can I tow this

STRETCH · 04-24-2018, 02:57 PM

I have a 2018 F 150 with the max tow package and a payload of 1790. If I go into the Ford towing guide for 2018 it says I can pull 10700. Will I be safe with a set up of using this rig along with a blue ox 1500 lb WD hitch and pulling a 2018 Whitehawk 31RL.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Chris

morleyz · 04-24-2018, 03:07 PM

You didn't mention what engine, cab and box you have. What is the max tongue weight of the truck? Finally, is the 1790 payload number from the guide or from your door sticker?

bluie5 · 04-24-2018, 03:07 PM

Check your payload numbers. Payload number-passengers weights=what payload is left over for hitch weight. The what you can pull number is meaningless. That Whitehawk fully loaded is over 9000 pounds. Tounge weight is going to be over 1000 pounds.

Siamese · 04-24-2018, 03:15 PM

Ditto on payload. Do the calculations. I will venture that the F-150 is an unlikely tow vehicle for that trailer, but the numbers will say for sure.

wags999 · 04-24-2018, 03:37 PM

You always run out of cargo capacity long before you run out of towing capacity. On your drivers door jamb you should have a yellow sticker that will give you the cargo capacity of your truck as built. Deduct passenger, all cargo in the truck, your hitch and the tongue weight of the trailer. Tongue weight will be on your trailer, but you need to add for propane, batteries and cargo in the trailer. Typically about 12% of trailer weight is tongue weight.. At 9000 lbs you could have a tongue weight of about 1100 lbs..not leaving a whole lot for the rest of the cargo. Numbers will always tell the truth.

Good Luck..

Subaru297 · 04-24-2018, 03:40 PM

That trailer has a GVWR of 9250lbs and a dry weight of 7560lbs. Lets assume you only load 1000lbs worth of stuff so you are loaded for camping at 8500lbs.

8500lbs x 0.13 = 1105lbs of tongue weight

Payload of 1790-1105-100(hitch)-150 (driver)-150 (passenger)=285lbs left over

You will technically be under on payload unless you load up to your trailers GVWR or throw anything in the truck like a bunch of tools or another passenger. The truck will do it but it probably won't be an enjoyable tow. It won't be very stable in my opinion.

Oh and as mentioned above please confirm if that payload number is from your door sticker or a Ford brochure. They can be very different.

Cheers

RogerR · 04-24-2018, 04:31 PM

It's a personal thing, but I like a lot of leeway on capacity. Whether it is braking, axles, tires, engine or transmission. At least 20% or more.

After a year or two your tires, brakes, etc. will all have degraded a little from factory specifications.

Pulling something that is on the max leaves no room for error by you or the manufacturer of every component.

Also, you plan to only load it below the limit, but weight creeps up, bigger batteries, solar, food for a longer stay, more pots and pans, clothes, tools. The list of what can creep into the load is endless.

( and of course, remember Lucy's rock collection on their camping trip? LOL)

STRETCH · 04-24-2018, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerR

It's a personal thing, but I like a lot of leeway on capacity. Whether it is braking, axles, tires, engine or transmission. At least 20% or more.

After a year or two your tires, brakes, etc. will all have degraded a little from factory specifications.

Pulling something that is on the max leaves no room for error by you or the manufacturer of every component.

Also, you plan to only load it below the limit, but weight creeps up, bigger batteries, solar, food for a longer stay, more pots and pans, clothes, tools. The list of what can creep into the load is endless.

( and of course, remember Lucy's rock collection on their camping trip? LOL)

The truck has the 157" wheelbase, that's the 6'6" bed. The 3.5 echoboost . And the door sticker says 1790

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STRETCH · 04-24-2018, 05:32 PM

Here are my door stickers

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STRETCH · 04-24-2018, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STRETCH

Here are my door stickers

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These are the weights from jayco's website

WEIGHTS
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs)*7560
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs)*810
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs)*9250
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs)*1690

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STRETCH · 04-24-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morleyz

You didn't mention what engine, cab and box you have. What is the max tongue weight of the truck? Finally, is the 1790 payload number from the guide or from your door sticker?

Supercrew

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Jay Dreamer · 04-24-2018, 05:45 PM

Chris,

IMO that's too much trailer for your current truck.

I'd only purchase the trailer if you're capable to jump to a 3/4 ton if you found you needed to. If you can't bump up the TV in a pinch I'd downsize the trailer.

