Truck Tow Specs.

[6mm]

Can someone show me how to figure what size truck I will need to buy when towing a 5er.
Please show me an example on how I need to figure what a truck can tow and hitch weight it can handle.

I do like F350 and F450 with 4x4 wheel drive,will purchase new truck and toy hauler.
I have a Travel Trailer now and it tows very bad in any wind or when cars and trucks pass and want something that will tow without the white knuckle towing.
Thanks

[wandering1]

Ford truck specs will tell you how heavy a TT and 5er you can tow. The truck payload capacity will tell you how heavy a 5er pin weight you can haul, add all the "stuff" you plan on hauling in the truck to the pin weight.` 4X4 adds weight to the truck and takes away from the weight of the trailer you can haul. Forget about 4X4, it isnt needed to tow a trailer and you wont have the power to pull a trailer thru the terrain you would use a 4X4 for.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/

[caissiel]

Originally Posted by wandering1

Ford truck specs will tell you how heavy a TT and 5er you can tow. The truck payload capacity will tell you how heavy a 5er pin weight you can haul, add all the "stuff" you plan on hauling in the truck to the pin weight.` 4X4 adds weight to the truck and takes away from the weight of the trailer you can haul. Forget about 4X4, it isnt needed to tow a trailer and you wont have the power to pull a trailer thru the terrain you would use a 4X4 for.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/

What BS.
I use my 4 x 4 often to park my 5th wheel. And my truck has not seen snow in 5 years
To me with heavy trailers of today with no weight on the rear wheels front traction is great. Plus for me low range is also worth it with locking hubs the that only Ford has. Equals 2 times power.

[webslave]

All of the manufacturers have websites that describe how to calculate maximum payload and towing capacity. There are also various other sites that have "generic" calculators. But...

Were I you, I'd try to get a handle on the trailer that I would want before buying a truck. If you find the "trailer of your dreams", you can then buy the truck to fit the trailer. If you buy the truck first, you will be limited by the truck's capacity and it may or may not be able to tow the trailer you want.

I have to agree with caissiel... I would not tow without 4 wheel drive. I've used it to get out of grassy campsites, I've used it for stability in deep gravel at one CG in NE California and I've used it numerous times in exploring "off the beaten path" once I've unhitched. I even used it to get out of a parking lot at Bruneau Dunes SP. You are talking about a toy hauler...don't know what toys you have, but, if ATVs, you may or may not need that 4x4 option to get your toys where you want to be. Don't accept a blanket "you'll never need it" for anything, especially about 4x4. They make them for a reason. Many folks don't need it and wouldn't know what to effectively do with them, but, there are many of us that do. Doesn't mean that you have to have it...many don't, but, I won't tow without it.

[RustyJC]

I hate to see this turn into another "you gotta have 4WD" thread, but apparently that die has been cast.

Many of us have towed 5th wheels for a long time (over 16 years in my case) with 2WD trucks. I've never been stuck nor have I been in a situation that required 4WD, but I live in Texas and don't tow in snow or ice nor do I try to drag our 5th wheel over logging roads.

To say that 4WD is an absolute necessity to tow an RV is just as erroneous as saying that 4WD is never required. It all depends where you live and the terrain where you'll be using the truck. If you need 4WD or just want it, great, but don't think that everyone has to have it because we most assuredly don't.

Rusty

[6mm]

Thanks Guys for the info I will go to the ford site and then to the 5er site and see if I can figure it out.
Just to help the thread and end part of the discussion my truck will be a 4x4
Many years ago I got stuck on wet grass in my own yard with my truck and that was my last 4x2 LOL

[TXiceman]

Funny, we have parked on all sorts of sites with grass, gravel, sand, etc. and I have never gotten "stuck" whether wet or dry and all I have is a 2 wheel drive truck. I have also never seen a 2 wheel drive truck stuck under these conditions....that is with over 28 years RVing.

I side with Rusty.

Ken

[JIMNLIN]

It doesn't make any difference which side your on the OP requested a 4x4 truck from the git /go.
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To the OP.
Here is another https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas.../techspec.html to Fords fleet body service guide. Go to the year model your looking at and click on the F250/F350/F450 super duty series truck or the RV and trailer towing guide.

You mention F350 and the F450 so we can assume your looking at trailers up to 24000 lbs.

There is very little difference in the F350 DRW and the F450 specs as both have a 6k front axle and the same 9000 rear axle and a 13300 GVWR. The F450 does have 19.5" tires/wheels and some say bigger brakes.

The F350 DRW shows up to a 5960 lb payload depending on the trucks configuration. A crew cab long bed 4x4 has less payload simply because its heavier. The F350 DRW 4x4 shows up to a 21k-22k tow rating.

The F450 has the same 13300 GVWR/6000 FAWR and 9000 RAWR. However tow rating move up to 24500 lbs. Payloads run about the same as the F350 DRW.

These trucks will pull what their rated for and will carry weight up to their rated axle/tire capacity.

Use the clickies for a while and look at the different configurations. Some members on this forum are glad to help you find what your looking for instead of telling you what you should or shouldn't get.

There are other forums out here for much more friendly input.

[wingnut60]

Ford 450s no longer have the 19.5" wheels--not since 2011 model. Now they have the same 17" wheels the 350s have.
The biggest difference in the 350/450 setup, is the much shorter turning radius of the 450. Outside of that, they are very close to same truck.
And, you can't get a 450 in 2x4.
The 2013 are supposed to have bigger brakes, but not sure if that is only for the 450s or the 350s also.
Joe

[ralphie]

Simply stated for the 2013 model year (and there may be some argument from others), up to about 16k lbs a 250/2500 is okay and above 16k lbs to about 22k lbs a dually 350/3500 (with a lower rear end). You can pull a bit more with a 450, and you might want to look into an MDT for the really heavy FWs. Again, this a a very simple of looking at things and you need to get down in the weeds looking at the placards on the door pillars for each vehicle you're considering.

[TXiceman]

It is not all about the tow ratings as noted by ralphie. You have to also look at the trucks rear axle GAWR and the trucks GVWR. A 3/4 ton truck will exceed the GVWR long before you reach the 16,000# tow rating for 5th wheel. So it is a two part equation.

Ken

[Roam America]

The F-450's have 4:30 rear gear while the F-350's have 3:73. that is what give the higher GCWR. But the shorter turning radius is a wonderful difference.

[marspec]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Funny, we have parked on all sorts of sites with grass, gravel, sand, etc. and I have never gotten "stuck" whether wet or dry and all I have is a 2 wheel drive truck. I have also never seen a 2 wheel drive truck stuck under these conditions....that is with over 28 years RVing.

I side with Rusty.

Ken

I have gotten "stuck" twice in over 28 years. Luckily the campground owners had big enough tractors that could give me enough of a tug to get me moving. I am thinking of purchasing a 2013 F450 to replace my 2008 F450 4x2 so I won't have a choice as they only come in the 4x4 version now.

Chuck

[JIMNLIN]

Check the new weight weight carrying specs on the F450 as they have the same GVWR and 9000 RAWR as the F350 DRW. Ford really neutered the F450