Here’s the #’s- 04-250 SD, 6.0 PSD, S-Cab, shrt bed, FX 4x4 w/tow pack & air bags. Wet Cat weight- #7880 (me, mom, 5er hitch & full tank ). Frnt axle- #4640- Rear- #3240. Sticker weights-Frnt #4800- rear- #6080- GVWR-#8800. My calculations, if right, leaves only #920 for 5er pin weight!! If so, this is one expensive, overpowered “½ ton” with a useless “tow pack”. Should I start looking for a “pop-up camper w/ a 5er configuration!!!! Or am I missing something! Thanks

 

Where did the 920 come from? Take your loaded rear axle weigh from your max rear axle rating.

Toyman

 

980# came from 8800# gvwr minus"cat" actual weight

 

Are you really sure your GVWR is only 8800lbs? That sounds really really low... should be more like 12k.

 

Thanks Toyman, But I'm Not sure I understand, does this mean I can have pin weight up to 2840#. RV & Ford Dealers no help.

 

grafekie, sticker says 8800#-bought truck a year ago-suposed to be speacial order for towing- not that "up" on it. but friend says his (same truck & gvwr )- no tow package says his axles not that high rated as mine. going to check that out.

 

Do you know what the pin weight is on your 5'er? I really doubt if it's THAT heavy. You'll have to load trailer up to as you will normally use it and have the rear truck wheels weighed. I'm towing a 30' OLD fiver that weighs more than the newer ones and it's nowhere near THAT pin weight! I have to keep checking the rear view mirror to make sure the trailer is still there!

 

Your tow rating is going to be different than your GVWR. You are on the right track now.

Happy towing, glad to see that you went the extra mile to stay safe.

Toyman

 

Even if the 920 was right, and the fifth wheel had 10% pin weight - that would carry the pin for a 9200 lb 5er. That's a far cry from a pop up camper ! And many 5er's have much less % of pin weight - they don't need as much as a tag along for decent handling.

 

8800 may be your GVWR but you also have a combined gross weight. My 350 has a fifth wheel tow rating og 16000. Your 250 should be somewhere around 12000 or better.

 

Look at the top of the page for articles and specs. When you look under the specs you can choose your year and model to get all the info to include towing and GCWR.

 

Normal pin weight for a 5th wheel or goose neck is 15-20% of trailer weight. Yes your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 8800#, but your Gross Combined Vehicle Rating (for towing) is a lot higher.

Normally RV's are excempt from crossing scales. If your state requires that the tow vehicle be licensed (weight wise) to cover towed trailer/vehicle, just buy more tonnage. After 31 years in law enforcement, I have never seen or heard of any officer using the vehicle ratings from the door jam for enforcement purposes. They all go by what the vehicle is license for and the size and rating on the tires. Of course some attorney looking for something to sue about my try to use the manufacture ratings, in a personal injury case where your vehicle was obviously overloaded and your vehicle was the proximate cause of the accident.

According to your Rear Axle Rating (6080#) your can have a pin weight of 2840#, which puts you in the 32'-36' 5th wheel area.
Once thing to double check is your rear tire rating (if they've been replaced since new).

From past experience pulling 5th wheels, your truck should be fine for pulling a trailer with a gross weight of 12k-13k.

Good luck

 

if you have your owners nanual for that truck it will tell you your gross tow weight for that truck! and i think thats truck load plus trailer load together!by the way thats a 3/4 ton if its a 250!

 

http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175

go to this link and find your year and model. This will give you the tow rating. Enjoy..

 

I think I have a better understanding now, thanks to all of you. Got confused with all the info I was getting from RV dealer & Ford dealer. bye the way, None of which was correct. Shure seems like there's a better way to rate trucks & RV's for towing or make the people who sell it know more about it. Again, thanks guys. Love this site & I love my ford!!!