I have an '05 F250 SD Crew 6.0 PSD 4x4 3.73 with tow package and integrated brake controller. For reasons too detailed to go into on this post, I could not get an F350 (this is a company vehicle that I get to use for personal use as well). I am looking to purchase a fifth wheel toy hauler. Though I started out with smaller ambitions (27 footer), I am looking at a 36 foot Thor Vortex Viper. It will really fit my needs. The weight information is inthe right hand column below. I will haul as many as 8 bikes weighing a total of 2800 lbs. Do I have enough truck? If not, can I handle the 32 footer (left hand column below)? Thanks.<TABLE class=SPECS cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 align=center border=1><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle bgColor=#cccccc><CENTER>Vortex Viper</CENTER></TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#ccccf6>323VTB FW</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#ccccf6>363VTB FW</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>GVWR</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>14,000</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>15,500</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Base Vehicle Weight</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>8950</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>10,320</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Base Gross Carrying Capacity</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>5050</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>5180</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Hitch Weight (lbs)</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>1820</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>2240</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Fresh Water Capacity</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>100 gallons</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>100 gallons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Black Water Capacity</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>40 gallons</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>40 gallons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Gray Water Capacity</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>80 gallons</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>80 gallons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Exterior Body Width</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>102"</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff>102"</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff></TD></TR><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Base weight does not include options, fluids or cargo</TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TD align=right bgColor=#ffffff></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

According to the '05 brochure I have, it looks like your truck will handle either trailer no matter what GVWR you have. It does depend on what you have loaded in the truck itself (which would impact the pin weight). I'm guessing that the base weight assumes all holding takes are empty - which could add nearly 2000 lbs if all are full (unlikely).

That being said, my preference, as is yours, would be to use a 350 DRW for a number of reasons...

Jim

 

Yep ! Go for the dually , it'll be more stable while pulling that 36 footer ! Set up properly I think the '05 F350 dually is rated to pull 19500 lbs , so you should be good to go .

 

I think the truck will handle it, but not be legal... If you were to have an accident, you could be in for some trouble for running overloaded.

 

FormerRammer, I just had to comment on how good that table for the Vortex Viper looks! First time I've seen that done here in the forums.

Welcome to FTE and thanks for joining us in the Tow<!>ing forum!

 

Thanks for all the great input. I want to be legal when towing. That said, would I be legit with the 33 footer (left hand column of table on my original post)?

Thanks again. This forum is great.

 

The GCVW for the 05 F250 is 23,000# with the truck at its max load of 14,000# that would leave you 9000# for truck if the truck weights 7500 with fuel and people you would have 1500# for the pin which you would be over 320#. But under GAWR which IMO is what you really need to look at when it comes to 5th wheels.

I personally think you would be good to go with the 32 footer any larger you would need DRW.

Try RV.net there is a lot of people that know about weight issues.

 

I think you would be OK but the duals would be my choice with this weight. especially in the winds and passing semi's. Enjoy

 

Horsepuller,
Thanks for the kind words and welcome. I really appreciate all the great info and friendly Ford Truck owners in this forum and the overall site. I wish I could take credit for the table, but I just copied it over from the Thor website into my post. The copy and paste must have brought over the correct HTML coding to make it show up as a table.

 

even so the only cops that will check wieght are state troopers. even then they normaly dont mess with that all to much unless your drivin a big rig

 

I have an 02 F250 CC SB with the PSD and your problem with 5th wheels and a 250 is the limited payload of the truck. My PSD weighs 7150# empty (no passengers), you put in a normal family of 4 then you have about 500# of passengers to add to that and about 200# of hitch. The 05 with a 6.0 PSD has a GVWR of 10,000 which indicates that you will have 2150# of payload left.
Your chart lists the dry or base hitch weight of the unit that matches the dry or base weight of the trailer and it is about 20% of the total weight (normal for a 5er) so if you load the smaller one up to full near full weight the max pin weight will be around 2850# or you will overload the truck by about 700# with the 32' unit. You will prob. never go to max weight so you should be in spec for the 32' but any longer you need the 350 GVRW to take the pin weight.
Can you run it overloaded, yep you just read this forum and you will see how hard they are pushed. Will the cops stop and check you not likely, if you have an accident and are overloaded will your insurance pay off unknown and major overloads affect handling, truck life and general ease of towing. If you want a 36' unit go for the 350 you will not regret it.
I have an 02 PSD and tow a 33' TT with a gross weight of 10,000# and have no trouble but use a weight distributing hitch to move the 1200# weight forward.

 

Thanks to all for the info. It seems that even the 32 footer is pushing it. The 350 isn't an option for me for at least two years, so I probably need to downsize my dreams a bit to match my towing capacity.