Community Forums

captainchuck · 08-31-2013, 08:43 AM

HI we are new members. We are moving from many years of boating to RVing with a 5th wheel. Any assistance anyone can offer is greatly appreciated. The 5th wheel itself is becoming fairly defined, however the towing vehicle is in the research mode. A top contender is a Ford F250, King Ranch model, Diesel, 4X4. The 5th wheel dry weight will likely be approximately 13,000#, hitch weight estimated 3000#. Those weights will increase with the personal items to be added. The F250 seems marginal from the manufacturers specifications. Friends have a rig similar to our intended package and report that everything is fine with the same truck. The F350 is just a bit of a rough ride for us. Comments are very welcome.

worleybyrd · 08-31-2013, 08:49 AM

Medico · 08-31-2013, 09:37 AM

Welcome and glad to meet you!

Ramblin · 08-31-2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainchuck

HI we are new members. We are moving from many years of boating to RVing with a 5th wheel. Any assistance anyone can offer is greatly appreciated. The 5th wheel itself is becoming fairly defined, however the towing vehicle is in the research mode. A top contender is a Ford F250, King Ranch model, Diesel, 4X4. The 5th wheel dry weight will likely be approximately 13,000#, hitch weight estimated 3000#. Those weights will increase with the personal items to be added. The F250 seems marginal from the manufacturers specifications. Friends have a rig similar to our intended package and report that everything is fine with the same truck. The F350 is just a bit of a rough ride for us. Comments are very welcome.

I will say that my F350 diesel 4X4 is indeed a rough ride, but it smooths out considerably when loaded. The heavier I load it, the smoother the ride. A buddy of mine has a 2x4 model that is WORLDS smoother ride; a comparative cadillac. If you don't absolutely need 4x4 in your RV's tow vehicle, and smooth ride is important, don't overlook the 2x4 DRW models. I would NOT recommend loading a 3/4 ton model to near its max just because of the smoother ride. If you're buying a new vehicle to tow with, do it right the first time. My $.02

Go Dawgs · 08-31-2013, 09:49 AM

First off you are asking the right questions. Secondly forget dry weight on any RV. Always go with GVWR until you have it loaded and weighed. If it seems marginal then go to the next size of truck. F350 it seems to be what you need.

MSHappyCampers · 08-31-2013, 09:50 AM

Welcome to IRV2! It's great to have you join the crew here!

I can't answer your question, but maybe one of the Moderators will move it over to the "Towing & Tow Vehicles" area of the forum. You will get much better results there because not many folks hang out here in the Welcome area.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

D&J · 08-31-2013, 11:26 AM

I have a 2013 F350 DRW 2WD and it rides good for a truck not pulling and like a car pulling the trailer, it also has a 6.2 V8 gas motor with 4.30 gears and it has no problem with our 16K trailer. At first it had a hard ride but after a few miles pulling the trailer it smoothed it right out.

Denny

Murray5476 · 08-31-2013, 11:44 AM

The f250 & f350 have the same towing for 5th wheels which is 15900 lbs unless to go to a dully. I have 2013 f250 lariat 4x4 .6.7 diesel. Have not towed yet but have high exceptions. Trailer Life gas a good tow guide that may help.

Ramblin · 08-31-2013, 11:50 AM

Without knowing the OPs situation, I would suggest the 350, dropping the 4x4 and adding the DRW to tow his 5er.

jesilvas · 08-31-2013, 01:36 PM

With a 13k dry weight, I suspect 15.5K GVWR? If so, why on earth would you risk it with a 3/4 ton truck. Get a minimum one ton dually diesel. Or bigger.

TXiceman · 08-31-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesilvas

With a 13k dry weight, I suspect 15.5K GVWR? If so, why on earth would you risk it with a 3/4 ton truck. Get a minimum one ton dually diesel. Or bigger.

I agree. This is probably a 1 ton dually size trailer. DO NOT go by the manufacturers brochure hype of maximum towing weight. Read the small print to see the basis of the rating. Alo the footnote that GVWR, GAWR and GCWR are not to be exceeded.

If you have to have a 3/4 ton truck, start looking for a smaller and lighter weight trailer.

Ken

JIMNLIN · 08-31-2013, 06:27 PM

howdy captain,
The F250 can handle pin weight up in the 2600-2800 lbs wet. A 3000 lb dry pin weight may be close to 3500 lbs wet for that size trailer.

IMO your looking at a F350 SRW at the minimum. However if your getting a 4x4 crew cab diesel lot of options then the F350 DRW will have no issues.

tedgard01 · 08-31-2013, 06:32 PM

Welcome!

Look at this new coach;
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/33592211

myredracer · 08-31-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIMNLIN

howdy captain,
The F250 can handle pin weight up in the 2600-2800 lbs wet. A 3000 lb dry pin weight may be close to 3500 lbs wet for that size trailer.

IMO your looking at a F350 SRW at the minimum. However if your getting a 4x4 crew cab diesel lot of options then the F350 DRW will have no issues.

Not sure where you get those numbers from unless you are referring to the max. payload on the door jamb sticker. Those don't include factory options, dealer installed items, owner installed accessories and of course, payload of passengers, kids, groceries, and all the other things that will go in for camping.

We own an F250. The door jamb sticker says the max. payload is 2701 lbs. After taking it to a scale, it's about 1800 lbs and that's before DW are dog are in and all the other stuff we put in the back for camping is accounted for. The typical amount of added weight of passengers and everything else for camping is something like 400-500 lbs. That would leave around 1400 - 1500 lbs approx. for the F250 version we have. That simply doesn't leave much available for pin weight and much of a 5th wheel, unless you don't care about overloading it. That's why many folks (at least the experienced ones) say go straight up to at least a 1T dually.

It's terrible what RV manufacturers are doing things like putting "1/2 ton towable" labels on big 5th wheel trailers with high pin weights that would be tough even for a lot of 3/4 tons to handle without overloading. Having been through the wringer with serious frame issues on a brand new trailer due to poor design, weights and capacities are a pretty touchy subject for me and I hate seeing over or under-inflated numbers (as the case may be).

Great to see the OP start by asking questions and asking for any responses. Best thing you can do is do all the research you can before you buy and find yourself with problems. Happens a lot.