Hello,
I have a 1997 F250HD with a 5.8L and 3:55 gears. Motor and tranny have less than 1000 miles on them. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the towing capacity is using a 5th wheel hitch. Also from the manual it says that I can only standard tow 5900# which seems pretty low to me, since the 1996 Ram 1500 I just got rid of could tow 7700#. Why so low of capacity? any info you can give me or point me in the right direction. I have been searching for months and cannot find any real answers. Thanks in advance.

 

GCWR (gross combined weight rating) subtract trucks curb weight is your towing capacity.

As for the low capacity, you are comparing a truck put in production in 1994 to a truck put in production in 1980.

My 97 350 works out to appx 8,000 lb capacity FWIW.

 

I was under the impression that 5th wheel towing didn't follow the same rules as traditional towing when it came to GCVW - curb weight, because most trucks you see a higher 5th wheel capacity then traditional towing or is that only with newer trucks? Thanks.

 

GCWR is GCWR. It doesnt matter bumper pull or 5th wheel.

Not sure foe a 5.8 auto 3:55 truck
but my Powerstroke 5spd 4:10 truck GCWR is 20,000. My truck weighs 7500 so that means I can tow 12,500. The only weigh I cpould tow 12.5k is using a 5th wheel/goosneck. My bumper pull hitch is only rated for 12k

 

Thank you for clearing that up. I wasn't thinking that in order to tow above a certain amount it would be required to have a 5th wheel hitch because of the weight rating. I was still surprised that my 3/4 ton F250 has a lower rating than a year older 1/2 ton Ram 1500. It doesn't make any sense to me of why it is so low. The F250 is night and day better than my Ram ever was. It is hands down a better built truck with a drastic improvement in the chassis and drive train.

 

Engine, transmission, gear ratio and even the cab configuration all have an effect on the weight you can tow. Here's a chart that should help you figure out your rated towing capacity.

Ford F-Series Fifth-Wheel Trailer Towing Selector

 

Great chart. What if you had a 351 with a cam, 1.7 rr an headers. Your hp an tq numbers would be better then the psd an 460. Does that mean you can look at the bottom lines for your specific cab an drivetrain combo ?

 

I thinks it's going to take a bit more than roller rockers, a cam and headers to make a 351 more than 425 ft.lbs.

 

stock is 350

 

A stock 351 in a mid-'90s F250 is more like 315-325 ft-lbs of torque. They're old technology engines--the basic block dates back to the '70s, and the fuel injection dates back to the late '80s.

With a 5th wheel, you also have to take into account the rear axle weight rating (RAWR) and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), as the pin weight of the 5th wheel could cause you to go over on those.

I have a '93 F250 with a 351 and 4.10 rear gears, and I've never been impressed with its towing ability. It feels like it will pull anything, but it won't be a smooth ride, and it won't do it quickly.

Jason

 

the rear axles for 250 an 350's are 10.25's.
why would the weight rating be different, if the same gear ratio ?
If a 351 made as much power or more then a psd or 460,
why wouldnt the gcwr increase ?

 

Thanks for all the great information. Where do I find what my curb weight is?

 

Because you paid ford 1000-1500 more to have a F350 emblem on the fender and the door jab sticker to give you a higher RGVW.

I alway found it funny how ford charged more money for the same truck, just different badges

 

You have to go to a truck scale to determine your curb weight, at a truck stop, landfill/transfer station where they weigh trucks, etc.