Is this travel trailer too much to tow???

[jsking912]

I have a 2007 sport trac limited v8 4x4. The manual says that my max towing capacity is 6700 lbs. I am looking at a keystone bullet 281. it is 31 feet long and dry wieght is 5100 lbs. I really like this trailer, but i am just really really nerveous on getting it because of the weight and the lenth. does anyone out there have ANY suggestions at all? Is this too much for my truck? any help is appreciated!!!

 

[GSU4x4]

I'll chime in on gas mileage...its gonna suck...bad! I don't know if you'll be able to pull that (by the manual you should), but I towed 850 lbs + trailer weight (maybe 400 lbs??) and i got 10.5 mpg on the highway with my 07 V8 4x4
...on a side note I do have larger tires than stock, 265/70r16 general grabbers

 

[NotATruckGuy]

My Advice

The manual has specs for every option; don't assume you have that option just because it's in the manual. Check your window sticker if you kept it, or call the dealer, give them your VIN and ask what you have. The capacity should be on a sticker attached to the hitch. My '07 V-8 Limited hitch has a max tongue weight of 730 lbs. and a max trailer weight of 7300 lbs. I don't know how yours could be different unless it's aftermarket.

5100 lbs. is already above Class III limits, so you're almost certainly going to need the load balancing hardware. If the trailer weight rating of your hitch really is 6700 lbs, that gives you about 1500 lbs. that you can safely add to the net trailer weight. That's not very much!

If that's the case, plan on going on a strict diet. Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils. Completely empty the potable, waste and gray water tanks, and leave the propane tanks behind before you travel. Water weighs about 8.4 lbs. per gallon, so the water tanks alone can add nearly a thousand pounds all by themselves. Don't forget any drinks that you might bring along. In short, if your hitch is what the manual says, don't plan on using the trailer for anything until you're unhitched and hooked up to utilities. Plan on packing your clothes into luggage, and carry them in the back seat, and do other things to keep the gross trailer weight under control. Just don't exceed the maximum gross weight (don't forget to add the tongue weight) for the tow vehicle in the process!

If it's really 7300 lbs. that gives you another 600 pounds. That should give you enough leeway to carry a single propane tank and a few gallons of water while you drive; just enough that you can use the trailer at rest areas and other places without facilities. Just don't get lazy and let the weight rise. No matter what, I see frequent trips to the scales in your future if you buy this thing.

As for the length, you're going to be as long as a semi, so extended side mirrors and very careful driving and route planning are mandatory. So is renting "The Long, Long Trailer" starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (1953). You might want to watch it before you make the decision to buy your trailer. :

 

[jsking912]

thanks for the advice guys...im kinda leaning away from that trailer. that just seems like a little too much. I dont really want to have to stress about how much weight I have in the trailer and such. Back to square one!

 

[GSU4x4]

dont get scared away from pulling something, my truck never hesitated while pulling anything. It always feels like there's more than enough power...but it drinks some gas to get that real power to show

 

[manaen]

could you tow it?, sure. Will it handle well? probably not. You cannot go by the dry weight of the trailer. With 5100lbs on the sticker I would bet you will be close to 6100lbs loaded with your gear/food. You need to check your door sticker (not your manual) to see what GCWR is on your truck. The manual cannot tell you what gears you have, engine/tranny combo etc... Ford puts the GCWR on the door sticker which tells you the max total capacity of trailer and truck. Then you really need to weigh your truck empty add in all the people and gear and then subtract that from the GCWR that will leave you with a real world trailer tow rating.

not only is the weight going to be a close you are also towing a long 31' trailer with a very short wheelbase truck. When the wind picks up or you start to slide in the rain and you need to correct things there will be little margin of error. When towing a trailer that long I would want a longer wheel base (like F150 or higher preferably quad cab).

 

[BigV]

I have thought the same thing about towing a trailer I would not suggest it for long hauls. If this is something you really want to do I would recommend upgrading your vehicle.

