First 5th wheel...
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
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First 5th wheel...
Well we have been camping with larger bumper pull rigs for about 8 yrs now. mostly in a 35 ft Rockwood TT that weighed in about 9k lbs . We just purchased a large 42' 15k 5th wheel with 2k on the hitch. Pulling this bad boy with my 12 yr old 06 F350 with 260k miles on her. We pick it up next week. The truck is studded and running Matt Gearheads 13k tow tune. Truck has always been strong hope shes up to one that big. Heck hope im up to one that big. Everyone keeps saying its easier than my current bumper pull TT. Any recommendations? Do I need air bags? Curious what you guys think
Dan
Dan
4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10
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First fifth wheel
You will like towing the new fifth wheel. I went from a 5800 lb 28’ TT to a 12200 lb 37’ fifth wheel and I was amazed at how much easier it was to pull the fifth wheel. I’m towing with a 2010 F250 V10, 4.10 gears with 160000 miles on the odometer. On flat roads trans was constantly down shifting to 4th but towing fifth wheel it only downshifts on steep hills. I did add Firestone air bags and use a BW Companion hitch.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
practice with it and use some ground guides. The turning is different so you will need to get used to it since it is long.
How tall to the A/C unit. That is usually the high point. You will need to measure yourself so you know what your limit is.
2K hitch weight is probably wrong. Go off of the GVW of the trailer and figure 20% for the king pin wt. So you do need to go across the cats scales with it as well to make sure of your weights.
How tall to the A/C unit. That is usually the high point. You will need to measure yourself so you know what your limit is.
2K hitch weight is probably wrong. Go off of the GVW of the trailer and figure 20% for the king pin wt. So you do need to go across the cats scales with it as well to make sure of your weights.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
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From: Bismarck, ND
practice with it and use some ground guides. The turning is different so you will need to get used to it since it is long.
How tall to the A/C unit. That is usually the high point. You will need to measure yourself so you know what your limit is.
2K hitch weight is probably wrong. Go off of the GVW of the trailer and figure 20% for the king pin wt. So you do need to go across the cats scales with it as well to make sure of your weights.
How tall to the A/C unit. That is usually the high point. You will need to measure yourself so you know what your limit is.
2K hitch weight is probably wrong. Go off of the GVW of the trailer and figure 20% for the king pin wt. So you do need to go across the cats scales with it as well to make sure of your weights.
That was my first thought as well. I doubt VERY much your pin weight is 2K on that 5er. Even empty weight. But loaded and wet? Pretty sure you're pushing 3K-ish +, unless you pack it with next to nothing. Only way to know if you need bags is to try it, you may not. Do you have the overload springs, or "camper special" spring packs on your 350? My 250 needed bags with a 2500 lb pin weight, but I have the standard spring pack with no overloads.
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
The difference between the TT and the 5th wheel is amazing. Believe the hype, because it is real.
I towed a 30ft TT for a couple years across the country. I mean from GA to Seattle and back and now that we have the 5th wheel it is a cake walk. Backing and turning is a bit different, but no problem with a little practice.
As for your truck, you might need air bags, but try it out first and see how it goes. My truck (2000 7.3 F-250) sagged about an inch in the rear with our 12K lbs 5th wheel, but I put bags on it just for good measure and long distance traveling.
Just take your time when towing and remember it is not a race, it is a journey.
I towed a 30ft TT for a couple years across the country. I mean from GA to Seattle and back and now that we have the 5th wheel it is a cake walk. Backing and turning is a bit different, but no problem with a little practice.
As for your truck, you might need air bags, but try it out first and see how it goes. My truck (2000 7.3 F-250) sagged about an inch in the rear with our 12K lbs 5th wheel, but I put bags on it just for good measure and long distance traveling.
Just take your time when towing and remember it is not a race, it is a journey.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 889
Likes: 38
My first TT was 32' and my current 5er is 40'. Length behind the truck to the back of the trailer is about the same but as Sous said the difference in towing and ride is amazing.
I put airbags and Bilstein 5100's on to help with the additional load. I initially just put Timbrens on but didn't like the non-towing ride so went the airbag route.
