Lost in the search for 5er

[rcpetty]

Need to ask if perhaps I am looking for something that doesn't exist...
My wife and I have been to several RV shows in the Phoenix AZ area...
We plan to retire this December, purchase new/used fifth wheel and start the journey with a few week or two trips to test our equipment...
Our desire is to find a 30 foot fifth wheel, three slides under 14000 lbs GVWR.
We have 2012 F-250 supercab with 6.7 powerstroke.
Problem I am having is there is no apparent logic to numbering system on 5er's... a 295 RLS actually is just under 34 feet... and so on...

Is there a manufacturer that makes a 29 -31 foot fifth wheel, three slides, and under 14000 lbs?

I may have to go slightly larger, perhaps 32 foot to get what I want, but would prefer to stay shorter, at least for the first couple of years...
Thank you for any help...

Bob

[ralphie]

I'm sure I've seen many on the road that fit your description. I suggest you go to all the manufacturers' websites, find floor plans you like with three slides, and then go to the specs to find the weight. It'll take you a while to narrow down your choices.

[jesilvas]

We have a Fleetwood Quantam in the shop. 06 I think that is three slide around 31-33'.
Just what I can remember right now.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by rcpetty

Is there a manufacturer that makes a 29 -31 foot fifth wheel, three slides, and under 14000 lbs?

Sure. We enjoyed our Keystone Sprinter for over 10 years and over 100,000 miles. Darling Daughter took it over and has been full-timing in it the last three years.

They now make a Keystone Sprinter Cooper Canyon model # 273FWRET that is 30' long if you don't count the rear bumper and spare tire. GVWR is 10,385. Three slides. Sounds like what you're asking for.

Sprinter Copper Canyon

We have 2012 F-250 supercab with 6.7 powerstroke.

That puppy will pull a mountain, but it doesn't have enough GVWR to tow a 14k 5er without being overloaded. So it's good that the Keystone # 273FWRET GVWR is only 10,385.

Expect hitch weight of about 17% of GVWR. So that 5er would have hitch weight of around 1765 pounds when loaded for a long trip. Your F-250's GVWR s 10,000 pounds. So with a hitch weight of 1,765, that leaves you with a max weight of the wet and loaded truck of 8,235 before you ti onto the trailer. So you're probably going to be right up against the GVWR of the F-250 with that trailer, and it will be very easy to overload the tow vehicle if you're not careful when you load weight into the tow vehicle.

[rcpetty]

Thanks for the responses...
Smokey Wren, I had a hunch I should not get close to the "listed" tow rating of 16,000 lbs...
Wasn't exactly sure why... I know there is a "pin weight" but was assuming I had plenty of room...
You are right, I checked the door sticker and it is rated at 10000... I weighed the truck at a scale here in Phoenix (sand and rock store) and it listed at about 7600# with just me in the drivers seat...
So with a listed pin weight of 1585# I need to keep the rest of the weight to about 800#... I need to go on a diet!!!

Thanks to all of you.

Bob Petty

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by rcpetty

So with a listed pin weight of 1585# I need to keep the rest of the weight to about 800#... I need to go on a diet!!!

Ignore the listed pin weight. That's the pin weight of the dry trailer with no options, no propane in the tanks, nothing in the trailer or holding tanks. Count on the wet and loaded pin weight being over 1,700, and probably closer to 1,765 by the middle of your third RV trip.