Purchasing Travel Trailer

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Oct 10, 2011 | 08:13 PM

#16

BradM

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Towing a 25' Jayco dry weight of 5300 But loaded with water and gear we easily hit 6800. Towed it previously with a 07 Tahoe worked fine. Never really comfortable but that was more a wheelbase issue over power etc.

Using the same weight distributing hitch w/ the addition of a sway control arm on the '11 150 w/ the 5l the trailer just disappears. It pulls this rig with no drama or issues over the Cascades and back down. Mpg does drop to around 11 at 70 but if I keep below 65 I see 14.

Pushing the limits is rarely a good idea, if I needed to tow 8k I'd have stepped up to a bigger truck instead of pushing the envolope. Good hitch setup right and the smaller rig you will be very happy.

Oct 10, 2011 | 09:09 PM

#17

dilas

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 498

Likes: 18

From: Santa Fe

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFaninMD

Thanks guys! I've been doing more thinking and probably will lay off of this deal. There is a trailer that is 6 feet shorter (28 feet long), 1500 LBS lighter (Dry Weight 5600 LBS) and 200 LBS lighter on the tongue (645 LBS Hitch Weight) that is made by the same manufacturer with almost the same layout. I feel more comfortable with towing a 5600 LBS trailer with this truck than the 7300 LBS.

How do these numbers look to you guys? They look more in the range of a healthy F150 type trailer?

YES, much better. Driving with travel trailer can be stressful at times, especially in the mountains climbing steeps. Towing at near limit, no no for me. I've been doing this for a while, trust me.

Oct 12, 2011 | 05:31 PM

#18

FordFaninMD

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Thanks for all the advice folks! So I get a call from my Ford dealership and they give me the price for the OEM IBC (Integrated Brake Controller) and they want $553 to provide and install the controller.

The RV dealership will install an aftermarket controller for $161, but they want me to pay $553 for the OEM part? She then goes on to say that if I install an aftermarket brake controller, then it will void the 36 month 36K miles warranty.

Is she right about the warranty? Does the price sound right? Being I can find the IBC for about 200 bucks, I would install the IBC myself, but I have read that Ford has to reprogram the computer chip to see the controller. Any input on that?

Oct 12, 2011 | 05:46 PM

#19

kmonty2

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,318

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From: Sterling Heights, MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFaninMD

Go with the Ford one. This way if something happens then it is there fault and they have to cover anything that gets damaged as far as the wiring is concerned. To save a few hundred bucks is not worth the safety of your family and others on the road. Also not sure if it's true, but have heard it is illegal to tow a TT without a break controller installed and working properly. Plus you have peice of mind that it is installed and working correctly.

Oct 12, 2011 | 07:30 PM

#20

BradM

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Joined: Oct 2011

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Your dealer is screwing you. The integrated TBC price should be $240 @ MSRP across the parts counter. Install is easy (think there is a sticky here on how) but when we bought ours we had the dealer install it as it wasn't already there, took the dealer 30 minutes of time.

But go with the oem it will work then with the built in sway control the trucks traction control sysyems, most aftermarket will not.

Good luck

Oct 12, 2011 | 07:51 PM

#21

FordFaninMD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BradM

Your dealer is screwing you.

Why is that not a surprise.

Thanks Brad. I'm going to shop around and look at my options on the part and install. I would do the install myself...but do I need to get the dealer to modify the chip to make anything work?

Oct 12, 2011 | 07:53 PM

#22

shorebird

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach, Ms.

I just read through this thread.
Yes more power/less weight means easier towing.
The limit for the truck is 10,000# max total weight of the trailer with gear.
The tongue weight is totally controllable.
Simply move things forward or behind the axles of the trailer to get more or less tongue weight.
The tongue weight should be 10%-15% of the trailer weight.
See this link to see how to weigh tongue weight with a bathroom scale;
Tips on How To Tow a Trailer | etrailer.com

As for the brake controller;
I would get a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller
Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller - Proportional Tekonsha Brake Controller 90885

I pull a 32" Pioneer with the van in my signature.
Weight distributing hitch and sway control. Prodigy brake controller.
[IMG]<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NuE4_aOf5qhzliONzJPeUIdfSvtQrU18jh0lq6oYqZE?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_rUmpEPXlGI/TpY3f_DwBYI/AAAAAAAAAIs/gUCdTCXSpBk/s640/summer%252520%25252704%252520048.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/117171650564817422104/DropBox?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKKH-7vMpYfT-AE&feat=embedwebsite">Drop Box</a></td></tr></table>[/IMG]

Oct 12, 2011 | 08:23 PM

#23

BradM

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Joined: Oct 2011

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFaninMD

Why is that not a surprise.

Thanks Brad. I'm going to shop around and look at my options on the part and install. I would do the install myself...but do I need to get the dealer to modify the chip to make anything work?

Just about plug and play as you can get. If you have a tow package the truck will recognize it without anything other than plugging it in the connector behind the current little dash pocket.

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Oct 13, 2011 | 06:36 AM

#24

FordFaninMD

Thread Starter

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Joined: Mar 2010

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BradM

Just about plug and play as you can get. If you have a tow package the truck will recognize it without anything other than plugging it in the connector behind the current little dash pocket.

Cool! I was worried that Ford would have to modify the chip. I have the FX4 model and it includes the Trailer Tow Package (Not the Max Tow). The FX4 model has the center console, and per the instructions that came with the truck wiring harness, I have to remove the center console to get to the dash where the IBC would go. If that's all that is involved, then I will be doing this myself. Thanks Brad! I'm gonna be one happy camper.

Oct 13, 2011 | 07:27 AM

#25

curtw48

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 154

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From: Alvin, Texas, usa

Unless something has changed recently, they WILL have to reconfigure the computer at the dealership in order for the IBC to work. I have not heard of anyone just installing it and the computer recognize it immediately.

Oct 13, 2011 | 12:37 PM

#26

Tylus

MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 11,606

Likes: 149

From: SE Georgia

even if they have to change the "as built" data in the Inst. Cluster...htat is only 30 minutes of time at max. so say $50 (based on 100/hr labor).

I would install the controller myself and see if it works. if not, then visit a Stealership who charges normal rates.

OEM over aftermarket IMO. Even if it costs a little bit more, you'll have a better install and the whole system is designed to work with the truck