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rg4bs · 09-21-2020, 10:00 AM

I have camped for most of my life. My parents used to take us around the united states in a station wagon and a canvas sears craftsman tent. I have had many tents myself and two different pull behinds but am wanting to more up to a 5th wheel to full time which leans me to my question.

I am trying to find a Ford dually to tow a 5th wheel which I hope to purchase soon. My answer to the chicken and the egg question, it's the truck first. I am having one hell of a time understanding and getting good information about trailing capacity of the different vehicles. An example is below:

The dealer says the truck (2019 Ford Super Duty F-350 DRW XL Pickup) has a Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs): 12100. Really? A dually?

I do a VIN decode on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forum and it says : Maximum Trailering Capacity 21000, 15600, 21000, 12100 12100.0 min 21000.0 max.

While looking for a truck the last month I run into this all the time. Duallies with trailering capacity of only 12100 advertised by dealers. What is going on. Do they not know what the specs are or are they right? Surely any dually can tow more than that????

The dealer also says the truck has Axle Ratio (:1) - Rear: 3.73. That too should make for a higher towing capacity should it not?

tuffr2 · 09-21-2020, 10:26 AM

A 2019 Ford F-350 dually is a very capable truck and can tow more than 12,100lbs. I would believe your vin look up and not the salesman.

What you want to look at for towing a 5th wheel is the payload on the truck. It will be the 'Occupant / Cargo weight that you should not exceed'. 1st in kilograms then in pounds. I would guess that dually has a payload of around 5,400lbs. which is substantial.

jrollf · 09-21-2020, 10:40 AM

It can get confusing. The tow rating also varies based on 5th wheel vs traditional hitch.

For Fords, a good resource are the Ford Towing Guides which can be found below.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

For a crew cab dually with 6.2 gas and 3.73 does indeed list a max 5th wheel of 12,100lbs. The gas motir and 3.73 rear end hurts the capacity:

6.2 Gas Crew Cab Dually 4x4, 5th wheel
-3.73 Ratio: 12,100 lbs
-4.30 Ratio: 15,600 lbs

6.3 Diesel Crew Cab Dually 4x4, 5th wheel
-3.55 Ratio: 27,300 lbs
-4.10 Ratio: 27,500 lbs (Goosenecks up to 31,300 lbs)

Regardless of total trailer weight, the 5th wheel pin weight must be less than the availabke payload of the truck... payload includes passengers and stuff. Anything you put in the truck reduces available payload for the pin weight of the 5th wheel.

Old-Biscuit · 09-21-2020, 10:44 AM

Gas vs Diesel
Trim Level
Options
Travel Trailer vs Gooseneck/5th wheel
ALL come into play when looking at MFG Tow Ratings

What really matters is trucks Axle Ratings and available weight that truck can 'carry' ---WET Pin Weight of 5th wheel
RAWR will be reached/exceeded BEFORE you reach MFG. Published Tow ratings because truck & trailer will be LOADED way more then test

See pg 26 for 350/450 dually tow ratings
https://www.fleet.ford.com/cmslibs/c...owingGuide.pdf

tuffr2 · 09-21-2020, 10:53 AM

The rear axle rating on dually trucks is around 10,000lbs. Subtract the natural weight on the rear axle from just the truck is about 4,000lbs so the rear axle in theory could support another 6,000lbs in a perfect world.

Just to compare the rear axle rating on a 1 ton single rear wheel (SRW) truck will be just over 7,000lbs

rg4bs · 09-21-2020, 11:30 AM

The 2019 Ford Super Duty F-350 DRW XL Pickup in question has a GVWR: 14,000 lb Payload Package and an 8 cylinder 6.7 liter diesel engine.

Something is wrong. The dealer says 6.2 Gas engine
The VIN decoder says 6.7 diesel engine.

I am going to have to call the dealer and make sure what they have.

rg4bs · 09-21-2020, 12:55 PM

Confirmed:

2019 Ford Super Duty F-350 DRW XL Pickup
GVWR: 14,000 lb Payload Package
8 cylinder 6.7 liter diesel engine.

Rhagfo · 09-21-2020, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg4bs

Confirmed:

2019 Ford Super Duty F-350 DRW XL Pickup
GVWR: 14,000 lb Payload Package
8 cylinder 6.7 liter diesel engine.

14,000# is the GVWR, with an XL payload likely to be about 5,500# +/-.

tuffr2 · 09-21-2020, 04:19 PM

Not knowing how much $$$ you have but I know that truck will tow anything I can afford.

The engine is very capable with lots of power. I had a 2012 SD truck with the 6.7 generation 1 and I thought it had a lot of power. This is generation 2 with even more power. The biggest difference is the frame on the 2019 is way better than the frame on my 2012 which was a flexy 'C' channel vs the newer high strength steel boxed frame.

You will like that truck.