F250 towing Alpine fifth wheel - Can I tow this?

[325BH]

Originally Posted by mrgrayaz

Yep, buy the F-350 and save yourself having to screw around with airbags. The truck will come equipped to pull the trailer and you'll be under the "paper" weights too.

I dont know why anyone buys F-250's honestly.....

Hitching up a gooseneck with a GVWR of 15,000 lbs to an F250 means the GCWR is 25,000 lbs.

Hitching up that same trailer to an F350 SRW means the GCWR is 26,500 lbs.

That can mean the difference between a CDL or not. States can have varying registration requirements also.

In some cases getting the F350 SRW is a no-brainer, however there is a reason to buy the F250 for some folks.

[CWSWine]

OP
I think you need to go over to the Grand Design Forum and I think you will find that many of the people over that have put the 337 on CAT scale and the loaded ready to camp weights are around 3000 pounds or more. The 337 runs about 22.5 percent of loaded ready to camp weight on the pin.

[khuffmanjr]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

OP
I think you need to go over to the Grand Design Forum and I think you will find that many of the people over that have put the 337 on CAT scale and the loaded ready to camp weights are around 3000 pounds or more. The 337 runs about 22.5 percent of loaded ready to camp weight on the pin.

OP, please pay attention to this. No matter how you feel about this weight stuff, look at one "what if.." scenario. The F250 may pull it fine, and you may do the research and find that the some or all of the parts between the 350 and 250 are the same. So what's the big deal? Well, get into an accident where the adjuster actually looks at weights and ratings and you'll be shopping for a new insurance company, at higher rates, pretty quick.

Time and again the guys on this forum state that the price difference between 250 and 350 is only a few hundred- to a thousand bucks. And you get at least 1500lbs more sticker capacity for that money. Do it. Spend the few hundred dollars more. And when you decide to do that, then consider a DRW truck. 14000lbs GVWR will handle any pin/hitch weight you need to handle...legally, safely. And if parking is harder, then learn to back in. The mirrors make parking easier anyway...I never pull in forward anymore.

Good luck!

Ken

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by khuffmanjr

OP, please pay attention to this. No matter how you feel about this weight stuff, look at one "what if.." scenario. The F250 may pull it fine, and you may do the research and find that the some or all of the parts between the 350 and 250 are the same. So what's the big deal? Well, get into an accident where the adjuster actually looks at weights and ratings and you'll be shopping for a new insurance company, at higher rates, pretty quick.

Time and again the guys on this forum state that the price difference between 250 and 350 is only a few hundred- to a thousand bucks. And you get at least 1500lbs more sticker capacity for that money. Do it. Spend the few hundred dollars more. And when you decide to do that, then consider a DRW truck. 14000lbs GVWR will handle any pin/hitch weight you need to handle...legally, safely. And if parking is harder, then learn to back in. The mirrors make parking easier anyway...I never pull in forward anymore.

Good luck!

Ken

I'm not saying for him to use his F250 I sent there and he will see that most people on the GD forum recommend F350 for 337 and so do I..l
I don't believe a F250 and F350 are the same truck - heck there even difference between years.

[hitchman2]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I'm not saying for him to use his F250 I sent there and he will see that most people on the GD forum recommend F350 for 337 and so do I..l
I don't believe a F250 and F350 are the same truck - heck there even difference between years.

F250 & 350 srw 6.7 PSD superduty trucks both use 10.25" Sterling rear axles up through 2016. Adding snow plow, or camper packages to a F250 adds F350 springs, and sway bar. Starting in 2017 models the F350 srw has upgraded rear axle.

[khuffmanjr]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I'm not saying for him to use his F250 I sent there and he will see that most people on the GD forum recommend F350 for 337 and so do I..l
I don't believe a F250 and F350 are the same truck - heck there even difference between years.

Hey, I was suggesting that he pay attention to you and separately stating what others have come along and said about 250 and 350 being the same. I agree with you, man. I don't like how these guys say "har, same truck, it'll work" just to make themselves feel better about ignoring the sticker.

Ken

[KHBama]

I have a Ram 2500 and I personally wouldn't go above a 10,000-11000lb GVWR 5th wheel with a 3/4 truck. But I see plenty of people that do exceed those weights and they seem to be rolling right along with no issues.

