Is our truck sufficient

Me Again wrote:

leggy wrote:
Having pulled a 40 ft FW with a 05 F250, 08 F 450 DRW and 12 F350 I know you can do it. That being said the 250 was definitely the worst of the 3 but depending on where you are, terrain and distance you will travel are variables that you know. If it was me I would take truck back and get a 350 while you may take a small hit there will be better value on the truck than trailer.

Cheapest solution would be 19.5 rims and tires, and some air bags. Or a trip to the CAT scale loaded to the way the OP is going to use it.

Agree with Chris, on tires/rims/bags, or move to 350 DRW. No point in 350 SRW, unless looking for higher rated stickers.

Jerry

leggy wrote:
Having pulled a 40 ft FW with a 05 F250, 08 F 450 DRW and 12 F350 I know you can do it. That being said the 250 was definitely the worst of the 3 but depending on where you are, terrain and distance you will travel are variables that you know. If it was me I would take truck back and get a 350 while you may take a small hit there will be better value on the truck than trailer.

Cheapest solution would be 19.5 rims and tires, and some air bags. Or a trip to the CAT scale loaded to the way the OP is going to use it.

Here are some 2017 F250 numbers:

RGAWR 6340 lbs. (F-250 4x4)

Tires 17," 18" or 20" (F-250/F-350)

So what tires does the OP truck have and what does the Max Load on them say?

Appears Ford picked the low 6340 number based on the 17" tire option.

We do not also know the hitch the OP installed and it's weight.

Routes one might take after going to the cat scale and learn where one is regarding weight.

It is a given that the trucks GVWR has been thrown out with the bath water, and he/she is way over that.

Rating of the rear tires is the most critical thing here. People repeatedly put themselves in the position with 250/2500 trucks, and it is not the end of the world. However tire rating is VERY important and should not be exceeded!

Some help can be obtained with things like an Andersen aluminum 5th wheel hitch that can save 100-200 pounds.

So to the OP go to the cat scale ASP, tell us what the trucks tire rating is and what hitch you are using, long or short bed etc.

Chris

Have you hooked the fifth wheel up yet?

I am assuming that you haven't.

if the nearest scale is not too far away, I would hit the scale. The numbers will tell you hard facts. That is the only way i would do it.

One reply midway through this thread really hits at the crux of the problem. "The dealer said sure your truck will pull it." Well virtually any full size truck out there will pull it. Even a 1500 would pull it. But pulling it is the least of the important criteria. Handling and stopping are far more critical. I think this is where many new buyers get side tracked; they concentrate on pulling and do not consider, at least critically, the other criteria. So now the original poster has some homework to do and based on those results decide if a stouter truck is required. I know it is small consolation, but he is not the first and he won't be the last that has faced this dilemma. About once a month someone starts a new thread asking the same question.

Speaking as a newer Montana owner I can tell you they tend to be pin heavy. That 2,800 dry pin weight on mine went to over 3,400 when ready to camp. I pull with a dually Ram and it is great. You may not need that much truck but I can tell you the stability makes for a more relaxed drive and never having to even think about how close to max you are.

With our 40' fifth wheel, I'm pushing 4,000 pound pin weight hard, usually 3,800- 4,100 depending where we are going and how long.

Having pulled a 40 ft FW with a 05 F250, 08 F 450 DRW and 12 F350 I know you can do it. That being said the 250 was definitely the worst of the 3 but depending on where you are, terrain and distance you will travel are variables that you know. If it was me I would take truck back and get a 350 while you may take a small hit there will be better value on the truck than trailer.

Swit9 wrote:
Thanks, those are the same numbers we have in our manual. Won't be hauling water but yes it's close. Guess we have a decision. Bigger truck or smaller fifth we wheel.

Montana numbers
Dry Weight 12,855 lbs.
GVWR 16,845 lbs.
Hitch Weight 2,845 lbs.

Note: I found that all the larger(expect the smallest one) Montanas and Cardinals are pin heavy. We chose the Bighorn base on lighter dry pin weight. We found that the 34RL Cedar Creek also had a lighter dry pin weight.

So, we have a BH3575el 39'4"with a GVWR of 16K and dry pin weight of 2435, or 400+ pounds less than the Montana.

We have a RAM 3500 SRW with a 7K RGAWR and 11,700 GVWR and we are pushing the RAM to both it's GVWR and RGAWR.

Combined weight is over 24K.

I think you will we over your rear GAWR which is BAD. You will be well over the 10K GVWR, which is not as bad as long as you pay your state for the correct tonnage if they charge for tonnage.

Leaving the water tank empty if it is in the very back will add pin weight vs removing it.

So, sorry to say but that trailer is into dually territory, as it would overload the rear axle on my 3500 which I believe is rated higher than the F350 SRW.

Chris

Without more info about your truck, and maybe I missed that on a quick glance, everybody is just shooting darts. That trailer is borderline DRW/SRW territory. But if SRW is ok your truck may be every bit as capable as a sane year SRW 350, or I'd not you could get it there easily enough for a few hundred bucks. Post more info.

Swit9 wrote:
Thanks, those are the same numbers we have in our manual. Won't be hauling water but yes it's close. Guess we have a decision. Bigger truck or smaller fifth we wheel.

Sounds like a good plan.

If you keep the truck, hit the scales with a full tank of fuel and all passengers and stuff you will have in the truck. Subtract from your GVWR from the scaled weight and that will tell you what's left for pin weight. Approx 20% of trailer weight is carried in the bed. Take the trailers GVWR and 20% truck payload should give you an accurate weight for the new trailer.

If you keep the trailer definitely go with DRW. The SRW 1 ton is still going to be overloaded in most configurations i.e.: diesel and crew cab.

Sucks to learn lessons the hard way, you are certainly not the first.