towing advice
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
towing advice
1st off all thank you all for all the great info..these threads are awesome. Im looking for a travel trailer without overkill on my truck. All I have towed prior is a project car in my silverado..new to diesel and Im loving it. So to all you experienced in towing, what is the max weight travel trailer you can recommend that I can safely attach to my rig? please keep in mind truck and trailer would be loaded
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 8
Looks like for bumper pull travel trailers, length will be your only limit. Looks like plenty of truck.
I like smaller, with slide outs. 23-25'. I'd love to see how guys with 30'+ TT's are making right turns in busy areas. Normal full weight, for durability. TT's usually aren't too heavy. I really like the Arctic Wolf trailers, but it's a little too long at 26'.
I don't see a GCWR on those stickers. But obviously that's a 350. The GC, or tow rating, is in the manual.
I like smaller, with slide outs. 23-25'. I'd love to see how guys with 30'+ TT's are making right turns in busy areas. Normal full weight, for durability. TT's usually aren't too heavy. I really like the Arctic Wolf trailers, but it's a little too long at 26'.
I don't see a GCWR on those stickers. But obviously that's a 350. The GC, or tow rating, is in the manual.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 7
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Yep, a '17+, SRW, F350, 6.7 will have no trouble towing most any bumper pull trailer.
As noted above; check to ensure your hitch, drawbar and ball are all rated for the load. And a few other notes: To ensure stability be sure you have adequate tongue weight 10% of gross is a typical minimum requirement. For the really long trailers you might want to consider a weight distribution hitch w/ sway control. Make sure you have the tire pressure up to spec. Ensure your brake controller is adjusted properly.
Most importantly, before you head out on that first trip get used to maneuvering in tight quarters. A big empty parking lot is a great place to get comfortable. And be aware of how the trailer tracks behind the truck. It will track a tighter radius through a turn than the truck so you have to compensate by driving a slightly wider line to keep the trailer from dropping wheels or hopping curbs.
As noted above; check to ensure your hitch, drawbar and ball are all rated for the load. And a few other notes: To ensure stability be sure you have adequate tongue weight 10% of gross is a typical minimum requirement. For the really long trailers you might want to consider a weight distribution hitch w/ sway control. Make sure you have the tire pressure up to spec. Ensure your brake controller is adjusted properly.
Most importantly, before you head out on that first trip get used to maneuvering in tight quarters. A big empty parking lot is a great place to get comfortable. And be aware of how the trailer tracks behind the truck. It will track a tighter radius through a turn than the truck so you have to compensate by driving a slightly wider line to keep the trailer from dropping wheels or hopping curbs.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Asheville, NC
1st off all thank you all for all the great info..these threads are awesome. Im looking for a travel trailer without overkill on my truck. All I have towed prior is a project car in my silverado..new to diesel and Im loving it. So to all you experienced in towing, what is the max weight travel trailer you can recommend that I can safely attach to my rig? please keep in mind truck and trailer would be loaded
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 8
I generally hover around 60-ish% since I like to always be comfortable at 75mph. Say 7000-8000 with a 12,500 rated F250. Tow F150 sized trailers with a 250. 250 sized trailers with a 350. etc etc.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 95
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Oregon
Couple of other things for you to consider for your searching. 1. Weight specs on trailers are all dry weights. That means no water on board, no propane in the tanks no battery upgrades, food, kitchen stuff etc. For example our 2016 model year lance 1995 has a dry weight of 4265 lbs and tongue weight of 365 lbs. Fully loaded with fresh water, gear, propane and dual batteries that jumps to 5700 lbs total weight and 700 lbs tongue weight. Turned out to be to much for the tundra we had NOT from a towing capacity but from a payload capacity. Payload on your truck is affected by nbr of passengers and dogs plus any standard add-ons like canopy, upgraded bumpers, any gear you are hauling in the truck bed and weight of the hitch stinger and the tongue weight. You should have plenty of room based on what your stickers show as long as you keep in mind realistic payload nbrs.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
thanks again for the great advice..I have the weighsafe 3 inch shaft with the 8 inch drop which I believe is rated at 21,000 lbs.. ..I just want to be sure before I start dumping more money on this beauty. .lol
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 15
Pretty much any travel trailer you want would be fine. If you want the ultimate in stability, a ProPride 3P or Hensley Arrow will make it even more stable.
Turns are no problem, you just need to learn to swing wide when making right turns; just watch any tractor trailer, they do it all of the time. The main point is to NEVER let traffic cause you to take a line that you don't want to. Figure out where you need to drive, and stop and wait if someone puts their car where you need to go when turning. (e.g. a car coming from the right pulling up to the light when you need the first 15 feet of that lane for turning right with a telephone pole on the corner.)
Turns are no problem, you just need to learn to swing wide when making right turns; just watch any tractor trailer, they do it all of the time. The main point is to NEVER let traffic cause you to take a line that you don't want to. Figure out where you need to drive, and stop and wait if someone puts their car where you need to go when turning. (e.g. a car coming from the right pulling up to the light when you need the first 15 feet of that lane for turning right with a telephone pole on the corner.)
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: UT
Since you already have the F-350 and are looking for a trailer, I would strongly suggest looking at a fifth wheel. No bumper pull will tow as nice as a fifth wheel and your F-350 will be able to tow all but the largest of fifth wheels. That being said, an F-350 can tow just about any bumper pull as well, I recently moved from a 2015 f150 to a 2017 f350 to tow my 28 foot bumper pull toy hauler and the difference is night and day between the added power and stability. What used to be white knuckle driving just about anywhere I went is now easy driving even in a good amount of wind or up a steep mountain pass.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 325
Likes: 8
From: Central Ohio
1st off all thank you all for all the great info..these threads are awesome. Im looking for a travel trailer without overkill on my truck. All I have towed prior is a project car in my silverado..new to diesel and Im loving it. So to all you experienced in towing, what is the max weight travel trailer you can recommend that I can safely attach to my rig? please keep in mind truck and trailer would be loaded
The bottom line is that you need to be mindful of 4 weights: hitch capacity, payload capacity, max tow capacity, and gross combined (GCWR) capacity. One of those will be the limiting factor and set the ceiling for your towing capability.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Tundra to F-350
Couple of other things for you to consider for your searching. 1. Weight specs on trailers are all dry weights. That means no water on board, no propane in the tanks no battery upgrades, food, kitchen stuff etc. For example our 2016 model year lance 1995 has a dry weight of 4265 lbs and tongue weight of 365 lbs. Fully loaded with fresh water, gear, propane and dual batteries that jumps to 5700 lbs total weight and 700 lbs tongue weight. Turned out to be to much for the tundra we had NOT from a towing capacity but from a payload capacity. Payload on your truck is affected by nbr of passengers and dogs plus any standard add-ons like canopy, upgraded bumpers, any gear you are hauling in the truck bed and weight of the hitch stinger and the tongue weight. You should have plenty of room based on what your stickers show as long as you keep in mind realistic payload nbrs.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post