The way I read it if I have an 2012 F-350 DWR 4X2 6.7L engine I can tow up to a 21,900 lb 5th wheel.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...FLRVTT_gde.pdf

Page 19

Is this right??

 

Yes, if you are looking at a crew cab....super cab is 22,100lbs.

But this does not include any options on the truck that may add additional weight.

 

Sorry, yes I was speaking of a crew cab.

 

As suggested by FishingNut, you need to subtract weight of all options, as well as any weight that you add to the empty weight of the truck. In the fine print of the tow chart you will also notice that Ford says do not exceed any axle rating or the GVWR of the Ford.

So a theoretical base truck weighs say 8k. you can tow 21,900.

The tow chart assumes:
no vehicle options on a truck
driver weighs 150#,
has no passengers or tools on board, and
only has 5 gallons or so of fuel.

Ok, I weigh 200# (50# more tan assumed in tow chart), my wife 100#, my dog 50#, a full tank of fuel weighs about 250# more than 5 gallons, I carry about 50# of tools and maps when traveling. This is 500# difference so I am down to 21,500 5th wheel before adding any options to stock truck.

I added factory hitch prep, 2nd alternator, HD towing, camper pkg, A/C, heavy radio, carpets, that 60# tailgate with the wonderful step, about 500# total - down to 21,000.


Then I put in a hitch (150#), and a metal rollup torneau cover (100#). Down to 20,750#.

Subtotal add to vehicle versus ideal towing chart is now 1,150#. So my truck ready to go camping, but without a pin weight from 5er weighs 9,150#, about 5,000 is on the front axle (that 6.7 is heavy). My GVWR is 13,300. I can add a pn weight of 4,150#.

If tow vehicle and 5er ride level, and fresh water tank is centered over 5er axle (not on its nose) a 5th wheel puts about 20% of it total weight on pin, so on a 21k 5er, your pin will weigh a little over 4,000#. Looking ok on the GVWR (9150 + 4000 = 13,150). Depending upon how you load your passenger, dog, maps and tools, you might be pretty close to you 9k rear axle weight. If the 5er rides nose down, also a bad thing for chucking over bumps, you are probably overloaded.

My 5er has water up front and if I fill it my 17k 5er puts almost 4500# on the pin and blows past my GVWR. I can't shift any more weight from the front of the 5er to the rear. I run with about 1/4 water and am right at limits of my 450, which are pretty much the same as a 4x4 350 dually. The tow chart say I can pull a heavier 5er than you, but I hit my GVWR because of the imbalance front to back on my 5er. If I had a dozer on a heavy well balanced lowboy I would not hit my GVWR with such a light load.

 

In my experience, your biggest obstacle is the GVWR. Meaning that the number of pounds on the two axles of the truck will max out with a lighter trailer than advertised.

This is a product of pin weight and whatever your truck weighs on its own ready to travel.

It varies widely but most people run into this problem before they run into the worry of going over what the tow vehicle is capable of maxing out at.

 

That will put you well over the 26k GCWR for many states on a non-commercial driver's licence.

 

I thought about bringing this up too. RV stuff is usually exempt and is a non issue, right? I simply cannot imagine a fifth wheel camper weighing in over 20,000 pounds. Do they make such a beast?

And furthermore, it's really the ratings that they look at.

An f350 rated at 13,500 GVWR plus a triple 7k axle fifth wheel rated at 21,000 pounds equals 34,500. Anything rated over 26,000 GCVWR is where the commercial side comes in.

 

I have a 2011 Nuwa HitchHiker Champagne 38CKRD that is normally rated at 19K GVWR. I had them put on a 21,000 lb pinbox and re-rate the trailer to 21,000 lbs. GVWR. With my F-450, I'm a bit over 31,000 lb combined weight.

As long as the truck makers keep raising their tow ratings, the trailer manufactures will keep raising their GVWR.

You need to look at each state to determine whether RV stuff is exempt from licensing. Some require non-commercial licenses for anything over 26,000 lbs. Some have a limit of 10,000 lb GVWR on the trailer before you have to go to a special license. South Dakota has no special requirements as long as the vehicle is a privately owned recreational vehicle.