educate me!
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educate me!
help! my wife and I test drove a f250 with the 6.0l psd and loved it. wer'e looking at fifth wheel combo toy haulers, but the triple axle trailers can weigh as much as 20k by themselves loaded. the salesmans info showed max tow wt as 14200. what are people doing to tow the bigger weights? the salesman didn't have a clue and we don't want to limit our rv search under that weight. change rear end ratios? do I need to look at f450 or f550 chassis?
by the way he showed the f250 tow wt same as f350. whats up?
by the way he showed the f250 tow wt same as f350. whats up?
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Since the 250 and 350 have identical frames, suspension, brakes, etc... they have identical tow ratings. The 350 has a greater payload capacity. For a 20,000-lb. trailer, you DEFINITELY need to be looking at a 450 or 550.
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okay, just got back from the FAQ area and still a little cornfused. if I read it right the f350 can have a 26000lb gcvwr with the 4.30 or 4.88 gears, same as a f450 or f550 chassis, whats the difference here? I'm guessuing the f450/550 has beefier frame, maybe axle bearings, brakes, but same engine rear end and tranny?
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From: Seattle
I don't believe any F350 goes to 26k. The 450 has a heavier frame, springs, etc and the F or G 22.5" rated tires, also a bigger Dana axle (D110 I think). www.ford-trucks.com has a forum specific to the bigger chassis Ford trucks & those guys will help you fine tune a rig.
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From: Calgary Canada
Any SRW truck is out of the question with a 20,000lb trailer.
Even an F350 DRW is not an option with that kind of trailer weight. If you're looking to tow that kinda weight, you're looking at a serious tow vehicle, that means F450 or F550.
You need a GCWR in the neighborhood of 28-30,000 lbs minimum.
Also be aware that you're getting into commercial weights ratings with trailers that heavy, and it may require special licensing and insurance.
Waxy
Even an F350 DRW is not an option with that kind of trailer weight. If you're looking to tow that kinda weight, you're looking at a serious tow vehicle, that means F450 or F550.
You need a GCWR in the neighborhood of 28-30,000 lbs minimum.
Also be aware that you're getting into commercial weights ratings with trailers that heavy, and it may require special licensing and insurance.
Waxy
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From: Somewhere west of Arizona
20k?????? That's a lot of trailer completely filled with toys! I tow a 28' fifth-wheel with single slide-out and a 23' boat behind that and they scale at 13,500 combined! Weekend Warrior's 40' fifth-wheel with double slide-outs has a gross weight of 15k and an empty weight of 11k. What toy hauler are you looking at?
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Originally posted by Chaps
I don't believe any F350 goes to 26k. The 450 has a heavier frame, springs, etc and the F or G 22.5" rated tires, also a bigger Dana axle (D110 I think). www.ford-trucks.com has a forum specific to the bigger chassis Ford trucks & those guys will help you fine tune a rig.
I don't believe any F350 goes to 26k. The 450 has a heavier frame, springs, etc and the F or G 22.5" rated tires, also a bigger Dana axle (D110 I think). www.ford-trucks.com has a forum specific to the bigger chassis Ford trucks & those guys will help you fine tune a rig.
Last edited by bcs; Feb 10, 2004 at 11:48 PM.
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well, maybe I'm all wet here so bear with me because as I said i'm in the education phase of my program and I've never gone down this road before. lookind at the rv buyers guide when you get into the tripple axle trailers with fibergass siding your looking at uvw of around 15k,gvwr of around 20k. we like the 40' alfa toy house which has a garage seperate in the back. I can assume this trailer falls in that wt. category.we don't like the toyhaulers that put vehicles in the livingroom.we also have a 19.5 boat and trailer combo that weighs #4400 on a double axle trailer, so double trailering is an option. if I do the math backwards on a 20000 gcvwr for the truck, -#4400(boat),-whatever the truck weighs, I don't think we have much left in the order of 5th wheel capacityies. plus it seems double trailering requires a class a license if I'm correct (ca). scaling down the 5th wheel is a distint possibility for now, but we want to full time later and I hate buying things twice.
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From: OK
geezee-
The F250/F350 is still considered a light duty vehicle. Go to www.irv2.com and www.trailerlife.com and ask for opinions on the various MEDIUM DUTY trucks. You will need one of them to safely tow the load you are looking at. There are a number of outfitters who make nice tow rigs so it's not like you'll be driving an uncomfortable work beast.
The F250/F350 is still considered a light duty vehicle. Go to www.irv2.com and www.trailerlife.com and ask for opinions on the various MEDIUM DUTY trucks. You will need one of them to safely tow the load you are looking at. There are a number of outfitters who make nice tow rigs so it's not like you'll be driving an uncomfortable work beast.
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From: Somewhere west of Arizona
I don't think any state will allow doubles to be pulled with a 40' fifth-wheel in the combination. Not all states even allow doubles, and those that do usually restrict the length to 65' total for tractor/trailer(s) in combination. California permits up to 75' (what I tow) with no trailer in the combination being longer than 28'-6". You really need to investigate the laws in your state and the surrounding states that you may want to tow in. Your crew cab/40' fifth wheel/ 20' boat (actually 24'-25' on the trailer) combination is probably in the order of about 85'. From your post above I think you indicate you're from California. If so, yes, you will need to get a Class A license plus a doubles endorsement. My crew-cab, 28' fifth wheel, 23' boat combination is right at 75'. I know a few others that push the California limit slightly by running an individual trailer of 30' +- in the combination but I have never seen a double set-up with a single trailer at 40'.
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From: SE Michigan
just curious here... but... wtf is 'double trailering'?? are you really towing a Trailer, THEN another thing behind the trailer?? i've seen big semi's w/ multiple boxes being pulled before... is it the same thing? interesting. how the f would you ever backup? oh well.