My mom has used a F250 with the 6.0 to tow her 5th wheel with no issues. It appears you can head off most of the problems by installing ARP head studs and deleting the EGR with an appropriate tune
What I heard about the 6.0L was that Ford built them already maxed out in terms of the HP they could output. If left stock they did OK, but once chipped with added boost pressure the headgaskets/bolts couldn't take it. I'd stay away all the same though.
The 6.0 in our F-250 was completely stock. The option to eliminate the EGR may work. Every time we broke down it was determined that the EGR was completely plugged up with black soot. Not sure how the removal of the EGR works with clean air DEQ requirements.
Prior to the 6.0 we had a 96' F-350 with the 7.3. I loved that engine.
__________________
MKI roadster/ Ford Performance 392 Stroker-430 hp/ TKO 5 speed/ Strange Engineering 9\"/3.89 gear set
The 7.3 was a good motor. One of my best friends who is a mechanic compares it to the old Ford straight six....he says it doesn't make enough power to break anything
Maybe my truck is special. I get 22 mpg on highway and 17 in city. It has the bigger v8 motor with automatic transmission. I don't drive it hard. Pull the traiker between 60-65. Crew cab. Mine's rated at 9100. The trailer is 4700 empty.
Just got back from an RV show and stopped by our local Tacoma RV dealer. The dealer was great. We went through pretty much everything from 36' 5th wheels for $100k down to econo-trailers that really didn't appeal to us. We landed on something we think is perfect for us. A little more money than I was thinking but it is a well built trailer that is well within my trucks towing capacity at 6,300 empty. The dealer will let me take the trailer for a tow test before I buy as well but I'd have to buy the trailer brake system for $400 or so to do that. I'd have to do that to rent one anyway.
Here is what is at the top of our list:
Keystone Cougar 21' Tow behind. It has a queen bed that is part of the living space but can be curtained off. No real need for that for us. It feels spacious, has a decent sized bathroom with shower and is quite nice. Dealer wants $23k which is about $5k more than I wanted to spend but since I don't have to upgrade my truck we are considering it. We'll still shop around for used/new to see what we can find. The 21' had tons more storage than the 24' due to the 24' having a closed off bedroom and different layout for the bathroom. We felt we liked the 21' better.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
Darren,
That looks like a great floor plan for just a couple, but if you have more than one couple, it could get crowded.
The dinette probably folds down into a double bed, but with the queen bed where it is, there is very little seating area for entertaining in your trailer. Sometimes if it is after dark, or the weather isn't comfortable it is nice to have a space in your trailer for several friends to join you and be able to visit just like at home. Without a space to seat additional people or place chairs or a sofa this is virtually impossible to do comfortably.
The extra room in a 24-26 foot trailer with the right floor plan will give you the nice bathroom, a queen bed, and still have room for a "living room" type area for additional seating for guests, or just to watch TV or read when you want to relax.
Keep in mind that a 6300 lb trailer dry will easily weigh in around 8000 lbs or more with all of your personal items, water, food, etc... packed inside.
Check to see how much of an option AC is on the trailer. A lot of places we camp in the Northwest can be pretty warm and uncomfortable during the hot periods of the day. It is really nice to have the AC to keep your comfort levels at a level you can tolerate, or have a place to escape the heat and relax or take a nap for a bit.
Bob
__________________
Building an original style CSX 427SC frame/body car with Carbon fiber body, 393W stroker, T5 (for now), T-bird IRS w/3.27 gears, dual roll bars, and lots of decisions yet to make.
Yeah, we aren't too concerned about sleeping other people, the dining seat/table does turn into a bed although small. We figure people can sit on the edge of the bed and in the dining nook for entertainment when weather gets bad/cold. We are still pondering things and aren't going to run out and buy one this minute, maybe not even in the next several months but we do have a much better idea of what we want.
Good points about having more seating though, this doesn't have a ton of seating like you pointed out. The 24' version actually had less space for walking around although it did have a small couch in addition to the nook. The kitchen was smaller though and the bedroom was separate but very cramped.
Give and take... Some of the 26' campers were really great for entertaining but I don't want to spend $35-40k. This one was $26k after tax, weight distribution hitch, and trailer brake installed.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
This is probably the worst time of year to be looking at buying a new travel trailer. The best RV shows are in the fall, after the heavy camping season. The prices really drop off and you can find some floor plans and incentives that can really make it worth the wait.
