Can I pull this?

[thestrangebrew1]

My wife and I are wanting to get a travel trailer and we're looking at this:

http://www.mantecatrailer.com/showroom/Jayco/Jay-Feather-SLX/Expandables.aspx

We drive a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT with a class III tow package of up to 5000 lbs. Hitch weight is 500 lbs and the vehicles GVWR is 6160 lbs. See here:

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/13flrv&tt_explorer_oct1.pdf

We typically go camping in the mountains 4x/yr and sometimes on the coast where we'd have to go over some elevations and back down to get to the coast. What do you guys think?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I don't see why not. Even loaded up with an extra 1000 pounds of camp crap you still would be well under tow rating.

Nice rig BTW

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I don't see why not. Even loaded up with an extra 1000 pounds of camp crap you still would be well under tow rating.

Nice rig BTW

Thanks. I've been researching for the last 2 weeks and I haven't found anything "definitive" as whether or not the vehicle will pull alright. I've never pulled anything before so this whole thing is new to me.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Couple tips:

Check to see if you have a transmission cooler. I'm going to assume the class III was installed at dealership. They're usually good about getting you the right kit but it's worth checking on.

Tongue weight on single axle is imporant. If in doubt, whip out a heavy duty scale. Heavy is better than too light. Looks like right around 400lbs on the hitch is about right for your trailer.

Brake on a trailer are really great. Not sure if it's an option on the camper your looking at.

 

[JCH13]

Couple tips:

Check to see if you have a transmission cooler. I'm going to assume the class III was installed at dealership. They're usually good about getting you the right kit but it's worth checking on.

Tongue weight on single axle is imporant. If in doubt, whip out a heavy duty scale. Heavy is better than too light. Looks like right around 400lbs on the hitch is about right for your trailer.

Brake on a trailer are really great. Not sure if it's an option on the camper your looking at.

Brakes on the trailer are REQUIRED above 1500lbs trailer weight, according to the flyer that OP linked. Make sure they actually work, too. A friend of mine had to re-wire the electronic brakes on his car trailer because there were some bad connections as it was built.

There's not much ambiguity in the documents you linked. If you've got the trailer hitch you're good to tow 5,000lbs. Keep 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue. You need trailer brakes over 1,500lbs. I'd take it to a dealer and ask: "I want to tow this trailer on (long or short) stints, what should I have on my tow vehicle?"

Read up on towing, brake controllers, what you should do in an emergency, ensure you know how to attach and LOCK the trailer in place, and know how to properly connect the safety chains or cables on the trailer. There's a bit of homework to do before you can safely tow, and you're taking a good first step. I've heard (and experienced) enough towing horror stories to never take it lightly again.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Thanks for the tips. I'm excited and a little anxious to tow something for the first time. I've been doing some reading on safety but I need to dig into it a lot more. Obviously don't want to put my family or anyone else at risk on the roads. Just taking the time to know for sure I'll be able to pull/stop the thing before I move further into researching stuff.

 

[JCH13]

Thanks for the tips. I'm excited and a little anxious to tow something for the first time. I've been doing some reading on safety but I need to dig into it a lot more. Obviously don't want to put my family or anyone else at risk on the roads. Just taking the time to know for sure I'll be able to pull/stop the thing before I move further into researching stuff.

For sure. Definitely post any specific questions you have right back in this thread. I know there are a number of ATGers who tow on a regular basis that can chime in.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Almost forgot, some big ass side mirrors help alot too.

Learn how to ground guide, teach your girl how to either back the trailer or guide you, and work out your system in a parking lot with cones. It can be a bitch backing a trailer into a tiny camping spot on a grade in the rain with spectators.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Yea the only thing I've pulled was a little 75gal. water horse about 10 yrs ago and never really had any practice before or after that. Just backing that thing up was a little tricky lol.

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you've got a class III, your hitch can handle it. If you've got the 3.5L Ecoboost, how many horsepower is it rated at? (I looked at the 2013 F150s and I think it was 365 or so?) That should be plenty to haul a lightweight trailer.

