Am I being realistic?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
Am I being realistic?
I am thinking of upgrading to a 33 ft 5th wheel that weighs 10600 dry, no water cargo, propane etc. With 110 gallons of water and 3 quads, and the wife and 2 kids in the truck, can I pull this with 3.73 gears? I believe the combined weight for the truck/trailer is 20000 for an 03. I would be a little over that, but will the truck be able to handle the load, especially up long west coast mountain hills.
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There is a big difference tow/haul ratings from '04 to '05. The biggest difference is brake size and tire size.
I tow a 14k fifthwheel with my '059(3.73), no problems. I towed the same trailer with a '94 F250 4x4(4.10). It handled it ok. Due to the pin weight of the trailer, I was right at the max rating for the E rated tires and the rear axle rating. I needed more INPUT from the trailer brakes with the '94 than the '05.
The '94 weighs less (6200#s) than your '04, probably the same tires (265/75 16E), brake sizes are similar. You may have a problem with too much weight on your rear axle and tires.
I tow a 14k fifthwheel with my '059(3.73), no problems. I towed the same trailer with a '94 F250 4x4(4.10). It handled it ok. Due to the pin weight of the trailer, I was right at the max rating for the E rated tires and the rear axle rating. I needed more INPUT from the trailer brakes with the '94 than the '05.
The '94 weighs less (6200#s) than your '04, probably the same tires (265/75 16E), brake sizes are similar. You may have a problem with too much weight on your rear axle and tires.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
Originally Posted by firesoutmatt
Yes it will handle it . I don't know if you can handle it or not.Thats up to you.
If you have the tow command even better.
I tow that and some with my truck and never even think about it.
If you have the tow command even better.
I tow that and some with my truck and never even think about it.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Matt's '05 has quite a bit more towing capacity than your '03, plus Tow Command wasn't available until 2005. Does that 5er's 10,600# dry weight include A/C, gen set, awnings, etc.? By the time you add 900# of water plus propane, the quads and all of the other stuff RV's seem to accumulate, you're looking at a pretty healthy load; the pin weight will determine if it's feasible with your '03. CAN you do it.......sure! SHOULD you do it.......that's up to you. When I lived in Victorville I saw many rigs running up and down the Cajon Pass that had no business being on the road.
Steve
Steve
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Elder User
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From: Stevens County, WA
Originally Posted by Steina
Matt's '05 has quite a bit more towing capacity than your '03, plus Tow Command wasn't available until 2005. Does that 5er's 10,600# dry weight include A/C, gen set, awnings, etc.? By the time you add 900# of water plus propane, the quads and all of the other stuff RV's seem to accumulate, you're looking at a pretty healthy load; the pin weight will determine if it's feasible with your '03. CAN you do it.......sure! SHOULD you do it.......that's up to you. When I lived in Victorville I saw many rigs running up and down the Cajon Pass that had no business being on the road.
Steve
Steve
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CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
From http://www.autobuyguide.com/2003/12-...ews/index.html -
"With the ability to tow up to 12,500 pounds (with the optional Class IV trailer package), the Super Duty F-250 offers the best towing capacity in its class".
From http://research.cars.com/go/crp/rese...=&aff=national -
"Ford also offers the ever-popular 6-liter Power Stroke diesel, capable of 570 pound-feet of torque. All topped out, the Super Duty is capable of dragging an incredible 15,000 pounds - or, incredibly, six Ford Focus hatchbacks".
If these review figures are correct, then I'd consider 1-1/4 tons "quite a bit" - JMHO.
Steve
"With the ability to tow up to 12,500 pounds (with the optional Class IV trailer package), the Super Duty F-250 offers the best towing capacity in its class".
From http://research.cars.com/go/crp/rese...=&aff=national -
"Ford also offers the ever-popular 6-liter Power Stroke diesel, capable of 570 pound-feet of torque. All topped out, the Super Duty is capable of dragging an incredible 15,000 pounds - or, incredibly, six Ford Focus hatchbacks".
If these review figures are correct, then I'd consider 1-1/4 tons "quite a bit" - JMHO.
Steve
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
At that limit, no I don't consider towing 3000 lbs more "quite a bit." No offense, but your signature says you tow with a ford explorer. I was looking for people's experiences towing with similar setups. Matt's input was helpful, as he is towing even more than I am considering, with a similar setup. Thanks.
