Towing Heavy with an 05.
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Towing Heavy with an 05.
My wife found the camper that she just has to have! I like it too but its a little heavy for my liking. My truck is an 05 supercrew 5.4l, 5.5box,tow package. The trailer weighs 7000lb empty, so probobly 8000lb loaded up, with my 3.73 gears the manual says I'm good for 8700lbs. Is this going to kill my old truck or should it handle it? I have about 66000miles on the truck and I do all my maintenance religously. I won't be pulling through the mountains, but I do want to do a long holiday this summer (about 2500m) pulling through flat country.
Thanks Guys!
Thanks Guys!
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Joined: Jul 2006
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I think you answered your own question in your second sentence.
Can the truck pull it, yes. But there are many things to consider.
I have the same truck and recently purchased a camper that weighs 5300 lb dry. The one I really wanted was 6600 lb dry but by the time its loaded up, the camper and truck are pushing CGWR (which I believe is 15000 lbs). I want to take it somewhat easy on my truck.
Personally this weight sounds better pulled by a F250, but thats not always in everyones budget.
Good luck!!
Can the truck pull it, yes. But there are many things to consider.
I have the same truck and recently purchased a camper that weighs 5300 lb dry. The one I really wanted was 6600 lb dry but by the time its loaded up, the camper and truck are pushing CGWR (which I believe is 15000 lbs). I want to take it somewhat easy on my truck.
Personally this weight sounds better pulled by a F250, but thats not always in everyones budget.
Good luck!!
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My wife found the camper that she just has to have! I like it too but its a little heavy for my liking. My truck is an 05 supercrew 5.4l, 5.5box,tow package. The trailer weighs 7000lb empty, so probobly 8000lb loaded up, with my 3.73 gears the manual says I'm good for 8700lbs. Is this going to kill my old truck or should it handle it? I have about 66000miles on the truck and I do all my maintenance religously. I won't be pulling through the mountains, but I do want to do a long holiday this summer (about 2500m) pulling through flat country.
Thanks Guys!
Thanks Guys!
No, I don't have any stock in Aerolite, but i do have a Holiday Rambler trailer that is also built with aluminum, as are Dutchmen trailers, I believe.
BE SAFE
http://media.rvusa.com/library/2007_...brochure_1.pdf
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Happy Wife = Happy Life!
I also don't like pushing things to there limit so maybe a used 2011 ecoboost might end up in my driveway! I might even have the wife behind me on that b/c that would pull here new camper
I also don't like pushing things to there limit so maybe a used 2011 ecoboost might end up in my driveway! I might even have the wife behind me on that b/c that would pull here new camper
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I tow a 20' toy hauler w/ my 06 super crew. I'm probably close to 8k+ when fully loaded for a long weekend w/ two motorcycles, beer, gas, gear, beer, water, firewood, kids, dogs, beer, food, riding gear, beer and guns. I have the 3.73 gears along w/ the Edge programmer for the towing mode. I watch the tranny temp like a hawk. I also put a Mag-Hytec high capacity rear differential cover on. I also have air bags installed that I run at bout 50psi. It tows surprising good w/ all things considered. I've never felt like the tail was wagging the dog. I take it easy and don't try to break records on the long climbs.
I think in your case you are starting out w/ a high weight to begin with. So many people forget to take account for the weigh of the gear. My trailer holds 100 gallons of water and 20 gallons of gas in the fuel station - that's almost a thousand pounds right there. Add the beer and your really pushing it.
My next truck will be a diesel.... as soon as they figure out how to put a Cummins engine w/ an Allison tranny in a Ford body.
I think in your case you are starting out w/ a high weight to begin with. So many people forget to take account for the weigh of the gear. My trailer holds 100 gallons of water and 20 gallons of gas in the fuel station - that's almost a thousand pounds right there. Add the beer and your really pushing it.
My next truck will be a diesel.... as soon as they figure out how to put a Cummins engine w/ an Allison tranny in a Ford body.
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From: Michigan
As others have mentioned, you may find that air bags would help your situation, particularly if you notice sagging with the trailer hooked. Just for reference here is a link to the kit we offer for your truck, the kit is 59544. At least this way you can look over what all is involved with adding the air bags.
All of our bag kits come with everything needed to manually fill the bags, but we do offer on board air kits which allow you to control the bags from inside the cab and on the fly. If you decide to look into it more, let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
All of our bag kits come with everything needed to manually fill the bags, but we do offer on board air kits which allow you to control the bags from inside the cab and on the fly. If you decide to look into it more, let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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your 5.4 will handle the weight just fine. I think your truck body might be the issue. you want a new truck, that is fine, and the ecoboost might tow better than our 5.4's, but if your gonna spend that much money on a truck and you want to pull a camper, get a super duty.
