Forum Discussion

jakecav's avatar
jakecav
Explorer
Oct 27, 2018

2014 F250 4x4 Super and Cougar "HALF-TON 25RES Mountains???

Hello. My wife and I are considering a 5th wheel. We are looking at the 2019 Cougar "HALF-TON 25RES FIFTH WHEEL" Shipping Weight
7500lbs, Pin weight 1500lbs, and length 28' 10". This will be our first 5th wheel. We've only had experience with a bumper pull camper. I plan on using a 2014 F250 4x4 super duty crew cab with 6' 10" bed (I plan to get an auto-slider hitch). 6.2 liter gas engine/ 3.73 gears and 20inch LT tires (Yokohama Geolandar). Truck is rated 12,500lbs Most of our trips will be long weekend camping around the mid-west, however my wife is wanting to make a long trip to Yellow Stone and some trips to Colorado. I'm concerned if this truck camper combination will be ok in the mountains? Any advice? I feel that I may be a little conservative here as I don't have any experience with a 5th wheel. Also concerned since it's called a half-ton 5th wheel that I won't be able to get bed/clearance right pin height.
  • Road_Phantom's avatar
    Road_Phantom
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    I had a 2011 Cougar 1/2 ton tow-able. The problem with them is that they sit low. I think you'll find that when you hook it to your ford 4/4 the trailer will sit nose high, putting excessive wear on the back axle. I believe this was the case last April when the left rear wheel come off the trailer and wound up laying on the double line of Main St Biloxi. The bearing failed, and it been hand repacked that prior summer. You may be able to get spacers for the springs to lift the trailer up high enough without flipping the axle, which is something I'm not a fan of. Otherwise, your truck is more than enough to tow that trailer.
  • Retired_JSO's avatar
    Retired_JSO
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    You should be fine. I towed all over North and South Carolina and northern Georgia pulling our W&P toy hauler just over 8,000 with a 2016 FX4 Crew 6.2 w/ 3:73. Lock out 6th gear on the flats and get in the truck lanes on the 5-6% grades but temps stayed where they should.
  • Campinfan's avatar
    Campinfan
    Explorer III
    Oct 27, 2018
    I have a Demco autoslider (Hitchhiker) and it is not overkill. You may never need it but it does give a lot of peace of mind.
  • jakecav's avatar
    jakecav
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    Thanks for all the information. I was wondering if the slider hitch would be over-kill as well on a newer FW. 6 inches of bed clearance and how to check/measure is super helpful. I really didn't think about the 20 inch tires being larger. Time to find the FW and take some measurements. My wife loves the suggestion of going through the North Entrance (Gardner)!
  • thomas201's avatar
    thomas201
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    As others have said, you will be fine, but you can follow the rivers through Montana (past Billings) and go to the North Entrance (Gardner). No big mountains to pull.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Oct 27, 2018
    Agree with others, truck will handle that FW, even in the mts. With the larger tires, you do give up a little gearing from 3.73, and the truck may be a little tall for that size FW. You may have to tow nose-high, an inch or two won't matter. Some FWs do have adjustment on suspension, to raise them, and if it has 16" wheels, that will help too.

    Most hitches are adjustable, but you still want to have 6"s of bed rail clearance. You likely don't need a sliding hitch, due to newer FW design.

    Welcome to the forum!!

    Jerry
  • spud1957's avatar
    spud1957
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    That will work great. I have a 6.2 with 3.73 gears and a 8500 dry 5th wheel. Pulls awesome!!

    Currently on our way to Florida. Pulls the hills in PA and VA no problem. Some in 4th, some in 3rd @ 3600 RPM, 60-65 MPH.

    This engine/transmission combo loves to work.

    S
  • 12thgenusa's avatar
    12thgenusa
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    I would consider an auto slider hitch overkill. In fact any type of slider hitch is really not necessary. Your rig would do just fine in Colorado mountains.
  • wrgrs50s's avatar
    wrgrs50s
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2018
    I would measure the height of the sides of the bed of your truck and then compare that measurement to the overhang of the 5r when level. This would indicate the bed to trailer clearance. From there you can determine the pin and the hitch height. You may take a few inches off the truck height allowing for spring compression once hooked up.
  • CarnationSailor's avatar
    CarnationSailor
    Nomad
    Oct 27, 2018
    I think you have plenty of truck for the 5th-wheel, and I don't know of any reason to be concerned about clearances just because it's advertised as a half-ton trailer. Maybe someone else would know more about clearances in this case.

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