Trying to find the best TT / Toy Hauler Fit

[ttucker329]

Hello. This looks like a great place to get information. Our family has decided to declutter and go full time RV'ing for a while. Our ultimate goal is to buy land and build a new house, but to do it we have to make some sacrifices for a while. So we are looking for a TT or toy hauler that will do the job for a few years. I have a 2016 F-150 V8 with max tow capacity of 11,000 so most TT will work fine from what I've been able to find out. We will be putting the RV in a permanent spot for an extended period so I'm not too concerned about pulling it long distances with my F-150. Right now we are between the Coachmen Adrenaline 31FET and the Heartland Wilderness. Leaning to the adrenaline due to the included generator and "garage space" Just wanting to know if there are any other brands out there to consider for extended use and ones to stay away from completely. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[montecarlo31]

Sandia Man wrote:
A quick search on the Adrenaline turned up a nearly 9.5K# dryweight and over 38' which is way too much for a half ton regardless of how your Ford 150 is configured. It has nothing to do with what your truck can pull (towing capacity), it's what your truck can carry (payload capacity) that is crucial. Go weigh your truck loaded with passengers and all cargo that will be aboard when towing, subtract that weight from your GVWR noted on the sticker on your driver door jamb. This new number is your available payload. You won't be anywhere near your towing capacity before exceeding available payload.

We have a TT TH ourselves that isn't quite as heavy (10K# loaded with toys) or long (33') and use a 3/4 ton Chevy HD to haul it around, I wouldn't use anything less. Another point is toyhaulers are very tongue heavy by nature, which is only magnified when no toys are in the garage to help reduce tongue weight. Tongue weight will be at least 1500# with dryweight listed above, it will be more once loaded for travel. That directly eats up your available payload capacity. Let's pretend you are OK on payload, a 9.5K# dryweight rig will certainly be close if not beyond the mythical 11K# towing capacity of your Ford F150 with the type of use you indicated in your post.

Just curious what year is your "chevy HD"?

[Sandia_Man]

A quick search on the Adrenaline turned up a nearly 9.5K# dryweight and over 38' which is way too much for a half ton regardless of how your Ford 150 is configured. It has nothing to do with what your truck can pull (towing capacity), it's what your truck can carry (payload capacity) that is crucial. Go weigh your truck loaded with passengers and all cargo that will be aboard when towing, subtract that weight from your GVWR noted on the sticker on your driver door jamb. This new number is your available payload. You won't be anywhere near your towing capacity before exceeding available payload.

We have a TT TH ourselves that isn't quite as heavy (10K# loaded with toys) or long (33') and use a 3/4 ton Chevy HD to haul it around, I wouldn't use anything less. Another point is toyhaulers are very tongue heavy by nature, which is only magnified when no toys are in the garage to help reduce tongue weight. Tongue weight will be at least 1500# with dryweight listed above, it will be more once loaded for travel. That directly eats up your available payload capacity. Let's pretend you are OK on payload, a 9.5K# dryweight rig will certainly be close if not beyond the mythical 11K# towing capacity of your Ford F150 with the type of use you indicated in your post.

[Lwiddis]

"Our family has decided to declutter and go full time RV'ing for a while. Our ultimate goal is to buy land and build a new house, but to do it we have to make some sacrifices for a while."

Interesting.

[bikendan]

Post the specs and payload capacity of your truck.
F150s come in many different configurations that dictate what the true towing ability is.

[Second_Chance]

tomkaren13 wrote:
Please rethink! Also search this forum to see reactions to towing with a 150/1500 truck!

I will be first - Do NOT plan on towing any larger than a 6000# dry weight trailer with that truck!

But since you are only going to a permenant spot. GO SLOW!

X2 ^^. Any travel trailer light enough to tow safely with a 1/2 ton truck will likely not be suitable for full-timing (think wall thickness, insulation, structural strength, tank capacity, storage space, etc., etc.). Forget about toy haulers with a 1/2 ton! The F-150 with the EcoBoost engine, Max Payload and Max Towing is a very capable vehicle... for a 1/2 ton. You'll even find people pulling some of the "1/2-ton towable" fifth wheels with them - but not full-timing with that combination. In nearly every situation, Max towing capacity is not your limiting factor. The barrier you will hit is the true (scale weights minus door sticker ratings) leftover payload capacity for occupants, fuel, junk, hitch, and tongue/pin weight. Even if you can stay within these parameters, there's the pucker factor of going down the other side of a steep grade.

The RV-Dreams and Escapees web sites are both geared toward full-time RVing and have a wealth of educational material for folks like you. The forums on those two sites - as well as the full-timing forum on this site are frequented by lots of good folks with experience who will answer questions for you. You will get more and better responses, however, if you do your research first. That way you can ask better informed questions.

Rob

[tomkaren13]

Please rethink! Also search this forum to see reactions to towing with a 150/1500 truck!

I will be first - Do NOT plan on towing any larger than a 6000# dry weight trailer with that truck!

But since you are only going to a permenant spot. GO SLOW!