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

Good morning. My 2015 diesel dually F350 is tow rated at 23,500 with goose neck/5th wheel towing. I pull my 44' Voltage (maximum weight listed at 19,500) without an issue. As I'm sure we all do, I exercise extra caution when towing, leaving as much an interval between vehicles as possible. Despite this, I've still had quasi-emergency stops, but have never had an issue. Well maintained vehicles (brakes and tires especially) are the key. If you're not comfortable, make the transition and put disc brakes on your trailer. Not that cost prohibitive. Have a safe and happy fourth.
Rusty

Dave H M wrote:
The answer is so simple. Gearitis on page three has the answer.

BTW, was wondering if there is a way that I could quote all the pages of this post at one time. :S

If there ever was a whizzing contest, this has to be one. :W

How so is this a "whizzing contest"? It was stated that a 450/4500 was needed to tow what OP wanted to tow, I disagreed and then was "schooled" with misinformation that I felt needed to be addressed. If you're offended by this, I apologize, but it wasn't a "whizzing contest":R

rhagfo wrote:
God are missing the point of the post!
In the late 2000's and early 2000 teens, manufactures were increasing the GVWR and towing capacity of their truck just by changing the GVWR on the VIN plate.

Just go compare the frames and brakes of the later trucks with the earlier 2000s generation. GVWR isn't simply an axle/tire rating.

Thanks Andy, I'm trying to figure out what my "suburban garbage" truck can "safely tow". Me thinks Tom/Barb don't know much, if anything about the new beefed up 1 ton duallys and are using information from 10+ yrs ago. Much more HP and TQ, all new front and rear suspension, as well stronger frames, huge brake calipers, exhaust brakes that will almost bring the combo to a complete stop.. Its not just paper work..Its actually improvements and advancements made to these new trucks. I wonder, according to Tom/Barb, if my truck is a suburban trash truck, what do they think a 1 ton SRW truck or 3/4 ton truck can tow... and a 1/2 ton truck...well, who knows?!?

The answer is so simple. Gearitis on page three has the answer.

BTW, was wondering if there is a way that I could quote all the pages of this post at one time. :S

If there ever was a whizzing contest, this has to be one. :W

Tom/Barb wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

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.

Now I KNOW you have no idea what you're talking about, a suburban garbage hauler?!?..now youre dilussional. You obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Some of the new 3500 duallys have more HP & TQ than a 450/4500, and can tow far more then YOU are aware of. My 5er weighs in at 16,300#. I have a pin weight of 3400#. Im UNDER my trucks GVWR by 1200#.. and WAY under my trucks RAWR, (thats a pretty big hunk of safety margin, and with a combined weight of 25,500#, Im under GCWR by 12,000#!!) I've been towing since 75, and know a little bit about all the equations too. Op doesn't need a 450/4500 to tow a 15,000# 5er. You need to do more research on the new trucks. With 385HP, 850lbft of TQ and a medium duty tranny strapped to a medium duty diesel, Im just as safe, if not more so than you are...Do the research, you're behind the times. Safety is ALWAYS my first concern.

Your truck numbers are for how much it can carry and how much it can pull. Neither tells you how much it will stop. About 3-4 years ago, I-5 at Marysville Wa. a 350 Ford dually was pulling a 5th wheel in the left lane, traffic went to hell in front of him, he hit the brakes and the trailer pushed him into 3 cars in front of him, and then jack knifed, then the trailer rolled over the truck across the median, and hit 2 cars in the north bound lane. he and his wife died that day as well as 3 others. his truck was well under the load recommendations of the manufacturer. 5th wheel haulers are built for a reason you haven't figured out yet. and probably never will.

Its obvious you have been in MH too long and dont understand these new trucks. You need to catch up with the times. Its you with your close mindness that doesn't want to learn something new. Not only does the trucks brakes help slow the load, the 5ers brakes slow the 5er.... and I do know brakes, seeing that I just happen to be in the brake caliper manufacturing business as well as ABS systems.

Its you that doesnt want to learn anything new... You dont tow a 5er with a truck. Its obvious you don't know towing capabilities of todays trucks and how safely they can do their job. Bottom line, though it appears you can't comprehend that a a new 350/3500 SRW truck could tow a 15,500# GVW 5er, but believe what you want, but your reasoning is flawed..

Being in the break business you must know how much energy is stored in any 15k trailer at highway speeds, and you should also know the brakes on the trailer are dependent upon 1 electrical connection. OBTW, you assume wrong, we didn't move up to the coach until 2009. but we have owned every type of camp made. IMHO the big 5th wheel, and a little truck is the least safe vehicle on the highway. But you keep right on believing the manufacturer's hype and sales pitches.

I gotta know then what's a safe weight behind a 2015 dually? 8-9k pounds? plus I wanted to quote the quote.

Sorry bucky, didnt realize this was your space. You could have given your information without being impolite, but some strive for attention in other ways than answering returning an answer by addressing what was stated.

Mad Norsky, I also prefer a dually, But I also dont believe one needs a 450/4500 to tow a 15,000# 5er (GVW),

Barb and Tom, thank you for calling my truck a surbarban garbage truck, you've offended more in here than just me my making that statement...and its "brakes", not "breakes" ..and yes, I know quiet a bit about brakes, tires and ABS systems. I've been in manufacturing since 75', Im an engineer with a lot of common sense and physics was a big part of my job while in R&D. I know all the weights and if you did the research on these forums, Im one of those who has, more often than not, been called , "the weight police". You win, Im tired of making bucky mad. You're right, you need a 450/4500 to tow a 15,000 5er and for anything over that, one needs a semi such as a Volvo, Freightliner etc..can neverhave too much truck:R

Once again the quote monster has reared it's ugly head. NA na, my quote is bigger than your quote. :)
Back to the subject with a question for the OP. Have you actually weighed the coach? Pin and axle weights? Loaded for a trip? Until you do all of this is moot.

The Mad Norsky wrote:
T
You add good vehicle brakes now, with 17inc or bigger tires standard, built in trailer brake controllers (set properly), fiver brakes in good shape and also set properly and the VERY effective exhaust brakes all three brands (Ford, Ram, and GM) now offer you'll find a pickup that can safely pull, carry, and stop a fifth wheel.

No special fifth wheel haulers needed.

All that said, I'd still stick with my dually for towing 15.5K.

All those things are on the 450/4500 class too, and a much wider margin of safety.
A 14,000 pound trailer at 65 MPH will contain 45,500 pounds of kinetic energy. That is what you be required to stop when things go sour.
The 450/4500 series trucks have much better tires, brakes, and wheel than their little brothers.

kaydeejay wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

kaydeejay wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Beef up the .......... GVWR???

And how would you do that?

The whole statement was "Beef up the suspension or increase the GVWR.

I was referring to that "Magic Towing Dust" that could increase magicly the GVWR and GCVWR.

I know how to beef up the suspension, but beefing up the GVWR involves lots of cash and a trip to the dealer for a new truck:W

God are missing the point of the post!
In the late 2000's and early 2000 teens, manufactures were increasing the GVWR and towing capacity of their truck just by changing the GVWR on the VIN plate.