Hi, Folks,

I need your advice regarding a future 5th wheel purchase. I'd like to know how different the towing experience would be between these two 5th wheel trailers:

1. 10,000-pound unloaded weight; 12,000-pound GVW; 33 feet total length;12'3" height; maybe 2,500-pound pin weight
2. 11,000-pound unloaded weight; 14,000-pound GVW; 36 feet total length;12'6" height; maybe 3,100-pound pin weight

I have a new truck on order (2024 F350 CCSB Lariat SRW, 7.3L, 3.73 gears, I'm guessing about 4,500-pound payload). Her Highness and I are planning to spend a couple of seasons traveling out west with the new truck and camper. The larger of the two 5th wheels would have a king-size bed, (better suited to my king-sized self) and I would much prefer this over a trailer with a queen-size bed.

So, other than pulling a couple thousand pounds of extra weight, would I notice a difference pulling these two campers with the new truck? Is the 3-foot difference in length a problem for some of the western campgrounds? Would the extra 3 feet in overall length make the rig more susceptible to sway? Please let me know your thoughts. Apologizing in advance if there's another thread out there that answers these questions. I searched but couldn't find one.

Steve

 

I would not expect to notice much of a difference between those two trailers. Number two is 8.6% heavier and 9% longer. All of my Super Duties have been long beds, as I believe the wheelbase of the TV has a pretty big impact on the towing experience. Knock on wood, but I have never experienced significant sway in any of the bumper pull trailers I have owned, and no sway at all with the fifth wheels. I think you'll be good with either trailer.

 

The biggest difference you're going to notice is the extra pin weight of the bigger trailer - you'll know the trailer is back there as there's more weight on the truck. Not substantially more but more.

Otherwise they're likely to pull and handle about the same.

It never hurts to go for extra room if you can get it - 3 ft of length on a similarly-laid out RV can make what feels adequate in one, feel downright spacious in another.

 

You would not notice much difference between those two trailers.
And, you probably would not be maxing out the weight, do you really expect to load 3,000 pounds of stuff in that bigger trailer???
And, 3 feet of length won't make much difference in any campground, just call before you show up to get a space, they will tell you if length is an issue.

As to the truck, never towed a big trailer with a gas engine truck, big power diesel spoiled, but most here seem to not have any issue.
But, the short bed does carry some issues with 5th wheel towing, make sure you have a slider hitch, or better yet a articulating pin box like a Reese sidewinder, keep you out of trouble in tight spaces.

 

I towed with the truck trailer in my signature (well the truck was a 2016), the trailer is 40' and 16K pounds. No issues, plenty of power. you might reconsider going diesel though if you are going to spend time in the mountains. I'd also suggest you look at the longbed instead of the SB just for the additional default fuel tank size. Especially if you have your heart set on a 7.3L gasser.

 

As mentioned, you won't notice much of a difference in the two 5th wheels towing. Those couple feet and pounds are minimal between the two.
What you will notice is the short bed has limitations on fuel capacity. Nothing that planning won't handle but you need to be aware.
And I had a sliding hitch on 6 different short bed trucks and never slid it. So when we got our 1st puck system truck, I bought a B&W non slider and never have had the need in thousands of miles of towing.

Also, sounds like you are set on a king bed but do yourself a favor and have the wife make it up before you buy.
When we purchased the 22 Cedar Creek we "thought" we wanted the king bed and got it.
The the DW found she couldn't get around it easily and the blankets were tight up against the walls of the slide.
We finally abandoned the king, bought a nice queen mattress (cause R/V mattresses suck) cut the platform down and now have a bedroom with some "room."

 

I couldn't tell you anything about towing a 5th wheel because I have a bumper pull, but this is a great site for National park size limits

https://www.rvingknowhow.com/nationa...-length-limit/

 

One thing you might need to consider are air bags or something similar. These newer trucks seem to have more give in the springs. My 5th wheel pin weight is prob at 1250 and I needed bags to get the back end level on my 23.

 

Those 5th wheels are HALF of the max tow rating of a 7.3L so mountains or not it won't matter that truck will pull it. I've done it with much more weight from coast to coast, border to border and up to Alaska and back.

The front area will make more of a difference than 1000lbs or even 5 more feet in length on the trucks ability to tow the trailer. If one is 3" shorter but 6" wider the frontal area is going to affect your fuel economy more and whether you had enough power to overcome that wind resistance with the power and gear ratio combination of your truck. In the instance of these 2 5th wheels that is not even an issue. My trailer is 13'6" tall and 102" wide. It wouldn't matter if it was 7ft shorter or 36' long it is still gonna get the same fuel economy and will still pull it the same up and down hills.

A 5th wheel is much more maneuverable than a bumper pull and I like 35-36ft that only has about 29-30ft behind the truck. A 28ft bumper pull will stick past your truck a few feet more than that. Plan on airbags or some other suspension helper device to prevent a bouncy ride or bottoming out. The roads across this country are atrocious.

Long bed has a 48-gallon tank short beds have a 34-gallon tank. At 7mpg you can do the math on your potential range with each.

 

most likely his trucks going to have around a 17,800lb max tow rating. If he goes with the bigger trailer and has anything extra coming along he’s going to be closer to 70-75% of the max (depending on what other cargo he’s carrying).

combined with the frontal area of the trailers he’s looking at it’ll work it going up any significant hills. Not saying it can’t do it, I’ve towed heavier with my 7.3 trucks but the diesel would be a better experience in the rougher conditions he might have on his trips.

but at the end of the day he has his truck ordered and I’m sure he’s going to be in for some good times!

 

My ‘22 F350 7.3 with 3.73 tows my 14k fifth wheel just fine. No regrets.

 

I heard 3.73s couldn’t even tow 3000lb trailers around here lol

 

I have a cougar 364 fifth wheel that weighs around 13k loaded, is 39’ overall and over 13’ high. My 7.3 pulls it just fine, I have been all over out west. The gas engine does some shifting, but doesn’t lack power. The biggest issue with the SB 7.3 is range, I added a 50g transfer flow tank in my bed. I agree with adding air bags and going with a non sliding hitch, I have never had a problem with cab clearance.

 

My 7.3/3.73 was moving over 27k lbs total. I drove across North America with this truck before my ordered truck was built. I wouldn't be too worried about either 5th wheel.

Northern Rockies

 

invest in a RV GPS so you stay off the wrong roads and can plan your route better.

Your biggest of issues is going to be filling up and lots of that. Hope you are getting a long bed for the bigger gas tank.