I apparently bought the wrong truck. I have a 2004 F250 SD 6.0 3.73 crew cab FX4. Checking the towing capacity, I find that particular truck is only rated for 10,400 for a 5th wheel. The supercab with all else the same is 12,000. And the regular cab with all else the same is 13,300! Check out the Ford fleet towing table. Looking at the asterisk note in small print, the derating only applies to the diesel crewcab 4x4 and the supercab 4x4. No derating for the 4x2 models. Even the gassers are not derated. Why would only the diesel crewcab 4x4 be derated so much over the other cabs? Notice also that it is not derated for a conventional pull behind trailer.
-www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/default.asp-

 

I would have to hazzard a guess that the GVW (truck and trailer) is less if with the diesel motor option (due to heavier motor) and for the longer cab area (heavier body panels)?

I would think that a Super Duty with 4 doors and diesel motor weighs the most and therefore decreases your overall GVW (which in turn decreases your trailer towing capability). The 4X2 models weigh less due to not having the 4X4 front end and extra differential weight.

I know that my 4X4 Excursion tows less than the same 4X2 set-up by a few pounds.

 

I tried to justify it the same way. But the fact that it is rated to pull a bumper pull 12,500# trailer but only a 10,400# 5th wheel just did not add up. And it is only the F250, not the F350 that is derated that much. I can only assume it has something to do with the balance of the F250. But then you would think if that were true, the gasser would have to be derated at least a little. The V10 with the 4.30 axle is rated for 13,200!

 

Interesting post. I thought the only difference between the F250 and F350 was the size of the block between the rear spring and axle. Could this alone account for over 2000lb difference in fifth wheel towing capacity? If so, I would think a simple block switcheroo would be in order. This wouldn't necessarily make the truck legal to pull a 12,000lb fifth wheel but I would think it would make it as safe as towing with an F350.

 

Notice the fine print in the table states the difference between the towing capacity of the F250 vs the F350 is less than 100#, EXCEPT for the F250 6.0 crewcab FX4 and the F250 6.0 supercab FX4. Less than 100# difference means there can't be much difference between the F250 and F350 (except for my truck ).

 

Most likely a factor of the GVWR, not the combined rating; tongue weight of a fifth wheel(10%) being a factor beyond the weight of the trailer itself. Additionally, for a crewcab, they subtract 900 lbs presuming you've got 6 adults in the vehicle at 150 lbs each.

Mark

 

I also have the same truck, except mine doesn't have the fx4 package. I just installed a set of air bags, would that (i understand not legally) give me more of a towing capacity? I have a 38' fifth wheel that is about 11k

 

Moved to SD...enjoy

 

sweet cobra i wouldnt pull that through ohio

 

Without going too much into this thread, I gotta say that the difference is the weight of the truck itself.

The GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is "X" lbs.

Weigh the truck, subtract that from "X".

The result is what you can pull.

The deisel weighs more than a gasser, so it actually has a lower rating.

Why the F250 is different than the F350, that's another discussion

 

Cool, I didn't know that. I thought it was 12K.

 

krewat not in ohio sorry

 

That is terrible! What is up with that? Tow capacities are on the decline?

 

Subtraction still works in Ohio. I was talking about Ford's ratings for the trucks.

Don't confuse the issue with a certain state's laws.

 

In reality if you want to see what a F250 SD can pull just go to any RV park and take a look around, I see F250s pulling trailers the size of mine and they are also Fulltimers or extended travelers and they get along just fine, most modify their trucks with higher rated tires and some kind of rear spring overloads of some kind.

Denny