How to Determine Truck Tow Capacity

[buc1908]

I think that Luxe is a better build FW.I heard that DRV have a lot of problems after the new company take over.

[Dieselguy4]

Don't fall into the F450 myth. I almost did. After doing all the research the F350 has more payload capacity then the F450. I bought the F350 due to the 5600 lb capacity as compared to the 4400 lb capacity both on the yellow sticker. The F450 rode hard compared to the F350. Now depending on your pin weight on the DRV the F450 will be overloaded and the F350 near being overloaded. So maybe a bigger truck or lighter 5th wheel. Just my thoughts.

[TXiceman]

The only true way to determine a trucks towing and hauling capacity is to have it fully fueled and loaded for travel. Now head for the scales and get the axle weights for the truck.

Tow weight limits for the truck = Truck GCWR - loaded truck weight.

A 5th wheel put a substantial load in the bed of the truck. It typically runs from 18% up to 22 or 23% of the trailers GVWR. Ours is about 21%.

Trucks cargo (hauling) Capacity, = Truck GVWR - loaded truck weight.

The maximum load you can put on the rear axle is the....
Trucks rear axle GAWR - loaded trucks rear axle weight.

According to all manufacturers towing guides, you are not to exceed the GCWR, GVWR or axle GAWR.

Ken

[consolenut]

Originally Posted by Dieselguy4

Don't fall into the F450 myth. I almost did. After doing all the research the F350 has more payload capacity then the F450. I bought the F350 due to the 5600 lb capacity as compared to the 4400 lb capacity both on the yellow sticker. The F450 rode hard compared to the F350. Now depending on your pin weight on the DRV the F450 will be overloaded and the F350 near being overloaded. So maybe a bigger truck or lighter 5th wheel. Just my thoughts.

Unless its a cab and chassis 450 then its a monster. GVw up 17,500 far more then a 350. its only the 450 pickup thats anemic.


Correction checked ford website gvw up to 16500 and max payload just over 9k a lot more truck.

[Filthy-Beast]

Originally Posted by consolenut

Unless its a cab and chassis 450 then its a monster. GVw up 17,500 far more then a 350. its only the 450 pickup thats anemic.


Correction checked ford website gvw up to 16500 and max payload just over 9k a lot more truck.

for around 1,200 more dollars the F550 has a GVWR of 19500 and payload of over 12k.

[consolenut]

yep could go the route of a 550 too

[tuffr2]

I looked at the DRV Houston and although I think the world of the new trucks and their ability to tow things that 44' trailer I think is too big for a F-350/450. Man, that thing is nice but huge.

I imagine the Luxe is just as big.

Have you considered a smaller 5th wheel? Or have you considered a MDT? Medium Duty Truck. I say this because I think the Forest River Riverstone is one nice 5th wheel that a new F-350 could tow. I looked at a Riverstone with front kitchen and thought you can not find a nicer 5th wheel.

The medium duty trucks are GM 5500 or Ram 5500 or Ford 550?

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

The only true way to determine a trucks towing and hauling capacity is to have it fully fueled and loaded for travel. Now head for the scales and get the axle weights for the truck.

Tow weight limits for the truck = Truck GCWR - loaded truck weight.

A 5th wheel put a substantial load in the bed of the truck. It typically runs from 18% up to 22 or 23% of the trailers GVWR. Ours is about 21%.

Trucks cargo (hauling) Capacity, = Truck GVWR - loaded truck weight.

The maximum load you can put on the rear axle is the....
Trucks rear axle GAWR - loaded trucks rear axle weight.

According to all manufacturers towing guides, you are not to exceed the GCWR, GVWR or axle GAWR.

Ken

This is spot on, you can come close by taking EVERYTHING you plan on carrying in the TV. This would be hitch tools other driver and passengers, then subtract that from the TV payload. You could subtract the 150# allowance for the driver, but that extra 150# would give a little cushion.
I think I have stated before, but our 2016 Ram 3500 DRW has a stated yellow sticker payload of 5,411# we weigh 10,000# ready to tow leaving 4,000# for pin.

[consolenut]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I looked at the DRV Houston and although I think the world of the new trucks and their ability to tow things that 44' trailer I think is too big for a F-350/450. Man, that thing is nice but huge.

I imagine the Luxe is just as big.

Have you considered a smaller 5th wheel? Or have you considered a MDT? Medium Duty Truck. I say this because I think the Forest River Riverstone is one nice 5th wheel that a new F-350 could tow. I looked at a Riverstone with front kitchen and thought you can not find a nicer 5th wheel.

The medium duty trucks are GM 5500 or Ram 5500 or Ford 550?

Lol real MDT have tilt back hoods!

[tuffr2]

That GM with the clam shell hood is really a good looking truck. I like it better the the Freightliner Sport Chassis.

[yogus]

I really appreciate all the feed back and opinions. We went back to our local dealer today and drove the F350 DRW. We both drove it and agreed it would work. I would have no problem driving it “daily”.

Hopefully, we will have our rig choice down in the month ot so!

[wandering1]

Originally Posted by yogus

Looking for some direction on a truck to pull a 5ver. We’re looking to change direction and have been researching for the last few months; in spite of all the reading, YouTube, etc. “I’m”, still confused on what a Ford F-350 Dually 2020 Diesel, Crew-cab, 8’ bed, can tow.

We are looking to move from a Newmar 40’ Class A Gasser to a 5th wheel.

This would be a FT home for us. We are looking at a DRV Houston or a couple of other mfg (Luxe) in similar floor plans.

We looked at new F350s today at a local dealer. The door sticker says the GVWR for the one we looked at is 14,000 lbs. We also saw a 2019 F450 at an incredible discount...same GVWR. The 2020 F350 drove much better than the F450...equipped as Lariats both.

How do we start to make heads or tails of if this F350 is capable of pulling a rig the size of the DRV Houston? The GVWR of the Houston is 24,000 (memory).

Thanks for your help and direction and instruction. I have pictures of the trucks we test drove today so I can give all the info on actual #s.

We really are looking to move to 5ver and need direction.

Real simple... read the tow specs from the mfg.

[Filthy-Beast]

Originally Posted by wandering1

Real simple... read the tow specs from the mfg.

No, not so simple. Reading the tow specs would show that my 2020 4x4 F350 crew cab dually diesel with 4.10 gears could pull a 32,500 pound 5th wheel and 20% pin weight of that is 6500 pounds. However my yellow sticker says cargo capacity is 5240 before occupants, cargo, hitch and any add-ons like a bed cover.

[Jshopes81]

Towing that much i dont see why anyone would tow with something pickup based. I tow 25k ALOT with f550s and ram 5500s and its not enough truck for the weight. You really need to be looking at something with air ride at this point. You wont spend much if any more money but youll get a pickup that rides way better than any of the new pickups and wont be really any bigger. Im not a fan of my vehicle pummeling the daylights out of my insides, which is what the new trucks do. I saw luxe sells their version of the new chevy mdts with the clamshell hood and international is selling the rebadged chevys with duramaxs. For my money and licensing situation, id be looking at a peterbilt or kenworth in the t300 size and daily driving that.