I'm sure that the answer to this is "door sticker", but thought I'd ask. I'm new to heavy towing (5th wheel and goose neck) but have been towing moderate loads on my ball hitch since before I could legally drive.

Rig is a 99 F250 SD V10, supercab (full front doors with half suicide rear doors) and full 8' bed.

First a bit of back story, My wife and I are contemplating a lifestyle change and are likely going to buy a 5er and make it our permanent residence, we won't be pulling it often and likely won't be pulling it far, it will sit 99% of the time in one location hooked to septic.

That said, my vin Decoder indicates a GAWR of 6084-6830 (VIN Decoder - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums) but the door sticker shows a max GAWR of 5246. Our first pick 5er will work under either circumstance, but I'm looking to see what my true max is prior to buying a 5er and then finding out I have to pay to have it moved.

I know that air bags will help relieve some of the load off the leaf springs, but will they add anything to the GAWR or would that require a new axle/rear end?

Thanks in advance for any help and wisdom!

-Tyrell

 

Axle ratings are axle ratings. Not sure why your door # is different? You could put triaxle dump truck springs on your truck and it doesn't change the capacity of the axle. I'm one to stick to ratings.

Members will tell you to have the truck weighed at a truck scale as they can give numbers for front and rear axles. That gives you true payload numbers for the pin weight.

 

Take your door cert rating.


Then go to the scales. Subtract the difference and that is what you have available in additional payload.


For a 5th wheel figure 20% of the GVW for the amount that would go against your payload of the truck.


So for a 10K Gross of a 5th wheel would translation to 2K worth of pin weight.


does the 99 have 2K available?


Lets say it does...then what about the rear axle and what about the tires?

 

this says you can tow 13k lbs


The 1999 Ford F250 Super Duty Specs - Ford Trucks



and yes, tounge wieght has to be below payload rating and below combined rear tire load rating.

 

MD SuperDuty, That's what I thought on the axle rating, thanks for confirming.

Senix, Per my calcs I have 2,300 available over the axle and I just bought new tires on Saturday and they're 123 load rated (just over 3,400 lbs per tire). All those calcs say I'm fine for the 5er we're looking at. I figured the door panel was the one I'd have to follow, especially if I got pulled over by a state patrolman, since that's the one he's going to see and it's technically more truck specific (since it's on my truck) than a vin decoder.

Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.

 

Unless you are pulling commercially I doubt anyone would pull you over to check weights..... But I agree with the thinking.

 

Registration is far more important.


As well as axle and tire ratings.


Don't be over on any of those.

 

Senix, I'll have to check my registration, but out of curiosity, do they get that number based on the VIN decoder? They never checked my door panel when I registered my truck.

 

Yes they get it from the vin/dealer at first registration.


So if it is wrong or not enough then simply re-register for the correct amount.


May cost a bit more and you might need to self-certified for safety but that is nothing more than a signature. Depends upon your state.