I used to haul my boat with a 190hp Jeep Cherokee (straight 6). It was alright, but I made quite a few trips hauling the boat over mountains and could definitely tell it needed more power going up the big mountains in the summer, but I took it slow and watched my engine temp. On regular interstate travel or towing locally, it was never a problem.

Just be aware of your performance when really putting it under load. Put the pressure on your transmission and don't push it too hard and you'll be fine.

 

[ViviTheMage]

psssh towing? Do like me, get a RTT

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If you've got a class III, your hitch can handle it. If you've got the 3.5L Ecoboost, how many horsepower is it rated at? (I looked at the 2013 F150s and I think it was 365 or so?) That should be plenty to haul a lightweight trailer.

I used to haul my boat with a 190hp Jeep Cherokee (straight 6). It was alright, but I made quite a few trips hauling the boat over mountains and could definitely tell it needed more power going up the big mountains in the summer, but I took it slow and watched my engine temp. On regular interstate travel or towing locally, it was never a problem.

Just be aware of your performance when really putting it under load. Put the pressure on your transmission and don't push it too hard and you'll be fine.

It's not the eco boost, just the 3.5L V6. I think as har as HP it's about 290@6500rpm but not 100% right now.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

psssh towing? Do like me, get a RTT

lol that is awesome but there's no way in hell my wife go for one of those!

 

[olds]

Towing is simple. It's the backing most people have trouble with.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You can easily tow that trailer with your set up as it's very light. The problem is adding much baggage puts you over the limit for a single axle. Plus, that trailer is a piece of crap. Look at the cabinets, doors and, hardware. You can do better with a used Avion.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Plus, that trailer is a piece of crap. Look at the cabinets, doors and, hardware. You can do better with a used Avion.

Lol is it really that bad. I've heard nothing but good things about Jaycos!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Lol is it really that bad. I've heard nothing but good things about Jaycos!

Yes, it really is that bad. Unfortunately, all new single axle trailers of that type are equally bad. You can count yourself lucky if it lasts 5 years. I urge you to talk to folks on several brand name trailer forums and get recommendations.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Yes, it really is that bad. Unfortunately, all new single axle trailers of that type are equally bad. You can count yourself lucky if it lasts 5 years. I urge you to talk to folks on several brand name trailer forums and get recommendations.

Ok I'll take a look around and check out some of their forums. Just out of curiosity, what would recommend?

 

[WackyDan]

Brakes on the trailer are REQUIRED above 1500lbs trailer weight, according to the flyer that OP linked. Make sure they actually work, too. A friend of mine had to re-wire the electronic brakes on his car trailer because there were some bad connections as it was built.

There's not much ambiguity in the documents you linked. If you've got the trailer hitch you're good to tow 5,000lbs. Keep 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue. You need trailer brakes over 1,500lbs. I'd take it to a dealer and ask: "I want to tow this trailer on (long or short) stints, what should I have on my tow vehicle?"

Read up on towing, brake controllers, what you should do in an emergency, ensure you know how to attach and LOCK the trailer in place, and know how to properly connect the safety chains or cables on the trailer. There's a bit of homework to do before you can safely tow, and you're taking a good first step. I've heard (and experienced) enough towing horror stories to never take it lightly again.

Recommended tongue weight is 20%... Becomes more important the heavier the trailer and the specs on this one are in range.

 

[JCH13]

Recommended tongue weight is 20%... Becomes more important the heavier the trailer and the specs on this one are in range.

Where did you find 20%?

I've generally read 10%, or sometimes something like 9-12%, but never anything as high as 20%.

Curious to know if I'm missing something.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

In my research I've been reading 10-15% TW. That's what I'm coming up with across the board.

On the Jayco Owners Forum a lady posted she's pulling with the following:

16XRB, towing with a Ford Edge and an Equilizer E2 WD hitch and anti-sway.