 

[NotATruckGuy]

Specs

The '07-'10 ST LTD V-8 comes from the factory with 3.55 gears.

The GCWR of the '07-'10 ST LTD V-8 is 10,000 lbs. Net wet weight is ~4100 lbs.

The Keystone 281BHS has a net weight of 5110 lbs., and a carrying capacity of 2405 lbs. That's a gross weight of 7515 lbs.

My factory installed receiver has a Class IV rating of 7300 lbs. for the trailer, and a 730 lb. tongue weight. That means that the 281BHS must be AT LEAST 215 lbs. below its max gross weight.

My '07 ST LTD V-8 has a GVWR somewhere over 6000 lbs. (I took a photo, and managed to chop off part of the number); I recall it being something like 64xx. To be conservative, let's call it 6100 lbs. and make the carrying capacity about 2000 lbs.

The tongue weight of the 281BHS is 515 lbs., so you could carry as much as 1500 lbs. in the truck itself with the trailer attached. Personally I wouldn't carry nearly that much. And to minimize the "headlights pointed at the sky" effect (not to be confused with the rude custom of light truck/SUV drivers pointing their headlights at eye level, which is a different matter) I'd try to put most of that weight inside the cab, not in the bed.

 

[jsking912]

ahh...decisions, decisions. any way, thanks again for all of the advice.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Don't forget the other often forgotten variable...

Can you STOP it quickly going downhill if you needed to...

And I second the video. That movie is classic...

Like this one:

 

[jsking912]

HAHAHAHA....i dont think it would be quite that bad...thanks for the vid. lol

 

[manaen]

GCWR of 10,000 lbs - (UVW) 4100 - (UTW) 5110 = 790 lbs

790 lbs for 4 people and gear is not going to cut it (even 2 people will easily top 1000lbs). You are packing for a vacation, with food, clothes and all the toys you need when you get there. There is NO WAY you will come in under the GCWR with that trailer. let's not even talk about the gross under estimate most trailers have on their UTW. Then there is Fuel, Fluids, Gas, Battery(trailer) etc...

GVWR overhead of 1500lbs means nothing you need to be under both GVWR and GCWR. If you are going to give advice on towing, know what the heck your talking about. I don't care what you do with your own life when dealing with others caution should be taken.

 

[jsking912]

just a quick update. Hooked up to my father-in-laws 29' Wilderness travel trailer loaded. apx. 6300 lbs. or so, and the good ole' sport trac had no problems pulling it. did not seem to even skip a beat. went and found the biggest hills we could find and it did fine. Took it on the hwy and ran at 65 for about 10 miles or so. Does not look like its going to be a big problem i dont think.. thanks again for everyones advice and help!

 

[jsking912]

and the GCWR is 12,000 lbs.

 

[NotATruckGuy]

Common Sense

I have to say that manaen's post makes a lot of sense. There's nothing, and I mean NOTHING worth losing your life for. Choose a smaller, lighter trailer for the sake of you and your family. The risk just isn't worth it. Stay in-bounds; stay safe and live another day.

 

[manaen]

jsking912... I would highly recommend that if you are going to tow close to your GVWR that you pay special attention to your transmission. In the least I would add a temp gauge. However depending how many miles you have you may want to think about complete fluid change to a full synthetic mercon V replacement and an EPC valve. Also a shift kit with the heavy towing springs will greatly decrease heat in your tranny. An additional (larger) stacked plate cooler may be required depending on towing terrain and temperature, but you wont know until you get the temp gauge installed. Keep in mind also that maintenance intervals are cut in half with heavy duty use. Don't mess around with a wimpy brake controller go with a high end tekonsha controller I have used a lot of brands and they IMHO are tops. Most of all after all that, enjoy your purchase and stay safe! Camping is a very rewarding family activity, my family remembers our camping trips above all others.

 

[JohnnyO]

Does your Trac have the factory Class III hitch?