The wife and I were out looking at campers this weekend and we came across one that we really like. Of course the salesman told us that there would be no problem pulling this camper, but I am really needing a second opinion.

We have a 2003 Ford F-250 Supercab 4x4, with the 5.4L and 4.10 gear. Our current camper weighs in at a little over 8,000 and the truck pulls it fine although it is a little slow going up longer steep inclines. On flat road it runs good at about 60-65. The camper that we have found that we really like the floorplan on is the Keystone Cougar 281EFS Fifth Wheel. The dealer had weight scales available and it weighs in with all options at 8,030. This is before we load it up and make it camping ready. I am probably looking if we pack like we normally do for our camping trips at the trailer weighing right at 9,000.

I know according to the publications that Ford puts out on its trucks that this will be outside the towing limits of the truck. Also according to the publications, I am going to be very close to the GCWR for the truck. I have already had the truck weighed with everyone in it and it will keep me under the GCWR even if the camper weighs 9,000. These are some of the reasons why that I am questioning the sales person.

So will the truck be able to handle this additional weight or will it cause more damage to the truck than it is worth in the long-run? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

ive got a 2000 f250, reg cab, manual, 4.10 gear. similar to yours. i pull 6-8k once or twice a week. about 30 miles one way. up hills, etc. pull 9k every now and then. never felt i was pushing the truck close to its limits. i dont know what your truck weighs, but you shouldnt even be close to the gvwr. 9k has a tongue weight of 900lbs with a conventional trailer and 1800lbs with a 5th wheel. as long as your truck doesnt weigh 7k or more, youll be fine there. yeah, itll be a little slower going up long steep inclines, but name me a stock gas engine that isnt. if you dont want to slow down going up hills get a diesel. but its not going to hurt your truck because it goes slower up hills.

 

Recommended tongue weight is 10-15% so you could be looking at as much as 1350#, depending on how you load that TT.

Steve

 

Salespeople have only one purpose in life, to sell you the most profitable rig they can convince you to buy. It sounds like you have already done the research on trailer weights that would be proper for your truck. If you have doubts about being comfortable while towing this new trailer I don't think you will ever be happy unless you have a plan to upgrade to a more capable truck in the near future.

 

i agree with the previous poster in that i wouldn't want to start out with a motor smaller then a chevy 350. (5.7) you really don't stand a chance until you get the bigger motor like a big V8 or the V10 and the diesel PSD our 350 had enough problems pulling a travel trailer. the gm 5.3 has 295 hp and i would be more apt to start there than with a ford 5.4. anything 300hp or real close is what you are looking for to pull that kind of a trailer.


by the way the 6.0 gm gas motor dad had would pull or 33.5' jayco with no problem through PA to answer one of the other posts on here. and i know the gm 8.1 will pull it as well a PSD or any other diesel.

these are all options you need to look into. my .02

 

Thanks for all of your replies. We have decided to start looking at some lighter campers and then upgrade to a heavier camper when we upgrade our tow vehicle. I appreciate the tips.

 

--the gm 5.3 has 295 hp and i would be more apt to start there than with a ford 5.4. anything 300hp or real close is what you are looking for to pull that kind of a trailer.

i would have to disagree with you on this one. my company truck is a 2000 5.3 chevy and my personal truck is a 2000 5.4 ford. the 5.3 chevy is faster than my ford, but i wouldnt trust it towing a car dolley. it doesnt make a bit of power below 3500rpm. and the amount of horsepower you have doesnt make a bit of difference when towing, its where the engine makes the power(or would you argue that the 300 horse 5.3 will outpull a 210 horse 460?) ive got a 500 horse mustang, but is it a good towing motor? no, because all of its power is made above 4k rpm. i drive both the 5.3 and 5.4 everyday, and when it comes to towing, the 5.3 isnt even close to the 5.4. faster yes, but towing isnt a drag race.

--by the way the 6.0 gm gas motor dad had would pull or 33.5' jayco with no problem through PA to answer one of the other posts on here. and i know the gm 8.1 will pull it as well a PSD or any other diesel.

and i pull a 30' camper with my 5.4 no problem. whats your point? all gas engine trucks accelerate slower with a load than they do without a load. my point being that if you drive a gas truck youre going to notice the load more than you will with a diesel. a diesel accelerates just as fast with 8k hooked to it as it does unloaded, and i said name me one stock gas engine that will do that. and there isnt one. but with yours being a gm, i bet it runs the same time in the 1/4 mile with that 33.5' camper as it does unloaded doesnt it? and im still laughing about that 8.1 comment, and probably will be this same time next week lol.

 

and another note on the horsepower statement....lets say you have an engine that makes 228 horsepower and 300 lb/feet of torque and an engine that makes 114 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque. which would you choose to tow stuff with? 9 out of 10 people would say the 228 horsepower one, cause its got more power. but what is horsepower? horsepower=torque x rpm/5252. horsepower is not something the engine actually makes, torque is. now, back to our comparison and why you should choose the 114 hp engine...
both engines make the same torque, and one has higher hp, so obviously its a better towing engine.
but, the engine making 228 hp makes 300lb/ft of torque at 4k rpm. 300 torque x 4k rpm/5252=228hp
the engine making 114 hp makes 300lb/ft of torque at 2k rpm. 300 torque x 2k rpm/5252=114 hp.
peak hp means nothing when you are towing. also, you can take an electric engine with 0 horsepower and outpull any diesel made. electric engines do not turn rpms, so 700 torque x 0 rpms/5252=0 horsepower.