Choosing proper tow vehicle...Video

I figured this vid would help a newbie figure out you can't tow anything you want with a 250/2500 as the RV salesman will tell you.

JIMNLIN wrote:

majorgator wrote:
Yep, everyone can be a YouTube star. 9 1/2 minutes of information that basically repeats stuff that's been discussed on this section a thousand times over.

X2

X3

minnow wrote:
One look at the size of his fifth wheel should tell any reasonably intelligent person that at 3/4 ton is not truck enough to haul that behemoth RV. Don't even need to waste the gas to go to a weigh station. Appears that if he threw in 2 stick of firewood in the bed that would be enough extra weight to actually lift the front tires off the ground.

You're right on! The video basically says "I didn't do enough research beforehand and made a bad decision, but now I have a bigger truck so let's make a YouTube video!!"

At about the 1 minute mark: "I bought this because my dad has a similar truck and trailer, and he did just fine..." SMH

At about the 9 minute mark: "I think with the dually, I'll still be over capacity, but it should be better..." SMH x2

I kept waiting for him to pick up that soda can in the bottom of the view and take a sip...

X2 - minnow! GEEZ

One look at the size of his fifth wheel should tell any reasonably intelligent person that at 3/4 ton is not truck enough to haul that behemoth RV. Don't even need to waste the gas to go to a weigh station. Appears that if he threw in 2 stick of firewood in the bed that would be enough extra weight to actually lift the front tires off the ground.

majorgator wrote:
Yep, everyone can be a YouTube star. 9 1/2 minutes of information that basically repeats stuff that's been discussed on this section a thousand times over.

X2

The video explained it in a very simple and visual way especially for those who have never weighed their vehicles. Sure beats trying to weed through a thread that goes off topic. There is also room for anyone's comments below the video as to whether they liked the video or not or if there is an issue with his information.

majorgator wrote:
Yep, everyone can be a YouTube star. 9 1/2 minutes of information that basically repeats stuff that's been discussed on this section a thousand times over.

Yes, because 50 posts in every thread discussing this all saying something a little different. Real easy to understand for a newbie.

:S

Quite honestly, there isn't enough educational stuff out there about this subject. Kudos to this guy for taking the time to do this for folks that have trouble understanding it.

Yep, everyone can be a YouTube star. 9 1/2 minutes of information that basically repeats stuff that's been discussed on this section a thousand times over.

This video shows why the owner changed from a F-250 to a F-350 dually to tow a 12,500 pound empty weight fifth wheel.

Like the trailer dealer say "That F-250 can tow anything!" and while Ford rates it to tow 15,500 pounds, in a fifth wheel, the pin weight will be over 2,500 pounds while the crewcab F-250 only had a 2,200 pound cargo rating with the diesel engine, crewcab and 4 wheel drive. Add more options and some firewood, it will not even carry 2,000 pounds of passengers and pin weight.

So the F-250 should have been rated to carry only a 2,000 pound pin weight or maximum fifth wheel capacity of around 10,000 pounds. Travel trailers it can tow about 12,000 pounds with a 1,200 pound hitch weight no problems!

It is great information for those looking to buy a truck and tow a fifth wheel. This guy had his truck and trailer, not loaded for a camping trip, no water in it, and truck's GVWR is only 10,000 pounds but the scale showed 11,700 on the truck tires! The rear axle was at 6,300 pounds, some 200# over the tire weight ratings!

Now he has a later model F-350 dually with a 13,000 GVWR and is under the GVWR by 400 pounds. It shows 12,600 pounds on the scale, with water and ready for camping. Still a little close in capacity, because just adding a couple more passengers or some extra stuff in the bed will put it over the limit.

New 2014 and 2015 dually F-350's come with a 14,000 GVWR when the diesel engine is ordered in a crewcab. This will provide an additional 1,000 pounds of cargo capacity, and not overload the truck when pulling this trailer.

I have a friend with a 40' Holiday Rambler, I think the GVWR is 18,000 pounds. He was pulling it with a dually F-350 but changed to the Dually F-450 pickup because it came with a higher GVWR (in that year) and he was slightly over the GVWR (I think 1,000 pounds) or GCVWR (don't recall what one was over.) I know that he was under the rear axle and front axle weight ratings, so he felt comfortable driving it.

Fifth wheels are heavy! And don't forget to add in the 200 pound hitch!

Fred.