Need help trying to figure out what I can tow comfortably and safely with my 2003 6.0L F250 4x4 Lariat with a crewcab and standard bed. The rating on the tag says the rating is 8800lbs, but reading specs it indicates 12,500lbs can be towed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We currently have a 6000lbs tt and would like to upgrade.

 

This link has all the 03 info:
http://www.fordtrucksonline.com/2003%20F250-F350_brochure.pdf
The 8,800 GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating- For the truck, not the maximum tow rating.

 

The 8800# posted on your door frame is the GVW for the truck. Your tow rating is the maximum weight of trailer, toys etc that you are rated to tow. You also have to know your Gross Combined Weight Rating , which is the maximum weight of your truck, trailer, you and your stuff.

To put it all together, fill your fuel tanks and load your truck with what you would normally carry while towing. Jump in the truck (with the dog and Mrs. if you have such) and go to a scale. Next load up your trailer as you normally would and scale the combination. (You might want to weigh the trailer on its own as well at this time, to find out if you're ok with the trailer's GVW rating)

With that done, The total weight of the truck and trailer is known. This is your GCW.

The truck alone loaded with the wife and kids is your truck's GVW (unhitched) The truck with the trailer attached is your loaded GVW. If either of these is over 8800 you're too heavy and you need to unload something. (Maybe the wife should stay home with the kids) Deduct your unhitched weight from your hitched weight and you will know your tongue load. (compare this to your hitch rating for travel trailers. 5th wheels are rating differently)

If your GCW is over the rating but your GVW is ok then you might get by with taking some crap out of your trailer. (Again, the wife and kids may be a worthwhile option.)

Note in most situations the GVWR of your truck added to the Trailer Tow rating of your truck is less than your GCWR

Hope this helps.

 

Sanpan pretty well summed it up, that said, my 03 towed my 11,000 lbs. TT with no problems at all. Although I don't remember what the combined numbers were, the dealership where I bought the rv, had a Ford chart, and charts of the tt's they sold, and it was well within spec.


Ryan
IH.....Too fast to farm, too slow to truck.

 

Thanks for the input. Pretty simple after all

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the 2003 F250 and 2003 F350 are identical in every way shape and fashion with one exception. The F350 has a 4 inch block whereas the F250 has a 2 inch block between the rear leaf springs and the axle. That is it! This subject has been covered here and on other forums extensively and the experts have concurred. The F350 is 2 inches higher in the rear and that is all that allows it to bear the GVWR certification of 9900 pounds as opposed to the 8800 pound GVWR of the F250. The 2 inches allows the suspension to sag 2 inches further under load so it has that much further before you will bottom out.
My thought is that if you put in a spacer or airbags you will essentially have the 9900 GVWR (although not legally) but in reality it is true. The GCWR for the '03 350 and 250 are the same at 20,000 lbs. I have timbren load helpers in my '04 F250 so I go by the 9900 pound GVWR. I know I am opening myself up for a bunch of criticism here but it all makes sense to me.
Read all of the debate on this and see that every component between the trucks in question are identical except for the spacer and you will have no reason to believe otherwise unless you own a F350 (before the changes in 2005) and feel the need to justify your purchase.

 

Moved to SD section

 

dhelm72,

I'm sure you heard it in another post along these lines, but no matter what you add to the truck to increase what you can REALISTICALLY carry, you still cannot LEGALLY carry more than what the truck is rated for from the factory.

If you do and something unfortunate happens, you will definitely get hammered.

Not trying to criticise, but wrenchtraveller blasted me on this too and he was absolutely correct in doing so. Buy the truck you need to carry the weight you expect to keep yourself legal.