Newbie needs help

[Jbmotorsport]

[ moderator edit ] Never owned one until today, never towed one, and never owned more than a 1/2 ton pickup.

Just bought a used 2008 keystone raptor bumper pull toy hauler. 31 ft model 3110-tt. My son races dirtbik es and we are getting pretty serious, so I need to get a tow vehicle squared away ASAP for some upcoming races.

Spec sheet shows 9190 lbs base weight with carrying capacity of 3810 lbs. Hitch weight listed at 1360 lbs.

I have started to look at speccing out a tow rig [ moderator edit ]. What is the best calculator or source to look at this? Is that hitch weight listed based on an empty or loaded trailer? I want to have excess towing capacity for both safety and potential upgrade to heavier 5er later.

Interested in any feedback and direction. Thanks in advance

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Jbmotorsport

Ok guys, got your attention. If your hoping I am some hot single woman, sorry. I am however an RV virgin. Never owned one until today, never towed one, and never owned more than a 1/2 ton pickup.

Just bought a used 2008 keystone raptor bumper pull toy hauler. 31 ft model 3110-tt. My son races dirtbik es and we are getting pretty serious, so I need to get a tow vehicle squared away ASAP for some upcoming races.

Spec sheet shows 9190 lbs base weight with carrying capacity of 3810 lbs. Hitch weight listed at 1360 lbs.

I have started to look at speccing out a tow rig and it seems opinions on suitability are like @$$holes and everyone has them. What is the best calculator or source to look at this? Is that hitch weight listed based on an empty or loaded trailer? I want to have excess towing capacity for both safety and potential upgrade to heavier 5er later.

Interested in any feedback and direction. Thanks in advance

Raptor Specifications for 2014

[Jbmotorsport]

Thanks for the link. Hitch weight dry or wet?

[Highway 4x4]

A 3/4 ton diesel should do just fine. You could do a 3/4 gas but you will like the diesel more. A 1 ton would not be that much of an overkill but really more than you need at this time. If you are really thinking of a 5th down the road, then go 1 ton now and save a trade later.

[Jbmotorsport]

Is 1 ton dually overkill at this point?

[Eknight]

Never heard anyone complain about having too much truck.

[SmokeyWren]

If loaded to the 13k GVWR, which is very easy to do with a toy hauler trailer, then count on 13% tongue weight, or about 1,700 pounds tongue weight. Add another 100 pounds for a good Weight-distributing (WD) hitch, and your hitch weight would be about 1,800 pounds.

I don't know about 3500s, so I'll discuss Ford's F-350 SRW and F-350 DRW.

Assuming the heaviest version of the pickups = crewcab 4x4 diesel with 8' bed , then you can expect wet and loaded weight of at least 8,000 pounds for the SRW and 8,500 pounds for the Dooley. I'd add another 500 pounds to both for "just in case".

F-250 has GVWR of 10,000 pounds. Add 1800 pounds hitch weight to the 8,500 wet and loaded truck weight, and you're overloaded. So forgetabout the three-quarter-ton tow vehicle for that much trailer.

The so-called "one ton" F-350 diesel with single rear wheels (SRW) has GVWR of 11,500, so a wet and loaded truck weight of 8,500 pounds leaves 3,000 pounds for max hitch weight before you are overloaded. Since your max hitch weight will be less than 2,000 pounds, the F-350 SRW is what you need. You'll still have the 1,000 pounds cushion in case Darling Wife just has to haul home a bunch of those pretty rocks she saw while camping.

Yes, the DRW is overkill for that trailer. But if you're like me and plan to keep that tow vehicle for over 10 years, then the DRW may be your best bet. The SRW can tow a 5er that grosses up to about 15,000 pounds without running out of payload capacity, while the DRW an go on up to a 20k trailer without overloading the Dooley.


