Upgrading from a 1999 Coleman Bayside 2595 lb. to a 2002 Flagstaff 829BHS TT 4098 lb.(Dry Weights). My tow vehicle is 1997 Ford F150 4WD 4.6 litre. 3:55 axle. This truck has no tow package, only a class III hitch and a Tekonsha Voyager brake unit that I had installed to haul the Coleman. The manufacturer's tow rating is 6600 lb. I know I'll need a heavier ball mount and weight distribution bars. Will it tow O.K.? Will I need a transmission cooler? I have never towed a trailer this big. Any information out there would be helpfull.
Will It Tow It O.K.?
- Thread starter cgrmac
- Start date
Will Daniels
New Member
Will It Tow It O.K.?
I'm sure the 4098 is axle weight.To that you must add the weight of the hitch,accesories(M/W,A/C,etc.),water,gas,equipment and passengers.This will probably come to over 6000# total I am guessing.A good rule of thumb is never to exceed 80% of the rated weight of your truck.It will pull it,but you wont be happy with it,and it wont be safe.If you decide to get it anyway,a transmission cooler is a good idea,as well as two sway bars and some good mirrors.Flagstaff gives you a lot for the money,but has had questioable reliability.Good Luck. Will.
I'm sure the 4098 is axle weight.To that you must add the weight of the hitch,accesories(M/W,A/C,etc.),water,gas,equipment and passengers.This will probably come to over 6000# total I am guessing.A good rule of thumb is never to exceed 80% of the rated weight of your truck.It will pull it,but you wont be happy with it,and it wont be safe.If you decide to get it anyway,a transmission cooler is a good idea,as well as two sway bars and some good mirrors.Flagstaff gives you a lot for the money,but has had questioable reliability.Good Luck. Will.
Will Daniels
New Member
Will It Tow It O.K.?
OK,my mistake.Sure sounds very light for a 31' trailer.Please remember it is total weight that counts. Will.
OK,my mistake.Sure sounds very light for a 31' trailer.Please remember it is total weight that counts. Will.
BarneyS
Senior Member
Will It Tow It O.K.?
Cgrmac1,
I have a few concerns about your proposed rig. First, I agree with Will, 4098lbs seems VERY light for a 31ft. trailer. You need to get that trailer weighed, with full propane, etc. I suspect that the weight you quote is the basic trailer, without microwave, battery, propane, awning, air conditioner, etc. etc. etc. Also, reducing the tongue weight that much is not necessarily a good thing. 10-15% is usually the minimum for a pull behind trailer for stability. More is better.
Second, you should definately get a transmission cooler and transmission temp guage installed on your truck. Heat kills transmissions and can build up very quickly, especially when climbing hills or backing up into a camping space.
Third, Your engine - rear axle combination is marginal. I have the same rear but a slightly bigger engine and it is barely adequate for my rig. Next time I will get a higher rear and probably a diesel truck.
Fourth, Keep your trucks GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) in mind. By the time you put all your fuel,gear, passengers, dog, tools etc. in the truck - and then all your food, clothes, water, bedding, dishes, etc. in the trailer, - the whole thing combined must be under your GCVWR. I have a smaller trailer, my trucks GCVWR (a 3/4 ton)is 14,400 lbs and I just make it under by 1200 lbs according to the local CAT scale. The weights add up very quickly.
I would weigh your truck, get the proposed trailer weighed, do the math and then decide if your truck is capable of towing that trailer.
I hope I have not discouraged you but hate to see someone make a very expensive mistake. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Barney
1997 Sunnybrook 26CKS TT
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab, short bed, 5.9gas, auto. 3:54
1996 Harley Davidson FLHRI
Edited by - bsmith0337 on Mar 12 2002 9:54:20 PM
Cgrmac1,
I have a few concerns about your proposed rig. First, I agree with Will, 4098lbs seems VERY light for a 31ft. trailer. You need to get that trailer weighed, with full propane, etc. I suspect that the weight you quote is the basic trailer, without microwave, battery, propane, awning, air conditioner, etc. etc. etc. Also, reducing the tongue weight that much is not necessarily a good thing. 10-15% is usually the minimum for a pull behind trailer for stability. More is better.
Second, you should definately get a transmission cooler and transmission temp guage installed on your truck. Heat kills transmissions and can build up very quickly, especially when climbing hills or backing up into a camping space.
Third, Your engine - rear axle combination is marginal. I have the same rear but a slightly bigger engine and it is barely adequate for my rig. Next time I will get a higher rear and probably a diesel truck.
Fourth, Keep your trucks GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) in mind. By the time you put all your fuel,gear, passengers, dog, tools etc. in the truck - and then all your food, clothes, water, bedding, dishes, etc. in the trailer, - the whole thing combined must be under your GCVWR. I have a smaller trailer, my trucks GCVWR (a 3/4 ton)is 14,400 lbs and I just make it under by 1200 lbs according to the local CAT scale. The weights add up very quickly.
I would weigh your truck, get the proposed trailer weighed, do the math and then decide if your truck is capable of towing that trailer.
I hope I have not discouraged you but hate to see someone make a very expensive mistake. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Barney
1997 Sunnybrook 26CKS TT
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab, short bed, 5.9gas, auto. 3:54
1996 Harley Davidson FLHRI
Edited by - bsmith0337 on Mar 12 2002 9:54:20 PM