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GuitarJesus's avatar
GuitarJesus
Explorer
Mar 20, 2014

Can my truck handle this 5th wheel?

Hey guys, I'm new here. My wife and I are looking at fifth wheel trailers and I am wondering what size in length my truck can handle.
I have a 1994 Ford F-350 crew cab with a 7.5l v8, auto, single rear wheel 4.10 rear end.
The rig we are looking at is a 1988 Aljo Skyline 40ft 3 axle 5th wheel. I know this is at the extreme end of size especially for the time period, but its immaculate and a total steal.

Does anyone with experience with a trailer this age and my style truck think I can tow it? I'm not uncomfortable pulling sokething that large, I'm just not sure if my truck can do it. And I have no way to test a different trailer the same size, it's in another state.

Thanks guys,
Jeff

17 Replies

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  • GuitarJesus's avatar
    GuitarJesus
    Explorer
    Mar 20, 2014
    wirenutz wrote:
    I pulled my 38 foot toy hauler back from south dakota with a 1 ton dodge diesel single rear tire, just about the same set up as you, and it destroyed the breaks on that truck, i had a air ride hitch and a air ride pin box on the trailer, the trailer weighted about twice as much as the truck, it pushed and pulled that truck all the way home, stopping/slowing down is going to be your big issue.


    I've heard that the brakes are the big downside to these older trucks. With that being said, I have been eyeing a 05+ SuperDuty rear axle swap for better brakes and rear discs. Also, I'm a few parts shy of the hydroboost upgrade that the F-Series super duty trucks had.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2014
    GuitarJesus wrote:
    what the heck in 1988 could pull that thing?
    A class 8 tractor, or equivalent. It could've been moved by a truck like yours, not far, not fast, probably to sit in an RV park.

    Or it could have been the Long, Long 5er movie!
  • wirenutz's avatar
    wirenutz
    Explorer
    Mar 20, 2014
    I pulled my 38 foot toy hauler back from south dakota with a 1 ton dodge diesel single rear tire, just about the same set up as you, and it destroyed the breaks on that truck, i had a air ride hitch and a air ride pin box on the trailer, the trailer weighted about twice as much as the truck, it pushed and pulled that truck all the way home, stopping/slowing down is going to be your big issue.
  • powderman426's avatar
    powderman426
    Explorer
    Mar 20, 2014
    OK guys. I got this one. I'll be the salesman. Heck yes your truck will pull that just fine.

    Now that we got that out of the way, we can get serious. As soon as I heard triple axle, I said to my self it's dually time. That truck may (and I use that word loosely) haul it but you won't be happy. Get a bigger truck or a smaller trailer. JMO
  • GuitarJesus's avatar
    GuitarJesus
    Explorer
    Mar 20, 2014
    donn0128 wrote:
    While that truck is capable, you will run out or rear axle capacity long before you get much in the trailer. I would forget this one and find something in the 10-12K GVWR to pull.


    Thanks. I'll look at something a bit on the lighter side. My truck being a 94' one ton, what the heck in 1988 could pull that thing? Its not like they had F450s and F550s back then.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2014
    While that truck is capable, you will run out or rear axle capacity long before you get much in the trailer. I would forget this one and find something in the 10-12K GVWR to pull.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 20, 2014
    It's not a guessing game. I need the 5er's weight, the weight of your truck, and the GCWR of your truck. From a smidgen of research it looks like it can pull about 11k, top end.

    I hope you won't plan a cross-country trip with it, even with a plastic Jesus on the dash.

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