MAX 5TH WHEEL WEIGHT
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New User
Joined: Nov 2016
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For example. If that number is 1972 lbs as on my example
If you carry
400 lbs for you and your girlfriend or wife
200 lbs for 5th wheel hitch and firewood in your bed
Then that leaves 1372 lbs max pin weight for a 5th wheel trailer
1972-400-200=1372 lbs
Assuming trailer pin weight is 20% of the total weight of the trailer then max trailer you could tow and be below Payload is 1372x5=6,860 lb trailer.
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My F350 has a payload of 3,500 lbs
1 carry
400 lbs people
50 lbs dog, bird and cage
50 lbs stuff in bed
37 lbs light weight Aluminum Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch
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537 lbs (passengers and cargo)
That leaves 3500-537= 2,963 lbs available for pin weight
So assuming a 20% pin weight factor my max 5th wheel trailer is
2963x5=14,853 lbs
If you carry
400 lbs for you and your girlfriend or wife
200 lbs for 5th wheel hitch and firewood in your bed
Then that leaves 1372 lbs max pin weight for a 5th wheel trailer
1972-400-200=1372 lbs
Assuming trailer pin weight is 20% of the total weight of the trailer then max trailer you could tow and be below Payload is 1372x5=6,860 lb trailer.
-------
My F350 has a payload of 3,500 lbs
1 carry
400 lbs people
50 lbs dog, bird and cage
50 lbs stuff in bed
37 lbs light weight Aluminum Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch
------
537 lbs (passengers and cargo)
That leaves 3500-537= 2,963 lbs available for pin weight
So assuming a 20% pin weight factor my max 5th wheel trailer is
2963x5=14,853 lbs
This is starting to bother me some! hahaha If I follow that formula then roughly for me it would be:
600 lbs - People and Dog
37 lbs - If I used the exact light weight Aluminum Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch that you use
and NOTHING else
Then 2012 - 637 = 1375 figuring 20% then 1375 x 5 = 6875
Now that seems like a pretty small 5th wheel for an F250 Super Duty diesel doesn't it? Or maybe my expectations were to high?
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 566
Likes: 93
This is starting to bother me some! hahaha If I follow that formula then roughly for me it would be:
600 lbs - People and Dog
37 lbs - If I used the exact light weight Aluminum Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch that you use
and NOTHING else
Then 2012 - 637 = 1375 figuring 20% then 1375 x 5 = 6875
Now that seems like a pretty small 5th wheel for an F250 Super Duty diesel doesn't it? Or maybe my expectations were to high?
600 lbs - People and Dog
37 lbs - If I used the exact light weight Aluminum Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch that you use
and NOTHING else
Then 2012 - 637 = 1375 figuring 20% then 1375 x 5 = 6875
Now that seems like a pretty small 5th wheel for an F250 Super Duty diesel doesn't it? Or maybe my expectations were to high?
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I think that expectations are often too high for owners of 3/4 ton trucks with respect to payload capabilities. The GVWR break between 3/4 and one ton trucks has remained at 10,000 lbs, where it has been for decades in spite of ever more capable and ever heavier trucks, so although the diesel engine in your F250 is capable of towing a much larger trailer, your available payload capacity is low enough that it becomes the limiting factor. Most folks don't think to look at the yellow sticker at the time of purchase and therefore are surprised when they run out of available payload well before they could tow or haul what they had in mind. The upgrade to an F350 SRW is really quite inexpensive and adds about 1400-1500 lbs of available payload all other things being equal, but many people think that an F350 will ride much worse unloaded than an F250 and believe that they don't need the capabilities of a one ton truck.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 566
Likes: 93
It is actually quite ironic that a potential truck buyer of a 3/4 ton truck may deliberately choose the diesel engine because they want the extra capability for towing a heavy fifth wheel or trailer, but in doing so they reduce their available payload capacity by 600+ lbs.
My truck is a 2015 CCSB XLT 4x4 with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears and my payload number from the yellow sticker is 2790 as compared to your 2012, so by sticking with the gas engine, I could in theory tow a fifth wheel that is nearly 4,000 lbs heavier than the one you can pull given the 20% pin weight assumption. Conveniently my fifth wheel has a GVWR of 10,000 lbs, so I am pretty sure I am within my payload numbers, although I do need to get to a CAT scale to verify.
