Towing and Power
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Towing and Power
I recently purchased a new fifth wheel trailer (36ft. 10,440 ship weight and 14,080 GVWR rating). I have a 06' F-350 supercab (4dr.) w/longbed, 4x4, 6.0 and stock (11,000 miles).
First, should there be any problem towing this trailer with this truck?
Second, is there anything I should consider doing to my truck to prevent any unusual wear & tear?
Third, what 'can' I do to my truck for more power, that the factory won't void my warranty?
And last, I wanted to lift the truck 4in. and go to 35" BFG All Terrain, any forseen problems?
Thanks,
Mike
First, should there be any problem towing this trailer with this truck?
Second, is there anything I should consider doing to my truck to prevent any unusual wear & tear?
Third, what 'can' I do to my truck for more power, that the factory won't void my warranty?
And last, I wanted to lift the truck 4in. and go to 35" BFG All Terrain, any forseen problems?
Thanks,
Mike
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: San Diego CA
I don't know if you have read my post (05 F350 PSD, can it handle it?). Its on the first page of this heavy duty section. I bit off more then I could chew. Do you have a SRW or DRW? It will make a difference. I can tell you with my 37 in tires and stock 3.73 gears it was miserable pulling my trailer. I am figuring its about 16,000 to 17,000 lbs though. You surely wouldn't have as near a problem as I am though. I traded in my bumper pull 33 foot Prowler. Probable weighed in around 10,000 lbs. Pulled it like it wasn't even there. It was a big diference moving up in weight. There are some "duty experts" (I would call them that anyway) that will surely give some good advice. Read my post though if you havn't. I do have axle weights listed to give you some idea of the numbers I am playing with.
Good Luck
Roper53
Good Luck
Roper53
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From: Stephensville WI
About the only thing you can do to increase your power and stay on the good side of a warranty is to change your gearing to a lower gear, like a 4.30 gear ratio. Anything else will leave you at the discretion of the dealer. Some will honor warranties when the truck is modified, some won't. It's a roll of the dice you probably don't want to try if you need service in East Swampgas Mississippi on a Friday evening. I don't think you will need it, but if you think you do I thought I would throw it out.
As for wear and tear, keep up on the maintenance. Use good quality fluids and filters. Remember that there is more to maintenance than changing the oil. Towing makes extra demands on the transmission and differentials. Those fluids also need to be changed on a regular schedule. Use synthetic fluids when you can.
Replace parts as they wear out with the best parts you can get for your truck. If you don't know what part to use, ask these guys. They will assist you.
As for wear and tear, keep up on the maintenance. Use good quality fluids and filters. Remember that there is more to maintenance than changing the oil. Towing makes extra demands on the transmission and differentials. Those fluids also need to be changed on a regular schedule. Use synthetic fluids when you can.
Replace parts as they wear out with the best parts you can get for your truck. If you don't know what part to use, ask these guys. They will assist you.
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From: Stephensville WI
Your Maximum GCWR for the truck is 23,000 pounds. Subtract the trailer GVWR of 14,000 leaves you 9000 pounds for truck and occupants/cargo in the truck.
Don't go crazy with your loads (no rock collections or civil war cannons) and you should be fine.
Don't go crazy with your loads (no rock collections or civil war cannons) and you should be fine.
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Your truck can handle the weight just fine. If you have the 3.73 rear end you may be wishing you had 4.10's (like me). The drag from the height of the fifth wheel trailer will affect towing more than your weight.
I tow a 38' 5ver and gross out at 20,560#. Truck pulls the hell out of it on level ground but works on steep bridges or hills. Trying to justify $2700.00 for a set of 4.10's installed (4 wheel drive) right now.
I tow a 38' 5ver and gross out at 20,560#. Truck pulls the hell out of it on level ground but works on steep bridges or hills. Trying to justify $2700.00 for a set of 4.10's installed (4 wheel drive) right now.
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Wow! Thanks for the quick response and great info. You all have put my mind to ease. I have had two people tell me I Should not have bought that trailer, it was way to much for the truck. Will the 4.10 or 4.30 gears be any problem for everyday driving? highway driving? or mpg?
What about putting the 4in. lift and 35in tires, Problems?
Thanks again,
Mike
What about putting the 4in. lift and 35in tires, Problems?
Thanks again,
Mike
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
If you're going to 35" tires, and towing that much weight, go to 4.56's or even 4.88's.
Stock tires are around 32 inches. 35/32=1.0975 - or almost a 10% loss in torque to the ground.
So, assuming 4.30's would be good for stock tires, to get to the same sweet spot with 35's, you'll need a 4.70 gear. So, either 4.56's which are less than what you need (more like 4.10's) or 4.88's (which will put you close to 4.46 with stock tires).
I'd go with the 4.88's with that much weight, even with the 6.0.
Stock tires are around 32 inches. 35/32=1.0975 - or almost a 10% loss in torque to the ground.
So, assuming 4.30's would be good for stock tires, to get to the same sweet spot with 35's, you'll need a 4.70 gear. So, either 4.56's which are less than what you need (more like 4.10's) or 4.88's (which will put you close to 4.46 with stock tires).
I'd go with the 4.88's with that much weight, even with the 6.0.
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From: IL, USA
While 4.56s or 4.88s will get the weight moving easier....they will kill your highway mpg with only a 35" tire.
With 35s on a PSD, I see no reason to go beyond a 4.10 or maybe a 4.30 if he's only towing a 14k 5th wheel.
I've towed 10-12k with a 6.0 with 3.73s and 325/60R18s w/o issue...I'd do a 14k goose or 5th with the same setup.
If you are worried about warranty, your dealer may have issues with the lift, tires and gears. May want to check first.
We have 4.88s in our F-450 and they tow great........but get much worse mpg.
With 35s on a PSD, I see no reason to go beyond a 4.10 or maybe a 4.30 if he's only towing a 14k 5th wheel.
I've towed 10-12k with a 6.0 with 3.73s and 325/60R18s w/o issue...I'd do a 14k goose or 5th with the same setup.
If you are worried about warranty, your dealer may have issues with the lift, tires and gears. May want to check first.
We have 4.88s in our F-450 and they tow great........but get much worse mpg.
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From: Royse City, TX
I don't know anything about 5th wheel trailers but have you considered the angle that the trailer will at with the truck lifted? A buddy of mine traded in a mid 90's Ford F250 on a lifted 2000 Dodge 2500 (I don't know what he was thinking). Anyway, he had a gooseneck stock trailer he used to haul horses. With the lifted Dodge, the rear of the trailer was only about 2" off the ground. Luckily we were able to move the trailer's springs from below the axle to above the axle on the trailer. This pretty much leveled the trailer, although the horses had a big step to take to get in.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by DCSpecial
While 4.56s or 4.88s will get the weight moving easier....they will kill your highway mpg with only a 35" tire.
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