Travel Trailer towing questions

[Rambo2020R]

Hey all. Me and the lady are looking at getting a travel trailer by the end of the year. I’ve towed 35’+ trailers with my 1995 F350/7.3 Powerstroke all day long, but I’d like for the new travel trailer to be light enough/ short enough that the Ranger can tow it short distances ( say maybe 3-5 hours? )

So my questions to all of y’all is.. What travel trailers are y’all towing with the new Rangers?
How close to the 7,500 lb towing capacity are you?
What length is your trailer?
What can realistically be towed travel trailer wise when you factor in inclement weather and terrain?
We were thinking about an alpha wolf but not sure what size I can get away with. I have all the necessary equipment to fully tow the 7,500 lbs it’s rated for and then some, but real world experience is key. Obviously it being a midsize truck, it will be pushed around a little bit more. I’ve already towed my 4,000 lb bass boat / trailer so I know it’ll do that all day at 80.

Thanks in advance ??

Sponsored

 

[Leftcoast]

There's a large towing thread. It will probably answer all of your questions. IMO the 7500#s isn't the weakest link. It's the payload. You'll either max out the truck GVWR with a WDH or the RAWR without a WDH pulling a 7500# trailer.
Get ready for the rush of people stating they pull their 33' trailers with no problem over the Alps in a blizzard. I've yet to see any of them post CAT numbers.

 

[Rambo2020R]

There's a large towing thread. It will probably answer all of your questions. IMO the 7500#s isn't the weakest link. It's the payload. You'll either max out the truck GVWR with a WDH or the RAWR without a WDH pulling a 7500# trailer.
Get ready for the rush of people stating they pull their 33' trailers with no problem over the Alps in a blizzard. I've yet to see any of them post CAT numbers.

I have been reading up on the towing threads, good numbers hidden within the BS lol.

 

[Big Blue]

I have been reading up on the towing threads, good numbers hidden within the BS lol.

I agree wholeheartedly with @Leftcoast. Look at the 750 pound tongue weight rating if you take 50 pounds off that for a WDH and figure a 15% of total trailer weight, that puts you a about 6000 pounds for max trailer weight. 50 pounds is probably light for some hitches , no putting a higher rated hitch on does not increase the rating of the truck. Also figure in the weight of caps racks and any other mods.

The power of the truck is not in question, it's a pulling monster.

I personally tow a 18 foot box 23 foot OAL TT weighs a little over 4000 pounds loaded. Just completed a 4700 mile 15 day cross country trip. Did 70 MPH on interstate. Got 10.6 MPG average. Pulled great no problem on some 6% grades up or down. In the winds across Oklahoma and Texas I felt it but it was controlled with my WDH and its sway control. Would I go bigger maybe a little longer ( 24-25 foot box max), heavier again mabe a little (5000 max). Flame me if you want, the are numbers I'd feel safe with. The short wheel base on the Ranger makes it hard to control a longer trailer. And seeing around it without any real good options for mirrors is a challenge.

 

[alcohenusa]

I agree wholeheartedly with @Leftcoast. Look at the 750 pound tongue weight rating if you take 50 pounds off that for a WDH and figure a 15% of total trailer weight, that puts you a about 6000 pounds for max trailer weight. 50 pounds is probably light for some hitches , no putting a higher rated hitch on does not increase the rating of the truck. Also figure in the weight of caps racks and any other mods.

The power of the truck is not in question, it's a pulling monster.

I personally tow a 18 foot box 23 foot OAL TT weighs a little over 4000 pounds loaded. Just completed a 4700 mile 15 day cross country trip. Did 70 MPH on interstate. Got 10.6 MPG average. Pulled great no problem on some 6% grades up or down. In the winds across Oklahoma and Texas I felt it but it was controlled with my WDH and its sway control. Would I go bigger maybe a little longer ( 24-25 foot box max), heavier again mabe a little (5000 max). Flame me if you want, the are numbers I'd feel safe with. The short wheel base on the Ranger makes it hard to control a longer trailer. And seeing around it without any real good options for mirrors is a challenge.

Hey @Big Blue, what WDH are you using?

 

[Big Blue]

Hey @Big Blue, what WDH are you using?

Running a Husky Centerline TS. I like it because it has 4 way sway control and I don't have to disconnect anything to backup.

 

[nm6r]

I'm towing a fully equipped 16 ft. cargo trailer toy hauler conversion. Approaching 6k lbs. fully loaded with water and sxs. I have an Andersen anti-sway weight distribution hitch that allows backing while connected. The Ranger's towing capability has impressed me with this. It doesn't stress out and does the job well.

