5th wheel or hitch.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Orlando, FL
5th wheel or hitch.
I recently purchased a 2004 F350 4x4 Offroad with a SRW. It is the 6.0 turbo Diesel crew cab with the 8 foot bed. It had been used to haul a 5th wheel.... it came with the prodigy brake controller and the frame for the fifth wheel allready installed in truck bed. It also has the tow package. I am just a little confused. The door jam sticker says the GVWR is 9900lbs and the Front GAWR is 5200 lbs with 265/75/R16 and Rear GAWR is 6830 with 265/75/R16. The diesel supplement shows with all axle ratios the Max GCWR is 20k lbs without a fifth wheel and Max GCWR with fifth wheel is 20k lbs. It shows max trailer weight at 12.5k lbs without fifth wheel and 12.7 with a fifth wheel. The truck has a Curb weight of 6400 lbs. When i read the messages I hear talk of pin weight and axle weight and it is all really confusing. I am not sure what the max trailer I can pull is and if it is worth it for me to spend the $400 to $1500 for a fifth wheel and does this change the max I can tow. Right now I just haul my motorcycles (Full Size Cruisers) around but eventually I plan on gettin a toy hauler....
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Joined: May 2007
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I recently purchased a 2004 F350 4x4 Offroad with a SRW. It is the 6.0 turbo Diesel crew cab with the 8 foot bed. It had been used to haul a 5th wheel.... it came with the prodigy brake controller and the frame for the fifth wheel allready installed in truck bed. It also has the tow package. I am just a little confused. The door jam sticker says the GVWR is 9900lbs and the Front GAWR is 5200 lbs with 265/75/R16 and Rear GAWR is 6830 with 265/75/R16. The diesel supplement shows with all axle ratios the Max GCWR is 20k lbs without a fifth wheel and Max GCWR with fifth wheel is 20k lbs. It shows max trailer weight at 12.5k lbs without fifth wheel and 12.7 with a fifth wheel. The truck has a Curb weight of 6400 lbs. When i read the messages I hear talk of pin weight and axle weight and it is all really confusing. I am not sure what the max trailer I can pull is and if it is worth it for me to spend the $400 to $1500 for a fifth wheel and does this change the max I can tow. Right now I just haul my motorcycles (Full Size Cruisers) around but eventually I plan on gettin a toy hauler....
Weigh truck on scale with full tank, hitch, passengers, and anything else that will be in the truck while towing.
You will have front axle weight and rear axle weight plus total weight.
Read sidewall tire max load rating(x2).
now take tire rating weight (x2) or rear axle weight rating (witch ever is greater) and subtract that from rear axle weight. this equals your payload/king pin weight rating.
example: tires 7280lbs - rear axle weight 3800lbs= 3480lbs max payload/king pin.
Now take your total tuck weight and subtract that from the trucks GCWR and you will have your max towing weight.
hope this helps.....
Also remember that pin weight is 20% of trailer weight.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Orlando, FL
Ok the tires I have on there are the Firestone transforce they are 265/65/R16 123/120R M&S Tires. They carry a load rating of 3415 lbs single or 6830 for the X2 so with these tires it is the same... (what can I say you can tell it was a ford dealer that I bought truck from and installed the tires..... everything is exactly what is OEM... Now Max payload/ pin weight is how much I can put in the truck bed.... but doesn't effect towing weigh if I understand this correct. So with that being said and the numbers my truck is rated for.... ie 20k and 20k (5th wheel verse standard) is there any reason to use the fifth wheel verse the standard tow package...
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
Your towing guide:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...r_F250_350.pdf
Tag along is 12.5...max trailer
5th wheel will allow you to have a 5er of 12.7K or a max pin wt as said above but using the max 5er you can tow would be 2540 lbs pin wt.
Key here is to get on the scales empty with occupants and fuel/gear.
Find your nearest cat scales and get it done:
CAT Scale
Stay within your tire and axle ratings and you are good.
Let me add this...for toy haulers I doubt you will find much and stay within your max of 12.7K. for the 5er but there are some tag alongs that you should be ok with.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...r_F250_350.pdf
Tag along is 12.5...max trailer
5th wheel will allow you to have a 5er of 12.7K or a max pin wt as said above but using the max 5er you can tow would be 2540 lbs pin wt.
Key here is to get on the scales empty with occupants and fuel/gear.
Find your nearest cat scales and get it done:
CAT Scale
Stay within your tire and axle ratings and you are good.
Let me add this...for toy haulers I doubt you will find much and stay within your max of 12.7K. for the 5er but there are some tag alongs that you should be ok with.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
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From: Stillwater, OK
The receiver hitch is rated at 12.5K# that is generally the lowest number that trumps the rest.
Since a 5th wheel doesn't use the receiver, it will be subject to whatever the chosen hitch rating is... 16K# is not uncommon.
Since a 5th wheel doesn't use the receiver, it will be subject to whatever the chosen hitch rating is... 16K# is not uncommon.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
You will probably challenge your rear axle weight rating before any other numbers are in jeopardy....
I ended up with a HEAVY 18k hitch....
here's the 2012 ratings: http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty...ations/towing/
and like stated each body style/cab configuration/tire combo has a different weight rating.
for instance, my Michelin LT275/65R20's have different load ratings at different psi's:
Trying to balance load handling with ride quality,
so I called michelin and with MY tire and MY F-250 this is what they said - YRMV
PSI Load
55 2850
60 3030
65 3195
70 3375
75 3540
80 3750
our rawr is 6200 IIRC, so I could have my tires @ 65 psi and be under the rawr....
but normally I run @ 75 to ensure the tires are not the weakest link
I ended up with a HEAVY 18k hitch....
here's the 2012 ratings: http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty...ations/towing/
and like stated each body style/cab configuration/tire combo has a different weight rating.
for instance, my Michelin LT275/65R20's have different load ratings at different psi's:
Trying to balance load handling with ride quality,
so I called michelin and with MY tire and MY F-250 this is what they said - YRMV
PSI Load
55 2850
60 3030
65 3195
70 3375
75 3540
80 3750
our rawr is 6200 IIRC, so I could have my tires @ 65 psi and be under the rawr....
but normally I run @ 75 to ensure the tires are not the weakest link
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 2
From: Southern Cal
Metmop,
If considering a 5th wheel vs bumper pull, I really feel the 5th wheel is really the way to go. The ride is so much smoother, balanced, and safer in my opinion.
My truck GCWR is 23,000 and it weighs approx 8,800 so with the max wt of my 15,500 trailer, I have an available -1,300 to haul. What it really means is that I need to haul less than 14,200 max including trailer and truck. No way I'll pull 4,300#'s in added weight when hauling just motorcycles, etc.
If you GCWR is only 20k, it's probably due to the rear end gearing. Mines a 3.73 and pulls like a tractor.
Bottom line is you have a great vehicle for towing most any trailer you want within reason.
If considering a 5th wheel vs bumper pull, I really feel the 5th wheel is really the way to go. The ride is so much smoother, balanced, and safer in my opinion.
My truck GCWR is 23,000 and it weighs approx 8,800 so with the max wt of my 15,500 trailer, I have an available -1,300 to haul. What it really means is that I need to haul less than 14,200 max including trailer and truck. No way I'll pull 4,300#'s in added weight when hauling just motorcycles, etc.
If you GCWR is only 20k, it's probably due to the rear end gearing. Mines a 3.73 and pulls like a tractor.
Bottom line is you have a great vehicle for towing most any trailer you want within reason.
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