[khuffmanjr]

Originally Posted by KHBama

I have a Ram 2500 and I personally wouldn't go above a 10,000-11000lb GVWR 5th wheel with a 3/4 truck. But I see plenty of people that do exceed those weights and they seem to be rolling right along with no issues.

I hear ya. But you know who's got a leg to stand on if one of us makes a mess in "too small" a truck? ...The manufacturer that put the rating on the truck. If we go out and lay our 5er over on a record executive's BMW while towing with too small a truck you better believe his attorneys will look at our ratings. And Ford/RAM/GM will be in the clear.

Just not worth the risk to me. I bought my 1-ton truck so I'm good. Good luck guys.

Ken

[IC2]

If you are buying new, for sure spend a few more bucks and go for the F350 and be sure you stay within that 'B' pillar 10,000 sticker as your new truck will weigh in at ~8000 Lb in a short bed and ~8300 as a long bed - which means that your 'legal' payload will be 1700 to 2000 lbs.

Now, to answer your question - yes, an F250 will easily haul your 5er. For all intent, it is identical to an F350 except for that yellow sticker and a couple minor items. Yes, you should invest in the camper and 5er packages. Yes you should have a sway bar even though the Ford piece is too light, it IS better then none. Yes, you really should stay with 18" wheels but the larger tire(275/70R-15) of the two offered as they will add about 250lb/tire capacity but at some ride comfort loss. Yes, I haul with an F250, 12,000 pounds, 38 feet long and a pin weight that exceeds the sticker by 2-300 pounds and it does nicely no matter whether I'm at 10,000 feet or sea level. It has 6000 pound suspension front and 6100 in the rear - by actual part numbers. But that sticker still says 10,000 pounds to satisfy some state DOTs and some insurance companies.

[wandering1]

Real simple. Read the towing specs from ford.

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by wandering1

Real simple. Read the towing specs from ford.

Even more simple is read all Fords weight specs and you to will see the F250 with the heavy service pack or camper pack is the same suspension as the F350.....and run over to the FTE or other Ford diesel websites and learn the '17 and up F250 and F350 srw 6.7 diesels both have the same rear axle. The smaller axle goes with the 6.2 gassers according to those folks anyways..

While over there you will learn the smaller gasser rear axle has the same load rating as the larger rear axle used on the diesel. Why someone asked ?.... Axle diameter has nothing to do with load carrying ability as the two bearing in each end of the axle housing carries the load...not the axle. Larger diameter axles is more about 900 ft lbs from the diesel (example).

I would think a F350 DRW would be a better choice for a 15xxx lb trailer. By the time the trailer is loaded and all the gear/hitch/people/ in the truck it could be close to 3500-3800 lbs in the bed which is simply too much weight for a crew cab 4wd 350 srw 7000-7230 rawr.
Then its time for higher rated 19.5" tires/wheels and rear suspension if the rear axle is overloaded. Your call

[mrgrayaz]

Originally Posted by JIMNLIN

Even more simple is read all Fords weight specs and you to will see the F250 with the heavy service pack or camper pack is the same suspension as the F350.....and run over to the FTE or other Ford diesel websites and learn the '17 and up F250 and F350 srw 6.7 diesels both have the same rear axle. The smaller axle goes with the 6.2 gassers according to those folks anyways..

While over there you will learn the smaller gasser rear axle has the same load rating as the larger rear axle used on the diesel. Why someone asked ?.... Axle diameter has nothing to do with load carrying ability as the two bearing in each end of the axle housing carries the load...not the axle. Larger diameter axles is more about 900 ft lbs from the diesel (example).

I would think a F350 DRW would be a better choice for a 15xxx lb trailer. By the time the trailer is loaded and all the gear/hitch/people/ in the truck it could be close to 3500-3800 lbs in the bed which is simply too much weight for a crew cab 4wd 350 srw 7000-7230 rawr.
Then its time for higher rated 19.5" tires/wheels and rear suspension if the rear axle is overloaded. Your call

FYI we run about 6800lbs on the rear with a 16k trailer. Big basement. Almost dually territory, but not quite.

[raineman]

Man I wish I had $5 every time a post like this shows up. Bottom line, follow the specs and avoid advice from Bubba.

[khuffmanjr]

Originally Posted by raineman

Man I wish I had $5 every time a post like this shows up. Bottom line, follow the specs and avoid advice from Bubba.

It's the easiest and best way to decide. Just follow the specs, man.

Ken