If she can pull this thing with a Ford Edge and the Equilizer hitch and anti-sway, I'd imagine I could do the same with my Explorer. I'd just have to watch the weight. She said it's just her and her dog, obviously for me it'll be the family & cargo. Still not 100% confident in my vehicle's capabilities lol

 

[WackyDan]

The tongue weight percentage goes up as you increase trailer weight, add trailer axles or if you are towing a 5th wheel.

For mine, my tongue weight is 1200# on a tandem axle with a weight distribution hitch. Recommended tongue weight was 20%. 5th wheels can go up to 25% of trailer weight. Single axle trailers do only require up to 15%... so you guys are right from that perspective and I was speaking mainly to my experience with my trailers.

If you are having issues towing, namely sway, the first thing to do is to look at your tongue weight. If that isn't addressable then some sort of sway control or weight distribution setup is going to be the way to go.

 

[WackyDan]

In my research I've been reading 10-15% TW. That's what I'm coming up with across the board.

On the Jayco Owners Forum a lady posted she's pulling with the following:

16XRB, towing with a Ford Edge and an Equilizer E2 WD hitch and anti-sway.

If she can pull this thing with a Ford Edge and the Equilizer hitch and anti-sway, I'd imagine I could do the same with my Explorer. I'd just have to watch the weight. She said it's just her and her dog, obviously for me it'll be the family & cargo. Still not 100% confident in my vehicle's capabilities lol

I'm currently on the edge of comfort towing my toy hauler with my F-150... and I'm generally 500-1000# under my tow rating at max load though I usually sit at 6500# total weight. I don't push my luck and take my time. I'd never tow at the full rating of my truck as those ratings are usually over inflated by the manufacturers... In your case, I think you'll be fine, just don't lose sight of what is behind you as it can get away from you in a hurry - especially if you are having sway issues.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Well my GCVWR is 9980. I figure with my GCWR of 6160 & the trailer at 3500 lbs I'm still under max but only by about 220 lbs. That's if our TV and TT were maxed. I was discussing this with my wife and said if we have the trailer we wouldn't need to load cargo into the TV. Yeah right. I pretty much *know* that if there's room, my wife will find something to throw in there when it comes to camping.

Curb weight is 4557lbs (including a 150lb passenger), for just my family of 4 passengers, that's about 450lbs of just passengers, so about 5007. 5007 + 3500 = 8507lbs, which is about 1153 lbs. below max *IF* we had nothing else but passengers in the TV and the TT maxed right? Or does my math completely suck?

 

[WackyDan]

Well my GCVWR is 9980. I figure with my GCWR of 6160 & the trailer at 3500 lbs I'm still under max but only by about 220 lbs. That's if our TV and TT were maxed. I was discussing this with my wife and said if we have the trailer we wouldn't need to load cargo into the TV. Yeah right. I pretty much *know* that if there's room, my wife will find something to throw in there when it comes to camping.

Curb weight is 4557lbs (including a 150lb passenger), for just my family of 4 passengers, that's about 450lbs of just passengers, so about 5007. 5007 + 3500 = 8507lbs, which is about 1153 lbs. below max *IF* we had nothing else but passengers in the TV and the TT maxed right? Or does my math completely suck?

I think you are spot on. Clothing/food supplies will add 2-300 pounds... and the trailer weight is dry... So add weight for the LP gas tank and if you are hauling any water in a fresh water tank or if you have a hot water heater. Note that the dry trailer weight sometimes doesn't account for the roof mounted AC unit (if there is one) as those are sometimes dealer installed.

There are plenty of people that over do it and are fine. The difference is whether you are towing 50 miles to go camping or if you are towing 1000 miles. I towed 2400 + miles in one trip last year at about 7500# and that is about all I wanted and the truck wanted on some of the hills we ran. I've towed over my limit once by about 500#+ for about 100 miles also in the mountains and watched my transmission fluid temps get to within 3 degrees of requiring a tranny fluid change.

EDIT: I see you have a hot water heater and fresh water tank. I always run with several gallons of water to flush the toilet and wash hands if needed. Plus you will have the latent 6 gallons of water in the hot water tank that is always there unless you drain it.