5th wheel towing ?'s

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 10, 2013 | 01:49 PM

VONxRUBENxLA

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 930

Likes: 0

From: Los Angeles

5th wheel towing ?'s

Looking at possibly picking up a 5th soon. So I have a few questions. What are things I ahould considern investing in for towing. I have a V10

Trailer brake?
Towing/helper bags?
5 star tuner with towing tune?

And I have a 4 inch lift on 33's right now and will be getting 35's is that too high for towing a 5th wheel I know its not ideal but is it practical?

Jun 10, 2013 | 02:05 PM

BPofMD

FTE Legend

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 65,938

Likes: 1,432

From: Millersville, MD

I think it'll be too high for towing a 5'er. All I have is a 4 wheel drive(stock) and it's right at the ideal height....anything higher and you'll have to flip the axles on the RV. That'll make the RV top heavy... but if you don't mind that.... any more help will depend on the tear/model truck and make/model of the 5'er. You'll also need to watch the pin weight of the 5th if you only have a 250 or 350 Single wheel.

Jun 10, 2013 | 03:25 PM

Scottay

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 133

Likes: 14

From: Massachusetts

Ditto on the truck height being to high. I currently have a 2010 F350 (stock), 4WD diesel, and I barely made it with mine (height wise). You will definitely need the brake controller. I had a V10, never got a tuner for it after everything I read about them not being an advantage on them. The stock V10 did a great job pulling mine which was just around 10000lbs. I also never needed any suspension help either, it was an F350 also. Although the new truck may need something to help it stop squatting under acceleration (excessive driveline angle). I get a rear end shudder when accelerating from a stop, Ford says that its normal.

Jun 10, 2013 | 05:46 PM

senix

Super Moderator

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 37,379

Likes: 1,863

From: Frederick, MD

height, axle/tires ratings, GCVWR, TBC.

Jun 11, 2013 | 12:01 PM

CPaulsen

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 447

Likes: 1

From: Southern Oregon

I have a V-10....pull my 5ver @ around 10K....F350 single rear wheel/CC/LB.
I have an SCT tuner set with 87 perf....87 tow and 89 tow. Works really well for me. All done by Brian.

Jun 11, 2013 | 01:39 PM

mudfuel06

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 579

Likes: 0

From: Chiefland, Fl

I have a 4.5" Rough Country with 37 Toyo's. The trailer sits a little nose high, but that could have been the ground where I hitched up at. Get the 5 Star tune from Mike. You definitely want a trailer brake controller with any setup that you get. As for mileage, I will know that this weekend when I tow with it for the first time. I'm expecting around 5mpg's with everything considered. Worst case scenario, I may raise the trailer an inch or two if it's too far out of level. How big of a trialer are you looking at? Mine's about 30' and weighs about 8500 loaded with camping gear. PM me with any questions and I'll try to help.

Jun 11, 2013 | 06:23 PM

jdadamsjr

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 11,314

Likes: 4

give us all the specs on your truck - 150-250-350-450 ? year, gvwr - rawr, etc... off your door sticker and we can give you some educated guesses

based on a stock truck with stock tires...

do you have D or E range tires ? what weight rating ?

IMHO, rawr and gvwr will be your limiting factors if the tires are up to snuff...