Help the old guy, me
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Connecticut
Help the old guy, me
I have a 2011 f250 extended cab 4x4. With 6.7 diesel. Have towing package and plow package.
I am looking to tow a fifth wheeler. Can I haul this camper?
Hitch: 1,996
Ship: 12,565
GVWR: 15,500
Cargo: 2,935
I am looking to tow a fifth wheeler. Can I haul this camper?
Hitch: 1,996
Ship: 12,565
GVWR: 15,500
Cargo: 2,935
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
Barely.
Your hitch weight is gonna be about 3100 lbs. 20% of 15,500. That is more of a true #.
Put your truck on the scales and see what it currently sits at.
I would put your rear axle at about 3K right now. So as you can see your rear axle will be about 6100 lbs.
Your front is 6K so that is not an issue.
Your gonna need air bags.
I suggest a slightly lighter 5er. You can do it with your current truck though.
Your hitch weight is gonna be about 3100 lbs. 20% of 15,500. That is more of a true #.
Put your truck on the scales and see what it currently sits at.
I would put your rear axle at about 3K right now. So as you can see your rear axle will be about 6100 lbs.
Your front is 6K so that is not an issue.
Your gonna need air bags.
I suggest a slightly lighter 5er. You can do it with your current truck though.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Remember, your 250 is 99% identical to a single rear wheel F350 with only 2 very small differences. So, your truck's ratings are actually de-rated from Ford to fill a different market segment. If you look at an identically equipped SRW 350 you will find your real payload based on it's 7k rear axle rating. I have a 2012 extended cab so pretty much the same truck as you but mine is rated at 11.5k GVWR. (So is yours off the books...) I routinely tow a 44.5' 5ver toyhauler weighing 17-19k and it tows FLAWLESSLY. I agree with Scott that you will need airbags as there are two very small differences between our trucks. The SRW 350 comes with a single upper overload spring and a taller spacer block under the rear suspension. Without these two things, your truck will sag quite a bit more than mine and the airbags will compensate for this 100%. Every other part on your truck is identical to a SRW 350 like mine so go for the trailer and a set of air bags and enjoy...
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,673
Likes: 900
From: Milford, MI
My thoughts echo Rodney's as well. My Fiver is just a tad bit heavier than what you listed, and I'm not truck shopping right now....lol.
I hit the scales last year for my memorial day weekend after filling water and gas tanks, plus lots of extras I don't bring for any other trips, and I was just a bit over GCWR. All my GAWRs were under limits.
I hit the scales last year for my memorial day weekend after filling water and gas tanks, plus lots of extras I don't bring for any other trips, and I was just a bit over GCWR. All my GAWRs were under limits.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 427
Likes: 4
From: Prescott, Michigan
I wouldn't.
Your trailer has a gvwr the same as mine. Mine has a pin weight of 3340 lbs.
Your cargo has to account for everything else you put in your truck (people, hitch, tools, firewood, pets, ladders, generators, etc).
So how much are you really putting in the truck, altogether? Do the math and you will get the idea.
I did and decided a DRW was the way to go for the weight I was carrying. Glad I did.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
I'm on two trailers in a row that have a higher GVWR than that and neither had a pin weight over 3k. The old calculation of pin weight based on GVWR is nonsense. We don't all run at the GVWR of the trailer. Floorplans, loading, tank location, and whether you travel with tanks full, all make a huge difference in pin weight. So, playing armchair scalemaster is about the most inaccurate thing people do on RV forums as there are just way too many variables. My current RV has a GVWR of 21k. My pin, loaded for travel with the garage empty (which makes the pin heavier), is 2900.
So, if someone is really interested in knowing where they stand, do a Cat Scale search near your dealer and check it out. If there isn't one, ask the dealer if they have a Sherline tongue weight scale. The heavier ones go to 5k so they can easily handle weighing the pin of most 5vers. Worst case scenario, buy one For $139 for piece of mind and sell it when the deal is done. Or, just buy the trailer, add some air bags, and enjoy. I'd go with the last option personally.
So, if someone is really interested in knowing where they stand, do a Cat Scale search near your dealer and check it out. If there isn't one, ask the dealer if they have a Sherline tongue weight scale. The heavier ones go to 5k so they can easily handle weighing the pin of most 5vers. Worst case scenario, buy one For $139 for piece of mind and sell it when the deal is done. Or, just buy the trailer, add some air bags, and enjoy. I'd go with the last option personally.
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Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Or s Sherline scale...
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
Or s Sherline scale...
Amazon.com: Sherline LM-5000 - Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 5000LB: Automotive
Amazon.com: Sherline LM-5000 - Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 5000LB: Automotive
but of course!
For the record here..this was my 2008 F250
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Yes, but your DRW is over 300 lbs heavier in the rear than a SRW. So, if you had a SRW, you'd still be under the 7k RAWR and 11.5k GVWR of the truck which the OP will likely be too...
Not criticizing your decision to buy a DRW. Just noting that you're rig would be under the ratings of a SRW.
Not criticizing your decision to buy a DRW. Just noting that you're rig would be under the ratings of a SRW.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 427
Likes: 4
From: Prescott, Michigan
Yes, but your DRW is over 300 lbs heavier in the rear than a SRW. So, if you had a SRW, you'd still be under the 7k RAWR and 11.5k GVWR of the truck which the OP will likely be too...
Not criticizing your decision to buy a DRW. Just noting that you're rig would be under the ratings of a SRW.
Not criticizing your decision to buy a DRW. Just noting that you're rig would be under the ratings of a SRW.
Using your number of 300 lbs extra for my DRW over a SRW, my total weight would be 11580 with a SRW. I see no good reason to run over the GVWR of 11500 of a SRW truck when I bought the DRW for $500 over a SRW. Plus, as you already said, he is missing springs and thus capacity. So his capacity is not that of a 350.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
As to your $500 extra, you couldn't pay me $500 to take a DRW. 95% of it's life is not towing and you have a truck that is worse to drive 95% of the time. No thanks.
The good thing is they make chocolate and vanilla. Something for everyone. It's just hard to hear people constantly telling people they "need" more truck. While in fact, it may be nice to have when towing, it's not a necessity.