New 2017 Reflection 312BHTS owner - Towing question!

[CWSWine]

SMXChris

Have you weighed it and did you exceed any ratings? I see others claim around a 1400 pound tongue weight, are you concered about exceeding the your trucks hitch rating? Your hitch rating is post on a label on the trucks hitch and should list both with and without WD. Here is a great link and post by TucsonJim explaining hitch ratings. https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-Hitch-Ratings

[SMXChris]

Unfortunately I don’t have scales anywhere near me and I haven’t taken the time to make a special trip yet. I will probably buy some type of tongue scale so I can try and load the trailer better. The dealer sold me a fast way e2 10k, I will probably upgrade , but it is working well and sway isn’t an issue even when trucks pass. We usually camp with full hookups so Tank’s are empty while driving, and we pack pretty light. I may be surprised by the actual weights, but for now I’m happily ignorant. I do not have the HD package, just max tow.


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[Cate&Rob]

SMXChris - I can think of a few ways to tame the bounce in the back end. If you don't have the HDPP, you will probably have passenger car tires. Changing to LT tires like the HDPP has, would likely help. Many of us run air bags or Timbrens on the back. I have air bags with the onboard compressor so that I can adjust rear stiffness to suit the road . . . although I usually run them at 30 psi. The HDPP has an extra full length leaf in each rear spring and different shock tuning. Either or both of these would be a bolt-in replacement for what you have.

As to tongue weight, a lever arm over an axle stand will tell you what ballpark you are in. Move the axle stand in and out until your body weight balances the weight of the trailer tongue. Weight x arm length will be the same on each side of the stand.

Rob

[SMXChris]

Rob,

Thanks for the tips and the math lesson, I’ll have to give that a try.

Chris


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[SMXChris]

SMXChris

Have you weighed it and did you exceed any ratings? I see others claim around a 1400 pound tongue weight, are you concered about exceeding the your trucks hitch rating? Your hitch rating is post on a label on the trucks hitch and should list both with and without WD. Here is a great link and post by TucsonJim explaining hitch ratings. https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-Hitch-Ratings

My hitch rating is 12,200, 1220 tongue weight max with weight distribution hitch


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[CWSWine]

My hitch rating is 12,200, 1220 tongue weight max with weight distribution hitch


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Loaded ready to camp weights are being reported around 1400 pounds so you probably over by a few hundred pounds. The only way to know for sure is put it on the scale since no two people loaded a RV the same. Here is what tow planner predicts the tongue weight. http://www.towingplanner.com/Estimat...1&lw=10491&a=3

[thomasonsm]

I may have an interesting take on the experience question. I own a 2017 312BHTS and I originally towed it with a 2016 F150 ecoboost platinum that had everything except HDPL. After towing it a few times I traded in my truck and bought a 2017 F250 6.7. Here are my observations/reasons:

1. In truth the F150 did a fantastic job towing. I took it from Nashville down to the gulf and back and had no issues.
2. To have no issues I reallly had to watch my speed, 65 was the absolute max and often I needed to be 60.
3. I would most certainly feel the tail wagging the dog and would often have to keep my hand on the manual brake to bring some tension back to my tow.
4. I was 900 pounds under GCWR but I was 400 pounds over RAWR even with watching my weight in the trailer.

My reasons for upgrading:
1. Didn't want to be so conscious about even going 65 mph, I wanted to be able to do 70 through Texas and not feel like I was being wreckless.
2. Didn't want to have to be so conscious about packing up my trailer and what all I could bring on my trip. Obviously I would never be able to use the washer/dryer hookups.
3. I have a family, including a 3yr old, 1 yr old, and one on the way and I didn't want to put them in any unnecessary risk.
4. My conditions while towing with my f150 were perfect. Had I had any wind or serious rain I would have been nervous to say the least.
5. While the f150 was fine for easy drives I didn't want to be limited on where I can take my trailer in the US (mountains, out west, heck even through mount eagle. )
6. Gas mileage was 7 mpg at best in the 150
7. I knew that over time I would burn up at least the turbo in my 150 and would be putting max strain on an expensive truck.

I love towing with the F250 and we took it down to Disney in December and I even put a golf cart in the bed of the truck. I was obviously under all my numbers and the Drive was very relaxed. Love the truck and don't regret the higher monthly truck payment one bit

[Gem1n1]

I may have an interesting take on the experience question. I own a 2017 312BHTS and I originally towed it with a 2016 F150 ecoboost platinum that had everything except HDPL. After towing it a few times I traded in my truck and bought a 2017 F250 6.7. Here are my observations/reasons:

1. In truth the F150 did a fantastic job towing. I took it from Nashville down to the gulf and back and had no issues.
2. To have no issues I reallly had to watch my speed, 65 was the absolute max and often I needed to be 60.
3. I would most certainly feel the tail wagging the dog and would often have to keep my hand on the manual brake to bring some tension back to my tow.
4. I was 900 pounds under GCWR but I was 400 pounds over RAWR even with watching my weight in the trailer.

My reasons for upgrading:
1. Didn't want to be so conscious about even going 65 mph, I wanted to be able to do 70 through Texas and not feel like I was being wreckless.
2. Didn't want to have to be so conscious about packing up my trailer and what all I could bring on my trip. Obviously I would never be able to use the washer/dryer hookups.
3. I have a family, including a 3yr old, 1 yr old, and one on the way and I didn't want to put them in any unnecessary risk.
4. My conditions while towing with my f150 were perfect. Had I had any wind or serious rain I would have been nervous to say the least.
5. While the f150 was fine for easy drives I didn't want to be limited on where I can take my trailer in the US (mountains, out west, heck even through mount eagle. )
6. Gas mileage was 7 mpg at best in the 150
7. I knew that over time I would burn up at least the turbo in my 150 and would be putting max strain on an expensive truck.

I love towing with the F250 and we took it down to Disney in December and I even put a golf cart in the bed of the truck. I was obviously under all my numbers and the Drive was very relaxed. Love the truck and don't regret the higher monthly truck payment one bit

What hitch system did you use when towing with the F150?

[thomasonsm]

Equalizer 12,000/1,200

[AustexGP]

Thomasonsm,

All of the reasons you mentioned above was the reason I traded in my Chevy 1500 for a Chevy 2500HD diesel after towing our Jayco 32BHDS TT for the first year. The 1500 towed the Jayco TT perfect in ideal conditions, but add in Texas 2 lane roads with lots of big trucks, crosswinds and rain and you have a very "white knuckled" drive. We always had our twin grand girls and the risk to reward equation with the 1500 was not a warm fuzzy feeling. We towed the Jayco for nearly another year with the 2500 and got much better gas mileage, better ride, safer feeling, and you knew you had some reserve speed if you needed it. Last year we sold the Jayco and purchased a Grand Design 311 BHS 5th wheel, the 2500 actually tows it better than it did the Jayco TT.