Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Camper size?

I would pull nothing over 28ft with aluminum frame.

There aren't motels in 80% of the places I want be when on my time.

Not if you figure in eating at restaurants twice a day for a family of 4 or 5. We have a 27 foot trailer, we don't really take extended trips as the kids get antsy when in the vehicle for extended amounts of time. They are 8,7, and 7, riding in a car to see a rock formation doesn't interest them, riding their bikes and catching sunfish from a dock is what they want to do.

We find spots within 3 or 4 hours of home and enjoy our time at a destination. We just go camping more often than spending 2 weeks on a long summer vacation. If we stayed in hotels, it would be sitting inside watching them swim at the pool, we can do that in the winter.

We bring the kids bikes with us on our weekend trips, it's amazing how easy it is for kids to make weekend friends in a campground. I also don't feel worried about letting the kids roam a bit on their own when in a campground, in a hotel no way would I let them wander around.

While you have good points, the eco boost is another class. It’s got its max torque down low in the rpm range (2000-2500ish). That’s like a diesel.

My camping would be fairly remote. But with the grandkids I agree with everything you just stated.

Yeah, but hook a camper to it and your mileage will closely match that of a '70s Town Car.. And that ain't no diesel..

(and in case anyone's wondering, my son has an F-150 Eco and he loves the mileage - until he hooks up a trailer...)

Forget towing capacity. The limiting factor will be payload capacity which almost always maxes out long before you get a trailer too heavy for the drive train, at least with 1/2 tons. Find the GVWR which is usually on the drivers door or door jamb. There may, or may not be a payload rating, but it isn't accurate. They take the actual weight of the truck after it comes off the assembly line and subtract that number from GVWR to determine payload. But any aftermarket items you've added or gear you keep in the truck is cutting into the posted payload. It is best to actually weigh the truck as it is now and subtract that number from the posted GVWR to find your true payload.

The tow rating is probably going to be between about 7000-9000 lbs. But payload will probably fall between 1600-1800 lbs. It varies, 4X4 trucks, extended cab and crew cab trucks are heavier with lower payloads. Higher trim levels are heavier with lower payloads. It can vary between 1100 lbs to 2100 lbs on 1/2 tons depending on how they are equipped and cab styles. A regular cab base model 4X2 long bed might well have more payload than a lot of 3/4 ton trucks. Or a loaded up 4X4 crew cab could have less payload than my Tacoma.

Figure 13% for tongue weight and a 5000 lb trailer will have 650 lbs on the tongue. Add another 100 lbs for a WDH and you've used up 750 lbs of payload. With MY 1/2 ton F150 that would leave me with 1000 lbs payload for passengers and gear in the truck which is reasonable. You're truck may be different. Using payload as a guide around 6000-6500 is all I'd tow with my truck even though it is rated for almost 8000 lbs. It aint hard, but you need to crunch some numbers for your truck

Very good post... Kudos..

Seems you got offended because I compared the peak torque in a turbo charged gas motor to a diesel which is a fact.

If you want a real eye-opener, take your truck across the scales with just you in it, no cargo or anything. Then hook up your trailer all ready for camping or whatever, throw in the coolers, the family, the dog, all the stuff, then go across the scales again. Subract for the difference. I can almost guarantee you will be shocked and amazed.

Just for hunting deer and elk for one week I have right at 1200lbs in the truck. This is gear for two people, base camp, and hiking equipment/camp.

Not offended in the least.. Don't know where you got that idea.. Just pointing out that torque is one thing - MPG is quite another... If one is going to haul a camper (or similar trailer) around a bunch, the ECO is actually not the way to go IMHO..

YMMV.

If you're serious about pulling, get a diesel.

Camping 101.

How about hauling? Like a truck-bed camper such as a Bigfoot, etc.

Exactly...

Same.

Gas/diesel - either will work.. But it's the load that's important.. I looked at those camper specs and IMHO it would behoove the owner to go up to an F-250.

Here's a link to the F-150 towing chart.. Scroll down to the 'slide-in camper' section....


https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...df/guides/18RV&TT_Ford_F150_Oct9.pdf

I took a pickup camper to SW Montana in 2001 for an elk bowhunt. I hauled it with a 1/2 ton Silverado with a 350 .

Huge mistake!!! 😂😂😂


Talk about learning the hard way...

LMAO...

Ever see those leeetle minitrucks with campers mounted on the back?? OMG! Best to stay FAR, FAR away from one of those on the highway.. A 10 mph gust of wind and they're damn near on their sides...