Can it get Er done?

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Nov 6, 2014 | 07:20 AM

#16

rvpuller

Moderator

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 6,517

Likes: 917

From: Home Base Nebraska

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingdadream

Hi everyone. We just purchased a Silverback 30WRE fifth wheel with a UVW of 10870lbs and a GVWR of 13,941lbs. We were looking at a 2014 Ford F250 CC gasser with a GVWR of 9900lbs. Here's where it got tricky. We were initally told it had a 4.30 axle ratio which would have put the GCWR at 22,000lbs and the max trailer load at 15,100 - all within limits. We just found out it is actually a 3.73 which drops the numbers to 19,000 and 12,100. The guy who sold the truck to the dealer had a 5th wheel with a GVWR of 14,500lbs and said that he had no issues pulling it (i did see the rig still connected at the site). The dealer said that this truck could easily pull 17,000 and ours would be no issue. He has been very honest up until now. Me and the DW are weekend warriors who will only be putting about 5k - 10k per year on the truck. My question is do i trust the dealer or go with the sticker weights

Look at it this way the only difference between the 4.30 and 3.73 weight ratings is the gears everything else is the same so the truck itself can handle trailer. My first choice would be 4.30 gears but they are hard to find but you are just weekend warriors and won't be pulling everyday and probability not that far. I have a 6.2 but with 4.30 gears and it's a very capable motor, I don't think in your situation you will have any problems with the 3.73 gears there's a lot of 6.2 owners pulling trailers that size without any problems

Denny

Nov 6, 2014 | 08:08 AM

#17

wp6529

More Turbo

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 627

Likes: 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by redford

You're assuming a lot, like the trucks weight. How did you come up withe the "over #8000" weight?

Also, you might want to check your facts twice before you start disagreeing with Ltngdrvr on towing. He tows more miles in a week than most owners do in a year.

My '09 F350 DRW scales at 8,740# empty.

The amount of towing he does has no bearing on whether he is doing it within the vehicle's ratings. Has he scaled the combo to get the GVW with the hitch weight of the trailer?

It is entirely possible to be over the vehicle's GVWR while still being under the GCWR rating if the load distribution of the trailer is putting too much of it's weight on the tow vehicle. The folks driving semis know this well and adjust the hitch position and trailer loads to ensure they don't exceed the tractor's weight limits.

ETA: Ultimately these trucks are certainly physically capable of towing a load that is well above their rathings without falling apart, but that doesn't mean it's reasonable to do that regularly. Once in a blue moon to get a rental skid steer home and back perhaps, but not with the family aboard and pulling an overweight camper longer distances.

Nov 6, 2014 | 11:43 AM

#18

Sarge261

Logistics Pro

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 4,460

Likes: 14

From: The Land Of Time

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ltngdrvr

Early ones had some valve issues but most that would come apart already have or have been serviced by the dealer.

There are plenty of other issues with these trucks, I've had my share, but the motor in mine is solid and you can't beat its performance.

Personally, I will be going with a new Ram as soon as I can.

I'll sell you my truck, motor/trans is solid, I've fixed the other things that have gone south so as it stands now it is in good shape. It's had pretty much all highway miles on it, so for the most part those are the easiest miles. It's at 184K right now and I'll sell it for right at what payoff is.

Just throwing that out there, not really serious yet as I will have to order my new truck and that will take 8-11 weeks to come in.

Not to HiJack the thread but can you PM me the reason why...Im just curious as I may be in the market for a new truck after the first of the year and its a toss up between the Ram and the SD.

Again Im sorry to HiJack.

Sarge