I am trying to get an idea of the size/weight of 5th wheel trailer I should be looking at. I want to buy something in the 29-34 foot range. Something like this. 2004 Keystone Montana 35ft rear island kitchen 5th wheel w/ 3 slides Maybe just a bit shorter.

Will my truck safely tow it if my truck is set up right? If not,how big/heavy can I go?

Here's what I have.

1995 F250 XLT Supercab
460 E4od 2wd
secondary trans. cooler
trailer brakes
GVWR 8800
4:10 gears

The truck is in perfect mechanical shape.Thanks for any help.

 

Below are the specs for the 2004 Montana lineup. Not sure which one is the trailer you're looking at. You'll need to look at your GCWR as well as your rear axle weight rating and go from there. Your truck has a great powertrain for towing but you'll have to check the specs on the truck also. Below also is the order guide for the 1997 F-250. It's the oldest order guide I could find but should be relativley similar to your truck.

Montana Division of Keystone RV manufacturers of Recreational Vehicles.

http://www.sunrisefordfleet.com/pdf_...er%20Guide.pdf

Hope this helps.

 

I think the 35 footer is way too much trailer for your truck. I don't think I'd go anything over 10,000 lbs. That's dry weight. I don't think you'l even be happy with that one...still too heavy. Any hills will slow you down at lot. But I think I'd give it a try IF you're willing to trade up after you've taken it on the road and check for yourself. OH, a lot of times, it isn't all a 'weight' thing, it's front wind loading on the 5er.

How many miles you got on that '95? I'm thinking "a lot". That 460 is prob getting danged tired. Do you have the trailer tow package in it? Has the E4OD been overhauled? Just a few things to consider......

 

Your F250 has a GCVR of 18500lbs. The maximum tow according to Ford is 12,500lbs. Don't worry about "dry weight" on a 5th wheel. The trailer will never be at the minimum weight. Look at GVW of the trailer and use that number for any decisions. About 20-25% of the gross weight of the trailer will be on the hitch. That can push an F250 over its rear axle weight rating very quickly.

 

Thanks for the link..I think thats where I'm getting messed up. So,I need to look at the GVW of the trailer and decide from there? 25% of 18500lbs is 4624lbs..Is that how much weight I can put on the inbed hitch I will install?

I agree that 35 footer looks to be way too much. But,I really want to know how the numbers say so. Here's a couple pics of my stuff. I really don't know if I have the "tow Package"...I have lots of tow related stuff installed. I bought this truck a few months ago not with any purpose except its the prettiest truck I've ever seen. And,its "like new" Buying a RV is a after thought.

The thing runs like its new. I don't know if the trans has been rebuilt,but it sure shifts smooth.

 

18500lbs..So,is that the total weight that my truck and the RV I want to tow can weigh? What's the maximum tow of 12500lbs?

 

I have a 97 f-250 with a 460 and pull a older 28.5' Terry (Fleetwood) with it. Fully loaded I am somewhere around 16 to 17k. I am not so sure that I would want to be too much heavier with that combo. On the same note I pull a lot of hills. Even on the steeper ones I am rarely below 45 mph. Where I have noticed the biggest problem is with the wind I am cutting at speed. At just under 12' tall, that is a huge window to punch at 60 MPH. If I have a strong headwind, things can start to get a little ugly..... Did this once in western Nevada........

If you are on flat ground generally and don't have to deal with significant headwinds regularly you can go nuts without a problem.

Additionally I found that by running at 58 to 59 mph instead of low 60's gains me 1.5 mpg. When you get a trailer don't be afraid to play around a little and find your "Sweet spot" for towing.

 

The GCWR is the Gross Combined Weight Rating. This is the total that the truck and trailer can weigh together. You'll have to weigh your truck to see how much weight you currently have on your rear axle. This can be accomplished by going to the scales and weighing each end of your truck. After you weigh the rear of your truck, subtract that amount from your rear GAWR (gross axle weight rating). From your photo, your rear axle is rated at 6084 pounds. This will tell you how much weight you have left before you reach the max rating.

Numbers can be tricky though. Keep in mind that the GCWR also includes any people, gear, etc. that you will haul when towing. Anything you put in the truck like that deducts from the weight you can tow before reaching your GCWR.

As for your question about the amount of weight you can put on your fifth wheel hitch - That is going to depend on the hitch itself, and the payload capacity of the truck and the rear GAWR. I definitely would not try to put 4200 pounds of pin weight on a hitch in that truck. It's just too much weight for what you truck was designed for. I agree with others here in that I wouldn't go above 12,000 pounds for a trailer of any kind with your setup. Different fifth wheel hitches have different weight and pin weight capacities.

1) Weigh your truck at the scales. Each end independently and then total weight. This will give you a starting point.

2) Subtract that weight from the GCWR on your truck (18,500). This will give you an idea of how much weight you have leftover for a trailer.

3) When you weigh your truck, try to do it loaded with the people, gear, etc. you might typically haul with you when camping. Otherwise, when you go shopping for a trailer, it will be easy to be over your gross ratings.

4) Yes - look at the gross weights (GVWR) of the trailers but more importantly, look at the pin weights. I will tell you that typically, most RV manufacturers grossly understate the pin weights on their products. Remember that things such as full water tanks, etc. add to the weight of the trailer and therefore, lots of times, add to the pin or hitch weight.

5) You may also want to look at adding airbags or helper type overload springs in the rear.

This is all just advice and keeping in mind safety and legality. Different states have different laws about weights and so on. You also definitely don't want to have far more weight on board than your truck can safely handle and stop. It's all pretty complicated but research all you can. Good luck with whatever you decide. Oh, and by the way, I agree with you - that truck is gorgeous!

 

Well,thats alot of what I wanted to know.Laid out so I can understand it.Thank You very much for writing all that.

I'll get the truck weighed,front and back with my kids,full gas tanks and stuff.
County dump is down the road.I can get weighed there.They might not like it,but by the time they figure out what I'm doing,I'll have the figures.

 

No problem. Glad to help. Another idea - a lot of us around here go to the local feed stores and rock quarries and they're always glad to help if they're no too busy. We've also got a truck stop with CAT certified scales and they'll do it too.