27FB Cloud tow vehicle

[SGandMT]

Originally Posted by Gansett

I pull a 2017 Tommy Bahama 27fb with two A/Cs, and solar. My tongue weight at the scales is between 1,000 and 1,100 with two adults and only 15% fresh water. My 2016 Yukon SLT XL has a max hitch tongue weight of 1,000 and a rear axle max of 4,350. I use blue ox WD to help with tongue, but I easily hit max axle and cargo limits. I have to be very careful what I bring, and where I put it. New Yukon’s have hitches with maximum tongue weight of 840. I’m upgrading to an HD crew cab. Since my current 5.3 V8 pulls fine except for the steepest grades, I’m going with a larger gas engine to save money ($8,000 to $10,000) and maximize cargo capacity. A diesel weighs about 800 pounds more which reduces payload. Right now I’m thinking Ford F-250 with 7.3 gas. Better to have plenty of margin in every category, without getting too much truck or engine, IMHO.

Are you saying the Duramax 3.0 I6 diesel weights 800 lbs more than the 5.3L V8 in the Yukon?

[LNBright]

I believe he’s referring to the HD 2500/3509 big diesels, not the new inline 6...

[B. Cole]

Don't let your trailer drive your tow vehicle.Buy a real truck, built to yank trailers, not the other way around.
Keep the round side down.

[Gansett]

Originally Posted by SGandMT

Are you saying the Duramax 3.0 I6 diesel weights 800 lbs more than the 5.3L V8 in the Yukon?

SGandMT, no, the 3L is about the same as the 5.3 and lighter by 200 pounds than the 6.2 gas. Yukon’s have marginal cargo capacity, or none, after subtracting tongue weight, WD hitch. I was discussing a move up to a 3/4T pickup. I do not believe the 3L diesel is available in the 3/4T pickups (Ford or GMC). The GM 6.6 and Ford 6.7 diesels are much heavier than the gas engines and therefore reduce cargo capacity compared to gassers. There are plenty of discussions about all the pros and cons in this forum and on YouTube. I too was disappointed when I found out the 2021 Yukon XL had a lower max tongue weight and no better cargo capacity. I loved towing with my Yukon, but was always concerned about being right on edge of legal capacity. Now that I’ve refocused on an HD crew cab pickup, I think this will be better.

[brick1]

I started towing my 2018 Serenity 28 with a 2016 Expedition ecoboost. Towed OK, but payload was only 1319 lbs and hitch weight was over 1000 lbs. Traded for a 2018 F250 diesel. Effortless towing and 2240 lbs payload. Never going back to a marginal capacity TV.

[twbucksr]

Not all 3/4 ton trucks are the same. My neighbors Denali only had 300 lbs more payload than my GMC Sierra with a max tow package. Ditch the sunroof and you pick up over 100 lbs of payload.

[Leveille]

What are the SPECS needed for a safe truck to tow a 27’ FC FBT?
We are about 9 months into this learning curve. Have taken some smaller trips and gradually extending our range. Towing with an F-150 3.5 eco boost with max towing package, 10 gear transmission & blue ox WDH.
Pulling is no issue at all, works like a dream. Our concern is control and making sure we have the right/safe set up we need for an extensive trip we have planned for the summer. Where do you get this information. Everyone has an opinion on how they have their TV set up and explanation of how much safety vs comfort they are willing to risk BUT there must be some actual criteria on what the specs for a TV for various rigs should be somewhere, isn’t there?
On a recent windy trip from GA to TX it was intense driving the entire way which tells me we need to step up our TV just don’t know which of the endless list of opinions to follow.

[Dennis C]

The numbers that you seek are available on the information sticker on the door jamb of any modern tow vehicle that you’re considering. There is also information in the owner’s manual for the tow vehicle. There’s an information sticker on your Airstream. All this information gives you a good starting point. I have a spreadsheet with every item that we potentially take in the Airstream or the truck. I have weighed every item. This information gives me a really good estimate of weight and balance between tow vehicle and truck. I’ve confirmed my calculations multiple times on the CAT scales.

If your trailer’s tongue weight or GVWR exceeds the capacity of the tow vehicle you’re considering, then you should consider another tow vehicle. You can estimate the weight of gear, passengers, etc. Make sure to leave yourself some room/capacity so you’re not towing right at the limit.

[WhatNext]

For towing RVs, the payload is usually the overall limiting parameter. Then tongue weight capacity would be my 2nd screening parameter.

[jeffb831]

eTrailer provides an excellent write up on the limits of trailer towing and how to determine if you've met all the various limits and what goes into each.

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-muc...an-I-tow.aspx?

[DewTheDew]

Basically the thing to do is load it for camping as you would normally go (but on the heavy side; if you occasionally travel with water/waste then do so now) and go to a CAT scale. Their App makes it pretty simple. Weigh first all hooked up with front wheels on one scale, drive wheels on the second and trailer on the third. Your front wheel weight plus your rear wheel weight should not exceed the GVWR for your truck (7,000 lbs, probably). For mine in our 27' it did exceed this by a bit. I do not think you will run into problems with the weight of the trailer exceeding towing capacity; the payload will be your limit.