Help! Need info on what size truck to get.

[trryan40]

What would you recommend? We are looking at a 2011 Ford F-250 or a F-350 with Diesel and 6 speed trans.

We are planning to buy a Jayco Eagle 5th wheel 35' long, dry weight 10,230lbs., GVW 14,000lbs. with a hitch weight of 2,345Lbs.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

[Steve R.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trryan40 What would you recommend? We are looking at a 2011 Ford F-250 or a F-350 with Diesel and 6 speed trans. We are planning to buy a Jayco Eagle 5th wheel 35' long, dry weight 10,230lbs., GVW 14,000lbs. with a hitch weight of 2,345Lbs. Your help is greatly appreciated.

If Fords are your cup of tea, my recommendation is to go with an F-350 one ton dually for that size trailer. It gives you some room to grow if you upgrade your trailer down the road and will tow that rig like a dream.

[RustyJC]

Let's do some thumbnail calculations using the following formulas:

Required truck GCWR = Truck's laden curb weight + Loaded trailer total weight

Required truck GVWR = Truck's laden curb weight + Loaded trailer pin/hitch weight

To be conservative, let's assume a laden curb weight for the truck of 8,000 lbs with driver, passengers, full fuel tank(s), options, accessories, cargo, etc. - my truck, for reference, is 7,680 lbs (see signature), and because of the crew cab, added emissions equipment, more elaborate accessories, etc., the new ones are almost certainly heavier.

Again being conservative, let's use the trailer's GVWR (14,000 lbs) as a loaded trailer total weight and 20% (it could be more!!) of the trailer's GVWR (2,800 lbs) as the loaded trailer pin/hitch weight.

Required truck GCWR = 8,000 lbs + 14,000 lbs = 22,000 lbs

Required truck GVWR = 8,000 lbs + 2,800 lbs = 10,800 lbs

I don't have the specs for the 2011 Fords, but I suspect that's going to take you into the F350 dually size range at a minimum.

Rusty

[Tracker16]

If it were me,at that pin weight I would go with the F-350.Once you start throwing all the things you want to take with you,at best you will be pushing the limits of the F-250.

[trryan40]

Great thanks for your time we are leaning towards the 350.

[trryan40]

Thanks for thaking the time to respond we do appreciate it.

[Batman_777]

I have a F350 Diesel... You'll need,,, well.. you'll want at least a 350 although a 250 will do. Actually, I'd get a 450 dually or even a 550. What will do and what will do easily are two different things.

I know someone with a 550 that says it's a dog pulling his 5'ver. His 5'ver weighs in at 20k lbs plus and loaded... I wonder if he's close to 30k


There is a 5'ver in the park that weighs over 26k lbs. It's a huge tripple axle Alpha Toy Hauler

Dealers will tell you anything within the planet of non-extremes and maybe even then some. If you want room to spare and muscle to spare, don't try load maxing your tow vehicle. Get the right tool for the right job.

[Paul R. Haller]

One thing not mentioned here is how mush better a dually handles the weight of the trailer compared to a single rear wheel tow vehicle even if a 2500 could handle the weight of the trailer. I have towed with both a single rear wheel and my dually pulls no better then a similarly equipped 3/4 ton, but the 4 rear wheels towing makes it far more stable. I would not tow a 5er without a dually now. It's still heavy, no question, but I never get the tail wagging the dog now like I did with a single rear wheel tow vehicle.

You spend your $ the way you wish but I for one will never tow again with a single rear wheel truck and bigger is always better when dealing with a tow vehicle no matter the trailer size. It just increases the safety factor.
-Paul R. Haller-

[NLOVNIT]

Another scenario to consider: what happens if you get a flat on a rear truck tire. With a dually, you'd have 3 other tires supporting that pin weight, not ideal, but with a SRW, you've got just 1 tire for support.

Lori-

[450Donn]

Can you actually get Ford with a 6 speed manual? Or does the new Ford have a 6 speed auto now?

[Randy the sly old fox]

As someone else mentioned a F450 or 550 should also be on your shopping list and the F250 should be removed. The name of the game is finding a drivetrain that will pull the CGWR you are looking at (plus some extra) and then making sure that the GVWR of the truck will support both the pin wt of the truck, passengers and cargo.

[wingnut60]

I think he was referring to the 6-speed auto--no manual available in the 11s.
Joe

[dblr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R. Haller One thing not mentioned here is how mush better a dually handles the weight of the trailer compared to a single rear wheel tow vehicle even if a 2500 could handle the weight of the trailer. I have towed with both a single rear wheel and my dually pulls no better then a similarly equipped 3/4 ton, but the 4 rear wheels towing makes it far more stable. I would not tow a 5er without a dually now. It's still heavy, no question, but I never get the tail wagging the dog now like I did with a single rear wheel tow vehicle. You spend your $ the way you wish but I for one will never tow again with a single rear wheel truck and bigger is always better when dealing with a tow vehicle no matter the trailer size. It just increases the safety factor. -Paul R. Haller-

I would second this I like towing with the dually much better then when we towed with the f350 single rear wheels, but I would also check the price differense between the 350 & the 450 it might not be that much.

[TXiceman]

I think you probably get the impression that yo need to forget the F250 and start looking at trucks with training wheels. Obviously, don't believe a word the salesman tell you.

Ken