Ontario to Mrytle beach 1500km (~900 miles) towing 7000lb trailer with 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost Max Tow

[minirx7]

I don't know about a '22, but with '23s (my 23 F-150 Plat and a 23 Super Duty Lariat on YouTube) the Lane Centering and BlueCruise are disabled when towing. I hope that makes you feel a little better for not getting it.

Wow really? Mine is not and this is even while the truck is in two mode and I have the latest software. I use it all the time

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[kevdog0710]

Interesting setup.

I did a much longer trip from Toronto to PA, Washington DC, Virginial Beach through the Carolinas, then orlando florida (Disney), back through Pigeon Forge through NY back to Toronto last year for a total of 5600kms in 3.5 weeks.

I have a Lariat 3.5EB SCREW 4x4 with Max Tow, 20" wheels, and 2KW genny with 502 package. Payload is 1,729lbs. Towed a 267BHS (same length and similar weigth as you), but with 5 bikes in the bed.

No issues on the drive - in fact lane keep assist worked around 80% of the time. No sway (equalizer hitch). Overally completely comfortable ride.

Craziest trip i have every done in my life.

I have the Equalizer. Super easy once setup the way you want it

 

[Pelican]

Thankful with the help of this forum I was able to spec my truck to ensure I had enough payload - 1843lbs because with my old f150 I was pushing or over the limit. My new truck with max tow and 3.55 gear ratio has a rating of 14,000lbs towing but reality is I would hit payload limit well below that even with my high payload rating.

As @Snakebitten highlights, options add up fast. You have a Lariat vs my xlt so you have a lot of payload eating options (though very nice to have when u aren't towing). For example - these are just high level estimates and are off a bit but on this forum there is a great list of payload hit per option
- Pano roof - 80lbs
- tailgate step - 45 lbs
- power running boards - 30 lbs
- navigation as part of copilot assist -8 lbs
- depending on stereo u got - 30 lbs
- adjustable gas/brake pedals - 8 lbs.

Any factory add on - bed liner, wheel covers etc also take away from payload.

So all the nice things you get with a Lariat do hit the payload but you get to enjoy them on a daily basis. As mentioned above I really regret not getting a few options that my Lariat owning friends have and highlight to me everytime I get in their trucks.

Because of this forum and having owned an under-payload truck before, I ended up learning a lot more of the details for this order which far exceeded what the salesperson knew and who quoted the 14,000lb towing capacity constantly! Also using Chandler's voice from friends - "Could Ford make towing calculations ANY MORE difficult?"

Lots of really good people on this forum know the calcs better than me and I am not giving recommendations but will share how I did my own if it helps (rightly or wrongly - lots will say payload is only an estimate that trucks can handle lots more or there are different ways to calc)

- 7000lbs *13% =910 lbs
- hitch - 100lbs
- wife and I plus a dog - 400lbs

Total before anything else in the truck is 1410 lbs. For us, that leaves 433 lbs for cargo in the truck - generator, bikes, luggage etc. For us that gives us lots of room. Again this is what I used and I am not suggesting it is the only way.

Hope that helps.

Why not remove the pano, get a sheet of plexi and some duct tape? Bingo, bango, payload back up. While you're at it, remove the unused seats and worthless carpeting. ?

 

[Buyer2021]

Carefully selective options restraint is the key to payload IMO, and that doesn't mean sacrificing things to 'bare bones' by any means. My 2022 Lariat 4x4 is very nicely equipped with conveniences while also delivering generous payload / towing capabilities .....

Every mile brings a smile

 

[KGibson87]

I am looking into a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH with the same truck. 22' 3.5L eco boost with max tow and same axle ratio.

Am I going too heavy with the hitch weight of 785lbs. and a dry weight of 6386lbs?

We have southern Alberta winds...sometimes you are hitting 70km/h (45mph) winds. That would be the max I'd be comfortable with. Family of 4 with 2 dogs so we are hauling a kennel, bikes, fishing gear etc.

I think I'll be fine but just wanting some outside opinions.

 

[Davexxxx]

I am looking into a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH with the same truck. 22' 3.5L eco boost with max tow and same axle ratio.

Am I going too heavy with the hitch weight of 785lbs. and a dry weight of 6386lbs?

We have southern Alberta winds...sometimes you are hitting 70km/h (45mph) winds. That would be the max I'd be comfortable with. Family of 4 with 2 dogs so we are hauling a kennel, bikes, fishing gear etc.

I think I'll be fine but just wanting some outside opinions.

I will bet long green, that your hitch weight will be significantly higher, even empty. Published hitch weights, are notoriously lower than reality.

The 3.5 won't have a problem. Payload and as you rightly consider, wind loads, will be the things to consider.

Our camper is just shy of 30' and ~7,000 lbs. loaded. Pulling it isn't a problem, steering isn't a problem, nor is braking but I can't load the bed up with a lot of extras and maintain proper weight and on a windy day, it is felt.

 

[Northguy]

I am looking into a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH with the same truck. 22' 3.5L eco boost with max tow and same axle ratio.

Am I going too heavy with the hitch weight of 785lbs. and a dry weight of 6386lbs?

