Community Forums

RVing3per · 06-12-2011, 09:19 PM

2009 Chev K2500 Duramax/Allison
4" Turbo back MBRP exhaust
Super Chip programmer.
That's our 2011 Lance 1985 behind it.

Pulling power to spare.

Miw1971 · 07-11-2011, 11:54 PM

NICE!!

icemanmw · 08-25-2011, 09:26 PM

i have a f250 super duty 5.4l 4x4 i would like to know if it would tow a 33 ft 5th wheel

Kurmudgeon · 08-25-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanmw

i have a f250 super duty 5.4l 4x4 i would like to know if it would tow a 33 ft 5th wheel

Yes, but not very well. I think you're going to have to be very patient on the hills.

Cat320 · 08-26-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanmw

i have a f250 super duty 5.4l 4x4 i would like to know if it would tow a 33 ft 5th wheel

The problem with the gas 3/4 tons is the low GCWR.

TXiceman · 08-26-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanmw

i have a f250 super duty 5.4l 4x4 i would like to know if it would tow a 33 ft 5th wheel

I hope this is not a joke. As noted, it will probably pull it, but not verywell and will be very tiring.

Ken

TexasPSDX · 08-26-2011, 06:10 PM

I think you you will be sorely disappointed towing with the 5.4. I towed our Boy Scout trailer yesterday with my son's F150 w/5.4. Trailer is a 7X14 cargo trailer loaded with camping equipment. Thank goodness I did not have to tow very far. I am used to towing with my 7.3 and would not want to tow far with the 5.4.

JIMNLIN · 08-26-2011, 08:20 PM

Good looking tow beast.

icemanmw · 08-27-2011, 04:10 PM

hey you all thanks for the heads up

1ciderdog · 08-27-2011, 04:21 PM

What about the weight? Is the trailer weight above the approved weight for the truck? If the weight is OK then tow the trailer and keep right out of the fast traffic.
Safe Travels
Bob

SmokeyWren · 08-28-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanmw

i have a f250 super duty 5.4l 4x4 i would like to know if it would tow a 33 ft 5th wheel

You didn't say what year and axle ratio, and that makes a difference.

If it's a 2005-up with 4.10 axle ratio, The GCWR is 18,000 pounds. So weigh the wet and loaded truck ready for the road - including 5er hitch, passenger(s), toolbox full of tools and spares and extra fluids, Rover and Kitty and anything else that is always in the truck when on the road. Subtract that weight from 18,000 pounds, and the answer is the max weight of any trailer you can tow without exceeding the GCWR.

Example: If your wet and loaded truck has a GCWR of 18,000 pounds and weighs 7,000 pounds, the max left for trailer weight is 11,000 pounds. So if your 33-ft 5er has a GVWR of less than 11,000 pounds, then you can probably tow it okay without being the slowpoke in the slow lane and without burning up something expensive in the drivetrain of the truck.

But GVWR is often the limiter on F-250s. If your truck is a CrewCab 4x4 longbed, then it has a GVWR of 9,600 pounds. If the wet and loaded truck weighs 7,000, that leaves 2,600 pounds for max hitch weight. Any 5er with a GVWR of less than 11,000 pounds will probably have hitch weight of less than 2,600 pounds, so in your case the GCWR is probably the limiter.

A popular mid-grade 5er is the Keystone Sprinter. The current model 300KBS os longer than 33' with a GVWR of 10,960, so - if you have a 2005-up with 4.10 axle ratio - that one is right down your alley.
Keystone Sprinter | Floorplans

But don't rationalize that you can safely tow a 5er with more than 11,000 GVWR, just because you swear you won't load it down to the GVWR. But you'll be lying to yourself. 99% of all RVs are loaded to the gills by the beginning of the second long RV trip. Yours will be too.

icemanmw · 08-31-2011, 03:00 PM

the weight will be right around 12,000 or is there anything i can do to improve performance?

icemanmw · 08-31-2011, 03:02 PM

i believe 3:73

SmokeyWren · 08-31-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanmw

i believe 3:73

If your truck is a 2005-up 5.4L 4x4 with 3.73 axle ratio, then your GCWR is only 16,000 pounds. Ford says your max tow rating with a CrewCab 4x4 is 9,000 pounds, but that assumes there is nothing in the tow vehicle but a skinny driver. With your normal passengers, toolbox, options and other stuff in the truck, your max trailer weight is a lot less than 9,000 pounds.

Quote:

is there anything i can do to improve performance?

Sure. The first thing is a lot shorter legs in the axle ratio. If the trailer grosses 12,000 pounds, then you need a minimum of 4.30 ratio and probably 4.56 ratio.

You can also hot-rod the engine with gauges, intake, exhaust and a towing tune, but that won't gain you more than about 1,000 to maybe 2,000 pounds additional towing capacity. That's only about half what you need for that much trailer, so you'll still need to replace the ring gear and pinion.

Note: That's why they make Ford diesel pickups.