5th wheels on pismo

twodownzero wrote:

HTElectrical wrote:

And before someone states that the tires won't handle the weight, they are rated for 3,860 lbs per tire.

Not at 25 psi, they're not.

Yes, but you are only going 10 to 15 MPH tops, and also are driving on a VERY SOFT Surface.
My trailer has a tongue weight of 1,460 LBS, and I have towed it into Pismo (couple hundred yards) several times. The Big Cyclone in the picture, was towed by the black Duramax, and he has towed @25 4 or 5 times at least!!!
You can play weight police all day long, but hundreds, if not thousands of trailers every year air down to 25 LBS and head into the dunes to camp. I am not guessing, I have been there, done that!

That is my camp showing distance to beach.

Click For Full-Size Image.


Click For Full-Size Image.

HTElectrical wrote:

And before someone states that the tires won't handle the weight, they are rated for 3,860 lbs per tire.

Not at 25 psi, they're not.

Captn_trvl wrote:
Perhaps I didnt give the right info - my husband knows all that technical stuff so keep that in mind. I’m just asking to get an idea. just looked at the specs of what we want and am trying to foresee if we’ll need to give up one of our favorite vacations if I want to upgrade to a luxury unit. Why wouldn’t a diesel f250 be able to tow this?

12,362 lbs.
GVWR
14,495 lbs.
Hitch Weight
2,496 lbs.

No, an F250 does not have sufficient payload capacity to pull that. Only the newest 1 ton SRWs will have enough capacity. If I was going to pull a 5th wheel that big and heavy, I would only do so with a dual wheel truck.

My trailer weighs 9,200, hitch weight 2,300, GVWR 13,500. My 1 ton truck, SRW, full of fuel, with 3 men and my dog in the cab is out of payload. A newer 1 ton might get you another 1,600 pounds of GVWR (mine is 9,900, a new Ram just like it is up to 11,500 for single wheels). Remember, you can pull way more than you can carry.

What size tires and rims do you have. The biggest problem with trucks getting stuck are the ones that run low profile tires. If you run 35's on 18" wheels and air down to 25LBS trailer and truck you can get just about anywhere.
And before someone states that the tires won't handle the weight, they are rated for 3,860 lbs per tire.

Click For Full-Size Image.

I appreciate everyone’s perspectives and feedback. We found a model we like and now it’s time to do our due diligence to ensure it will work (Pismo and beyond).
Happy travels!

Captn_trvl wrote:
We are looking to purchase a 5th wheel with 15k max load weight. We’ve always taken out travel trailer to pismo and now I’m worried we might not be able to bring the 5th wheel if it’s too heavy for sand.We tow with an F250. Any thoughts

Since you have experience I would not worry. I would not go on the sand alone. Have a group so you can help each other if needed.

Your trucks RAWR is 6200# (max weight rear axle can carry....truck weight on rear axle plus 5th wheel hitch weight)

14K 5th wheel wet pin (trailer loaded up camp ready) will add 2900# to trucks rear axle
That will put you close/right at Trucks RAWR of 6200#

Pismo.....Lots of 5th wheels/Toy haulers etc out there
Tires will have to be aired down and pay attention to high tide





One thing...with 5th wheel GVWR under 15,000# you do not have to get a Non-Commercial Class A license that CA requires for 5th wheels over 15K (also required if Travel Trailer GVWR is over 10K)

I would think if you have a 15k fiver with three axles you've got a pretty good chance of pulling it across the sand. A 15k fiver on two axles sounds risky to me regardless of what you put in front of it.

“so it’d be sentimental if we couldn’t go there anymore”

A sentiment is always thoughtful.