We have southern Alberta winds...sometimes you are hitting 70km/h (45mph) winds. That would be the max I'd be comfortable with. Family of 4 with 2 dogs so we are hauling a kennel, bikes, fishing gear etc.

I think I'll be fine but just wanting some outside opinions.

You need to look at your payload on your door jam. I spec'd my truck very carefully to end up with 1850 lbs (I did go with max tow and 20" tires which reduced my payload). Your 6400 lb trailer likely comes close to 7000 to 7400 lbs once it is filled with everything. Use 13% of trailer so payload will be 910 to 960 lbs (you want a good amount of wt on the truck - distributed properly back and front to prevent sway). Then add about 100lbs for hitch - call it 1050 on your truck. If you have 1800lbs of payload that leaves u with 750lbs for the 4 humans, dog, and everything else in the truck including aftermarket mods. Now just telling you the math - depends what u are comfortable with and the distance driving, mtns etc. All individual choice. Just wish salespeople of both trailers and trucks would talk about payload vs towing capacity. Towing capacity is just about useless for towing travel trailers.

I know about the Alberta winds as I drove my truck from Ontario to Vancouver and back (wo the trailer). Hit those winds on the way out. After lots of experience pulling a 30ft trailer with a f150, I would pull over and park leaside of a building and wait it out. If I hit winds like that with a trailer. Uncontrolled sway would be a bigger issue than payload.

Good luck.

Trailer does look awesome btw.

 

[minirx7]

I am looking into a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH with the same truck. 22' 3.5L eco boost with max tow and same axle ratio.

Am I going too heavy with the hitch weight of 785lbs. and a dry weight of 6386lbs?

We have southern Alberta winds...sometimes you are hitting 70km/h (45mph) winds. That would be the max I'd be comfortable with. Family of 4 with 2 dogs so we are hauling a kennel, bikes, fishing gear etc.

I think I'll be fine but just wanting some outside opinions.

Nice rig. I remember looking that when i was looking at RV's back in 21. I was way too worried about weigths to even consider a 2800BH, so i went with a Jayco 267BHS (GVWR 7000lbs).

My F150 was order custom with Lariat 502A 4x4 SCREW with max tow and 2kw propower. Dealer wanted to throw in FX4, B&O upgrade, dual roof etc, but i declined all of it even though it was free. As such my payload is 1729lbs which is the highest i have ever seen on similar equipped Lariat configurations.

Since then, i did a trip from Ontario to Virginia Beach to Disney world to pigeon forge and back to onatario which was 5500kms. Also did ontario to PEI and back, and many other north american trips clocking in over 20,000kms. ALso note i never owend a truck or an RV in my life so all of this was new to me.

I was seriously worried bcuase of the fear of white knuckle driving and because rig is probably at my max payload. Honestly, super easy. Even in the smokey mountains, no problems at all with this configuration and even lane keep assist works on certain roads. Mind you i used to go around 65mph - 70mph on the highway but since then slowed it down as i burned out my hubs.

I am very comfortable wtih my rig even thoguh i was a newbie with no experience. Even in seirously high winds, the combo feels quite good (minor drift), and do make sure i dont put too much weight at the back of the RV.

Next trip this June is goign to go back to Pigeon forge from ONtario through west virrginia, then back through cedar point to ontario.

My advice, is dont over load, dont carry water, and dont drive too fast. Also do not forget to turn off the antisway in the vehicle features. That really messed me up in the beginning as the truck seeemed to battle with the sway in the hitch making the truck /rv woander on the highway.

 

[Gros Ventre]

It is common practice when using turbos to richen up the mixture to prevent detonation. Ford surely set the mixture at a clearly rich mixture to ensure a good life... at least to your next trade in.

 

[KGibson87]

You need to look at your payload on your door jam. I spec'd my truck very carefully to end up with 1850 lbs (I did go with max tow and 20" tires which reduced my payload). Your 6400 lb trailer likely comes close to 7000 to 7400 lbs once it is filled with everything. Use 13% of trailer so payload will be 910 to 960 lbs (you want a good amount of wt on the truck - distributed properly back and front to prevent sway). Then add about 100lbs for hitch - call it 1050 on your truck. If you have 1800lbs of payload that leaves u with 750lbs for the 4 humans, dog, and everything else in the truck including aftermarket mods. Now just telling you the math - depends what u are comfortable with and the distance driving, mtns etc. All individual choice. Just wish salespeople of both trailers and trucks would talk about payload vs towing capacity. Towing capacity is just about useless for towing travel trailers.

I know about the Alberta winds as I drove my truck from Ontario to Vancouver and back (wo the trailer). Hit those winds on the way out. After lots of experience pulling a 30ft trailer with a f150, I would pull over and park leaside of a building and wait it out. If I hit winds like that with a trailer. Uncontrolled sway would be a bigger issue than payload.

Good luck.

Trailer does look awesome btw.

Thanks for the advice! We are going a little smaller with the 2470BH. It's nicer on the payload. Going to add RAS suspension system on the lead springs and get an Equil-I-zer weight distribution hitch with anti sway.

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