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Elder User
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From: Stevens County, WA
Actually, I didn't mean "towing" 3000 lbs more, I meant combined weight, which is the rated difference. That's very different than towing capacity. I am referring to combined weight in this thread.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Both of my kids have toy boxes (36' with an '07 2500 Silverado & 32' with an '06 F250 PS) that I helped set up for them and also drive quite a bit. Sorry I didn't include that in my signature..........
Maybe you thought it was OK to slam me, but Matt seems to be the one with the cute remark ("I don't know if you can handle it or not"), not me. His rig has more towing capacity than yours, but you just want to argue that fact.
Do what you want, bud.....sounds like you're gonna anyway.
Steve
Maybe you thought it was OK to slam me, but Matt seems to be the one with the cute remark ("I don't know if you can handle it or not"), not me. His rig has more towing capacity than yours, but you just want to argue that fact.
Do what you want, bud.....sounds like you're gonna anyway.
Steve
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by Nitrous
How does your truck handle the load up and down the mountains in California/Oregon/Washington?
Posting Guru
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by Steina
Both of my kids have toy boxes (36' with an '07 2500 Silverado & 32' with an '06 F250 PS) that I helped set up for them and also drive quite a bit. Sorry I didn't include that in my signature..........
Maybe you thought it was OK to slam me, but Matt seems to be the one with the cute remark ("I don't know if you can handle it or not"), not me. His rig has more towing capacity than yours, but you just want to argue that fact.
Do what you want, bud.....sounds like you're gonna anyway.
Steve
Maybe you thought it was OK to slam me, but Matt seems to be the one with the cute remark ("I don't know if you can handle it or not"), not me. His rig has more towing capacity than yours, but you just want to argue that fact.
Do what you want, bud.....sounds like you're gonna anyway.
Steve
Weight ratings are just that. Some drivers can handle more than the rated weight. I have no idea what someone else can handle. Thats up to them to find out. How do you find out ?
From experiance .
These truck can tow more than what they are rated at. It's the driver of that truck thats in charge not the truck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
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From: Simpsonville, KY
I disagree completely... a good driver doesn't trump good equipment anyday. Bad driver will trump anything, but good driver doesn't mean the truck can handle more. It means they can get away with more... until something breaks or someone else cuts the driver off.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oceanside, Ca
You should have no problems towing your 5er with that truck. Yes you are over but only a little bit over. As long as you are smart about it especially on the downgrades you will be fine.
Look at what I tow with my '02 F250... my 5er is over 14k lbs. dry and over 18k lbs. GVWR. I am way over what a F250 is rated for but it tows it just fine.
As long as your are familiar with towing heavy trailers, your truck is well maintained, tires are in good condition and properly inflated, truck is properly equiped (trailer brake, guages) and you have the trailer weight distributed for proper tongue weight you will be fine.
*Disclaimer* so I dont get flamed to bad... I have a Class A CDL and have been driving big trucks for over 15 years. I know my current setup is overweight so I make sure everything is setup perfectly before I put the trans in D and recheck it at regular intervals during my trip. I have even had Cali State troopers compliment me on my rig while conducting my checks. With all that being said I am going to upgrade to a higher capacity truck very soon because I am just too far out for my liking.
Have fun and good luck! Sorry for the long post.
Look at what I tow with my '02 F250... my 5er is over 14k lbs. dry and over 18k lbs. GVWR. I am way over what a F250 is rated for but it tows it just fine.
As long as your are familiar with towing heavy trailers, your truck is well maintained, tires are in good condition and properly inflated, truck is properly equiped (trailer brake, guages) and you have the trailer weight distributed for proper tongue weight you will be fine.
*Disclaimer* so I dont get flamed to bad... I have a Class A CDL and have been driving big trucks for over 15 years. I know my current setup is overweight so I make sure everything is setup perfectly before I put the trans in D and recheck it at regular intervals during my trip. I have even had Cali State troopers compliment me on my rig while conducting my checks. With all that being said I am going to upgrade to a higher capacity truck very soon because I am just too far out for my liking.
Have fun and good luck! Sorry for the long post.
Last edited by Herbie02PSD; May 11, 2007 at 08:46 AM.