My current truck is a new F250 Diesel. I am trying to wrap my mind around it’s potential 5th wheel weight capability. I thought I knew the numbers and understood but I have some questions about the numbers. Here is a screen shot of the Ford Towing capacity calculator using my VIN.
My question is, when I do the math it looks like the Ford calculations are off by 1,207 lbs or am I missing something?
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This question comes up a lot with 25 series trucks, that are using the DOT class 2 limiting 10,000 GVWR.
For FW towing, you need to look at the RAWR, as most all weight is on the rear axle. You need to know R/A weight by weighing truck axles separately, with truck fully loaded to go camping. Lets guess 3,000 lbs on R/A when scaled. Now look at truck axle rating, maybe 6.340? So you can add hitch say 200 lbs, and another 3,000 lbs of pin wt, to safely stay within your axle/tire rating.
My current truck is a new F250 Diesel. I am trying to wrap my mind around it’s potential 5th wheel weight capability. I thought I knew the numbers and understood but I have some questions about the numbers. Here is a screen shot of the Ford Towing capacity calculator using my VIN.
My question is, when I do the math it looks like the Ford calculations are off by 1,207 lbs or am I missing something?
You should get a weight on your truck set up ready to camp without the trailer hooked up to see how much payload you actually have. I, personally would ignore the 10,000 lb gvwr number and look at your rear axle rating to determine your allowable pin weight.
Anyway .... ford calculations are as follows:
Based on:
Your truck's GVWR of ..............10,000
your truck's curb weight of ........7,436
passengers weight.......................420
Cargo weight ..............................300
You have 1844 lbs of Payload left for your trailer's pin weight
the pin weight of a fiver needs to be at minimum, 15% so 1844/(15/100) = 12,293 lb
In other words they are saying that because 15% of 12,293 lb is 1844 lbs you could potentially tow a 12,293 lb fifth wheel. 12,293 plus the 10,000 lbs that your truck and all cargo weighs is under Ford's GCWR of 23,500 so there ya be Ford is happy.
The problem with this scenario is that having the pin weight of a 5 ver lighter than 15% is dangerous and finding a 5ver with a pin weight of only 15% of the loaded 5ver is unlikely.
If you find a 5ver with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs there is a good chance the loaded pin weight will be at least 1844 lbs when that fiver is loaded to its GVWR capacity.
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2008 Citation 34.5 CKTS /2023 F350 HO Powerstroke
F250.........
RAWR and tires are your limiting factors
Guestimate...........12,000 GVWR 5th wheel will be your max
Figure 20% of GVWR for WET Pin weight
Weigh your truck loaded up 'camp ready'
*Fuel, passengers, any stuff in cab etc
Subtract actual rear axle weight from RAWR.....that is the amount of additional weigh your rear axle can carry
__________________ I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Thanks Old Bis & 4x4ord for the help. I currently am towing a 31’ Travel Trailer with my truck with a total wet weight of nearly 8,800Lbs. The truck pulls it with ease, other than windy days.
I am going to a RV show this week and want to look at 5th wheels that my current truck is capable of towing. That is the key info I want in hand as we window shop is the max weight 5er we can look at. So is 12,000 or less where we should focus? Or to be safer, look at 11,000 and below.
Good advice so far but I'll be that guy and provide a bit of a counterpoint - though the GAWR and tire ratings are important, it's best to stay within ALL the manufacturer's ratings including GVWR/Payload.
As the others have said, load your truck up ready to camp and weigh it then compare to the GVWR and GAWR to know how you really sit with the ratings.
Allow 20 - 22% for pin weight and don't forget about the 5th wheel hitch. Many people tow 12,000 lb fifth wheels with their 3/4 ton trucks, but they are most likely over GVWR/Payload and many times the GAWR as well.
a 3/4 ton is a great truck for a bumper pull but is limited for 5th wheel use due to the low GVWR/Payload and GAWR. Generally a 350/3500 is preferred for a med - large fifth wheel but since you have the truck already I understand the desire to work with what you have. Personally, I'd consider 20% minimum TW and I'd be looking a 5th wheel with a GVWR (NOT DRY WEIGHT) of around 11,000 lbs max.
since you have the truck already I understand the desire to work with what you have.
Its like building a new garage & thinking about all the space, then getting all your stuff inside and realizing you needed to build a bigger one..
I bought the 23 F250 with the PS thinking I would have plenty of truck to do whatever, especially having the fifth wheel ready pkg. I needed to shop fifth wheels prior to buying the truck.
Like I mentioned before, it tows our current Travel Trailer with ease across the MTN's/Hills of PA & NY at 8,800LB and well within the ratings. I will look closely at the weights this week while kicking fifth-wheel tires.
Its like building a new garage & thinking about all the space, then getting all your stuff inside and realizing you needed to build a bigger one..
I bought the 23 F250 with the PS thinking I would have plenty of truck to do whatever, especially having the fifth wheel ready pkg. I needed to shop fifth wheels prior to buying the truck.
Like I mentioned before, it tows our current Travel Trailer with ease across the MTN's/Hills of PA & NY at 8,800LB and well within the ratings. I will look closely at the weights this week while kicking fifth-wheel tires.
Yeah, in hindsight it's always best to shop for the trailer first. Good luck and let us know how you make out. The 6.7/10 spd is a monster and power certainly won't be a problem.....same engine as mine and my truck is rated for up to a 31,200 lb fifth wheel.
You have a great truck, just keep all of this weight discussion in mind when shopping.
You have a great truck, just keep all of this weight discussion in mind when shopping
Thanks Dave. As mentioned before, we are not right now looking to buy. The TT we currently have is working well for us and going to get a work out soon with us retiring this summer. We’re headed to the RV show this week to have a look at fifth wheels in our weight range. We have three weeks planned in the TT in March to get a feel for what it feels like with a longer duration trip. Once we are fully retired “hopefully by July” the wife and I are off for couple months on the road. If a 5er’s in our future, I want to have an idea of what that is, so I can do some shopping & learning prior to a purchase.
With 1850 lbs for pin you're in the 9000 lb loaded range.
You'll add 500 lbs to the pin after loading up.
Batteries, propane, camp gear, 5th hitch, stuff bedroom.
With only 1850 for pin weight you'll be in the heavier side of 1/2 ton towable.
If a 5er’s in our future, I want to have an idea of what that is, so I can do some shopping & learning prior to a purchase.
best place to start is a the CAT scales near you..... finding your trucks separate front and rear axle weights. Eliminates guessing/estimates.
Ford gives the F250 a 6340 rawr for carrying loads from GN/5th wheels hitches/bumper pull trailers/all types of trailers.
Many F250 owners report 3100-3300 lbs rear axle loads.....leaving approx 3100-3200 lb payloads such as hitch loads from a 5th wheel rv trailer/other stuff in the bed.
Fawr aren't a big player in the trailer hitch weight game.
Gotta' be careful with some F250 with the higher 11xxx gvwr payload stickers which can and has caused overload 6340 rawr numbers.
RAWR numbers are the lessor of a wheel/tire/rear spring pack/axle assys. Todays new gen trucks OEM wheels can be the weak link.
Get some axle weights . That truck won't have any issues towing a 12k gross weight GN/5th wheel rv trailer.
It amazes me that Ford and other truck dealers, have no clue on towing...they just quote the tow capacity in marketing bulletins Especially Ford, I have talked to 3 different dealers and not one knew that they have an online tow calculator for the F Series trucks that utilizes your Vin # so it specific to your truck. After entering the vin, you enter cargo, passenger and hitch weights, whether you have a conventional, 5th wheel or goose neck hitch and it tells you what you have left to tow.
Ford
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