Tow Rating
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Mills River
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Alabama
Yes, start by shedding weight. Fenders, hood, cab, doors, bumpers, seats and your mother-in-law. Oh yeah, the radio too.
Assuming all that sheds 1,000 pounds you'd be close to the allowable payload.
Assuming all that sheds 1,000 pounds you'd be close to the allowable payload.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2019
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I am grateful for you assistance. I am down to 2 options, buy bigger truck or much smaller RV. just did the math. an RV with a GVWR of less than 12,000 and hitch weight less than 1,400 will give me few extra pounds play with.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Alabama
The stated 1400 pounds refers to the way it comes balanced from the factory, often without batteries, propane tanks, water, etc. You need to load it (the pin weight) so 20% of the total fifths weight sits on the truck.
Now as I said earlier, even a 10K 5th would be close without carefully loading everything. But this load is now at least in the ballpark for your F250.
To be within limits you need much-much more truck - or much-much less fifth. To be even more blunt (while nice) it's only a Super Duty in name.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2019
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Thanks Army_RET. I retired from the service after 25 years. survived 5 deployments. I want to make sure my wife and I are save on the road here as well. I am a rookie in this matters. I should have done more research on towing science. most fifths weights are over this truck's payload capacity. Thanks again!!!!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Alabama
You're welcome. I didn't wish to come across as rude but at the same time I wanted to get your attention so that you didn't make a very common (and expensive) mistake. Many before you have listened to sales people - only to find themselves in a financial quagmire needing to dump one or the other. You asked the right questions/ in the right forum - before they got to you.
There are options for using this F250: a smaller/lighter fifth wheel (10K and under), a lighter hitch (Anderson Ultimate Hitch - 40 pounds), careful attention to your cargo weights and where its placed. Avoid stop-go traffic (and big mountains) and minor weight discrepancies will be of little concern.
Do post back on what you purchase.
Oh yeah, are you getting tired of hearing "thank you for your service"? While it would have been appropriate 30-40 /50 years ago, today the service is only a memory to me (excluding that monthly check).
To all you youngsters out there, remember ... that check, once earned, is for life.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
There are options for using this F250: a smaller/lighter fifth wheel (10K and under), a lighter hitch (Anderson Ultimate Hitch - 40 pounds), careful attention to your cargo weights and where its placed. Avoid stop-go traffic (and big mountains) and minor weight discrepancies will be of little concern.
There are other advantages to a bumper pull, but not many. Bumper pull trailers are more flexible when it comes to taking them off the pavement since they have more clearance relative to the truck than does a 5th wheel trailer.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
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Another option is a bumper pull trailer. You can sometimes get a heavier bumper pull trailer than a 5th wheel because the bumper pull trailer doesn't suck up so much of the cargo capacity. A travel trailer usually imposes 10to 15% of the GVWR on the rear of the truck.
There are other advantages to a bumper pull, but not many. Bumper pull trailers are more flexible when it comes to taking them off the pavement since they have more clearance relative to the truck than does a 5th wheel trailer.
There are other advantages to a bumper pull, but not many. Bumper pull trailers are more flexible when it comes to taking them off the pavement since they have more clearance relative to the truck than does a 5th wheel trailer.
15,500 lbs and certainly 18,000 lbs like some of the 2018 F250's and SRW F350's are rated for bumper pull is enough if the trailer is compact and has low center of gravity. A camper that heavy is likely 35 feet long plus and 12 feet tall plus. That's a lot to keep stable at the far end of a SRW pickup and the bumper hitch needs to be dialed in very well for stability.
As far as hitch flexibility...If you have 6 or more inches between the pickup bed rails and the bottom of a fiver you'll need some serious pitch to make it bind....like dumping the drawers/cabinets and coming close to landing the fiver on its side.
My comfort level is look for a smaller camper or dually.
Lead Driver
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From: Itinerant
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
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From: Wyoming
Well, of course I don't have any actual experience pulling a 5th wheel. Just bumper pull trailers. When I was narrowing down my search for a trailer I described where I go and a number of people said to avoid a 5th wheel.
I know I sure would like to be in a 5th wheel simply because it pulls easier than a bumper pull. Or so I've read on the Internet.
I know I sure would like to be in a 5th wheel simply because it pulls easier than a bumper pull. Or so I've read on the Internet.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2019
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Great information. I’ll keep you posted on course of action. I am contemplating getting a smaller RV. I have to see what will it take to get a F350 with the appropriate weight ratings.
I decided to stop by a local RV park and noticed a bunch of 3/4 ton trucks pulling heavy 5th wheels. I spoke to a three of them, and they claim to have no issues. I was just curious. I just have another (probably silly) question.The max tow rating is 14,000 lbs, and the truck GVWR is 10,000 lbs.Why is the GCWR 22,000 lbs and not 24,000 lbs?
I decided to stop by a local RV park and noticed a bunch of 3/4 ton trucks pulling heavy 5th wheels. I spoke to a three of them, and they claim to have no issues. I was just curious. I just have another (probably silly) question.The max tow rating is 14,000 lbs, and the truck GVWR is 10,000 lbs.Why is the GCWR 22,000 lbs and not 24,000 lbs?