Towing a 5th Wheel with F250

bradswife wrote:
We are considering a 2012 F250, Diesel, 6.7L, V-8, 3.55. According to Ford specs, limit for towing a 5th Wheel is 15,200. The FW that we are considering has a dry weight of 9090, and a GVWR of 12,305. We will be doing weekends and some week long trips but not full time so we won't be packing heavy. It seems to me if we maxed out our FW at 12,305 then that leaves us nearly 3000 pounds for passengers (sometimes 4 adults), the FW pin and whatever else we put in the truck. Does that sound correct?

Hello,

You will be fine towing that 5th wheel, However I would not go any larger. I have a 2012 f250 diesel short bed and I am towing. It does tow very well. The pack in drops a couple of inchs however I will be adding firestone air bags soon.

Shipping Weight
9693
Carrying Capacity
2452
Hitch
2005
Length
37' 3"
Height
12' 9"

Best to weigh your wagon on a certified scales. Axles and GVW. I would not tow over 20K Gross with any 3/4 ton ad I have been in Heavy Haul trucking. Just because you can does'nt mean you should. Ever blow out a front tire fully loaded. 1 time will be all you want at a gross weight of over 22K. I've seen some Marooons pulling a 5er with a 1/2 to but that does'nt make it safe.

I just know that my truck, similar to what you are looking at, tows my fiver, also similar, with very little squat. just look at the picture below. Full fuel in the truck, full fresh water in the fiver, and full ten gallon gas tank on the fiver for the generator when that picture was taken. On the flats with my 6.0 liter engine I get 11-13 mpg while towing.

I like the diesel. Others like the gas engine. It's been my experience that the gas engine is a beast, and will pass everything except a gas station.

Good luck

dahkota wrote:
Your fifth wheel GVWR has no relation to your truck GVWR. Your 12K 5er weight does not leave you 3K lbs. for passengers and pin and whatever else you put in the truck.

For the F250, the GVWR is either 9800 lbs or 10K lbs. Assume you are looking at the 10K lbs. version. With a diesel engine, and the FX4 4X4 you mentioned in another thread, and the supercab or crew cab (you mentioned carrying more passengers) your truck will weigh at least 7400 lbs. Probably closer to 7600 lbs. I have a similarly equipped truck and mine weighs over 8K lbs.

This leaves you with a MAX of 2600 lbs for payload (10,000 - 7400 = 2600: GVWR - actual weight = payload).

Your 5er will have a pin weight of between 2K and 2400 lbs given the specs above. That leaves you with between 600 and 200 lbs. for passengers and other stuff in the truck, including the hitch.

X2

Similar to what I previously posted, Diesel + 4x4 = F350 if you NEED the PAYLOAD to be higher than 2K or so.

My F250 Supercab 2wd with 6.2 unladen weight is 6011 lbs, a 2013 F250 with diesel and 4x4 WILL have an unladen weight around 7.4K or nearly 1400 lbs HEAVIER than my 6.2.

The payload is determined by the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the unladen weight. In most cases the truck owner "may" have the "option" to license the F250 at 9K or at 10K (this is the way PA is for registration). In my state registering a diesel 4x4 F250 at 9K weight makes for almost no payload (registration goes through the roof for the higher the weight classes).

With the 2011 and up 6.2s you really don't "need" the diesel engine, the 6.2 is a towing monster and in my case saves a ton of money in registration fees, diesel fuel costs and the higher upkeep costs..

Lynnmor wrote:
While the specs may be OK, you will find that the F250 will squat down more than you might like. If you go to the F350 there will be stronger rear springs. There is almost no difference between the F250 & F350 except for those rear springs and the price is just a little more.

The same axle and suspension is used on both trucks. The difference is the the F350 uses a taller spacer block over the axle and higher weight rated wheels. The actual axle is rated for 9750 lbs while the suspension and wheels downgrade the rating to the weakest component.

Figure that the rear axle will weigh 2700-3000 lbs empty. Your FW pin weight will be about 2500 lbs. With the appropriately rated rims and tires, you may need air bags to level out but will be safe. Look for trucks that have the camper package since they have an upper overload spring and sway bars already installed which will help with heavier payloads.

dahkota wrote:
Your fifth wheel GVWR has no relation to your truck GVWR. Your 12K 5er weight does not leave you 3K lbs. for passengers and pin and whatever else you put in the truck.

While reading down the replies, I was wondering if anyone was going to catch this.

Ron

It may help to read this:
http://learntorv.blogspot.com/p/what-can-i-tow.html

Payload and rear axle ratings are your limits for 3/4 ton diesels and 5th wheel RVs. I have seen many 3/4 ton diesel tire and loading stickers with 2200-2400 pounds of payload, with some in the under 2000 pounds.

Payload should include the weight of people in the cab, things to occupy their time while traveling, cargo in the truck bed, 5th wheel receiver (150-250 pounds) and pin weight typically 20-25% of loaded RV weight.

10k-ish dry means 11-12k loaded with likely over 2000 pounds of pin weight. Plus 200 pound receiver leaves little capacity left for any people in the cab. and that's why you see so many 3/4 tons squatting. They are overloaded despite being 5k under tow ratings and GCWR.

Find a 350 single rear wheel for the extra 1200 pounds of payload.

Your fifth wheel GVWR has no relation to your truck GVWR. Your 12K 5er weight does not leave you 3K lbs. for passengers and pin and whatever else you put in the truck.

For the F250, the GVWR is either 9800 lbs or 10K lbs. Assume you are looking at the 10K lbs. version. With a diesel engine, and the FX4 4X4 you mentioned in another thread, and the supercab or crew cab (you mentioned carrying more passengers) your truck will weigh at least 7400 lbs. Probably closer to 7600 lbs. I have a similarly equipped truck and mine weighs over 8K lbs.

This leaves you with a MAX of 2600 lbs for payload (10,000 - 7400 = 2600: GVWR - actual weight = payload).

Your 5er will have a pin weight of between 2K and 2400 lbs given the specs above. That leaves you with between 600 and 200 lbs. for passengers and other stuff in the truck, including the hitch.

While the specs may be OK, you will find that the F250 will squat down more than you might like. If you go to the F350 there will be stronger rear springs. There is almost no difference between the F250 & F350 except for those rear springs and the price is just a little more.