OK I've done a search and I'm sure it's on here but I didn't find it. So what is the maximum weight of a 5TH Wheel that I can pull? I know it's all about the brakes and stopping but what is the max weight that I am legally allowed to tow? I have a 2016 F250 Super Duty SRW King Ranch FX4. I have seen what appear to be official Ford documentation that is showing different numbers. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Your limiting number will likely be your payload. This is listed on your driver door jam yellow label. That number is the max total weight of passengers, cargo, 5th wheel hitch, dog, stuff you carry in the bed PLUS 5th wheel pin weight.

If your 2016 KR SRW F250 FX4 is a Diesel your payload will be around 2000 lbs.

Below is a payload sticker for a 2016 Platinum CCSB I looked at. I wanted to tow a 14000 lb 5th wheel with a loaded 2600-2800 pin weight. I would have been at least 1400 lbs overweight with this truck. That why I went with a F350 diesel with a 3500 payload.

Post your payload numbers and we can start recommendation from that number.

Here's a 2016 Platinum payload sticker.

 

Here's what I have gleaned so far: It's about brakes, stopping, and suspension. An overloaded vehicle is a safety hazard not only because of braking but also whether it still is stable on the road.
The official towing guide is exactly that: a guide. The different numbers there are depending on your equipment, what kind of springs and wheels and tires and so your truck has got.That's why you need to look at the truck's sticker, indicating what your truck can ultimately carry. Plus look at the hitch: what is its rating?

 

Thank you Flyct, now it makes sense. The weight of the 5th wheel really doesn't matter, it's the weight at the tongue/pin of the 5th wheel that matters. Thanks for the help in understanding.

 

As soon as I was done replying I looked at my sticker. Still confused. lol Here is my sticker:





Mine didn't seem to be as clear as your sticker. Looks like it's saying that the max weight on the rear axle should not exceed 6100 lbs. So if I have two 200 pound individuals in the front seats (400 lbs) would that take away from the 6100 or would that go towards the front axle of 5200 lbs? haha sorry this is kicking my butt.

 

But there is a relationship between the two. Most conventional fifth wheels (not toy haulers but standard units with front bedrooms, rear living rooms) will put 23 - 25% of their total loaded weight on the pin. Most people who aren't full-timing don't load all the way to the trailer's GVWR (RVs have those weight stickers, too), but using 23 - 25% of the trailer's GVWR for an estimated pin weight is a good place to start if you don't have actual loaded weights. It's also best to know what your truck actually weighs. Load it up with full fuel, all passengers, and any "stuff" you would carry while traveling and drive it to the nearest CAT scales. Get separate front and rear axle weights. Subtract the total scale weight from the truck's GVWR on the door sticker. That is you left-over payload. Subtract the scale rear axle weight from the GVWRR (rear axle weight rating on the door sticker) and you'll have the MAXIMUM you can put on the rear axle - including fifth wheel hitch and pin weight.

So... take the remaining rear axle payload number you get from the calculation(s) above and multiply by four. That will be an approximation of the maximum (GVWR) fifth wheel trailer you can pull with the truck. As stated above, with almost all 3/4-ton trucks, the limitation will be payload for hitch and pin weight rather than maximum tow ratings. And, these numbers are different for every truck depending on their option packages.

Rob

 

Thanks SecondChance. I'll go to the scales and get all these numbers figured out. Thanks for the formula.

 

Trailer weight is just as important as pin weight. Incase you haven't come across this, along with the 2016 tow guide. Without more exact specifics of your vehicle we can't give an exact answer.

 

Thank you for this document. I don't believe I have seen the first couple pages of this document.

 

It's the RV & Trailer Towing Guide: http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/...e_r3_Oct19.pdf

 

And this is why I love sites like this. Thank you. I went and got the 2016. This is very interesting.

 

I always figured 20% of a trailers GVW for king pin wt. That has always been pretty close with the exception of toyhaulers. That can be a different animal based upon what you put in the garage.


Go to a catscale and put the truck on it as close as you can with fuel and people and anything else you would roll with.


Get those wts and see where you stand.


More than likely your rear end will come in at around 3200 lbs. So you can see you have some room but need to check and at the same time look at those tires.


I always go by whichever is less. Tire rating or axle rating.

 

Post your yellow Tire and Loading Information label on your door post.

The "The Combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed" number will likely be the LIMITING FACTOR and you should use this as a starting number.

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.

-------

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

----

Of course there are other factors that should be considered but Payload is likely the limiting factor. Other factors are not to exceed front or rear axle ratings.

 

Post your yellow Tire and Loading Information label on your door post.

The "The Combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed" number will likely be the LIMITING FACTOR and you should use this as a starting number.

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.

-------

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

----

Of course there are other factors that should be considered but Payload is likely the limiting factor. Other factors are not to exceed front or rear axle ratings.

One other factors for your F250 based on your white sticker are;
10,000 lbs limit total weight of truck, passengers, cargo, hitch and pin weight
6,100 lbs max on rear axle
5,200 lbs on front axle
15,000 lbs max loaded trailer weight of 5th wheel trailer per ford specs.

 

I'm sorry, I thought I had attached my yellow sticker. Here it is: