Truck towing capacity

You would have to weigh your truck loaded to camp, people, gear, fuel, plus about 200 lbs for hitch. If you subtract scaled weight from your GVWR of truck, you will have your available payload.

FW trailers have a GVWR sticker on them. It is on the front driver's side. If you figure 20 percent of that GVWR, it will give approximate pin weight when loaded to the max.

Example FW GVWR 15,000 lbs= about 3,000 lbs pin weight. If that pin wt fits your truck wt, minus trucks GVWR, you should be good.

Jerry

I would think you would feel pretty comfortable with a fifth wheel that weighs dry around 12,000 to 13,000 pounds. A lot depends on those three boys, their age and the amount of space they need. Some folks like their living area to be living area, and they have bunk house arrangements at the opposite end to the front bedroom. Getting a good package for five, and staying in that weight range is possible, but it depends on your needs and quality of a rig.

fla-gypsy wrote:
You should look at trailers that fit your needs and budget first. Bigger is not always better. There are many facets to towing including payload capacity,rear gear ratio, GVWR and rear axle rating. The version of truck you have has been known to experience engine problems also. Has yours been reliable? Your going to have to learn these and what they mean, there's a lot of homework to do but we can help. What's the GVWR of your truck and how much does it weigh to start?

Well, im not looking bigger, like I said in my post id like to stay way under what the max is. Were buying a used 5th wheel so I need to know what to look for weight wise......and im still very confused....lol

If you look on pg 17 of your 'tow guide' you will see on left side

6.0L V8
Turbo Diesel

Then follow it across chart to Reg cab ---- Super Cab ---Crew Cab and which one of the DRW options 4X2 or 4X4

Ex: Super Cab DRW 4X2 Auto Trans
16,300 MAX GVWR 5th wheel

Now that 16,300# is the MAX based on the fine print

Trailer king pin weight should be 15-25% of total loaded trailer weight. Make sure vehicle payload (reduced by option weight) will accommodate trailer king pin weight and weight of passengers and cargo added to the towing vehicle. Addition of trailer king pin weight, and weight of passengers and cargo cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed rear GAWR or GVWR.
These ratings can be found on the vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Label.

So 20% of 16,300# ---- 3260# for 5th wheel wet pin weight
That is what has to be carried by trucks rear axle
W/o causing truck to be overweight Either GVWR of truck, RAWR or Rear tire Max load ratings

A 2005 DRW is very capable tow platform for a 16,000 GVWR 5th wheel

I have a 2007 SRW and tow 14K 5vr

You should look at trailers that fit your needs and budget first. Bigger is not always better. There are many facets to towing including payload capacity,rear gear ratio, GVWR and rear axle rating. The version of truck you have has been known to experience engine problems also. Has yours been reliable? Your going to have to learn these and what they mean, there's a lot of homework to do but we can help. What's the GVWR of your truck and how much does it weigh to start?