000 lbs / 1,000 lbs tongue weight
with WDH 12,000 lbs / 1,200 lbs.

[morleyz]

It's interesting to see so many posts about "feel". This is so subjective. I personally felt comfortable towing near Max capacity with a 1/2 ton and a 33', 8000lb TT. Had my 1/2 not rusted away, I would still be using it. After upgrading to a 3/4 ton, I hardly noticed I was pulling a trailer even in moderate cross winds. Based on the comments and the TV/TT combos I see on the highway all summer long, you'd expect the road to be littered with crashed rigs and blown up TVs.

OP, follow Bob's advice, get your truck weighed, use a CAT scale to setup and validate your weights with the WDH. If you are within all of the ratings, go camping. I'll even bet with a little effort you could find someone here or in real life near you that has your exact rig that you can ask about their experience.

[Saturn V]

3/4 ton for sure!

[Riverman]

3/4 ton for me

[andrewat]

My personal philosophy is that, if I have to ask "can I tow this", then I need a bigger truck.

I've got my family in the truck with me. Everything that is precious to me is sitting either beside me or behind me. To me, it's worth investing a little more in a truck that will overwhelm the camper in every way.

We had a Sierra 1500 that could technically tow our 27BHS. But the reality was that it really couldn't do it safely. Now we have an F350 diesel. I don't feel semi's. I barely feel wind. I have 100% confidence that I can tow over mountains and stop that camper in an emergency.

[TheB2B]

Another way to look at this is, say you have a car that will go 100MPH flat out, foot to the floor max RPM. Now would you drive it at 100 MPH hours on end? How long would you expect this car to last?
Last truck I had, like I stated earlier, towed top end plus, lets see it was on it's third set of ball joints, second set of tie rod ends, second set of front axle barrings, had a start up main bearing knock and all with less than 100,000 miles.
Just for complete disclosure it was a 02 Dakota with the heavy duty suspension package.Had a 1,750 lb payload rating and 5,000 lb tow rating and 4.7 liter overhead cam V8. Great truck, rust free, strong motor but I ran it like a dog, right into the ground. My first truck, first love, wasn't very nice to her.