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Old 01-23-2017, 03:58 PM   #1
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What size truck to tow this 5th wheel trailer.

I am looking to purchase a new Grand Design Solitude 310 GK 5th wheel trailer. Can I tow this safely with a 2016 Ford f 250 diesel 4 WD pick up, SRW. I have read everything I can and I think this is just below the limits, but I am not certain. It looks to me that the Max loaded trailer weight is 15,100 lbs for the truck according to what I can find. The trailer is listed as UVW 12,100 lbs. GVWR 1500 lbs. and Hitch weight 2350 lbs. Am I looking at this correctly? This is my first 5th wheel. I currently own a Newmar DP. Thanks in advance for all your help.


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Old 01-23-2017, 04:21 PM   #2
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A 15,000 GVWR fiver can have over 3000 pounds of pin weight. At minimum a 3500 SRW better would be a dually to handle the load. That 250 series would be at maxmwith 2000 pounds in the bed. Remember, between 18 and 25% of a fivers weight is counted as pin weight. Not counting the hitch weight which could be as much as 250 more pounds in the truck bed. If you want to go big, GO BIG. You will never be sorry.
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:27 PM   #3
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We are at over 15k on the trailer, ~3k on the pin. My completely stock F-350 SRW FX4 handles it just fine - without undo sagging or airbags, or any modifications whatsoever... Completely stock rear suspension, but we are close on the rear axle weight rating, at 7000lbs.

Your unladen hitch weight is 2350lbs, but at GVWR, which you'll probably end up being close to, you'll be at 3klbs easy.

Your F-250 is the same truck as a F-350, just with weaker back springs, otherwise the truck is identical. You are going to be way over GVWR and GAWR as a F-250 is rated for a lower GVWR and GAWR, but if you put a F-350 spring pack in or airbags, it will be fine.

You wont be legal, as your be technically overloaded, but it will tow it fine.

If the legalities bother you, I'd pick up a F-350 SRW. Some would recommend a DRW - but I much prefer how easy to park the SRWs are, and a 3k pin weight is still within SRW spec. Barely.
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:29 PM   #4
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A 15,000 GVWR fiver can have over 3000 pounds of pin weight. At minimum a 3500 SRW better would be a dually to handle the load. That 250 series would be at maxmwith 2000 pounds in the bed. Remember, between 18 and 25% of a fivers weight is counted as pin weight. Not counting the hitch weight which could be as much as 250 more pounds in the truck bed. If you want to go big, GO BIG. You will never be sorry.
Well said. No one ever complained about too much truck. You don't want to be just below the limits. You need some room to breath there. Once loaded with fuel, water and all the "stuff" we all bring, you will be happier with a 3500 DRW. The dry weight on my trailer is advertised as 16,000. More like 17,400, then I add all my stuff. You can pull it with a 2500, but you will be over limits
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:33 PM   #5
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....

You wont be legal, as your be technically overloaded, but it will tow it fine.

So why try to go that route in the first place? Surely you want to tow safely and keep your family and property as safe as possible. The peace of mind while towing is priceless.
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:41 PM   #6
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So why try to go that route in the first place? Surely you want to tow safely and keep your family and property as safe as possible. The peace of mind while towing is priceless.
Its the same truck! That's why. if a F-350 SRW can do it, a F-250 SRW can do it. Same Frame, Same Engine, Same Axles, Same Tires, Wheels have been shown to be different on some years. The difference is a leaf pack and a registration sticker. Has zero to do with Safety. This has been debated to death here and on the Ford forums. After 10 pages on the Ford-trucks.com forum, the closest they could figure out WHY both models even exist was it had to do with registration laws in some states requiring the truck to be registered commercial over 10k GVWR.

Legalities are a different story, and that's why I tried to point that out.
Now, you'll notice I bought a F-350 for this very reason ( I prefer to be legal), and am, with a SRW, per the Cat Scales. Because it has a different sticker.

I have found its very easy for the DRW crowd to look down on the guys that didn't buy a DRW truck, and recommend they go spend $70k to fix "that problem". Some people dont have $70k to do DRW, or prefer not too, as they are PITA to drive around town and park.

