Towing at the limit of the Tremor

[Burns363R]

Anyone towing larger toys haulers with there Tremors?
I'm seeing that the tongue weight is pretty high on some of these. Basically meant to loaded to get the tongue weight down to a manageable level.
Not an issue for weekends we are going racing. But for weekends that we are using it as a normal camper, what do you guys do to add ballast back?
The tremor has 11k towing ability, with 1550 payload. I will be using a weight distribution hitch, and have air bags. (i know the bags don't change weights) The WDH will transfer some weight back to the camper, so i will gain some payload back.
The camper I'm looking at is 8700lbs dry with 1450 tongue weight. On a race weekend, it will be easy to get it down to 1000 lbs tongue weight (cargo in garage) which gives me enough payload for me and the family.
I realize this is on the upper end of the truck, but should be within specs.
What do you guys use for ballast when your not towing toys?
FYI my last camper was 33' (inside) long and 8k empty. Probably closer to 9k normal. And the truck handled it perfectly fine.

Also no mountains or grades. I live in iowa, and its flat.

 

[bigredaggie]

I haven’t tried to tow that heavy. I have a 20’L x 8.5’W x 7’H cargo trailer with semi finished interior that I use to haul a 4 seat RZR. That’s interior dimensions, it’s probably about 24’L to the hitch.

I haven’t taken the setup to a weigh station, but I estimate it loaded out to be about 6500-7000lbs. I used an Anderson Weight Distribution Hitch and the stock springs and shocks and pulled it from Texas to West Virginia and back with no real issues. The truck had plenty of power, braking, and stability through all kinds of terrain including some steep mountain highways.

i really didn’t have to play with the load positioning that much as the truck seemed to do fine whether I had the RZR a foot FWD or AFT.

My only real complaint was sway. The Anderson hitch actually did a good job of reducing sway and leveling the truck, but every time any vehicle flew past me or any significant winds hit the truck and trailer would be blown sideways what felt like several feet at a time. It really wasn’t a tail wag or anything that would upset stability, just that The truck and trailer moved as one unit just getting somewhat violently shoved to the side. Or sucked inward if it was a semi.

Perhaps that’s just the reality of towing a 7000 pound 20 foot long sail that’s longer taller and heavier than the truck towing it. It did kind of form a negative idea in my mind though of towing something much longer, heavier, and with more frontal area like a big bumper pull RV.

With that said, I’m very interested to read what others have experienced.

 

[Stevenrausch]

I just purchased my 2023 Tremor 3.5 ecoboost on Thursday and pulled my 25ft travel trailer 5100lb dry, up north in michigan 250 miles both ways and have to say I was impressed with the pulling power this had compared to my old 2011 F150 Lariat 5.0 V8 with 234k on the odometer, not to knock the old girl but the tremor pulled like a beast!!

 

[Burns363R]

I pulled my old camper with it and it did great. IT was 8k dry, and probably close to 9500 loaded. It was 33' bunk house 36' overall. Absolutely no issues driving it all over Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Cruise control on, 1 hand on the wheel. Hills where no issue, although there aren't any "real" hills around here.

 

[HarleyDavid]

Keep in mind the strip down verson of a tremor is about 1550, but if you get the 402A package, sunroof, tonneau cover, spray bed it drops down to about 1325

 

[Burns363R]

I have a 402A with all your options and my door sticker says 1550 lbs.

 

[Burns363R]

honest way is to weigh your truck and subtract it from 7050 is the only real way probably.

 

[HarleyDavid]

I have a 402A with all your options and my door sticker says 1550 lbs.

my bad I was assuming it was a 2024

 

[Lobo-Tremor]

Keep in mind the strip down verson of a tremor is about 1550, but if you get the 402A package, sunroof, tonneau cover, spray bed it drops down to about 1325

FWIW: This is from a 2022 model. Pretty sure its only option is the Tremor package.

 

[HarleyDavid]

View attachment 30424
FWIW: This is from a 2022 model. Pretty sure its only option is the Tremor package.