I'm also guessing that 2k on the hitch may be off but a trip to the scales will tell the tale.
Good luck, have fun, happy camping.
I put airbags and Bilstein 5100's on to help with the additional load. I initially just put Timbrens on but didn't like the non-towing ride so went the airbag route.
I'm also guessing that 2k on the hitch may be off but a trip to the scales will tell the tale.
Good luck, have fun, happy camping.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
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Well I’ve seen how my wife packs a RV lol. I’m sure she will push over 2k lol. We are due to pick-up on Thursday. I have a 2015 bed on my 06 F350 so I’m adding the Reese puck system and B&W hitch. Hope this all works.
Thanks
Dan
Thanks
Dan
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2015
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If you have too much sag and want it level, consider Sumosprings which are a passive (maintenance free) air bag. I put them on my F350 and they reduce sway in curves nicely.
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That was my first thought as well. I doubt VERY much your pin weight is 2K on that 5er. Even empty weight. But loaded and wet? Pretty sure you're pushing 3K-ish +, unless you pack it with next to nothing. Only way to know if you need bags is to try it, you may not. Do you have the overload springs, or "camper special" spring packs on your 350? My 250 needed bags with a 2500 lb pin weight, but I have the standard spring pack with no overloads.
Rob
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Wasn't sure where this came from, so I went back to the beginning. He said a tow tune which is conservative and not typically a hot tune at all. My DP-Tuner tow tune gets me the same HP as the 2018 Powerstroke, about 475 HP. You are more likely to blow the tranny by plowing due to shifting between reverse and drive without waiting for the truck to stop.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
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I've known numerous guys who had to get towed to the shop for transmission work because they were using a tuner to get more out of the motor without considering the transmission. Brother was one of them. He thought it was fun to run up the mountain pass at 80mph towing his little 8k boat/trailer. We had to transport tranny bits home in a bait bucket.
Now I will say his tune did nothing for the transmission. I know there are tow tunes out there that change shift points and such. I just get flashbacks when someone says they are towing with a tuner.
Now I will say his tune did nothing for the transmission. I know there are tow tunes out there that change shift points and such. I just get flashbacks when someone says they are towing with a tuner.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Upper penninsula
Any idiot with a laptop can generate a “tune” and pawn it off on the public.
M
None of those idiots have the resources, talent, or capability to rigorously qualify the subsystems, including the transmission, driveline, cooling systems, or engine to handle their “tune”.
That fly by night tuner won’t be there to pick up the pieces on the side of the road forty miles from nowhere.
Have you ever considered why Ford and their competition has hundreds, if not thousands of Engineers, and proving rounds in Arizona, flies trucks to Alaska and New Zealand and hot rooms and wind tunnels in Michigan?
M
None of those idiots have the resources, talent, or capability to rigorously qualify the subsystems, including the transmission, driveline, cooling systems, or engine to handle their “tune”.
That fly by night tuner won’t be there to pick up the pieces on the side of the road forty miles from nowhere.
Have you ever considered why Ford and their competition has hundreds, if not thousands of Engineers, and proving rounds in Arizona, flies trucks to Alaska and New Zealand and hot rooms and wind tunnels in Michigan?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 9
Any idiot with a laptop can generate a “tune” and pawn it off on the public.
M
None of those idiots have the resources, talent, or capability to rigorously qualify the subsystems, including the transmission, driveline, cooling systems, or engine to handle their “tune”.
That fly by night tuner won’t be there to pick up the pieces on the side of the road forty miles from nowhere.
Have you ever considered why Ford and their competition has hundreds, if not thousands of Engineers, and proving rounds in Arizona, flies trucks to Alaska and New Zealand and hot rooms and wind tunnels in Michigan?
M
None of those idiots have the resources, talent, or capability to rigorously qualify the subsystems, including the transmission, driveline, cooling systems, or engine to handle their “tune”.
That fly by night tuner won’t be there to pick up the pieces on the side of the road forty miles from nowhere.
Have you ever considered why Ford and their competition has hundreds, if not thousands of Engineers, and proving rounds in Arizona, flies trucks to Alaska and New Zealand and hot rooms and wind tunnels in Michigan?