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12-04-2017, 11:18 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 91
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Best 5th Wheel for F-250 Diesel
Hello everyone. I recently purchased a 2017 F-250 Diesel which I have now come to realize was not the best choice for pulling a fifth wheel. Would of, could of, should of as they say, but I digress. I love everything about the truck except for its towing capacity, which also happens to be the most important feature. Since that was the reason, I bought the thing after all. I do confess, I am a rookie at all this and naively thought the only difference between the 250 & 350 was the suspension. Little did I know. I am active duty and being transferred for my last tour and rather than trying to buy a house which is out of the question due to how expensive it is where we're going, my Wife, and I decided to make the plunge into full-time RVing. So now I have this brand new beautiful truck that I can't "legally" at least pull what I would like. The truck as many of you are probably aware has a supposed 15,000 lb. Tow capacity with a max hitch weight of a whopping 2,325 pounds. However, other guides say the tow capacity is 12,500, so I still don't know exactly what mine is : (
With all that said, we are looking for a bunkhouse fifth wheel, and after all the research I have done am leaning toward the 2018 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5FBDS. According to their site, these units are tested for extreme weather on both ends of the spectrum and seem to be good quality in spite of their light weight. My reason for choosing this one is that the hitch weight is only 1,595 lbs and the GVWR being 10,130 lbs. Both of these is well within my "legal" limits. Does anyone out there have any experience with these Jayco units, good or bad and would you recommend them? Please, spare me from "I should have bought a bigger truck." I'm well aware of that. At this point I have to make the best of what I got and still hopefully buy a nice fifth wheel for my Wife and I two kids to live in. One last thing, if you have a recommendation of something else that may work better for us, please do share. I have plenty of time before I need to purchase something. Below is a picture of the truck I purchased and a link to the fifth wheel I am considering. Thank you in advance for your help.
https://www.jayco.com/products/fifth...wheel/295fbds/
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12-05-2017, 05:19 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2
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Funny, I just hit my last duty station and got a 17 F250 diesel. For your tow rating and payload capacity go to fleet.ford.com It will depend on what GVWR you got. If you got the 10,000 GVWR your 5th wheel tow rating will be 14,700 with a payload capacity of 2,660. If you have the 9,900 GVWR you will have a tow rating of 14,100 with a payload of 2,560. We have also been looking for a bunkhouse 5th wheel that falls under these weights, there are a lot however the quality if questionable. We have narrowed it down to the Eagle HT 29.5 in a few different floors plans, the Grand Designs 28BH, Keystone Laredo 285SBH, and the Coachmen 295BH. We may have finally decided on the Coachmen because it is the "best deal" in our area, still 400 miles away, and has new floor plan that we really like.
__________________
2018 Grand Design Reflection 28BH
2017 Ford F250 6.7L
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12-05-2017, 07:27 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 91
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Thanks for the reply. Yeah my GVWR is the 10,000, however, as I stated, the tag in my door is stating that my max wt. of cargo and occupants should not exceed 2,325. If it’s 2,660 as you’re stating, that would be better obviously. I will check out those other models you listed.
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12-05-2017, 07:28 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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Your towing capacity is well within the 'legal' limits to pull virtually any normal 5th wheel. Where it gets gnarly is the truck's load capacity as defined on that little yellow sticker on the B pillar. Without knowing what options you checked off, your suspension may be well under the pin load of virtually any 5er over say, 30 feet to pick a number. In my case, I have the camper and 5th wheel option and by actual part numbers, have a capacity of 12,000 pounds. But that yellow sticker .....it says 10K max with a 2K load. Unfortunately, lots of that load gets 'eaten' by the 150-200 pound hitch, mom, the kids, the dog and whatever else you might carry in the bed and passenger compartment. Dilemma - and really only two solutions. Trade the truck for an F350/450 or just say the heck with it, and tow what you want and what we are doing. Does it make the situation right? No. We are, right or wrong, several hundred pounds overweight and have been since 2011 and quite frankly a lot lighter then many we have seen in the 250/2300 trucks.
