Need help with trailer weight
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New User
Joined: May 2010
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Need help with trailer weight
Need some help on what size and weight trailer I can tow safely. I was told to buy the heaviest truck I could afford and then find a trailer that it would tow. Well, a 2001 Super Duty, 7.3, F350, 2WD, DRW, extended cab truck became available and I purchased it. The truck has 102,000 miles is well maintained and seems like it should handle a 5th wheel trailer, but what size? The information in the owners manual is not really clear and I need help sorting it out. Of course the RV sales people are telling me that I can tow about any trailer they have on the lot. Well that my or may not be true, for them its about sales. For me it is about Vehicle longevity and safety. I am in the process of doing some of the mods recommended here at FTE. I need some suggestions on this trailer weight thing. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I am new here at FTE but I am enjoying all the helpful postings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Welcome to FTE!
Legally for a 5th wheel your truck can weigh a total of 20,000 lbs between the truck and trailer (GCWR, gross combined weight rating). Your truck should be around the same weight as mine, so an empty truck would be able to have a trailer weight around 12k to 12.5k. If you load up the family in the truck, that number goes down since the truck is now heavier. Another thing to remember is to not overload the truck (GVWR gross vehicle weight rating). IIRC, 10-15% of the trailer weight should be tongue weight, so a 12k trailer would mean around 1200 or so of weight on the pin. That weight is included in the total GVWR of your truck (which is listed on the door tag where the vin is). All of this seems to be a hot topic on many sites. These trucks will pull more then their rated for (this engine is in medium duty box trucks, buses, and dump trucks) but not legally.
Legally for a 5th wheel your truck can weigh a total of 20,000 lbs between the truck and trailer (GCWR, gross combined weight rating). Your truck should be around the same weight as mine, so an empty truck would be able to have a trailer weight around 12k to 12.5k. If you load up the family in the truck, that number goes down since the truck is now heavier. Another thing to remember is to not overload the truck (GVWR gross vehicle weight rating). IIRC, 10-15% of the trailer weight should be tongue weight, so a 12k trailer would mean around 1200 or so of weight on the pin. That weight is included in the total GVWR of your truck (which is listed on the door tag where the vin is). All of this seems to be a hot topic on many sites. These trucks will pull more then their rated for (this engine is in medium duty box trucks, buses, and dump trucks) but not legally.
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New User
Joined: May 2010
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Thanks Trevor
Just ball parken here, what do you think the appx. weight of my truck is? Also, I live on the Oregon coast and see lots of RV combos. I see F250s and F350s SRW that really appear over loaded (squashed down in the back) and still towing these bohemith trailers (35-40 footers) that must weigh 13k to 15k lbs. Seems like an unsafe condition. How much do the DRWs help?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
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From: Morehead, Ky.
I have a 2003 F250 7.3 super cab, 8' bed. Ready to tow, with me, wife, dog, full fuel. and hitch installed, I weigh just under 8000 lbs.
Go here: http://www.trailerlife.com/images/do...owingguide.pdf Jim
Go here: http://www.trailerlife.com/images/do...owingguide.pdf Jim
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, TN
I pull a 10K# 5th wheel. Your fifth wheel total weight shouldn't be more than 13K (look at the chart, depends on manual/auto and gear ratio). Total weight means after you put your stuff in.
Also, some trucks squat with a light trailer.
Also, some trucks squat with a light trailer.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Many of the drw guys have gooseneck dual tandem trailers with a 22k gvwr on the trailer alone. Be cautious though, some areas require a class A CDL for " combination vehicles" in excess of 26,000 lbs combined gvwr, which a gooseneck dual tandem plus your truck is somewhere in the 33k range. So bottom line, if you can hook it you can probably tow it,, but is it legal?
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New User
Joined: May 2010
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Wow! Thanks Leo.
Good info, I think I am looking for something in the 30' range with at least one slide and somewhere around 10K lbs. Does that sound reasonable?
I just learned about those Goose neck conversion hitches for 5th wheel trailers. I like that idea because it leaves the bed of the truck totally open for other uses after you park your 5th wheel. Are these conversion hitches any good?
Again thanks for the input.
I just learned about those Goose neck conversion hitches for 5th wheel trailers. I like that idea because it leaves the bed of the truck totally open for other uses after you park your 5th wheel. Are these conversion hitches any good?
Again thanks for the input.
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