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I have a '06 F250 4x4 6.0 Deisel, Air Bags, with a GVWR of 23500 (?)
I am considering a '06 open road Pure Sport 5th wheel that weighs 15K when leaving the factory. Pin is 2750.
Is this pushing it too much? I make flat desert runs of 100 miles usually.
Thanks for input!
You mean GCWR not GVWR. You should get by okay but you are pushing the envelope a bit especailly if you tackle some hills and you have a 4.30 axle ratio. Realitcally you will likely weight 24 to 25k or more loaded beacue you will be close to 23k before you put any people in truck or gear in truck and trailer. A 4.10 or 4.30 axle ratio would have been a better match for that load.
Actually, the highest GVWR for an '05 diesel superduty is 13,000 pounds. Its the GCWR that is 23,500. However, I can't find a 4x4 diesel with a 23,500 pound rating, only 4x2. Are you sure of your ratings? And what axle do you have?
Anyway, worst case scenario you have a 3.73 crew cab, which has a GCWR for a 5th wheel of 23,000 pounds. So this leaves 8,000 pounds for the weight of the truck and any extras like water/fuel in your tanks.
Max payload weight rating for that same truck is 2700 pounds, and you're proposing 2750.
Looks to me like you've already run the numbers, and it seems like you would be legal, which is generally the main issue.
The experienced guys seem to like a cushion, maybe 10% - but if you're legal, you're legal. Its your call IMO.
The one thing that I would be concerned about is the pin weight, if it has 2750 dry it will be way over 3000 wet, make sure your tires are up to the job.
Don't get too mad at your tires. Keep in mind if you decide to "upgrade" and "oversize" that you'll be reducing your towing capacity, just like changing your axle gearing.
Can't help you with the actual choice - though lots of others can. I'm just making the point since you are a new user that tires can be counter intuitive. There's a tendency to think that getting bigger diameter tires both looks good and will somehow make more power, which isn't true. Well, okay, it DOES look good, but larger tires actually reduce towing power.
In your case, where you are borderline to start with, you should technically change to a 4.10 or 4.30 gearing before increasing tire diameter. Its that old conundrum that you can be pretty or you can be functional, but its hard to be both.
Can't help you with the actual choice - though lots of others can. I'm just making the point since you are a new user that tires can be counter intuitive. There's a tendency to think that getting bigger diameter tires both looks good and will somehow make more power, which isn't true. Well, okay, it DOES look good, but larger tires actually reduce towing power.
In your case, where you are borderline to start with, you should technically change to a 4.10 or 4.30 gearing before increasing tire diameter. Its that old conundrum that you can be pretty or you can be functional, but its hard to be both.
At his weight he should be at a 4.10 or 4.30 before going to bigger tires. If he really wants a little bigger tire, have them install some 4.56s in your truck as your GCW will likely be around 24 or 25K and well betond ratings with a 3.73 and stock tires.
I am looking at Xterain AT's 325-65-18 rated at 3860#. I am a newbie and was confused as your calculater tells me the ratio will be around 4.10. That is where everyone is telling me I should be! What dont I get? And can I get by until I can purchase an f350 tow boss?
My guess is the calculator is telling you that to run the tires you want with the truck you have, you would need a 4.10 axle.
The only way to obtain more towing power by buying different tires, is to get smaller diameter tires, not larger. Some who are really into their trucks get around this by having two sets of tires, one smaller set for towing, and a larger set for play. You can't buy bigger tires to get more towing power.
Here's another angle. The tires you quoted (325-65-18) are rated at 3860 pounds each, or 7700 pounds together. But on the driver's side door jamb you'll find a sticker that will list your rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which is the maximum amount of weight to be put on the rear axle. Its the old weakest-link-in-the-chain business. If your springs are only rated for maybe 5,000 pounds, having 8,000 pound tires doesn't do you any good.
Can you "get by"? That's a judgement call. But if you're not legal, it may wind up being the State Patrol's call.
Bill I have to ask this, have you ever pulled anything that big and heavy before. If not take your truck somewhere and load 3K in the box, try to get most of it over and a little in front of the axle and see how your truck drives with that kind of load. And then imaging what another 12K+ pushing on the truck will fell like, especially in the wind.
Me personally I would use nothing less than a DRW. I pull a 15K 5ver with a DRW and my last trailer was over 16K so I have a good idea what it takes to handle that kind of load, 4 tires are a lot better than 2 JMO.