Type of truck

I couldn't afford new either. I couldn't even afford used. But they made a good deal on a lease. $150 a month less than buying. Might be worth looking.

If only i could afford new:(

What do you expect a VIN search to show you? Why don't you try looking at the towing specs published by ford?????

Ford towing specs

If you are looking new you could always drop by the ford dealer and pick up a brochure. Is what I did.

In our area trucks are hard to come by but trailers are all over the place. So we wanted to get the truck first.

For the same price (or very close) of a 3/4 ton you can purchase a 1 ton SRW. Typically that 1 ton SRW will give you much more payload (pin weight) capacity. The 1 tons are a bit harder to find if you are looking at used trucks but they are out there. I know Dodge has seriously upped the towing and payload capacity in the past 2 years so it would not surprise me if Ford has done the same.

Also the difference between a SRW and a DRW can be as much as 7000lb difference in trailer weight. My DRW is good to pull a 22,800 lb trailer. Same model in a SRW is only 16,300.

If it were me I think I would find the trailer I really wanted then get the truck to match the trailer.

salvador5266 wrote:
we don't have a specific unit picked out yet but we are figuring around 30-36 ft.

We can't choose a truck based on a trailers length. Some 30'-35' 5th wheel trailers can require a one ton DRW truck. Another 30'-35' trailer can fit in a 3/4 ton trucks weight specs. Give us a idea of the trailers gross weight (GVWR) your looking at.

Trucks carry loads determined by a 5th wheel trailers pin weight and pull trailers based on the trailers gross weight.

A 3/4 ton truck may have a 1800 lb payload and another same brand 3/4 ton truck can have 3400-3500 lb payload on depending on the trucks configuration.

we don't have a specific unit picked out yet but we are figuring around 30-36 ft.

What fifth wheel are you buying. Weight, length etc. would help a lot