Fifth Wheel Shopping Advice

I'm the proud owner of a F250 diesel with airbags and the heaviest suspension available. I never realized what a bastard truck a 3/4 ton truck is. Most of the diesels have plenty of power to tow heavy loads, but they don't have the capability to deal with kingpin weights.

My Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel trailer weighs 11,092 lbs. dry, and I have a kingpin weight of just over 2K. My 3/4 ton diesel handles it, but it's about all I can handle.

I always think that a gas engine truck comparable to mine should hold off towing 10K. Sure, your terrain is flat for the most part. But the trailers you're looking at weigh too much for your gas engine.

If you're going to be towing with your truck, you might consider Grand Design's lighter fifth wheel trailers than the 337. Same goes with the Cedar Creek--too heavy.

john&bet wrote:
We just got back from a week in Holmes County, Ohio and saw way to many 2500 trucks with 15K+ gvw 5th wheels in the campgrounds we were in. So it must be ok to pull that heavy a 5th with a 2500 series truck. But I wont.

That's my back yard! Hope you enjoyed it.

When I bought our fiver I thought a 2000 lb pin weight meant I should buy a one ton and I wanted stability so I bought a dually. I really think I bought too much truck. 3/4 are everywhere around here.

We just got back from a week in Holmes County, Ohio and saw way to many 2500 trucks with 15K+ gvw 5th wheels in the campgrounds we were in. So it must be ok to pull that heavy a 5th with a 2500 series truck. But I wont.

I won't get into the numbers but you may want to check your payload to ensure your 2500-3/4 ton has sufficient payload capacity.
Beware Grand Design has been recently purchased and is no longer a stand alone company.
Grand Design is a relative new comer vs. Cedar Creek an old school brand.
Both brands you are looking at are decent with many loyal satisfied buyers.

Stay away from Lippert frames...

We love our Reflection 337. I know you won't be disappointed. We also considered the Cedar Creek.

Both will be over capacity for a 6.0L gas motor 2500 HD truck. Since dry weights dont offer a true indication of weights loaded to travel consider basing your calculations on the trailers gross weight.

Where you gonna be traveling? Traveling across ne Ohio and western Ohio with little hills is no big deal. I have a 10000 lb fifth wheel and a v10 f350. The big hills of se Ohio and heading down south mean letting engine rev. Not big deal just so you know. If pin weight drops your back end more than you like air bags are reasonable.

Both at 14K are going to be right at the upper limit of you truck. Will be slow in the mountains. If you are willing to take your time and rev the engine in lower gears it will work according to GM.

Chris