5th wheel or bumper pull

MLWalton wrote:
Hey, new guy here. I have a 2019 F-250 6.2L 3:73 and debating on getting a 5th wheel or bumper pull TT. The 5th wheel I'm looking at has a dry weight of 10k and is 35 feet in length where as the bumper pull is 39 feet in length and it's dry weight is 8300#. Please give me some opinions on why you would chose one over the other. Thank you all in advance for helping the new guy.

After reading the posts there is some sound advice posted here. Things like:

azdryheat wrote:
For starters forget the dry weight figures. The gross weight (GVWR) is the the number that matters. Will your truck with the 6.2L handle fully loaded trailers? I like the 5th wheel for it's stability in crosswinds but I don't like the steps to the bedroom but I do like that 5th wheels are easier to maneuver and backup.

Lwiddis wrote:
Is your F250’s payload up to 2,000 pounds of 5er pin weight plus hitch, people and stuff in the cab? Or 1,100 pounds of TT tongue weight, the hitch and people and stuff in the truck? Champagne on a beer budget?

cavie wrote:
GVW is listed on your driver door post. That is where you start. Now add up EVERYTHING that will be in the truck and trailer. ALL people, dogs kids, and don't forget the wife. ADD everything you walked thru the door of the trailer. Fill up the storage tanks. Fresh, Black and gray with water. All this can be done on paper. Now compare that to the truck GVW and see what you got. Not only do you pull it but you have to stop it.

You can not use the Dry weight to calculate, who buys an RV then tow's it around empty? You have to use a real figure, and it's best to use GVWR of trailer to get a good idea, you may never load to GVW (you will be shocked how fast you add up to that number), but at least you know you are using a good figure to calculate.
Take the GVWR of the trailer and use 15-20% of that number to get pin weight. Some use 15%, I use 20% because again it allows for some cushion. NEVER operate at MAX capacity, always give room I like to use 80%. In other words if you have a tow rating of 17,000lbs, multiply 80% of that and stay under that weight for trailer weight. Example: 80% of 17,000lbs is 13,600, so get a trailer at or under that 13,600lbs, providing the pin weight is under the payload capacity of the tow vehicle.

Yes the truck will do it, but remember, just because you are doing it does not mean you are doing it right, or safe.

Remember, tow rating is an important number and you need to know it, but it's the least important. Payload Capacity, GVWR, GCWR, Axle Rating and Tire rating are far more important, and IF you stay under those numbers, chances are you will never exceed tow rating anyhow.

Just my .02 that I learned the hard way.