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pwrplay's avatar
pwrplay
Explorer
Aug 07, 2014

Opinion on weights for TV/5th wheel combo

Hi everyone,

We are looking into getting a new 5th wheel and are considering one that has the following specs:
Dry pin weight: 1980#
Dry Trailer weight: 10653#
GVWR is 13995#.

We have 2009 F250 CC with 6.8L V10, 4.10 Rear end with the following specs:

Payload= 2550# (as per yellow sticker)
GRAWR=6100#
GFAWR=5100#
5th Wheel towing cap = 14100#


We would load up around 1500# of gear in the trailer. With this our pin weight would be about 2500#. Right at the payload limit of the TV as you can see.
We would have about 600# of weight in the truck when camping (2 adults 2 kids and a dog etc..). This brings our payload to about 3100#

So we would be about 600# over payload cap and pretty much right at the GRAWR of 6100# plus or minus, once the trucks curb weigh is added in.

My question is would you pull this trailer with this truck? I'm probably correct is saying this is too much trailer for this truck, but I wouldn't mind hearing some real-world experiences.

I know that the RAWR is the weakest link in this set up. An F250 has a Visteon rear axle MAX rated at 6200# and the F350 has a Visteon axle MAX rated at 7280#. So realistically no amount of suspension mods are going to actually increase the amount of payload this truck can carry due to the lower rated axle on the F250.
  • JIMNLIN wrote:
    op says wrote:
    I know that the RAWR is the weakest link in this set up. An F250 has a Visteon rear axle MAX rated at 6200# and the F350 has a Visteon axle MAX rated at 7280#. So realistically no amount of suspension mods are going to actually increase the amount of payload this truck can carry due to the lower rated axle on the F250.

    Ford fleet service specs shows its the exact same Visteon rear axle/brakes on the F250 and F350 SRW trucks. The F350 SRW has a higher rated rear spring pack that gives it a higher rating.

    GM and Dodge/Ram use the same AAM 11.5" rear axle but give it a 6200/7000/7050/9850 RAWR with different spring packs/higher rated wheels and tires.
    Visteon says the axle has a 9xxx lb rating . Ford as GM and Ram simply uses different rated rear spring packs/higher rated wheels and tires to get the rating they want.

    This is how owners safely increase payload ability.

    I see the V10 has up to 26000 GVWR in motor homes and tow rating up to 18000 lbs in the F450/550 trucks. Your V10 won't have any issue towing a 13k-14k trailer.


    Funny thing, I was just doing some research and realized the same that the axles are practically the same. The one difference I did notice is the number of splines in the diff. The 6200# has 35 and the 7000# has 37 spline. How mush of a concern is this for the weight rating?
  • Absolutely nothing if you don't abuse the power train by shock loading the components. Rear end gear ratio has no effect on power available, higher numerical ratios allow the available torque to lift the load from a standing start. A rear axle ratio needs to be matched to the rpm at average cruise speed loaded in the gear you plan to travel in. The best rear ratio for a Cummins I6 will not be the same for a V8 diesel and each V8 gas engine will differ with displacement and torque rating. The higher the gear ratio the better the economy empty.
  • JIMNLIN wrote:
    op says wrote:
    I know that the RAWR is the weakest link in this set up. An F250 has a Visteon rear axle MAX rated at 6200# and the F350 has a Visteon axle MAX rated at 7280#. So realistically no amount of suspension mods are going to actually increase the amount of payload this truck can carry due to the lower rated axle on the F250.

    Ford fleet service specs shows its the exact same Visteon rear axle/brakes on the F250 and F350 SRW trucks. The F350 SRW has a higher rated rear spring pack that gives it a higher rating.

    GM and Dodge/Ram use the same AAM 11.5" rear axle but give it a 6200/7000/7050/9850 RAWR with different spring packs/higher rated wheels and tires.
    Visteon says the axle has a 9xxx lb rating . Ford as GM and Ram simply uses different rated rear spring packs/higher rated wheels and tires to get the rating they want.

    This is how owners safely increase payload ability.

    I see the V10 has up to 26000 GVWR in motor homes and tow rating up to 18000 lbs in the F450/550 trucks. Your V10 won't have any issue towing a 13k-14k trailer.


    Read just a tad closer. The 2009 F350 SRW axle shaft has a different number and size of splines than the F250. I don't know why, BUT a larger axle could increase the weight rating.
  • op says+ wrote:
    Funny thing, I was just doing some research and realized the same that the axles are practically the same. The one difference I did notice is the number of splines in the diff. The 6200# has 35 and the 7000# has 37 spline. How mush of a concern is this for the weight rating?


    This gets talked about all the time when the the Ford 3/4 vs one ton SRW issue is brought up. According to Ford truck folks the 37 spline axle should be under the F350 DRW/F450 Dana 80 axle heading on page #71 in Fords spec website .

    The F250 and F350 SRW uses the Visteon 35 spline axle.

    Actually the number of spline/axles diameter has more to do with twist GCWR/tow ratings) than carrying a load (GAWR) on a full floating axle. The axle on a full floater doesn't carry the load.
  • JIMNLIN wrote:
    op says+ wrote:
    Funny thing, I was just doing some research and realized the same that the axles are practically the same. The one difference I did notice is the number of splines in the diff. The 6200# has 35 and the 7000# has 37 spline. How mush of a concern is this for the weight rating?


    This gets talked about all the time when the the Ford 3/4 vs one ton SRW issue is brought up. According to Ford truck folks the 37 spline axle should be under the F350 DRW/F450 Dana 80 axle heading on page #71 in Fords spec website .

    The F250 and F350 SRW uses the Visteon 35 spline axle.

    Actually the number of spline/axles diameter has more to do with twist GCWR/tow ratings) than carrying a load (GAWR) on a full floating axle. The axle on a full floater doesn't carry the load.


    Awesome, thanks for the clarification. So by the looks of it, if I add the overloads and the 4" spring block, I should be OK with the weights.

    Thaks for everyone's input.