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As others have mentioned, you may find that air bags would help your situation, particularly if you notice sagging with the trailer hooked. Just for reference here is a link to the kit we offer for your truck, the kit is 59544. At least this way you can look over what all is involved with adding the air bags.
All of our bag kits come with everything needed to manually fill the bags, but we do offer on board air kits which allow you to control the bags from inside the cab and on the fly. If you decide to look into it more, let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
All of our bag kits come with everything needed to manually fill the bags, but we do offer on board air kits which allow you to control the bags from inside the cab and on the fly. If you decide to look into it more, let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Not trying to hijack this thread, but would one need to add airbags if they used a W/D hitch?
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From: Michigan
Many people run both actually. They both have their benefits. Air bags offer a minimal amount of sway control but can have some ride quality benefits when loaded. Air bags are particularly nice if your weight varies as they can be easily adjusted and adjusted on the fly for various road conditions.
On the other hand I have seen many people run just bags or just WD hitch with great success. Not sure if that was the answer you were looking for or not. Did you have any specific questions?
On the other hand I have seen many people run just bags or just WD hitch with great success. Not sure if that was the answer you were looking for or not. Did you have any specific questions?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Mesa
When I had my Dodge 3500 and toyhauler the tounge weight was 1,200 pounds. I could actually lift the rear of the truck with the weight distributing hitch so the rear tires would loose traction.(or maybe the Cummins just had too much tq lol) Anyways the idea of the WD hitch is to spread some of the weight to the front of the tow vehicle.
You def want a WD hitch with sway control If the truck squats too much then think of air bags. What is the GVWR of the trailer? Go be that # even if it ends up weighing less.
You def want a WD hitch with sway control If the truck squats too much then think of air bags. What is the GVWR of the trailer? Go be that # even if it ends up weighing less.
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Trailer GVWR is 8700lbs, tounge is 805, The trailer does come with a wd hitch, but I don't know if it has sway control, I will ask.
When I had my Dodge 3500 and toyhauler the tounge weight was 1,200 pounds. I could actually lift the rear of the truck with the weight distributing hitch so the rear tires would loose traction.(or maybe the Cummins just had too much tq lol) Anyways the idea of the WD hitch is to spread some of the weight to the front of the tow vehicle.
You def want a WD hitch with sway control If the truck squats too much then think of air bags. What is the GVWR of the trailer? Go be that # even if it ends up weighing less.
You def want a WD hitch with sway control If the truck squats too much then think of air bags. What is the GVWR of the trailer? Go be that # even if it ends up weighing less.
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your 5.4 will handle the weight just fine. I think your truck body might be the issue. you want a new truck, that is fine, and the ecoboost might tow better than our 5.4's, but if your gonna spend that much money on a truck and you want to pull a camper, get a super duty.
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I also run the Edge, so I can moniter temps. I like the idea of the extra cap diff cover. I don't drink beer b/c whiskey is lighter!
I tow a 20' toy hauler w/ my 06 super crew. I'm probably close to 8k+ when fully loaded for a long weekend w/ two motorcycles, beer, gas, gear, beer, water, firewood, kids, dogs, beer, food, riding gear, beer and guns. I have the 3.73 gears along w/ the Edge programmer for the towing mode. I watch the tranny temp like a hawk. I also put a Mag-Hytec high capacity rear differential cover on. I also have air bags installed that I run at bout 50psi. It tows surprising good w/ all things considered. I've never felt like the tail was wagging the dog. I take it easy and don't try to break records on the long climbs.
I think in your case you are starting out w/ a high weight to begin with. So many people forget to take account for the weigh of the gear. My trailer holds 100 gallons of water and 20 gallons of gas in the fuel station - that's almost a thousand pounds right there. Add the beer and your really pushing it.
My next truck will be a diesel.... as soon as they figure out how to put a Cummins engine w/ an Allison tranny in a Ford body.
I think in your case you are starting out w/ a high weight to begin with. So many people forget to take account for the weigh of the gear. My trailer holds 100 gallons of water and 20 gallons of gas in the fuel station - that's almost a thousand pounds right there. Add the beer and your really pushing it.
My next truck will be a diesel.... as soon as they figure out how to put a Cummins engine w/ an Allison tranny in a Ford body.
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As for the folks asking about bags w/ WD - I ran my heavy trailer w/out bags for a few trips and while it did fine, the ride was greatly improved w/ the bags. Air bags are NOT a substitute for weight distribution. If you don't use WD, then you will most certainly be waaay over on your tongue weight. I use an Equalizer hitch system that integrates WD w/ sway control. I can't tell you how great the system works. I have no issues and I tow on a lot of two-lane roads that mean I get buffeted by a lot of big-rig wind head-on. Sometimes I hardly feel the trailer.
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