Just my opinion, of course.
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:58 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by C-PHartley View Post
I am looking to purchase a new Grand Design Solitude 310 GK 5th wheel trailer. Can I tow this safely with a 2016 Ford f 250 diesel 4 WD pick up, SRW. I have read everything I can and I think this is just below the limits, but I am not certain. It looks to me that the Max loaded trailer weight is 15,100 lbs for the truck according to what I can find. The trailer is listed as UVW 12,100 lbs. GVWR 1500 lbs. and Hitch weight 2350 lbs. Am I looking at this correctly? This is my first 5th wheel. I currently own a Newmar DP. Thanks in advance for all your help.


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Check out the specs carefully. You will note the UVW is generally considered for the basic trailer. Any options will add to the UVW and consequently to the total weight.

As a general comment I have observed that trailer manufacturers tend to estimate the weights conservatively and truck manufacturers tend to be generous in their GCWR and towing capacity estimates. You have to look for it but you will find a caveat on the truck manufacturers information that refers to GAWR and GVWR must not be exceeded. Don't forget both of them are there to sell you a product, it is your responsibility to do it safely.

Overall it is a convoluted subject with much legalese and confusing information thrown in to make it worse.

IMO I am skeptical when someone says they are towing at the limit "just" fine. I wonder if how much experience they have towing with more truck than the minimum requirement or what they are comparing in their experience to make such a statement.
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Old 01-23-2017, 05:42 PM   #8
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What size truck to tow this 5th wheel trailer.

Your 250 will likely be overloaded on payload with that rig ready to camp (passengers, anything in the bed, etc). 350 srw will handle it fine.

I have a 3500 srw and tow 16500 with 3200 on the pin and I'm just under axle, gvwr and gcvwr. And I am looking to go from my th fifth to a newmar dp


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Old 01-23-2017, 06:07 PM   #9
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I pulled my trailer, 16k loaded with a 3200# pin with my 2016 F250 CCSB 4X4, airbags and on compressor with zero issues, never did it feel overloaded or unsafe. On the scales I was over my GVWR by 1180#, under on my axle ratings, that being said I did trade that truck in for a 2017 F350 CCLB 4X4, not for any reason except for I really like the new body style.

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Old 01-24-2017, 09:29 AM   #10
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Buy the proper truck for your NEXT trailer - its cheaper in the long run.
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Old 01-24-2017, 10:04 AM   #11
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Try not to let the fellows who tell you they tow just fine overloaded influence you. I doubt many of them have the experience to truly tell the difference.

Most of them may do that but they likely don't travel with just basic vehicle insurance and without travel insurance.
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Old 01-24-2017, 08:47 PM   #12
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OP;
As the other experienced forum members say your F250 is the same as the 3500 SRW ...difference can be a lower rated rear spring pack.
However if your F250 has the heavy service package or the camper package it has the same 7000 rawr as the F350 SRW according to fleet Ford specs.....so the F250 with the camper package will tow its full 15k lb tow rating just fine.
If your F250 doesn't have the camper package I would stick with a 12k-13k lb trailer.

The 15k lb trailer may have around 2800-3000 lb pin weight if you load all the 2900 lb CCC in the trailer.
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Old 01-25-2017, 08:12 PM   #13
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You might can get by with a F350 single rear wheel diesel with the 8 foot bed with a Solitude.

I'm towing a Grand Design Reflection bunkhouse trailer with 4 slides, and it weighs 11K lbs. with 2K lbs. pin weight. My F250 crew cab 2x4 diesel is about maxed out with it and our "stuff."

I'd really suggest anyone to go the F350 dually for any Solitude--maybe $1K more than the same truck with single rear wheels. You get used to driving such a big rig, as my F250 crew cab is also a handfull getting into a tight parking space. I just park out in parking lots and walk a little farther into stores.
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Old 01-25-2017, 08:19 PM   #14
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You might can get by with a F350 single rear wheel diesel with the 8 foot bed with a Solitude.

I'm towing a Grand Design Reflection bunkhouse trailer with 4 slides, and it weighs 11K lbs. with 2K lbs. pin weight. My F250 crew cab 2x4 diesel is about maxed out with it and our "stuff."

I'd really suggest anyone to go the F350 dually for any Solitude--maybe $1K more than the same truck with single rear wheels. You get used to driving such a big rig, as my F250 crew cab is also a handfull getting into a tight parking space. I just park out in parking lots and walk a little farther into stores.
Good advice. While SRW will be able to tow it you will really appreciate the dual wheels when you encounter strong cross winds. The stability will be substantially better.
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