Was assured that my TV 04 f350 kg ranch PSD SB 6.0L 4x4 would be up to the task.Hate to trade it in but need to be safe. What do you think? What TV do you use for a similar 5er? Been rving 11 months a year for the last9 years and should know better than trust the dealer.Look forward to your input. Bob

Hi,Depends on the hitch weight I guess. Is it triple axle? That can put more of the trailer's weight on it's own wheels, and less on the pin.It also depends on the trailer balance. Some have the fresh water tank under the bathroom, and in the front of the trailer. Some like Glendale RV Titanium will have the fresh water tanks over the rear axles, so that the hitch weight will not go up or down when it is full or empty. Glendale made some fifth wheels with really light pin weight. More of the overall weight was on the trailer tires. I need to change my answer. The 2004 only had a 9,900 GVWR and that is way to low to be towing any fifth wheel, except for the very lightest ones. What is your curb weight? If it is over 7,300 pounds, then towing any fifth wheel is questionable. That leaves you less than 2,000 pounds for cargo, and a little for passengers and that 200 pound hitch. IF you want to use a 2003 and earlier, then a dually is required. 2005 the GVWR for the F-250 went up to 10,000 pounds while the F-350 SRW was 11,400 pounds, 1,500 pounds more than the 2004 model.As for the 6L and 6.4L International engines, they are not recommended by many, who say that the oil cooler is a problem. This can be solved with a simple engine coolant water filter, that needs to be changed every 1,500 miles for the first 2, then about once a year.Good luck,Fred.

I tow a 34ft 14000lb 5er with my SRW and am very happy with the performance. Still, mine is a 2013 (after all manufacturers beefed up suspensions and payloads), yours is a 2004 so I'd be concerned about payload of your truck first and foremost. The long length might also be a factor pushing SRW around a little where DRW would add more rubber to road to counteract. Some would be comfortable with the later, some not. But again I'd look at your truck payload pretty hard.Maybe it's a reason to get a new truck :)

I thought a Dually was the answer to ALL of life's problems!20% tongue weight is 3100 lbs. plus hitch weight & anything in the bed or cab. How much cargo capacity do you have? How about the drive tires?Good luck.

I feel to answer your question I would have to tell you it is a NO from me. sorrychevman

MNRon wrote:I tow a 34ft 14000lb 5er with my SRW and am very happy with the performance. Still, mine is a 2013 (after all manufacturers beefed up suspensions and payloads), yours is a 2004 so I'd be concerned about payload of your truck first and foremost. The long length might also be a factor pushing SRW around a little where DRW would add more rubber to road to counteract. Some would be comfortable with the later, some not. But again I'd look at your truck payload pretty hard.Maybe it's a reason to get a new truck :)Beef up the supension OR up the GVWR???I think some of the higher GVWR were a result of marketing, not so much stronger springs or frames or axles! They just used more of the axle rating. Our 2001 2500 has a GVWR of 8,800# bit total axle ratings of 11,284# so lots of room to grow.I read about all the time about newer higher GVWR TV needeing bags or Timbiers to "level" the TV. While my 01 with camper package is within about 500# of ratings and is still better than level.

Towing 39 ft 15.5 k with 1ton Sw diesel - Mistake ??

79 Replies

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
NC Hauler wrote:
Tom/Barb wrote:
bobandvicki wrote:
Was assured that my TV 04 f350 kg ranch PSD SB 6.0L 4x4
would be up to the task.Hate to trade it in but need to be safe. What do you think? What TV do you use for a similar 5er? Been rving 11 months a year for the last
9 years and should know better than trust the dealer.
Look forward to your input. Bob

Pulling close to 15,000 pounds I'd want the safety margin of a 450/4500. you will see the ranchers, and car transporters, using the 450/4500 series trucks to haul the fifth wheel cattle and car trailers, they know.

When was the last time you looked at specs of the newer 350/3500 duallys? Appears you're a bit out of touch. As Chris stated there are 1 ton SRW trucks that will tow a 15,000# 5er. MY 1 ton dually has a RAWR of 9750#, has a GVWR of 14,000# and an idiotic GCWR, with 4.10 of 37,500#! So no, OP doesn't need a 450/4500 to tow a 15000# 5er, but his older 1 ton SRW might be over loaded, and a newer 1 ton SRW 350/3500 would easily handle his 5er. Heck, the newer 3/4 ton trucks could probably handle it depending on how configured.

You can walk as close to the edge as you like and go with out any safety margin for as many miles as you like, I won't because I've seen too many accidents caused by not having enough truck to do the job. When you are going to work a truck, get a truck built to work. The kinetic energy of a 15k trailer built up behind a truck towing at 60MPH is huge, your suburban garbage hauler will be over powered in a nano second when thing go sour.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 03, 2015
OP....

