Light 5th Wheels

Camper117 wrote:
Went ahead and got the Grand Design 32BHS (hitch weight 1970 lbs). Fully loaded it dropped my F250 truck bed 2'1/2" . This measurement was of the wheel well height at the center of the rear axle. A better outcome than I had hoped for. It is noticeable, but not overly. I am planning to have airbags installed, but it's not something that I believe is necessary. I would just rather have the level look. Hoping for the best.

Look at timbrens much cheaper than airbags and will never fail I love mine and would never go with bags for what we are doing.

Went ahead and got the Grand Design 32BHS (hitch weight 1970 lbs). Fully loaded it dropped my F250 truck bed 2'1/2" . This measurement was of the wheel well height at the center of the rear axle. A better outcome than I had hoped for. It is noticeable, but not overly. I am planning to have airbags installed, but it's not something that I believe is necessary. I would just rather have the level look. Hoping for the best.

Ditto on the Open Range Light series. We have a 2016 LF319RLS and we love it. Towing with a 98 Dodge 2500 gasser and no problems at all.

goducks10 wrote:

I'm only over the trucks GVW by 200lbs and IMO is nothing. The mods I've done have more than increased the trucks payload capacity they also improved it's towing characteristics.
Just me but I'd have no problem dropping 2500lbs in that F250 and my 12 2500 CTD as well.

I agree, 200lbs over gvw on a way under rated truck is nothing, both of you can carry a 2500lb pin safely. I carry a 2350lb pin in my F250 and it tows awesome.

Kevin O. wrote:
OP, I've been in the same boat as you for awhile now. My truck is much older, 2001 F350 with a GVWR of 9900lbs and a rear axle rating of 6830lbs. I have been going back and fourth trying to decide if I should go over my trucks GVWR but staying under all the other ratings. The wife and I finally decided on a Cougar X-Lite 28DBI. It's GVWR is 10,000lbs and dry hitch is only 1390lbs. It has everything we are looking for and is under all my trucks ratings. Best of luck with your decision!

Kevin

Your F350 will safely pull that Cougar, no problem.

My 12 Ram 2500 is the same as a 3500 except the rear spring pack. I have 1800lbs for pin weight. I throw other stuff in the bed as well. MY GVW is 9600lbs and I usually weigh in at 9800lbs. A 3500 has a 10,000 GVW. I have Timbrens on the rear so even though they don't technically change numbers they do provide the same or more weight carrying that the 3500 springs would. My rear axle weight loaded is 4900lbs. My RAWR on the sticker is 6000lbs and is tire limited because the truck came with 245/70/17 tires rated at 3000lbs each. I have upgraded to 275/65/18 BFG KO2 with 3415lbs each IIRC.
I also tow a 9000lb 5th wheel making my GCVWR around 17,000lbs+.
My trucks GCVWR is 21,000 so I'm under that by 4000lbs.
I'm only over the trucks GVW by 200lbs and IMO is nothing. The mods I've done have more than increased the trucks payload capacity they also improved it's towing characteristics.
Just me but I'd have no problem dropping 2500lbs in that F250 and my 12 2500 CTD as well.

OP, I've been in the same boat as you for awhile now. My truck is much older, 2001 F350 with a GVWR of 9900lbs and a rear axle rating of 6830lbs. I have been going back and fourth trying to decide if I should go over my trucks GVWR but staying under all the other ratings. The wife and I finally decided on a Cougar X-Lite 28DBI. It's GVWR is 10,000lbs and dry hitch is only 1390lbs. It has everything we are looking for and is under all my trucks ratings. Best of luck with your decision!

Kevin

Camper117 wrote:
So, what I'm understanding is that because it is called an F250, the most GVWR that will be on the sticker is 10000 lbs,, even if it had a greater capacity than that, right?

And also, since this truck has the same engine, transmission, tires, transmission, ect as an F350 (I'm assuming) the whole issue is about payload. If this is true, would adding some type of auxiliary springs or airbags take care of the problem.

Thanks

You are right that the F250 and F350 srw trucks are the same if the F250 was ordered with the towing package. If not the only difference is an extra single overload spring and taller lift block on the rear axle.

If you stay with a light 5th wheel with a pin weight around 2000lbs you may not need anything extra and have no problems at all. My F250 towed great with 2350lbs pin but I added air bags just to level it out about 1.5"

We have a Jayco Super Lite 26.5 RLS that we bought in 2012 and pull it with a GMC 2500HD D/A crew cab short-bed. We have now used it for three summers, including taking it on a 3,500 mile trip last spring. Tows beautifully and if very nice for the two of us, and guests when we have them. Only downside I can talk about is the shortage of space at the rear between the back wall and the slide which causes us to have to move one of the swivel chairs out of the way. It's a very small inconvenience with this trailer and perhaps the 27.5 RLS they are now selling rectifies that. When we drop the FW onto the truck the truck "squats" 1", period. I haven't checked the pin weight since there is almost no reason to do so. I would say that your truck could probably take quite a bit more pin weight if you want to go that way. We went with the Jayco for a couple of reasons. One was that we had a Jayco for 18 years and were quite happy with it, the other is that when pricing and warranty were taken into consideration, Jayco was pretty much on top of the heap. Only real downside that I can see is a little lack of fresh water capacity with only 48 gallons, but that usually gets my wife and I through most of a week, unless we take showers in the FW, then we have to get a little more. Good luck on your search.

Camper117 wrote:
So, what I'm understanding is that because it is called an F250, the most GVWR that will be on the sticker is 10000 lbs,, even if it had a greater capacity than that, right?

And also, since this truck has the same engine, transmission, tires, transmission, ect as an F350 (I'm assuming) the whole issue is about payload. If this is true, would adding some type of auxiliary springs or airbags take care of the problem.

Thanks

Go to your local dealer and look at the spring pack on an F350 that is identical to yours except for the badge. It may have 1 more leaf. Also look at the rear tire rating and size, probably different. Now look at the RAWR

Everything else is the same. Any more questions? I know what I would do.