Looking for input on my potential truck/5th wheel combo. A little background first. I have had trailers, but this would be my first 5th wheel. As I am opening this up to the weight police, I am looking for honest opinions and I don’t want to make a costly mistake. With that said, my opinion (as an automotive engineer) is that I’m a rule follower (regarding GVWR, etc) but I have no problem being close to the limit as I know there is a significant safety factor already built into those numbers. With that said – here is what I am looking at:Tow vehicle2023/4 Ford F250 4x4 7.3l gas short bed well optioned (maybe King Ranch)From what I have found on the internetRear GAWR 6,340Front GAWR 5,600 Tow Capacity 16,500Payload 3,923GVWR 10,500Curb Weight 6,480 – 6550 (I see different amounts depending on what site I go to)So – my math says 10,500 GVWR – 7100 Truck (added 550lbs for people/etc) – 200lbs for hitch (may need a slider) leaves 3,200 for pin weight. Assuming a 22% pin weight puts me at 14,500lb max 5th wheel.I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLSDry Wt 10,124 lbsHitch 1,805GVWR 12,200Length 33’8”I know many will say just get the F350, but the truck will be used 95% as a daily driver and 5% towing. Seems like I have a reasonable margin. ~4,000 lbs on tow capacity, ~500 lbs cargo capacity/GVWR assuming trailer is loaded to GVWR.Does anyone see flaws in my logic before a spend a small fortune on these toys? Is the Curb weight of 6,550 for a short wb 4x4 7.3l crew seem right? I looked up all the specs for this particular truck and it seems consistent in that range, but comments on other posts look like the truck weight could be more. Also – any comments on the Cougar 290RLS?

you will not know the real weight of the trailer until you weight it. Dry weight is before they add extras.

I have a 2015 Chev 2500 with similar numbers to your F250 Mine is a Diesel, but the 7.3 is a very capable motor. My trailer is 32' and weighs a little more per the weights I have on the tags and from scales. I have no problems with that combo. I would prefer a 1 ton just so I can upgrade down the road. You might drive both, I don't think there is much a a difference in how they drive, just what your payload capabilities are. But, aside from that, your comfortably in F250 territory.

RockyMt wrote:you will not know the real weight of the trailer until you weight it. Dry weight is before they add extras.Understood - I am assuming trailer is loaded to the GVWR of the trailer. If the numbers on the trailer (empty/GVWR) are not accurate, unfortunately I won’t know until it’s purchased

Paul39 wrote:Looking for input on my potential truck/5th wheel combo. A little background first. I have had trailers, but this would be my first 5th wheel. As I am opening this up to the weight police, I am looking for honest opinions and I don’t want to make a costly mistake. With that said, my opinion (as an automotive engineer) is that I’m a rule follower (regarding GVWR, etc) but I have no problem being close to the limit as I know there is a significant safety factor already built into those numbers. With that said – here is what I am looking at:Tow vehicle2023/4 Ford F250 4x4 7.3l gas short bed well optioned (maybe King Ranch)From what I have found on the internetRear GAWR 6,340Front GAWR 5,600 Tow Capacity 16,500Payload 3,923GVWR 10,500Curb Weight 6,480 – 6550 (I see different amounts depending on what site I go to)So – my math says 10,500 GVWR – 7100 Truck (added 550lbs for people/etc) – 200lbs for hitch (may need a slider) leaves 3,200 for pin weight. Assuming a 22% pin weight puts me at 14,500lb max 5th wheel.I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLSDry Wt 10,124 lbsHitch 1,805GVWR 12,200Length 33’8”I know many will say just get the F350, but the truck will be used 95% as a daily driver and 5% towing. Seems like I have a reasonable margin. ~4,000 lbs on tow capacity, ~500 lbs cargo capacity/GVWR assuming trailer is loaded to GVWR.Does anyone see flaws in my logic before a spend a small fortune on these toys? Is the Curb weight of 6,550 for a short wb 4x4 7.3l crew seem right? I looked up all the specs for this particular truck and it seems consistent in that range, but comments on other posts look like the truck weight could be more. Also – any comments on the Cougar 290RLS?You won't know the actual payload of that =specific= truck until you lay eyes on the sticker on either the door or the B pillar. You may have basic specs for a base truck and you could easily have another couple hundred lbs of options that take off your payload.I'm with those that say to go to a 350 SRW. You're likely to have the truck a lot longer than the FW, so if you want to "move on up" to a larger FW, you won't have to worry about it. I did just that and I can tell you that my '22 3500 rides a =whole= lot better than my old '02 2500 D'max. Ride quality, unloaded, is much better, even though I know I'm still driving a truck.Also, with the newer trucks and FWs, you'll have much less clearance issues and, with a 4x4, the turning radius will be larger than a 2x4, giving you a bit more clearance. Slider is entirely up to you but, IMO, not necessary. On my 3500, I set my B&W Companion to the =rear=, given that my FW only grosses 10.5k, so that gives me even more clearance. Yeah, at nearly 13k GVW, the Cougar will make a 350 squat a bit if the hitch is to the rear, but not badly, IMO.Lyle

I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLSDry Wt 10,124 lbsHitch 1,805GVWR 12,200Length 33’8” The new gen F250 7.3 gasser 6340 rawr will make a fine part time/full time tow vehicle for a 12,200 gvwr 5th wheel rv trailer. If your looking at 14k+ lb 5th wheel rv trailer then a F350 srw with the heavier duty 7230 rawr would be a better choice.