TheB2B · 04-24-2018, 05:51 PM

I have towed at the top end of a trucks limit, and a bit beyond. Not a lot of fun unless you like to abuse your trucks engine, transmission, tires, rear end, and suspension then go for it. Not to mention any time your passed by a truck, and you will be, either going the same way or opposite direction on a two lane highway uh, hang on your going to be pushed around. As RogerR stated, need to maintain 20% overhead, I have that plus and it is a much more enjoyable and safe tow now.
Lastly make sure your WDH is properly setup so your truck is equally squated front to rear and trailer sits level. If you need to purchase set of air assist bags for the rear end, no this doesn't increase your payload just helps balance out the excessive weight.

GrumpyDad · 04-24-2018, 06:33 PM

I figure when I'm all loaded up for camping, I have somewhere around 900 lbs of tongue weight from my 7500lb trailer, plus another 600 lbs of family, firewood, generator and other gear in the truck. I've done it with a half ton, and it works, and I've done with with a 3/4 ton, and it works better. The closer you are to your ratings, the more carefully you have to watch your weights, and the more you'll have to move your cargo around, and adjust everything to make it pull "right".

Modern half-tons are amazing machines, but as everyone above noted, payload is usually the limiting factor. I went with a 3/4 ton for my current truck for ease of setup.

FeatherFam · 04-24-2018, 06:39 PM

I am an "extra leeway" guy, too. Can and should are two different questions. I would not tow this trailer with a 1/2 ton, just me. I know plenty would and do, but I am not one of them. For safety, vehicle wear and tear, and trip comfort reasons, I do not pursue the performance margins of my vehicles.

morleyz · 04-24-2018, 06:39 PM

I would say you're likely to stay within the specs of your truck. Usually the biggest worries on the 1/2 tons is cargo capacity and tongue weight, but without a lot of effort, you should be below both of those and can safely tow that trailer. I'm of the opinion that you can safely tow up to the specs of your vehicle.

That being said...not sure what your typical haul is going to be. Would I want to take that rig up and down the mountains? Probably not. Would I feel just fine towing it a few hundred miles here and there over mostly flat ground, definitely. I towed my White Hawk 30DSRE with a short wheel base Yukon and never had any problems. I also towed it with my F-250 and it was definitely a nicer tow with the 3/4 ton.

Scott_Trailer_Newbe · 04-24-2018, 06:53 PM

Trust me, my Trundra CewMax is right up there, rated at 10,400 (my specific truck), with a tung rating of 1,400. I’ve installed Bilstein towing shocks and Firestone Air Bags as well. My 2018 WH 28RL is the biggest I would go before going 3/4 ton truck.

My recommendation if it’s a new Truck, go with the 28RL, which I think you can tow ok.

Moseh · 04-25-2018, 05:08 AM

I did what you probably did... bought a 2017 F150, super crew, max tow, 6.5 bed...and then a 2017 travel trailer. If I had it to over again, I would buy the trailer first, and get an F250 or F350, but it is what it is. I loaded everything, and went to the CAT scale. I was about 100 lbs over payload. In February, I hauled it a total of about 2500 miles. The truck pulled like a champ. My only issue was that in windy conditions I get pretty white- knuckled. I'm considering a ProPride or a Hensley hitch, which would fix that (expensively), but since I'm already at payload max, and those hitches are heavy, I haven't taken the plunge.

FeatherFam · 04-25-2018, 06:28 AM

The other thing to think about is the long-term impact on the TV. These "halfers" may pull fine or even strong for the first 50-100K (maybe), but where are they down the road (drivetrain, suspension, chassis) after heavy use with towing at or near their margins. Their numbers are impressive on paper, but they are still 1/2 tons.

Rustic Eagle · 04-25-2018, 08:18 AM

Chris (STRETCH),

Welcome to JOF

A brief visit to your local CAT scale will minimize some of the weight guess work.

Take your F-150 under loaded conditions (full fuel, passengers, etc.) to a CAT scale and weigh it (3 minutes and $9).

Subtract the CAT weight (add any cargo weight not accounted for at the CAT) from your F-150's specified GVWR. The remaining weight is your actual "available" cargo capacity....., for a WDH and TT loaded tongue weight.

Also, keep in mind that the Jayco web site/published Whitehawk 31RL dry weight of 7,560lbs isn't the actual factory ship weight (closer to 8,000lbs), refer to the 'yellow sticker' attached to the RV for the actual UVW ship weight.

Bob

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