 

[WOADKIL]

The power of the truck is not in question, it's a pulling monster.

I tow a 4,100lb RPod with my 2021 XLT FX4, feels like or better than when I towed it with my 2005 F-150, especially uphill because of the 10 speed tranny.

No WDH, but I did install a Reese friction sway controller. Got rid of the slight swaying.

 

[TR/ranger]

I just bought a 2021 forest river wildwood 22rbs. Hitch weight is 783 lbs and dry weight is 5743 lbs. when I was towing it home I couldn’t go over 50mph. At 55, I was getting MASSIVE swaying. The dealership I bought it from installed a weight distribution hitch and a sway bar but the leaf spring was still almost totally flat. I do have an icon stage 3 system in the mail and was considering some HD deaver springs. But I am scared of dumping money into the truck (which I LOVE) and it still not being enough to tow the camper at highway speeds, safely. I’m going to be taking it to NC from Ohio at the end of august but Im totally unsure of what steps to take next. Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions? I love my truck and I want to make it work, but obviously safety is my biggest concern.

 

[Grumpaw]

Your well under what the truck is rated for as far as weight, unless you've loaded it and the truck down . "Massive swaying" indicates the hitch equipment and/or trailer isn't set up properly, and/or the trailer tires are way underinflated, and/or your trucks tires are underinflated.
When properly set up, on level ground, the trailer should have a slight "nose down" attitude and the truck will have a bit of "squat" on its rear. . A rig that is level or where the trailers back end is lower than the front will cause a lot of sway. Situation like that is known as "the tail wagging the dog".
Your 22RBS has a front bedroom (light) a rear bathroom (light), with most of its weight centrally located in the mid section, over the axles...the kitchen appliances, ac, living area furnishings, ect..
Your hitch weight and how much is actually bearing down on the truck hitch is controlled by the bars. Try letting up a bit on the bars so more weight is on the hitch, make sure of the trailers tires are at proper psi, along with the truck tires psi. What your shooting for is to have more weight in front of the axles. More weight to the rear of the axles will lead to swaying.
If your new to towing a camper, it takes a bit of trial and error till you get it right, but once properly set up, it should remain trouble free.
Should look something like these...notice the slight nose down attitude of the trailer...

 

[TR/ranger]

Your well under what the truck is rated for as far as weight, unless you've loaded it and the truck down . "Massive swaying" indicates the hitch equipment and/or trailer isn't set up properly, and/or the trailer tires are way underinflated, and/or your trucks tires are underinflated.
When properly set up, on level ground, the trailer should have a slight "nose down" attitude and the truck will have a bit of "squat" on its rear. . A rig that is level or where the trailers back end is lower than the front will cause a lot of sway. Situation like that is known as "the tail wagging the dog".
Your 22RBS has a front bedroom (light) a rear bathroom (light), with most of its weight centrally located in the mid section, over the axles...the kitchen appliances, ac, living area furnishings, ect..
Your hitch weight and how much is actually bearing down on the truck hitch is controlled by the bars. Try letting up a bit on the bars so more weight is on the hitch, make sure of the trailers tires are at proper psi, along with the truck tires psi. What your shooting for is to have more weight in front of the axles. More weight to the rear of the axles will lead to swaying.
If your new to towing a camper, it takes a bit of trial and error till you get it right, but once properly set up, it should remain trouble free.
Should look something like these...notice the slight nose down attitude of the trailer...

Thank you so much! I’ll definitely try playing around with it. With lightening up on the bars it does make the leaf springs totally flat. I’m assuming that could be some issue that heavier duty leafs would help with? I’ve towed many things, heavier loads but with heavy duty trucks but I’ve never come across this before. Could be another dumb question, but is it normal that When semis pass, the suck you in and push you back half a lane like it was there job?

 

[halligan1201]

I just bought a 2021 forest river wildwood 22rbs. Hitch weight is 783 lbs and dry weight is 5743 lbs. when I was towing it home I couldn’t go over 50mph. At 55, I was getting MASSIVE swaying. The dealership I bought it from installed a weight distribution hitch and a sway bar but the leaf spring was still almost totally flat. I do have an icon stage 3 system in the mail and was considering some HD deaver springs. But I am scared of dumping money into the truck (which I LOVE) and it still not being enough to tow the camper at highway speeds, safely. I’m going to be taking it to NC from Ohio at the end of august but Im totally unsure of what steps to take next. Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions? I love my truck and I want to make it work, but obviously safety is my biggest concern.

I'm guessing the dealer installed the weight distribution hitch incorrectly. Pretty common issue.

Sponsored