We've gone and done it now......
Well, after three years of planning and two more to go until retirement, we've finally purchased our future full timing 5th wheel. (see signature). I've spent the past three years pouring over info i...
Forum Discussion
fly-boy wrote:
With a short bed I think I would have bought a slider hitch. Replace the tires on the trailer when you get home. You can do a roll test on the trailer brakes as you make your way out of the dealership towards the highway.
As for weights- Good idea to weigh and you have a solid plan. I would not be worried about being a little over weight. The weights Ford publishes are for continuos duty so being over for the times you are pulling the trailer is not going to hurt a thing.
Congrats.
I thought about the slider hitch, but I've personally spoken with other short bed drivers and 9 times out of ten, they said they never used it. Along with that, we made sure to choose a trailer with a cap that allows at least 79 degree rotation. I also have the B&W Companion set as far back as it will go. I will still keep an eye on it though.
I've also come to the realization that there is no possible way a F250 diesel can ever tow a 5th wheel and NOT be overweight. I've already weighed the truck with DW and I included and it came in over 8,000lbs. Using the "kingpin weight is 20% of the trailer weight" formula so often times mentioned here, the trailer would have to be max 10,000lbs. If someone out there has a 5th wheel that light that is worth fulltiming in, I haven't found it. Not to mention the fact that my truck is capable of towing 15,200lbs (on paper), it doesn't make much sense. I've done the math multiple times. This is why I'm so worried about the trailer brakes. I'll need the additional braking to stop the rig.
