Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?

Under a shelter is awesome if its really true. Look for soft places; especially in the floor to indicate a possible leak from rain. Inspect the roof to look for tears or cracks.Inspect the tires for cracks and bubbles. Run everything: lights, water, water heater, AC unit, heat, fridge, etc.How much does it weigh? I'd try to keep a hitch weight under 2500 lbs. for an F250.

Appreciate the reply,The Hitch Weight is 1,600 lbs and dry is 10,000 lbs.

Not enough truck!Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.

AKinLA wrote:Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?Welcome to the forum,You need to give a little more info, on your truck, and the actual model FW. It helps to know the GVWR of the FW, to get an idea of the loaded pin weight.An F250 is a good tow vehicle! The newer ones will carry more pin weight than an older one. Most 250s should handle a middle sized FW.PM me if you want, I tow a mid sized FW, GVWR 12,110, with a 13 F250.Jerry

donn0128 wrote:Not enough truck!Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.It may or may not be enough truck, depending on age. On the newer models, an F250 is the same thing as a SRW F350 except for an overload spring and an axle block (in some cases as I think these are optional on the F250). Even if those aren't present they can be added and you've got exactly the same truck aside from the payload sticker and the decal on the fender.Again this depends on year. I think in some of the older models the 3/4 ton series was actually somewhat lighter built in terms of axles used and etc.

Purchasing Question | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

MFL
Nomad II
Jan 07, 2016
AKinLA wrote:
Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?

Welcome to the forum,

You need to give a little more info, on your truck, and the actual model FW. It helps to know the GVWR of the FW, to get an idea of the loaded pin weight.

An F250 is a good tow vehicle! The newer ones will carry more pin weight than an older one. Most 250s should handle a middle sized FW.

PM me if you want, I tow a mid sized FW, GVWR 12,110, with a 13 F250.

Jerry
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2016
Not enough truck!
Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.
AKinLA
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
Appreciate the reply,

The Hitch Weight is 1,600 lbs and dry is 10,000 lbs.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
Under a shelter is awesome if its really true. Look for soft places; especially in the floor to indicate a possible leak from rain. Inspect the roof to look for tears or cracks.

Inspect the tires for cracks and bubbles.

Run everything: lights, water, water heater, AC unit, heat, fridge, etc.

How much does it weigh? I'd try to keep a hitch weight under 2500 lbs. for an F250.

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