My truck is a 2015 CCSB XLT 4x4 with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears and my payload number from the yellow sticker is 2790 as compared to your 2012, so by sticking with the gas engine, I could in theory tow a fifth wheel that is nearly 4,000 lbs heavier than the one you can pull given the 20% pin weight assumption. Conveniently my fifth wheel has a GVWR of 10,000 lbs, so I am pretty sure I am within my payload numbers, although I do need to get to a CAT scale to verify.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,341
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From: Florida
As I expected, at 2012 lbs, "your 2016 KR SRW F250 FX4 is a Diesel your payload will be around 2000 lbs"
Assuming a 10,000 lb 5th Wheel RV
You will be fine with Max loaded trailer weight of 16,100 lbs (6,100 lbs below)
You may be fine with a rear GAWR of 6,100 lbs
You will be fine with a front GAWR of 5,200 lbs
BUT You will be at least 500 lbs overweight with a Payload of 2012 lbs. That's assuming a pin weight of 20% or 2,000 lbs, Hitch, passengers and cargo of approximately 500 lbs.
Will it tow it, Sure it will. I ran into an owner of a 2016 F250 at the Tampa RV show that was towing a Grand Design 337RLS (13,995 lbs) with his truck. He told me that he had sis suspension modified to legally add 1,000 lbs payload by a shop in Tampa called Tampa Spring. He said they were one of a few shops that were authorized to relabel the door tags to show the new legal payload numbers. I don't know what modifications were done of how much it cost but it may be worth a call.
Assuming a 10,000 lb 5th Wheel RV
You will be fine with Max loaded trailer weight of 16,100 lbs (6,100 lbs below)
You may be fine with a rear GAWR of 6,100 lbs
You will be fine with a front GAWR of 5,200 lbs
BUT You will be at least 500 lbs overweight with a Payload of 2012 lbs. That's assuming a pin weight of 20% or 2,000 lbs, Hitch, passengers and cargo of approximately 500 lbs.
Will it tow it, Sure it will. I ran into an owner of a 2016 F250 at the Tampa RV show that was towing a Grand Design 337RLS (13,995 lbs) with his truck. He told me that he had sis suspension modified to legally add 1,000 lbs payload by a shop in Tampa called Tampa Spring. He said they were one of a few shops that were authorized to relabel the door tags to show the new legal payload numbers. I don't know what modifications were done of how much it cost but it may be worth a call.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,868
From: Frederick, MD
If it were me...and many are, DOT cares about a few things but that pretty yellow sticker is not one of them.
Axle ratings, Tire rating and some states registration is important.
Being a RV makes a lot of things exempt.
I'd get the trailer you like within the GCVWR and enjoy, just like my 08 F250 before I traded it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,787
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From: Northern Illinois
I really do not see why the 250 is still made. Just make the 350 srw and 350 drw. The differences between the 250 and 350 are minimal and it seems like many that buy a 250 are later disappointed by "legal" numbers. I know i was.......
Same would apply to other brands I assume. 2500 3500
Same would apply to other brands I assume. 2500 3500
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
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the reason 3/4 ton trucks are still being made is due to the 10k gvwr rating they are put at. in many states when you jump above a 10k gvwr your registration goes way up and some of those states also require special licensing as they are considered commercial vehicles. The 3/4 gives you more payload than a 1/2 ton but keeps you from all the extra BS fees. really gotta do your home work when choosing trucks. education is the key.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,787
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From: Northern Illinois
the reason 3/4 ton trucks are still being made is due to the 10k gvwr rating they are put at. in many states when you jump above a 10k gvwr your registration goes way up and some of those states also require special licensing as they are considered commercial vehicles. The 3/4 gives you more payload than a 1/2 ton but keeps you from all the extra BS fees. really gotta do your home work when choosing trucks. education is the key.
We have no plate available for 10000 so you see lots of 250 and 350 even duallys running around with B 8000 plates.
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I really do not see why the 250 is still made. Just make the 350 srw and 350 drw. The differences between the 250 and 350 are minimal and it seems like many that buy a 250 are later disappointed by "legal" numbers. I know i was.......
Same would apply to other brands I assume. 2500 3500
Same would apply to other brands I assume. 2500 3500
I agree!!!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 21
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the reason 3/4 ton trucks are still being made is due to the 10k gvwr rating they are put at. in many states when you jump above a 10k gvwr your registration goes way up and some of those states also require special licensing as they are considered commercial vehicles. The 3/4 gives you more payload than a 1/2 ton but keeps you from all the extra BS fees. really gotta do your home work when choosing trucks. education is the key.
Obviously I didn't research enough. lol
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