Wet and loaded truck weight of 9,000 pounds with GVWR of 13,300 leaves you with a max of 4,300 pounds of hitch weight. A 5er with 4,000 pounds hitch weight will probably have 20% pin weight, so 4,000 pounds pin weight is a 20k trailer. So if you like your 13k toy hauler, you could graduate up to a 20k 5er toy hauler and have enough truck to tow it with, if the tow vehicle is an F-350 DRW diesel.

[Jbmotorsport]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

If loaded to the 13k GVWR, which is very easy to do with a toy hauler trailer, then count on 13% tongue weight, or about 1,700 pounds tongue weight. Add another 100 pounds for a good Weight-distributing (WD) hitch, and your hitch weight would be about 1,800 pounds.

I don't know about 3500s, so I'll discuss Ford's F-350 SRW and F-350 DRW.

Assuming the heaviest version of the pickups = crewcab 4x4 diesel with 8' bed , then you can expect wet and loaded weight of at least 8,000 pounds for the SRW and 8,500 pounds for the Dooley. I'd add another 500 pounds to both for "just in case".

F-250 has GVWR of 10,000 pounds. Add 1800 pounds hitch weight to the 8,500 wet and loaded truck weight, and you're overloaded. So forgetabout the three-quarter-ton tow vehicle for that much trailer.

The so-called "one ton" F-350 diesel with single rear wheels (SRW) has GVWR of 11,500, so a wet and loaded truck weight of 8,500 pounds leaves 3,000 pounds for max hitch weight before you are overloaded. Since your max hitch weight will be less than 2,000 pounds, the F-350 SRW is what you need. You'll still have the 1,000 pounds cushion in case Darling Wife just has to haul home a bunch of those pretty rocks she saw while camping.

Yes, the DRW is overkill for that trailer. But if you're like me and plan to keep that tow vehicle for over 10 years, then the DRW may be your best bet. The SRW can tow a 5er that grosses up to about 15,000 pounds without running out of payload capacity, while the DRW an go on up to a 20k trailer without overloading the Dooley.


Wet and loaded truck weight of 9,000 pounds with GVWR of 13,300 leaves you with a max of 4,300 pounds of hitch weight. A 5er with 4,000 pounds hitch weight will probably have 20% pin weight, so 4,000 pounds pin weight is a 20k trailer. So if you like your 13k toy hauler, you could graduate up to a 20k 5er toy hauler and have enough truck to tow it with, if the tow vehicle is an F-350 DRW diesel.

What year ford are you considering? I am looking at an 06 model, and the tow guide shows the DRW only goes up to 15k max loaded trailer weight.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Jbmotorsport

What year ford are you considering? I am looking at an 06 model, and the tow guide shows the DRW only goes up to 15k max loaded trailer weight.

2011-up.

2006 is a 10-year-old pickup. And yeah, the tow rating is 15k with GCWR of 23,500. But it has a tow rating of 15k when the wet and loaded tow vehicle weighs 8,500 pounds or less.

2011-up F-350 DRW is a much stronger tow vehicle. GCWR of 30,000 pounds and tow rating over 21k. That's what I based my first post on.

[Highway 4x4]

If you like the Ford and are headed that way I would spend some time on the Ford diesel forums to see what the good years are and the issues with some years. That way you'll know what questions to ask the owner and what to look for in a good used unit.

[chertz]

There is a very good YouTube series from "powerstrokehelp" guy owns a very good shop, if you search around he does some great videos on problems and what to expect out of each generation powerstroke.

[Jbmotorsport]

wiuld I be ok with this rig and a 2011 dodge 3500 mega cab 4x4 drw?

[chertz]

You would certainly have enough truck. The 2011s I think are not as robust in the emissions equipment as the 2013+ trucks.... although the emissions is easily removed, I mean sometimes it falls off.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Jbmotorsport

wiuld I be ok with this rig and a 2011 dodge 3500 mega cab 4x4 drw?

Probably, but check the weight rating of the receiver hitch. If it's not rated for at least 2,000 pounds tongue weight, you need to replace the receiver with a heavier-duty receiver. A 13k toy hauler could have as much as 1,950 pounds tongue weight when wet and loaded for the dunes. DO NOT overload your receiver.