Also, I've had some of my best camping experiences in the fall/winter as long as it isn't icy on the roads. Having a nice, warm place to retreat to after a chilly day sight seeing or taking a stroll on the beach/in the mountains is a really nice incentive to get out and away from home for a weekend.
Bob
__________________
Building an original style CSX 427SC frame/body car with Carbon fiber body, 393W stroker, T5 (for now), T-bird IRS w/3.27 gears, dual roll bars, and lots of decisions yet to make.
This is probably the worst time of year to be looking at buying a new travel trailer. The best RV shows are in the fall, after the heavy camping season. The prices really drop off and you can find some floor plans and incentives that can really make it worth the wait.
Also, I've had some of my best camping experiences in the fall/winter as long as it isn't icy on the roads. Having a nice, warm place to retreat to after a chilly day sight seeing or taking a stroll on the beach/in the mountains is a really nice incentive to get out and away from home for a weekend.
Bob
Yeah, I was wondering if the prices fluctuated for new trailers at dealers or not based on the season. Do the new ones fluctuate or are you referring to used?
Yep, I'm ok with spring/fall/sometimes winter camping to get away.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
I'm referring to new trailers. The Fall RV show prices are usually pretty good as they want to thin down the inventory so they don't carry so many units on the lot over the winter slow season.
You will also see some floor plans that you don't normally see at the dealers for some reason- that can be a good or a bad thing depending on what is available.
Craigslist is a great resource for used units, but be sure what you are looking for as far as problems (leaks, cabinet problems, mechanical issues). Look at how the trailer has been stored. If it has been covered and/or stored inside when not in use, it has probably been cared for mechanically also.
Bob
__________________
Building an original style CSX 427SC frame/body car with Carbon fiber body, 393W stroker, T5 (for now), T-bird IRS w/3.27 gears, dual roll bars, and lots of decisions yet to make.
Well, we've looked at probably 100 trailers. We are nixing the Cougar above. Not sure I like the build quality. We are now looking at Arctic Fox / Nash. Both look to have aluminum construction with superior build quality... 5 seals on the slide outs etc... kind of spendy but we want to buy quality. Still researching but having fun with it as well. We probably have 20 RV outlets within 30 miles here.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
I think that might be a good call on the Cougar (seems kinda heavy for a 21' anyway). I don't have much knowledge of them, but a friend bought one in '09 and everytime he tows it somewhere, something new is broken or falling off when they arrive at the campsite. I know our Jayco is of lower quality, but it is managable stuff (screws falling out of cabinets, crappy drawer slides, broken clips on the blinds, etc.).
Keep an eye on Craigslist and other such places. Getting one a year or two old will save a fortune. Again rent one it will be cheap insurance if you like it.
Also have them walk you through every system on the trailer. Where are all the fuses, breakers etc. how to bypass the HWH, fill, drain, divert from city to tank, all the stuff. JMHO, Richard.
Need help finishing your project we can help here or at your shop.
FFR GTM #34 first GTM with working AC. 400 hp LS1 w/G50
FFR coupe 3617CP 331 Stack EFI T-5 IRS Cobra brakes, AC/heat.
Both cars by NRC, we can build (and have built) any FFR product.
We also make and sell a ton of great parts for the FFR community.
Brake kits, AC systems, #1 supplier of Team III wheels.
Saw probably 30 more trailers yesterday. Really like the Arctic Fox 25Y... it is actually 30' long and weighs in about 7,050 pounds dry.
Looked up all the specs on my F150 and I have the 3.73 rear end and a 144.5" wheel base which comes out to a towing capacity of 9,300 pounds on Ford's towing chart. That is with 17" rims... with 18" rims they say to subtract 500 pounds. Well, I have 20" rims on mine so I'd say subtract 1,000 pounds putting me at 8,300 towing capacity.
Hm, I can tow it but it probably wouldn't be fun. So, instead of this being a "hey, lets think about getting a small travel trailer" it has become a "hey, lets spend a crapload of money and get a new truck and trailer". Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of getting a new truck but a 3/4 ton diesel ain't cheap as we all know!