So, with that said - you have to do what you feel is right since you are aware of the situation
As far as differences between an F250 and an F350 diesel is suspension and possibly axle capacity with the F350 having - maybe - a bit larger diameter axle shafts. Plus that @#$%&* yellow stucker
__________________
Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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12-05-2017, 07:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,443
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Well caught in the 250/2500 payload delima plenty of power, but a Class 2 GVWR max of 10,000#. The brochure listed payloads, are the max for model of truck, true available payload is listed on the door post Tire sticker.
You have three choices, get a 350/3500, smaller 5er, or chose to tow over the listed GVWR. I don't recommend the last option, but many do it, could come with legal issues if in an accident, or if states start weighing RVs.
__________________
Russ & Paula, Portland, OR. The Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW Aisin 4X4 14,000# GVWR.
2005 Keystone Copper Canyon 293FWSLS Rear Kitchen 12,360 GVWR
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12-05-2017, 09:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Itinerant
Posts: 755
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The F250/ 350 are basically the same animal except the 250 has been limited to 10k to get around the extra expense of registration.
It would help to know what packages are on the truck...camper, Hd front suspension, etc. What size tires.
Adding airbags, overload springs, rear swaybar will beef up the carring capacity (pin weight) but the limiting factor still will be what's the carrying capacity of the rear tires.
__________________
2010 Cameo F34CK3, 500ah GBS LFP, 1280w solar, Magnum PT100 SCC & 3012 hybrid inverter/ charger, Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,656+ partial cycles.
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12-05-2017, 10:03 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,643
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OK............you have the 250 with a 10,000 GVWR
Door Jamb Yellow sticker lists 2325# Cargo carrying capacity----that is correct for YOUR specific truck/trim level (Yellow Stickers are vehicle specific)
Now lets get down to REAL Numbers
Truck GVWR -----------------------------------10,000#
Truck/Trailer Combined GCVWR --------------22,500#
Truck FAWR ------------------------------------ 5,200#
Truck RAWR ----------------------------------- 6,340#
Payload ---------------------------------------- 2,325#
Base weight (10,000 MINUS 2325#) -------- 7,675# (includes 150# driver and 20# cargo)
Base Rear Axle weight ------------------------ 2,795# (3545# before reaching RAWR)
So realistically you can handle up to 13,000# 5th wheel with a 2800# pin weight
YES you will exceed the trucks GVWR
Yes you will exceed the trucks 'payload' number
BUT you will not be exceeding the trucks RAWR, Rear Tire Max Load Ratings or trucks FAWR
'Legal'
There are NO laws about being 'over weight' on GVWR----Axle Ratings are what dictate legality
GVWRs are Class of Vehicle for registering purposes--------can be registered for 12K if you want
Don't exceed Trucks RAWR, Don't exceed Trucks Rear Tire MAX Load Ratings, Don;t exceed truck/trailers GCVWR
So if truck loaded up weighs 10,000# and GVWR is 22,500# then a 12,500# GVWR 5th wheel would max you out.......22% pin weight would be 2750#
RAWR/Rear Tire Loads and GCVWR would NOT be exceeded.........so you would be 'legal'
Jayco makes a decent rig and has good support....course that depends on specific dealer also
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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12-05-2017, 10:50 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,653
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Old Biscuit wrote:
Quote:
Don't exceed Trucks RAWR, Don't exceed Trucks Rear Tire MAX Load Ratings, Don;t exceed truck/trailers GCVWR
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What about the verbiage contained in the owner's manual of every brand of truck made that states to never exceed ANY of the rated capacities.....which include the elusive CCC...Cargo Carrying Capacity, also known as the payload capacity? You can't just pick and choose which which one or ones that you are going to abide by. Well, technically, you can pick and choose, but you are doing so at your own risk as well as the risk of others.
