If you have a pin weight at 1250 (which means it's an EXTREMELY light fifth wheel) and you're squatting that much, you've got broken springs on that F350. I think you have your weight estimated WAY wrong.

 

In short, no not at all

 

I can only tell you my experience. I pull a 33ft 10k 5th wheel with my 250 6.7 diesel and I don’t even know it’s behind me. I have the standard rear end, I think 331. I live in California and pull it in the Sierra Nevadas.
the tongue weight is about 1750.
I usually go to US forest campgrounds and can usually find something but at 36ft I would definitely be more limited.
good luck on your venture.

 

This.



People always overlook the frontal area consideration. On half-ton trucks, there are even limits on frontal area (expressed as square feet) that you can tow regardless of weight. My truck is a 6.7 diesel and last weekend I pulled a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer that was only 7k lbs. or so at the most. The truck got 8 to 9 MPG and had to downshift to 5th gear to pull hills. I was quite certain that a gasoline engine would have been screaming. Obviously the weight wasn’t high, it was just the fact that I was pulling a kite down the highway.



I know that there are guys dragging 15k campers around with these trucks all the time. But I find it very hard to believe that there is “plenty of power”. Maybe in Kansas on flat roads, but where I live and work and play any gasoline truck would be taxed heavily with that size and weight behind it and even the diesels have to really make some boost pressure to maintain highway speed.

 

I pulled this brick from PA to Miami Florida and although it was heavy and although I was going to a lower elevation I pushed darn near 20 psi boost the whole way

 

I towed a 11k 5th wheel with my '20 F250 7.3l with 4:30 and it towed like a beast. I upgraded to an F350 with the 6.7 HO and 3:31 and it tows way better. I also upgraded my 5th wheel to 14k lbs. The diesel tows better not just up hill but also better downhill. If you aren't dealing with steep grades then the 7.3 is awesome. I needed more payload so I upgraded to the 350.

 

She’s a beut Scott, did you trade up from the StoneRidge?

 

unique for sure, lots of looks and question during stops. look closely and remember your world history.

 

Is that a Central European “cattle car” from the late 1930/40s? Going to those “camps” is a world away from the camps we visit………

 

Is that from WWII that the Germans would have used?

 

yes it is. holocaust exhibit that I got an opportunity to move it.

 

First hand experience here, change your order to 6.7L diesel or very minimum to 4:30 rear end. I know your asking about the camper and not the truck.
6.7L fun easy going, power to spare, quiet enjoyable ride. 7.3 loud high rpms, constantly downshifts to hold highway speed with heavy load, no fun.

 

Don't buy a diesel without adding the 200K diesel care warranty!

 

disagree, diesels are no more work then a gas truck, imo. Just change $75 fuel filter every 15k. Only need the extended warranty if your like me and working the **** out of it heavy hauling construction machinery around town, or like yourself doing hotshot work. Daily driving solo for commercial use, no warranty needed, or daily driving for personal use and towing the rv, no warranty needed.

same goes for a 7.3L gas apply the same rules.

 

I mean this right here is truth - if you're not working it like a dog, and you're keeping up on maintenance, chances are you'll have very few, if any, major issues.

Out of all the vehicles I've ever owned, the most of the issues I've ever had have been electrical, sensors and wiring, or rust. My last truck had issues with the parking sensors and a failed MAP sensor. The truck before that had some chaffed wires, lost its FICM, and I had to replace the transmission cooler lines because they rusted through. The truck before that had the glow plug relay die and the blend door motor crap out (that was probably the most trouble-free truck I had). So on and so forth. Sure I've had to do maintenance on them all (brakes, bearings, u-joints, etc), but as far as actual unexpected problems? Almost all electrical.

Take care of it, and it'll take care of you.