Aaron k said:
The salesman says our 2015 f150 crew cab with a 5.0l will tow it just fine.
As soon as I read that in your first post, I knew the info would be inaccurate. Remember their goal is to sell you something, not to make sure you can do it safely or legally. :
That might seem like an unfair statement, but we read about SO many of these similar "promises" from dealerships that it gets a little ridiculous.
Aside from the weight is the length of the trailer. Most 1500 or 150 (1/2 ton trucks) are not as equipped to deal with towing large box trailers. They might do fine with a 9000# flatbed load or boat (that's at least a
little more aerodynamic), but RV trailers are like giant sails that pick up a lot of wind from weather and passing traffic. The longer the trailer, the more that thing is going to potentially walk your truck all over the roadway. We often call it "the tail wagging the dog" around here. 2500 or 250 (3/4 trucks) or bigger can not only tow more, but also have heavier duty transmission, engine cooling, brakes, and suspension that all contribute to a more manageable towing experience.
Unless you are determined to buy from that dealership RIGHT now, consider shopping for a gently used unit from a private seller. Depending on where you live, there may be dozens of them on Craigslist that can save you a ton of money over a dealership purchase. They key is researching as much as possible in advance, so you know what to look for when checking out used RV's. Our forum Library (link button near the top of the page) has a lot of helpful articles.