Notices
6.7L Power Stroke Diesel 2011-current Ford Powerstroke 6.7 L turbo diesel engine

How much can i tow?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 05:16 PM
  #1  
Jayybird's Avatar
Jayybird
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 489
Likes: 4
How much can i tow?

Fellas,
I am in the market for a 5th wheel camper. Have a 2012 SRW F250 crew cab 4x4 6.7 powerstroke. I have a couple questions.

1. How much weight can I tow safely? Fifth wheel not on bumper
2. Are y'all adding air bags or an extra leaf or nothing to tow heavy? I am running 35 toyo MTs and a leveling kit, i would imagine i would need the extra leaf or air bags.

Thanks for any input.
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 05:54 PM
  #2  
jcatchem's Avatar
jcatchem
New User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I tow 17k very often with no issues. I did put air bags on the rear. The actual tow rate I think is 15500, so if you were pulled over this is the most you could legally tow.
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 05:56 PM
  #3  
gsxr1300's Avatar
gsxr1300
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
Inside the drivers door there is a sticker that says the tire pressures and the max payload number. This number is the max weight you can put in the truck including passengers and cargo. Adding a leaf or airbags may increase the actual capacity of the truck but legally your still limited to what that sticker says. This is what limits the 250 trucks when the pin weights of a 5th wheel put you over the max payload before you hit the max tow number. But if you go to any campground you will see 3/4 ton trucks huge 5th wheels.
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 06:17 PM
  #4  
stro1965's Avatar
stro1965
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
I pull a 12,000 pound 38' 5er with my F250 BUT, I shopped for something I liked with a pin weight my truck could handle. No air bags or helper springs needed, very little sag.
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 07:35 PM
  #5  
kper05's Avatar
kper05
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
Club FTE Silver Member

Since you have an F-250, the back will be soft.

These pictures are for the 2013, where I think they increased the weight limits.
I cannot locate the 2012 info or even the info I had for my 2011...



 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 07:48 PM
  #6  
kper05's Avatar
kper05
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
Club FTE Silver Member

I didn't look to see if these vary but I found the 2012.



 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 08:13 PM
  #7  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
technically you need to get the truck on the scales. Full of fuel, people, gear and stuff.

Then you will see what your current weight is by axle and the total.

then based upon that number you can see what is left over.
 
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2013 | 08:52 PM
  #8  
shadowSVT's Avatar
shadowSVT
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 87
From: So Cal
air bags are the way to go when pulling a 5er.
even if it has low pin weight, the air bags will really make the ride nicer.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 04:48 AM
  #9  
Jayybird's Avatar
Jayybird
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 489
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by jcatchem
I tow 17k very often with no issues. I did put air bags on the rear. The actual tow rate I think is 15500, so if you were pulled over this is the most you could legally tow.
your truck DRW or SRW?
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 04:50 AM
  #10  
Jayybird's Avatar
Jayybird
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 489
Likes: 4
About how much do air bags cost?

Thank you all for the input, much appreciated.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 05:10 AM
  #11  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
somwhere around 500 I think is what I paid. Dual guages, on board compressor and 1 gal tank. I also have an aux fitting under the drivers door for air.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 06:57 AM
  #12  
jdadamsjr's Avatar
jdadamsjr
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
Good that you are asking as some stat show 80% of the tow vehicles out there are overloaded
As stated, it will pull anything, but legally it's limited to your placard ratings...
you have different tires and wheels so you may have changed it in three ways:
1) larger tires lessen your effective final drive ratio so a 3.55 may be like a 3.31
2) the tires may have less load capacity which will lower your load
3) if lifted taller, you may have an issue with bed clearance without a tall 5er...

One figure not shown above is the axles ratings... depending on reg cab, crew cab, etc... it could be 6200 lbs which with the hitch, loads, pin wgt will be tight..
So there are other ratings you need to consider,
I think your rear axles GAWR will be the limiting factor...
(Yes, you almost have to be a math major to figure it all out, so don't believe the salesmen when he says your truck will pull anything !)

on edit - I put air bags on mine to help not draw so much attention to my sagging rear end - installed they were about $300
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 07:42 AM
  #13  
JohnD333's Avatar
JohnD333
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 832
Likes: 110
Great capacity increases for the duallys in 2013. Looks like Ford figured out the drivers of heavy 5ers knew best


Don't believe the salesman on either TV or 5er - neither wants to lose the sale, and both know that you will be back to them once you figure out you are overloaded and tired of white knuckle driving. Many of us have been there and hope to share the costly experience so others can avoid it. Get a 5er that matches your 250's capabilities (very limited above 30 feet), or swap out the truck before you put any more money into it trying to make it something that it is not.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 09:18 AM
  #14  
Jayybird's Avatar
Jayybird
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 489
Likes: 4
Fellas,
Thank you for all the information. Many Thanks!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2013 | 09:22 AM
  #15  
my996duc1's Avatar
my996duc1
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 1
From: Anaheim, CA
Surprised the rating varied the way it did for the F250 SRW 4x4 CC.
2011 = 15,700
2012 = 15,200
2013 = 15,900

and for reference 2011 :
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:51 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE