Buying 2020 Caravel 20FB - Which Blue Ox for 2016 F150 Limited?

[Jason in TX]

Hello. We just put our down payment in for a new 2020 Caravel 20FB. It should be ready to pick up mid October and I would like to get the correct Blue Ox hitch before picking it up an hour away.

According to the 2016 F150 towing guide for my 2016 Limited, I have
10400# - Max Loaded Trailer Weight
500# tongue load without WDH
1220# with WDH

The 2020 Caravel is
631# Hitch Weight
4271# UBW
5000# GVWR


I see that the Blue Ox Sway Pro offers a 550 bar option and a 750 bar option. Would it be correct to get the 750# bars for the 631# tongue weight of the Airstream?

Thanks!

[overlander63]

750 would be best.

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by overlander63

750 would be best.

Would 1000 bars be too rigid? I see a 1000 lb blue ox set up for sale on craigslist.

[PKI]

Likely the 1000s are too stiff. A 5000lb gross would be 500lbs at 10% and 750lbs for 15%. That is the recommended range of tongue weights. So, yes, 750 bars sound right for this rig. Pat

[77walter]

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

Hello. We just put our down payment in for a new 2020 Caravel 20FB. It should be ready to pick up mid October and I would like to get the correct Blue Ox hitch before picking it up an hour away.

According to the 2016 F150 towing guide for my 2016 Limited, I have
10400# - Max Loaded Trailer Weight
500# tongue load without WDH
1220# with WDH

The 2020 Caravel is
631# Hitch Weight
4271# UBW
5000# GVWR


I see that the Blue Ox Sway Pro offers a 550 bar option and a 750 bar option. Would it be correct to get the 750# bars for the 631# tongue weight of the Airstream?

Thanks!

question may be better answered by the dealer who is selling you the airstream

[Farrgramm]

Hi Jason
I have a pair of 750# bars I will let you have cheap. I Private Messaged you some details but not sure if it went through correctly. PM me if you are interested.

[dnsapp]

I’m not a fan of the Blue Ox hitch. A lot of dealers push that WDH because it’s a cheap hitch and they get a great deal on them and can push them out the door as a through the hitch in if you will buy the trailer for their price. I have towed trailers with the Blue Ox and just didn’t like it. You should look at the Reese Straight Line Hitch. Toes like a dream. Very easy to hitch up. I can hitch my rig up in about 5 mins and be on the road. There are no anti sway attachment as that is already built into the hitch. You do not have to unhook or take off anything when you want to back into you parking place. Hitch is quite too. Look one up on YouTube.

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by dnsapp

I have towed trailers with the Blue Ox and just didn’t like it. You should look at the Reese Straight Line Hitch. Toes like a dream. Very easy to hitch up.

Very interesting. I like the dual cam set up. People also seem to like the friction Equlizer for ease of set up, but I don't mind a little work up front for better driving conditions. I asked about equalizer and my airstream dealer said the friction doesn't work as well if it's raining. He liked the Blue Ox (as we were standing next to the GIANT Blue Ox display in their show room)

I found this Reese Strait Line which says tongue weight between 400 and 800 lbs. This seems to be the appropriate size for the Caravel. Thoughts?

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...iABEgKatPD_BwE

Reese Weight Distribution - RP66073
Specs:

Tongue weight: 400 lbs - 800 lbs
Gross towing weight: 10,000 lbs
Fits: 2" x 2" and 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" trailer hitch receivers rated for use with weight-distribution systems
Lift-bracket positioning: mount about 30" back from hitch ball
Requires approximately 5-1/2" of space along trailer frame
Optional mounts (sold separately) that take up less space on trailer frame are available
Will not fit trailer frames wider than 2-1/2"
Limited lifetime warranty

[Ken G]

I noticed a review critical of Blue Ox hitches. I tow a 23fb with a Grand Cherokee using a Blue Ox, this is a heavier trailer coupled to a lighter TV - everything works quite well. I just took the hitch AS dealer recommended and let them installand adjust. I probably paid a little too much buying from the dealer but it was convenient and I am confident it is set up correctly.

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by Farrgramm

Hi Jason
I have a pair of 750# bars I will let you have cheap. I Private Messaged you some details but not sure if it went through correctly. PM me if you are interested.

I did not receive a PM.

[RamRider]

This is easy. Assuming the Craigslist price is fair price the advertised Blue Ox with the 1000 lb bars, if they prove to be too stiff you can purchase the 750 lb bars from "etrailer" you will probably save money. when I bought our Airstream I upgraded from the 750 lb bars to the 1000 lb bars and have saved the old ones for a rainy day. Purchase a 18 inch harbor freight breaker bar and a 1 inch craftsman socket to help in hooking up
I have been using the Blue Ox for six years and would not trade it for any other brand.

[daleyocum]

By the way, if you have, and plan to use, Ford’s spiffy Backup Assist in your truck, you’ll want use a hitch where the trailer rotates on the ball as it turns, like the Blue Ox. Some of the fancy hitches like ProPride and Hensley do not which likely will confuse the system. You might also want to take a look at this thread for ideas on where to put the sticker.

[Jason in TX]

Huge thanks for posting the link to the back up sticker location!!!!!! Great to know. I thought it wouldn't work at all, but I'll try when I take delivery!


Could I use a 1000 lb bar Blue Ox system? since the 1000 lbs is "max" Would the 631 be ok? Or would that be too stiff?
Could I back the bars off 1 link of chain to soften the spring ride a little?

The used one with 1000 lb bars near me seems like a great deal. I guess I could always try it and then get the 750 bars if it is too rigid our bouncy.

I appreciate your knowledge everyone!

[daleyocum]

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

Huge thanks for posting the link to the back up sticker location!!!!!! Great to know. I thought it wouldn't work at all, but I'll try when I take delivery!


Could I use a 1000 lb bar Blue Ox system? since the 1000 lbs is "max" Would the 631 be ok? Or would that be too stiff?
Could I back the bars off 1 link of chain to soften the spring ride a little?

The used one with 1000 lb bars near me seems like a great deal. I guess I could always try it and then get the 750 bars if it is too rigid our bouncy.

I appreciate your knowledge everyone!

The downside to having them too stiff is you'll have to reduce the tension to such a degree that the trailer will go from full assist to none over some bumps. That tension is also where the sway control comes from. It will also be more bouncy on the trailer. I'd suggest getting 750's, perhaps purchased on Amazon, and then have the dealer install them.

By the way, your fully featured truck will be close its maximum payload with this trailer so after you take delivery if you notice uncomfortable porpoising over bumps that's probably why. My less well equipped (and hence higher payload) F150 XLT is also close to max payload with my heavier FC25. Bilstein shocks fixed that porpoising for me and many others.

[Jason in TX]

Here is my Payload sticker. 1405 lbs. I see Airstream saying it's ok for small SUVs to tow this single axle Caravel, so I figured the F150 should be ok.

I've also pulled a 2800# 26 foot long flatbed with a 2500# antique car on it across country a few times without a WDH and other than gas milage being terrible, it pulled great.

I know the big silver box with heavier tongue weight will be different. I assume that you deduct the 630 lb tongue weight from the 1405 and then my wife and I together are 300 lbs, meaning that we shouldn't really put more than 400 more lbs in the rig when going camping... (water tanks, hitch, bikes, generator, etc) right?

[daleyocum]

Even that’s conservative because some of the things and liquid you have in the trailer are supported by its axle. Usually on Airstreams they try to put the freshwater tank near or over the axle, for example.

I’m glad you have 1,400 lbs of payload, I was concerned about the 1,200 lbs at the top of this thread.