This is someone’s 2024 fully loaded less tonneau cover

 

[zx12-iowa]

I just purchased my 2023 Tremor 3.5 ecoboost on Thursday and pulled my 25ft travel trailer 5100lb dry, up north in michigan 250 miles both ways and have to say I was impressed with the pulling power this had compared to my old 2011 F150 Lariat 5.0 V8 with 234k on the odometer, not to knock the old girl but the tremor pulled like a beast!!

Thats the benefit of the 3.5.

 

[zimm]

If you want to safety tow that camper, I'd get a F250/350 Tremor. Or get a lighter trailer.
8700 pounds dry- that's manufacturer's optimistic weight. Plus batteries, propane, water in the tank, all your camping gear, kitchen gear, luggage, food, beverages. You can see how this will spin the dial to over 10,000 very fast. Wiser folks than me say you shouldn't normally tow over 80% capacity for safety.

Also, on the weight distribution hitches- they push some extra weight to the truck's front axle, but they don't give you any more cargo capacity.

For what it's worth, I've towed my Jeep for many hundreds of miles and it did great. I'm leveled and sagged a lot. I'll get airbags before I do it again. That was with 8,000 pounds on the CAT scale.

 

[zx12-iowa]

I think the old 80% thing is ridiculous. I’d tow up to the max. I’d tow over the max if it was a rural area at lower speeds.

 

[Burns363R]

I agree, the 80% thing is just ridiculous.

If 80% is really safe, then all numbers are arbitrary. They should just lower the number for the max towing to that number. But then people would probably say you should only tow 80% of that number.... You see the problem?

Especially with the new towing standards, I think the tow ratings are honed in pretty well to what should be acceptable. Maybe 80% for first time towers or people that have very little experience/confidence in there ability's.

 

[McCarthy]

Air bags, 10 ply tires at the correct PSI (not 35...) and the truck will tow at its max safely when driven in accordance to the weight. With that said if I was towing at max capacity all the time it's time to step into a bigger truck. If it's now and then send it (safely).

 

[Hula]

I just purchased my 2023 Tremor 3.5 ecoboost on Thursday and pulled my 25ft travel trailer 5100lb dry, up north in michigan 250 miles both ways and have to say I was impressed with the pulling power this had compared to my old 2011 F150 Lariat 5.0 V8 with 234k on the odometer, not to knock the old girl but the tremor pulled like a beast!!

Do you have the factory suspension and tires? Did you ever get a shimmy in the rear around 70?

 

[Stevenrausch]

Do you have the factory suspension and tires? Did you ever get a shimmy in the rear around 70?

When I wrote that comment, yes everything was stock, i had some porpoising in the rear but only at low speeds like going over railroad tracks, nothing dangerous just annoying! Towed great, I like to keep my towing speed around 72mph the sweet spot I call it! After returning from my first camping trip
I contacted a company, Shock Surplus and they recommend installing Bilstein 5100 shocks front and back, so I did! I just returned from another camping trip and I can highly recommend the new shocks upgrade. If your having shimming back and forth that could indicate a tongue weight issue? There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable guys regarding towing on this forum that you may want to reach out to for there suggestions.

 

[Hula]

When I wrote that comment, yes everything was stock, i had some porpoising in the rear but only at low speeds like going over railroad tracks, nothing dangerous just annoying! Towed great, I like to keep my towing speed around 72mph the sweet spot I call it! After returning from my first camping trip
I contacted a company, Shock Surplus and they recommend installing Bilstein 5100 shocks front and back, so I did! I just returned from another camping trip and I can highly recommend the new shocks upgrade. If your having shimming back and forth that could indicate a tongue weight issue? There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable guys regarding towing on this forum that you may want to reach out to for there suggestions.

Are the 5100s close to the factory ride?

 

[Stevenrausch]

just a tad firmer but in a good way! I’m really happy with the ride!

 

[Stevenrausch]

Couple photos of the 5100s