We are still looking for fun and are in no rush, especially since shows are coming up and we can probably get a better deal on trailers in the winter. From what I've found we can probably offer 60-75% of retail and get a trailer for that. Problem is my wife has had price creep
So, tow vehicles... I'm considering two IF we make the leap. I like the F250 but only 2008 and newer with the 6.4l Turbo Diesel which can tow 12,500 pounds. The 2008 appears to be the first year that has new interior that I would be happy traveling many miles in. If I'm going to drive for hours on end I want to enjoy the environment. Then there is the Dodge 2500 Cummins. There are several years that would work but the interior on most is just ok. It has 13,600 towing capacity and is a 6 cylinder diesel. That's 1,100 pounds more towing. Wonder if it gets better fuel economy? None of the stickers at the dealership show fuel economy on 3/4 ton and up so I really have no idea what to expect other than what people claim to get.
Anyway, lots of research to do. I think we'll end up either buying a really small trailer to use with my truck for now or go with the 30' and a newer diesel 3/4 ton.
Here is the Arctic Fox trailer we feel just fits us. One bed and great gathering space with a decent sized bathroom.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
Yeah, that is my wife's influence there. We aren't going on "fancy" appearance so much as wanting to buy something with superior build quality that will last and have better resale value if/when we want to upgrade. It just so happens that the well built trailers are fancy If we end up getting a good tow vehicle and the 30' one above we'll likely take several trips a year crossing several states each time. I'm planning to retire in about 10 more years, by then we'll want to upgrade. Might go 5th wheel if we really enjoy this. Then we'll travel the country and see what trouble we can get ourselves into
We'll see, my wife wants to start living life... this is one of the things she misses from childhood although then they traveled by car and stayed in hotel rooms.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
Its been a little more than 10 years since we sold our last travel trailer, which was about the same size as what you are looking at. I miss it and have thoughts of getting another.
PS: I pulled our 30' trailer with a 1/2 ton Dodge Pick-up, without problem, but I now have a 2011 Toyota Tundra that will pull a house off its foundation!
__________________
Bob
Everybody is entitled to my opinion!
Non-donor MK II, FFR-5163K, Ford Racing 302, Tremec, Team III Wheels, Red w/Silver Stripes.
I think you need to consider a gooseneck trailer. You will have plenty of room in your truck bed for fire wood etc. anything that fits below the bed line will clear but you have to leave room for the pivot of the trailer hitch. I've pulled trailers for a number of years (wife is into horses) and have found the gooseneck set up much more stable, I haul our tack trunk and 4 bales of hay in the bed of my truck. You can get a bolt in hitch for this set up. Just google gooseneck turn over ball hitches. I have a B&W in my 1 ton and it is great.There is a pin you can pull to relaese the ball and simply pull it out and turn it over when not needed. This pin is pulled by a rod that you access above the left rear wheel, comes with instructions for the install. Took me about 1 hour to install it. Just think about the extra sleeping area in the bunk above the truck and you may get buy with a shrorter trailer.
If you have the tow package on your truck you should be good to go. The only other thing I would recommend you consider, even ifyou choose a bumper hitch, is a heavier tire for the rear of your truck. An 8 ply rating would be good due to higher inflation pressures and a resulting stiffer side wall. If you really get into towing a trailer I recommend a 1 ton dual wheel set up as it is much more stable.
HTH
CB
I think you need to consider a gooseneck trailer. You will have plenty of room in your truck bed for fire wood etc. anything that fits below the bed line will clear but you have to leave room for the pivot of the trailer hitch. I've pulled trailers for a number of years (wife is into horses) and have found the gooseneck set up much more stable, I haul our tack trunk and 4 bales of hay in the bed of my truck. You can get a bolt in hitch for this set up. Just google gooseneck turn over ball hitches. I have a B&W in my 1 ton and it is great.There is a pin you can pull to relaese the ball and simply pull it out and turn it over when not needed. This pin is pulled by a rod that you access above the left rear wheel, comes with instructions for the install. Took me about 1 hour to install it. HTH
CB
__________________
MKIII, 302 FMS Crate, GT40 Heads, Quick Fuel carb, TK0500 Mid-shift, 3-Link, 300 RWHP & Trq. Finally done after two years. I think I will call her Black Betty
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
Well, we pretty much landed on the Arctic Fox 25Y. Now I need to finalize my tow vehicle.
