At the risk of sounding stupid - I have a 2008 Super Duty F-450 and I am seeking some clarity on towing capacity: I read towing on the hitch at 16,000lbs and on a fifth wheel at 26,000lbs is this the gross number and do I have to subtract the weight of the truck and trailer from this to get load capacity? Excuse my ignorance on this - any help would be appreciated.

 

Your weight ratings would include total weight for the trailer + cargo.

Has nothing to do with the truck weight...trailer/cargo weight only.

Sorrry ..Welcome to FTE !!

 

Thank you for the help - it has been a long time since I towed anything and your reply gives me a good place to start. Thanks from the new guy!

 

towing guide can be found here:Ford Trucks: Super Duty 2009 Cargo Box & Exterior Dimensions. | Ford Vehicles

Click on the towing tab

 

Well, 12ozd is partially correct. There are actually 2 weight ratings you need to concern youself with. There is the max trailer towing weight rating (this is where you get the bumper trailer vs. a 5th wheel weight rating). There is also the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). This is the weight of all things together (the Gross weight).

So, IAW the towing guide provided by senix, the max trailer weight you can have period is 16000 pounds. The GCWR is 33,000. With the 5th wheel, the max weight is 24,600 pounds, and the GCWR is still 33,000. Keep in mind, these are the max weights period. Different configurations give you different ratings. With the F-450, there aren't but two different configurations that make a difference in the weight ratings...4X4 or 4X2, and Automatic or Standard tranny.

Hope this helps.

 

Since he asked about hitch and 5th wheel capacity,no need to bring gcvrw into the equation.

The question dealt with hitch / 5 th wheel capacities.

If you keep those in line , no need for other configurations


Hope this helps.

 

GCWR is very important to consider. If you slap a 24K+ 5er on the back of a fully optioned F-450 4X4 you will exceed 33K. It is a given that the truck can handle the full weight rating off the receiver, but when you are talking 5er or GN it is important to know the trucks ready to roll weight (including fuel, passangers and cargo) and subtract that from the GCWR to determine exactly how much trailer you can handle...

Being the truck is a '08 it is also important to know if it is a early or late model since early models with 4.30 gears had a lower GCWR. Granted this would mostly be for leagality purposes...

 

DMoor,
I'm new to the board and just bought an 450 as well. One point I'm looking for clarity on, is that my understanding is that the 16K "bumper" rating, is only if using a weight dist kit? Is the std mount a Class V hitch, if so wouln't it have a much higher rating than the 8k in the owners manual?
I will be towing around 12-13K, but don't want the hassel of Weight Dist system. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to jeopardize safety, however it seems to me that given the truck capacity and the load, I could tow safely w/out the w.d. system.

 

Exactly. The '08 came standard with 4.30 gears and in the early build models, this was the lower of two available GCWRs. The 4.88 was optional in the high capacity tow package which bumped the GCWR to 33k. The GCWR is every bit as important as the GVWR and GAWR. Yes you need to know your ratings but to know what they truly are, you need to know the weight of the truck, trailer, and contents as a total package also.

 

If you'll check, you will find two ratings. One is a "weight carrying" rating and the other is a "weight distribution" rating (or something to that effect). They are self explanatory. The weight carrying rating is without a WD hitch and is just the trailer sitting on the hitch ball. The weight distribution rating is with the WD hitch. You may not want the hassle of a WD system but I wouldn't chance it without one with that kind of weight.

 

Guys: I am new to FTE and I must tell you I really appreciate all the help. I think I got it now - I have a F450, automatic, 4x4, dressed up with with a scale weight of 9,245 lbs. (me included). I am looking to pull a fifthweel/gooseneck flatbed trailer loaded with fence material.

So if I have a 4.88 gear in the rear - the high capacity tow package GCWR of 33k I need to subtract the truck 9,245 lbs and the trailer empty weight, est: 5,000 lbs (have not bought it yet) to carry a load of est: 18,755 lbs.

Thanks again to all! from the new guy.

 

You got it. Do you know which axle you have? In the later job# '08 trucks, they discontinued the 4.88 and made the 33k GCWR standard across the board with the auto tranny and the 4.30 gears.