TRUCK: 1997 F-250 Heavy Duty 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4.There seems to be lots of detailed information about weight (dry v. loaded, what the truck's rated at, etc). According to Ford, provided I'm reading the document right, the GCWR for a 1997 4x4 manual 7.3L F-250 is 20,000lbs & 14,000 trailer weight. What is the maximum weight I can safely tow?So I'm just now starting to investigate fifth wheels & I have a few novice questions that I'm hoping the community can help me with:What modifications, if any, will improve ride quality & safety of my 1997 F-250 Heavy Duty 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4 when hauling a 5th wheel?I'm currently looking into the TorkLift StableLoad, sway bars, add-a-springs, helper-spring kits, airbags & tires. I'm starting to get a bit overwhelmed and afraid of being sold something at the RV dealership that I can't safely tow... Does anyone have any recommendations on any of these mods?Roughly at what trailer weight do people need to upgrade duallies?Any experienced recommendations, suggestions & stories are much appreciated.Thanks in advance!

Pin weight will be your limitation.

Thanks for the quick reply ChooChoo,What does the pin weight measure?How do I go about finding out my pin weight?Thanks :)

The pin weight is how much weight the trailer puts in the bed of your truck. It depends on the trailer itself. Trailer manufacturers will tell you what the pin weight is for their trailer.

My last trailer was an Everest 5th wheel, 37 foot, that had a max weight of 14,000 pounds and a pin weight of 2000 pounds. I towed it just fine with a 2009 Chevy 2500 short bed with a payload of 2500 pounds. I did add Firestone airbags to lift the back end and Bilstein shocks. The trailer I have now maxes out at 19,000 with a pin weight of over 3,000 pounds. I upgraded to a dually with a 5,000 pound payload, which handles the trailer with ease.

Its 10000 lbs for TT and 13500 for 5th wheel.. But thats with an automatic.. Thats per the tow rating list I found for your truck...WE ASSUME YOU HAVE 3:73'S as all the 7.3 turbo diesals list this..I think a manual trans will reduce this weight..And as said pin weight and axles weights will be the issues..Want to know what you can tow??Go weigh the truck with full tank of gas and you in it... Get seperate axle weights at a cat scale.. Post back those #'s with the axle weights on the door tag of the truck.And post the tire weight ratings at max inflation from the side wall...

What can I safely tow? | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

7_3diesel
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
lawrosa wrote:
Its 10000 lbs for TT and 13500 for 5th wheel.. But thats with an automatic.. Thats per the tow rating list I found for your truck...
WE ASSUME YOU HAVE 3:73'S as all the 7.3 turbo diesals list this..

Dunno the gearing unfortunately. The truck has had 2 previous owners & several aftermarket modifications. All I know is 1st gear is very tall. I never use it because I have to shift immediately to second (I've also not towed with it yet, so I've never needed 1st gear either). Previous owners have towed both fifth wheels & bumper-pull TTs with it.

lawrosa wrote:
Want to know what you can tow??
Go weigh the truck with full tank of gas and you in it... Get seperate axle weights at a cat scale..
Post back those #'s with the axle weights on the door tag of the truck.
And post the tire weight ratings at max inflation from the side wall...

Great advice, I'll do this ASAP. Thanks.
7_3diesel
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
azdryheat wrote:
My last trailer was an Everest 5th wheel, 37 foot, that had a max weight of 14,000 pounds and a pin weight of 2000 pounds. I towed it just fine with a 2009 Chevy 2500 short bed with a payload of 2500 pounds. I did add Firestone airbags to lift the back end and Bilstein shocks.
The trailer I have now maxes out at 19,000 with a pin weight of over 3,000 pounds. I upgraded to a dually with a 5,000 pound payload, which handles the trailer with ease.

Good to know.
I'd like some feedback on the idea of airbags. I've been reading that they have lots of failure points: potential bag bursting (road debris might hit it), lines might freeze up in colder temperatures, etc. I was thinking about going with a simpler setup: TorkLift StableLoads, anti-sway & maybe Timbrens as opposed to bags. What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks.
lawrosa
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
Its 10000 lbs for TT and 13500 for 5th wheel.. But thats with an automatic.. Thats per the tow rating list I found for your truck...

WE ASSUME YOU HAVE 3:73'S as all the 7.3 turbo diesals list this..

I think a manual trans will reduce this weight..

And as said pin weight and axles weights will be the issues..

Want to know what you can tow??

Go weigh the truck with full tank of gas and you in it... Get seperate axle weights at a cat scale..

Post back those #'s with the axle weights on the door tag of the truck.

And post the tire weight ratings at max inflation from the side wall...
azdryheat
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
My last trailer was an Everest 5th wheel, 37 foot, that had a max weight of 14,000 pounds and a pin weight of 2000 pounds. I towed it just fine with a 2009 Chevy 2500 short bed with a payload of 2500 pounds. I did add Firestone airbags to lift the back end and Bilstein shocks.

The trailer I have now maxes out at 19,000 with a pin weight of over 3,000 pounds. I upgraded to a dually with a 5,000 pound payload, which handles the trailer with ease.
azdryheat
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
The pin weight is how much weight the trailer puts in the bed of your truck. It depends on the trailer itself. Trailer manufacturers will tell you what the pin weight is for their trailer.
7_3diesel
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
Thanks for the quick reply ChooChoo,
What does the pin weight measure?
How do I go about finding out my pin weight?
Thanks :)
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Sep 01, 2014
Pin weight will be your limitation.

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What can I safely tow?

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