I like the Dodge. The Ford is awesome too but about $6k more similarly outfitted and maintenance is much more expensive and difficult if something major goes wrong with engine.
Now I'm just trying to decide on 2012 or 2013. At first I was scared of DEF and thought 2012 was the easy choice. After reading up and educating myself it appears DEF is something to look forward to since it promises increased economy and has proven so in their 4500 and 5500 line. Rumors are the 2013 will have DEF.
If the prices are similar I guess I'll go 2013. Not sure how I went from used 2005ish to new 2013. Probably the same way we doubled the budget for my wifes car.
If the Ford and Dodge were similarly priced it would be a tough call but the ease of doing some major engine work without having to remove the cab on the Dodge is something to really consider and kind of tips the scales for me. That and I just like the Cummins reputation.
We'll see what happens. Heading to the Dodge dealer again tonight to talk trucks and look at colors and see if I can worm some 2013 info out of them. Will probably hit the Ford lot this weekend to test drive some more to ensure I give Ford a good shake.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
Of the 3/4 ton trucks, it's been my experience that the Chevrolet's ride by far the best. If your going to spend much time in it driving across the country, that should be a consideration as well.
My '03 Chevy 3/4 ton rides better than a 2010 Ford 1/2 ton, and the Dodge trucks have traditionally been quite "stiff".
Nice camper BTW.
__________________
-Andrew-
- If the answer to the question is "the government" it was a stupid question to begin with.
So, I ended up with a Ford F350 and at the last minute, as usual, we found a better fit for us that of course was more money. Ordered it up today, Valentines day. So, I bought my wife something shiny and very expensive.
This trailer is also built by Northwood as it was recently acquired by them and the 2013 model is using their chassis and building methods. It is an all aluminum super structure with steel roof trusses for a barreled ceiling. Full walk on roof with tons of kitchen counter space and a huge awning.
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
I really like the layout and floor plan. I'm betting you guys are going to get used to camping real fast.
Bob
__________________
Building an original style CSX 427SC frame/body car with Carbon fiber body, 393W stroker, T5 (for now), T-bird IRS w/3.27 gears, dual roll bars, and lots of decisions yet to make.
Need help finishing your project we can help here or at your shop.
FFR GTM #34 first GTM with working AC. 400 hp LS1 w/G50
FFR coupe 3617CP 331 Stack EFI T-5 IRS Cobra brakes, AC/heat.
Both cars by NRC, we can build (and have built) any FFR product.
We also make and sell a ton of great parts for the FFR community.
Brake kits, AC systems, #1 supplier of Team III wheels.
So, I ended up with a Ford F350 and at the last minute, as usual, we found a better fit for us that of course was more money. Ordered it up today, Valentines day. So, I bought my wife something shiny and very expensive.
Very nice. Is that a pull behind or a fifth wheel?
__________________
“Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place.
Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by
definition, not smart enough to debug it.” -- Brian Kernighan
FFR MK3.1 7075 Delivered: 10/13/09, First start 2/28/11, gokart 10 minutes later
408w carbed, TKO 600, IRS (3.27 with Torsen), dual roll bars, halibrand replicas, SS side pipes, rivet on hood scoop, SAI mod
Satisfied customer of: Factory Five Racing, Mike Forte, Breeze Automotive, Whitby Motors, Herb's Door Panels, Cobra Heat, Stewart Transport, Wayne Presley (Very Cool Parts), North Racecars, and Finish Line
Darren, I came late to this thread, but I see you've picked out a nice looking trailer congrats. If I'd seen this last year when you started this thread my advice would be DON'T DO IT !! unless you are going to spend at the very lest 30-45 days per year traveling (I don't recall you saying).
Here is why, my wife thinks "roughing it" is a three star hotel that does not have room service after midnight. By the time you bought another truck and a trailer and buy insurance and fuel and routine maintenance, you could stay in a moderate priced suite for thirty days for ten to thirteen years. About the lifetime of the truck and trailer with the added benefit of someone else does all the clean up. I'm not trying to bash you, I'm sure you and yours will be happy with your decision, the math just don't work out for me.
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