Truck / 5th Wheel Combo - Do the numbers add up?

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Sep 28, 2023
I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLS
Dry Wt 10,124 lbs
Hitch 1,805
GVWR 12,200
Length 33’8”

The new gen F250 7.3 gasser 6340 rawr will make a fine part time/full time tow vehicle for a 12,200 gvwr 5th wheel rv trailer.

If your looking at 14k+ lb 5th wheel rv trailer then a F350 srw with the heavier duty 7230 rawr would be a better choice.
laknox
Nomad
Sep 27, 2023
Paul39 wrote:
Looking for input on my potential truck/5th wheel combo. A little background first. I have had trailers, but this would be my first 5th wheel. As I am opening this up to the weight police, I am looking for honest opinions and I don’t want to make a costly mistake. With that said, my opinion (as an automotive engineer) is that I’m a rule follower (regarding GVWR, etc) but I have no problem being close to the limit as I know there is a significant safety factor already built into those numbers. With that said – here is what I am looking at:

Tow vehicle
2023/4 Ford F250 4x4 7.3l gas short bed well optioned (maybe King Ranch)
From what I have found on the internet
Rear GAWR 6,340
Front GAWR 5,600
Tow Capacity 16,500
Payload 3,923
GVWR 10,500
Curb Weight 6,480 – 6550 (I see different amounts depending on what site I go to)

So – my math says 10,500 GVWR – 7100 Truck (added 550lbs for people/etc) – 200lbs for hitch (may need a slider) leaves 3,200 for pin weight. Assuming a 22% pin weight puts me at 14,500lb max 5th wheel.

I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLS
Dry Wt 10,124 lbs
Hitch 1,805
GVWR 12,200
Length 33’8”

I know many will say just get the F350, but the truck will be used 95% as a daily driver and 5% towing. Seems like I have a reasonable margin. ~4,000 lbs on tow capacity, ~500 lbs cargo capacity/GVWR assuming trailer is loaded to GVWR.

Does anyone see flaws in my logic before a spend a small fortune on these toys? Is the Curb weight of 6,550 for a short wb 4x4 7.3l crew seem right? I looked up all the specs for this particular truck and it seems consistent in that range, but comments on other posts look like the truck weight could be more. Also – any comments on the Cougar 290RLS?

You won't know the actual payload of that =specific= truck until you lay eyes on the sticker on either the door or the B pillar. You may have basic specs for a base truck and you could easily have another couple hundred lbs of options that take off your payload.

I'm with those that say to go to a 350 SRW. You're likely to have the truck a lot longer than the FW, so if you want to "move on up" to a larger FW, you won't have to worry about it. I did just that and I can tell you that my '22 3500 rides a =whole= lot better than my old '02 2500 D'max. Ride quality, unloaded, is much better, even though I know I'm still driving a truck.

Also, with the newer trucks and FWs, you'll have much less clearance issues and, with a 4x4, the turning radius will be larger than a 2x4, giving you a bit more clearance. Slider is entirely up to you but, IMO, not necessary. On my 3500, I set my B&W Companion to the =rear=, given that my FW only grosses 10.5k, so that gives me even more clearance. Yeah, at nearly 13k GVW, the Cougar will make a 350 squat a bit if the hitch is to the rear, but not badly, IMO.

Lyle
Paul39
Explorer
Sep 27, 2023
RockyMt wrote:
you will not know the real weight of the trailer until you weight it. Dry weight is before they add extras.

Understood - I am assuming trailer is loaded to the GVWR of the trailer. If the numbers on the trailer (empty/GVWR) are not accurate, unfortunately I won’t know until it’s purchased
Thermoguy
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2023
I have a 2015 Chev 2500 with similar numbers to your F250 Mine is a Diesel, but the 7.3 is a very capable motor. My trailer is 32' and weighs a little more per the weights I have on the tags and from scales. I have no problems with that combo. I would prefer a 1 ton just so I can upgrade down the road. You might drive both, I don't think there is much a a difference in how they drive, just what your payload capabilities are. But, aside from that, your comfortably in F250 territory.
RockyMt
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2023
you will not know the real weight of the trailer until you weight it. Dry weight is before they add extras.

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