I tow 14K 34' 5vr with my '07 SRW and am slightly over trucks GVWR and maxed on RAWR/Rear Tire Load Rating

Same with your 34' Cougar and your '04 SRW

Heavier trailer..........you need different truck AND you KNEW that before posting
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jul 03, 2015
Jim-Linda wrote:
And pray tell, do you realize what 1000lbs hanging from the rear of a trailer will do do the frame? Your statement regarding pin weight is evident from one with a MH, too little weight on the pin will result in uncomfortable towing, chucking, possible bouncing between pin box and hitch, not to mention trailer stability. YMMV

Jim

Dear Jim, I'm glad you pull your rig with a FL60 and you should have left off the MH comment. At last count I own a dozen+ trailers and pull them with anything from a 02 F350, a Freightliner M2, or a ten wheel dump truck for decades. I agree some POS manufactures put minimal frames under these things, but when I had a 5er I put two motorcycles on the back for thousands of miles. Had a good laugh about the pin bouncing because it only has 2100 lbs on it (3100-1000=2100). Since when is 2100 lbs too little pin weight? How can a TT have 10-15% tongue weight go straight down the road with 3' of overhang off the back instead of over the rear axle? Have you ever pulled a fifth wheel with only 10% pin weight? I do often by shifting where the load is on the trailer.
I did decide to go with a bigger truck when I weighed my SRW F350 and loaded goose neck trailer at 30,000 lbs.

PS: that's a fifth wheel hitch mounted 16" behind the rear axle which is a lot further than the one in my PU.
Yes, I know you cannot do that.:S
PSS: you might want to click on "How I tow" in my first post above as you can't do that either.
kaydeejay
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
rhagfo wrote:
Beef up the .......... GVWR???
And how would you do that?
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Tom/Barb wrote:
bobandvicki wrote:
Was assured that my TV 04 f350 kg ranch PSD SB 6.0L 4x4
would be up to the task.Hate to trade it in but need to be safe. What do you think? What TV do you use for a similar 5er? Been rving 11 months a year for the last
9 years and should know better than trust the dealer.
Look forward to your input. Bob

Pulling close to 15,000 pounds I'd want the safety margin of a 450/4500. you will see the ranchers, and car transporters, using the 450/4500 series trucks to haul the fifth wheel cattle and car trailers, they know.

When was the last time you looked at specs of the newer 350/3500 duallys? Appears you're a bit out of touch. As Chris stated there are 1 ton SRW trucks that will tow a 15,000# 5er. MY 1 ton dually has a RAWR of 9750#, has a GVWR of 14,000# and an idiotic GCWR, with 4.10 of 37,500#! So no, OP doesn't need a 450/4500 to tow a 15000# 5er, but his older 1 ton SRW might be over loaded, and a newer 1 ton SRW 350/3500 would easily handle his 5er. Heck, the newer 3/4 ton trucks could probably handle it depending on how configured.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 03, 2015
The newer 350/3500's SRW are rated and built to do that kind of towing, however yours is not! Chris
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
lee worsdell wrote:
I HAVE ANOTHER CRAZY BUDDY IS PULLING A 41 FT TOY HAULER TRI AXEL WITH A 2011 GMC 2500 wow that is nuts

Agreed, he is at the mercy of one elect connection to stop that trailer from running his butt over when he panic stops, then it will be too late to buy the truck he needs.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
bobandvicki wrote:
Was assured that my TV 04 f350 kg ranch PSD SB 6.0L 4x4
would be up to the task.Hate to trade it in but need to be safe. What do you think? What TV do you use for a similar 5er? Been rving 11 months a year for the last
9 years and should know better than trust the dealer.
Look forward to your input. Bob

Pulling close to 15,000 pounds I'd want the safety margin of a 450/4500. you will see the ranchers, and car transporters, using the 450/4500 series trucks to haul the fifth wheel cattle and car trailers, they know.
lee_worsdell
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
I HAVE ANOTHER CRAZY BUDDY IS PULLING A 41 FT TOY HAULER TRI AXEL WITH A 2011 GMC 2500 wow that is nuts
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Jul 03, 2015
Been there done that. Started off with a 2005 Duramax, 2500 SRW. Pulled it thousands of miles but felt like the rig was pushing the TV around a little. Finally bit the bullet and got the DRW. I can tell you that there is a big difference. I hated to give up my 2500 one owner, but I sure like the bigger rig. I would be more worried about that 6 liter right now.

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Towing 39 ft 15.5 k with 1ton Sw diesel - Mistake ??

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