How are these guys towing these 35 - 40' fifth wheel trailers and then some are towing a boat behind them. I was looking at trailers last weekend around 30' and they seem to weigh between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds. I looked up the rating for my truck and it is listed at 10,300 and the door panel stickers says 9,700. Seems all these trucks would be overloaded.

 

Well you can not tel how much your truck can tow with out a ford towing guide. I don't have one for your truck but an 06 ford f350 v10 crew cab 4.10 gears is rated for 13,100 bumper pull and 15,100 fith wheel

 

The 99 - 04 guides on this site list the weights allowed GVWR at 9,700 for California with an F350CC, 3.73. Just do not see how these trucks are towing that much more weight. I know it will pull it but if you get pulled over big problem. Cannot answer for the 06 but seems pretty high

 

In most areas you can register your truck for what weith you want. When you get pulled over and they ask for your registration this is what they verify not the door panel. This is why you see 1 ton trucks pulling 40ft goosenecks that top out at 24k. It is all about the money.

 

The difference between GVWR and GCWR would seem to be a factor!

 

Just tell it to the judge, especially if you drive through South Georgia. Jim

 

I have a book from ford that says i can go to 23k with a goosneck or fifth wheel hitch. GCWR that is

 

Depending on how it's set up, this link http://www.clubfte.com/users/monsta/TrailertowingV2.htm says some may be able to tow 13K.

 

Thats where I got the 9,700 for my truck and I have seen guys with trucks like mine pulling a lot more than that.

 

tow a bumper hitch trailer thats 9500# thats all my truck needs

 

Check out a thread that just ended a few days ago about just this topic, it was called "legal issues with going over GVW" or something like that.

What was resolved from all the discussion was - not much. This is a very grey area and it is very much dependent on each states laws.

It does seem that recreational vehicles, if they appear to be safe, are pretty much exempt and hey, if it weights 20,000 lbs and you can tow it, go for it.

 

I looked over that posting not much was said that defined the abilities of the truck. I wonder how these RV dealers are leagally selling trailers that clearly exceed the GVW towing capabilities of the truck. This site only has the information in the towing table for 99-04 but it could not have change that much. My truck F-350,CC,6.8 (V10),4x4, 3.73 states it can tow 10,300lbs. That is not much when you are looking at 5th wheel trailers. I looked at a 30' trailer yesterday that was 12,700lbs. So I can never see how anyone could be towing these 35 to 40' trailers they are all going to be overweight.

 

There was a change in the ratings beginning in 2005. Your vehicle with a 4.10 starting in 2005 is rated for 12,500 pounds. However, as a 4x2 dually with 4.30 gears its rated at 15,000, conventional. For a goose-neck, some combinations exceed 16,000 pounds.

 

I'm not expert in this matter, but it seems to me that sticking with Ford specifications is the way to go. It's not the "towing" that's the problem here. It's the stopping and controlling the load in the safest manner that's important. Heck, you see all kinds of stuff going down the road. But are they safe and are they truly legal?

 

Stopping is a BS excuse, there are NO new fifthwheel or Travel trailors that don't have there own braking system (I have yet to see one, yes without brakes on trailor it may be a concern). Anyone that says stopping is the reason for a limited weight hasn't towed much that has it's own brakes. Also JFYI I would venture to bet that any state that allows you to tow double double will require you to have brakes on the leading trailor, I know that ND does and we are very easy on our towing laws.

The fact of the mater the majority of poeple towing hudge fithers and TTs or towing double are more than likely exceeding the limits of there vehicles. Be it right or wrong, legal or illegal, I left that discusion on the other thread and will let you decide for yourself. All I know, is most of these big toy haulers, fifthers, and many large TTs will exceed the ratings of the vehicle.

I also beleive that its loosely based on comfortable and reasonable performance of the vehicle since nothing more than a gear change will greatly increase your tow rating yet you haven't done a darn thing to the suspension or brakes! therefor exceeding the vehicle rating will generally net you less than impressive performance. I'm towing right at my trucks rating and it does an adaquate job yet I could definatly see the merit in getting a deeper gear set.