__________________
2016 F350 Crew Cab Dually Diesel King Ranch 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M Toy Hauler
Excessive Payload Capacity is a Wonderful Thing!
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12-05-2017, 11:32 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
Old Biscuit wrote:
What about the verbiage contained in the owner's manual of every brand of truck made that states to never exceed ANY of the rated capacities.....which include the elusive CCC...Cargo Carrying Capacity, also known as the payload capacity? You can't just pick and choose which which one or ones that you are going to abide by. Well, technically, you can pick and choose, but you are doing so at your own risk as well as the risk of others.
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Warranty issues/concerns VS actual ratings
Payload is based on GVWR which is a warranty & registration issue......not a 'legal' issue
Only axle ratings and GCVWR ratings are 'legal' issue IF---BIG IF--should one ever be stopped/weighed by DOT
GVWR -----------I can LEGALLY register my truck for 12K even 14K GVWR without changing a thing on it. Just depends on what I care to pay in registration fees.
As I have posted before.....
Don't exceed RAWR, Rear Tire Max Load Ratings and GCVWR.
Those ratings are ones that should be of concern.
Don't exceed them and you will NOT be overloaded
Did you know a F350 SRW can have same GVWR but a higher GCVWR
10,000 GVWR with a 22,600 GCVWR vs the F250 10,000 GVWR and 22,500 GCVWR??????
They even have the SAME hitch ratings
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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12-05-2017, 12:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,653
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I don't understand your logic of saying that being over the payload capacity is not counted as being overloaded. If there is a clearly stated load capacity....axle, GVWR, GVCWR, PAYLOAD, whatever...and you are over that number, you are overloaded!
__________________
2016 F350 Crew Cab Dually Diesel King Ranch 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M Toy Hauler
Excessive Payload Capacity is a Wonderful Thing!
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12-05-2017, 01:22 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,596
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I would look at 5th wheels in the loaded range of around 11,000 lbs. That should put your pin around 2200 lbs.
So pretty much any 5th wheel around 10,000-10,500 dry. I tow a 9000 lb 5th wheel with my 12 Ram 2500. I'm over the GVWR by 200 lbs. I've been right at the GVWR before I added 4 6V batteries up front. No difference what so ever in towing. Running a few 100 lbs over GVWR will not make the least bit of difference in the way the truck handles.
There's also several "1/2 ton towable" 5th wheels that are lower in weight as well.
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12-05-2017, 05:41 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: "Murvul", TN
Posts: 1,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cumminsfan
I would look at 5th wheels in the loaded range of around 11,000 lbs. That should put your pin around 2200 lbs.
So pretty much any 5th wheel around 10,000-10,500 dry. I tow a 9000 lb 5th wheel with my 12 Ram 2500. I'm over the GVWR by 200 lbs. I've been right at the GVWR before I added 4 6V batteries up front. No difference what so ever in towing. Running a few 100 lbs over GVWR will not make the least bit of difference in the way the truck handles.
There's also several "1/2 ton towable" 5th wheels that are lower in weight as well.
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So he looks at a 5ver with approx. 2200 lbs of pin weight, then adds the 5th wheel prep and then the actual 5ver hitch and he's now over 2400 lbs.....which of course is over the max payload on the yellow sticker. And that is before anything and everything else that goes on or in the truck.....wife, kids, grill, firewood, tools, etc. It's still too heavy for the truck that he's got.
__________________
2016 F350 Crew Cab Dually Diesel King Ranch 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M Toy Hauler
Excessive Payload Capacity is a Wonderful Thing!
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12-05-2017, 06:22 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,596
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He's got a derated F350. Should be fine.
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12-05-2017, 06:26 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 138
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Is there anything you cant swap on SRW 250/350!!??? Everything Ive ever read (not a pro) says a 250 is a derated for 350 for insurance -- the suspension is "heavier" & thats it?!? Engines and trans exact same so?¿
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