First camper stupid questions

[CND Supercrew]

So you have 1385 payload, this is how your numbers work.
1385 minus any cargo you add into the truck. This includes you, passengers and cargo, and hitch. Plus tongue weight of the trailer.
Take your trailers GVWR, multiple that by 0.13 will give you your max tongue weight.
You will be surprised at how fast that 1385 gets chipped away.

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[bgalakazam]

Payload is usually the limiting factor. I don't have the tow packages, so I am "limited" to 7,000lbs towing. However, I would first hit payload limit than max out the 7,000lbs. And I got:

They really want HD for towing anything family size. I got 5 people right now. Good luck!

 

[UGADawg96]

I am looking at buying a used camper and this will be a first to me. I have never towed much outside of a small landscape trailer.

Here is a good video explaining payload and towing specs if you haven't seen it:

 

[m_bt54]

Lots of great info. Thanks everyone! Looks like I have the tow technology package but, as I thought, no max tow.

 

[UGADawg96]

Lots of great info. Thanks everyone! Looks like I have the tow technology package but, as I thought, no max tow.

Here is the 2021 towing guide

 

[UGADawg96]

So you have 1385 payload, this is how your numbers work.
1385 minus any cargo you add into the truck. This includes you, passengers and cargo, and hitch. Plus tongue weight of the trailer.
Take your trailers GVWR, multiple that by 0.13 will give you your tongue weight.
You will be surprised at how fast that 1385 gets chipped away.

Lots of great info. Thanks everyone! Looks like I have the tow technology package but, as I thought, no max tow.

Max tow doesn't provide any help when towing a Travel Trailer due to payload. @CND Supercrew is correct, your towing limitations will be based on payload.

 

[m_bt54]

Here is a good video explaining payload and towing specs if you haven't seen it:

This is very helpful. Thanks!

 

[Cobraman428]

I have Platinum with 1323 #s payload, but I added a bedliner w/mat, hard tonneau cover, & steel skid plate. All that takes aways from my payload number. I took my truck to a Cat Scale and with a full tank of fuel and nobody in it. Its 6180 #s. 7350 (GVWR like yours) - 6180 #s = 1170 #s. 1170 is my new payload number. Now I have to added me,wife,dog, hitch+bars, cargo in the truck for trips. Now I'm down to around 650 #s left for my trailer until I put the WDS bars on. I have a 4400 #s gvwr travel trailer. Tongue weight is around 575#s when I'm loaded. Also remember when you add batteries/Full LP tanks, bike rack or anything to the front of the trailer your tongue weight increases. Good luck.

 

[m_bt54]

I have Platinum with 1323 #s payload, but I added a bedliner w/mat, hard tonneau cover, & steel skid plate. All that takes aways from my payload number. I took my truck to a Cat Scale and with a full tank of fuel and nobody in it. Its 6180 #s. 7350 (GVWR like yours) - 6180 #s = 1170 #s. 1170 is my new payload number. Now I have to added me,wife,dog, hitch+bars, cargo in the truck for trips. Now I'm down to around 650 #s left for my trailer until I put the WDS bars on. I have a 4400 #s gvwr travel trailer. Tongue weight is around 575#s when I'm loaded. Also remember when you add batteries/Full LP tanks, bike rack or anything to the front of the trailer your tongue weight increases. Good luck.

Ha thanks. Seems like I need it. Luckily all I’ve added is a soft tonneau cover and the bed liner was sprayed in from the factory. Wish I knew I would be looking to tow when I bought the truck!

 

[Aron]

I am looking at buying a used camper and this will be a first to me. I have never towed much outside of a small landscape trailer. I didn’t get “max tow” because I didn’t plan on towing (which I am obviously now regretting). When I check Ford’s tool it shows that I can tow 7000 lbs with 700lb max tounge load (of course the first camper I looked at was like 6k lbs but had 790 hitch weight so I assume that is a no go). I found a used 2012 Keystone Bullet 26BHPR that weights just over 5k lbs and has a hitch weight of 645. This should work tight? What else am I missing?

Also would appreciate any input on what I should be checking for on a used camper other than roof leaks and that things work. (but understand this is a truck forum and not a camper one). Are there campgrounds that won’t allow a 10+ year old camper even if it’s in great condition?

One significant advantage that you have here is that it's a USED trailer; you can get the actual tongue weight with a typical load rather than relying upon the manufacturer's published dry tongue weight, which is usually WAAAAY too low (it's measuring the trailer without ANYTHING in it--not even the legally required battery). Once you add typical gear on your trailer (battery, propane tanks, water, clothes, dishes, food, bedding, etc.), the tongue weight will likely be a good deal heavier than the published dry weight.

Once you know the actual tongue weight, you can use that to help you with all of the other payload discussion that everybody else is talking about.

 

[Aron]

Also would appreciate any input on what I should be checking for on a used camper other than roof leaks and that things work. (but understand this is a truck forum and not a camper one). Are there campgrounds that won’t allow a 10+ year old camper even if it’s in great condition?

Now to focus on the second part of your question. A trailer forum would probably give you a more comprehensive answer, but I'll try to get you started:

As you mentioned, water leaks seem to be the most problematic of potential trailer failure modes, since if there's much uncorrected water damage for too long, it can really rot the trailer apart and end up a total loss--it's often really costly to replace some of the bigger wall/roof pieces. Minor cosmetic damage can be fixed, but if water gets into it, that'll turn a solvable problem into a major one.

Other than that, check to see if the plumbing and electrical systems are all in working order, and crawl under it to check out the steel frame/axle/wheel components for signs of rust significant enough to be a traveling safety issue. Make sure that the trailer safety lights/brakes wiring is working properly.

I've never heard of a campground denying a trailer based upon age; heck, if it's in good condition, that would look "newer" than a poorly-maintained 3-4 year old trailer.

 

[dmeyer302]

I would encourage OP to take 2-3 trips, short in duration and close in location, before taking off cross-country on your big summer vacation. There is a LOT involved in camping, even outside of the towing issues. You have to learn what accessories you need and develop a system, but you don't want to mess up your big vacation doing it.

 

[Chappy133]

My experience of towing campers with two different F 150s with and without the weight distribution hitch (WDH) is I will not tow without one. IMHO the WDH improves the towing control. My first travel trailer all I had was sway control. Bought a bigger model and it came with a WDH. The ride and control is greatly improved. I tow a Livin Lite 21 RBS with a GVWR 5468 lbs.

 

[Calson]

You are far from being alone in first buying a truck and then deciding on a camper that is too heavy. The tongue load is in part a factor of the factory hitch which can be upgraded. If the load causes the rear to sag you can add SuperSprings or other overload springs or may be able to add a Ford leaf are the rear axle. My Max Tow has two leaf springs instead of one.

In general it is better to buy a truck set up for towing even if you never use all the features. I got a truck with the 3.55 gears and the 36 gallon gas tank as well as the Max Tow features. The 36-gallon gas tank was the primary reason I bought a Ford F-150.

 

[Calson]

I would also double check the hitch and WDH requirements for your truck. My Max Tow truck has a sticker tow capacity of 14,000 lbs but the load capacity of the factory hitch is much less than that - go figure. If I was going to tow a 14,000 lb trailer load I would need to replace the factory hitch. Actually at that load weight I would go with a F-350.

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