Fifth Wheels

[Missouri_Man]

Hello all, I recently posted info. on a 1/2 ton 5th wheels. After careful consideration and all the advice I have been given and research I have done. I have come to a decision to upgrade our truck to a 2014 F-250 Power-stroke that is capable of towing 15,900lbs as far as a 5w is concerned.. Now with that I am looking for a quality 5w but have been back and forth on which floor plan to get. We looked at the Front living and Rear living and are torn between the two, the next question is we are toying with, is between the names, of Columbus, Alpine, and Cardinal.. Any advice and or recommendations will be much appreciated.

[pennysmom09]

donn0128 wrote:
Quit trying to just get buy. Get a one ton truck from the get go. In fact if you looking at a fifth wheel with a 15K GVWR get a dually. You wont regret it.

We would have to agree with this. Although we are quite satisfied and really love our truck and trailer (as in signature) we were very limited by weight and had to choose a fairly light rig. We had the truck and upgrading was not an option. Our fiver weighs 10k. Other than that, we love the RL floor plan, and haven't needed a single repair since purchasing in Feb. and taking several trips.

[Missouri_Man]

Thank you.. I am not going to make an impulsive decision on such a large purchase..

[Us_out_West]

Missouri Man wrote:
I see, we plan on small weekend getaways about an hour drive at the most.. And then 2 trips as we did last year. One to Georgia and one to Colorado. I will eventually get a one ton dually in 8-10 years when I retire and become a full time puller, but for now I can deal with my 3/4 ton.

I think the responses would have been a little different if you would have said you already purchased your TV.

With that, again, do the next right thing and get the right 5ver that your 250 can safely handle...whether it's for a short or longer trip.

Safe travels.

[Missouri_Man]

I see, we plan on small weekend getaways about an hour drive at the most.. And then 2 trips as we did last year. One to Georgia and one to Colorado. I will eventually get a one ton dually in 8-10 years when I retire and become a full time puller, but for now I can deal with my 3/4 ton.

[calamus]

We have a 3/4 ton and tow a 13,000lbs camper We are at the very limit. the pin weight is supposed to be 2700lbs and pay load is 3300lbs. We however live 5 miles from the campground we visit most of the time So not really towing it to far. couple of times a year we make a 3 hour trip and have never had problems.I would like to have a one ton dually. but not worth dropping the money now. The guys on here like to beat everyone up with a 3/4 ton but at the lakes here everyone tows great big 5th wheels and has a boat tied on to the bumper of the 5th wheel tandem pulling!

[Us_out_West]

OP....your truck decision in pulling the weights you mentioned should not include a 250.

You are in a good position, now, since you haven't purchased a TV....don't screw it up.

As others have said get the 350/3500 preferably a DRW, don't look back and enjoy your travels.

Edit: just saw you have already purchased a 250.

Now make sure the 5th wheel is the proper weight for the truck.

Good luck.

[Missouri_Man]

Thanks for all the sound advise, but I already purchased my 2014 f-250 Power-stroke.. I needed a daily driver, and the DRW was just not practical for my situation Nor would it fit in my garage. I am taking this all in. As for the difference between a 1 ton and a 3/4 ton these days as far as the Fords are concerned, the SRW trucks are rated identical when it comes to the fifth-wheel towing unless I would have purchased one with a 3:73 rear locker. Wheels and tires, brakes and powertrain have no differences. The 2 differences is 1 extra leaf spring and a heavier front coal over. Price differences was $2300. Beings I have been selling them for over several years and a lot of them to snow-birds and followed up with them for years, I am confident in my new truck just unsure about the campers. Most New 5 w's I have seen have pin weights from 2100-2500 lbs. I dont plan on pulling a tow hauler triple axle monster. The Columbus, Cardinal, and Alpines all have a dry weight of 11-12k maybe even 13k. I am figuring on 1500lbs for packing gear and load up with food and other sorts as soon as I have reached my destination. After a few mistakes in the past of loading up before I pulled out I decided on a checklist of must haves to pack. I will look at the Pinacle as well. There is an RV show in a month, I just want to know what really works in the camping world as far as quality and longivity. Thanks again to all the members advise.

[JIMNLIN]

Missouri Man wrote:
Great advice so far, beings that I have worked at a Ford store for over 9 years I have found out that the pay load for my truck is 3554lbs and to strenthen it up to a 1 ton is one spring which boosts the payload 900lbs and 150lb coal springs up front.. Brakes, and tranny are the same. I surely am not going more then 13k-14k in camper weight.

Wise choice.
A 15k trailer can have pin weights up to 3000 lbs which is pushing the limits on certain configurated F250 trucks and well over heavier F250s 6200 RAWR rear axle/tire load capacities. I sure wouldn't pass up a deal on a F350 SRW with the higher rated wheels tire and 7000 RAWR spring pack ..... if the the cab package suits your needs.
Some of the pin wight estimates are on the very high side. As was mentioned the newer gen trailers have lower percentage pin weight than 5-7 year older units. CCC also tends to be higher the last few years which makes for lower actual gross weight and loaded pin weights.

[crickeydog]

desiphil wrote:

crickeydog wrote:

Missouri Man wrote:
I have found out that the pay load for my truck is 3554lbs.

Thats exactly my point!!! A 5'er with a GVWR of 14000lbs will result in approximately 3500lbs of pin weight (25% of the 5'ers 14000 GVWR). Add 300lbs for a hitch, full fuel (290 lbs), and two adults (300 lbs) and you've already exceeded your 3/4 ton trucks 3554 payload (your figure) by 890 lbs. And thats without anything else in the bed of your truck but the hitch and nothing in the cab but 2 adults.
If you plan to tow a 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs, you need a CCC of 5000lbs+...something only a DRW diesel pickup is capable of. As I and others have stated, you're wasting money on a 3/4 ton truck if you plan to tow a mid or high profile multi slide 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs. Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

Understand where you are coming from, but most of the new big FW's are surprisingly light on the hitch weight. Check out some current brochures. 2500lbs is about as heavy as you'll find on the $50-60k units

RV sales brochures are a COMPLETE JOKE regarding specs. Our 2004 HR 5'er (see sig) had a brochure dry weight listed at 9800 lbs. The day we took delivery, we pulled it straight to a scale, completely empty, no water and full propane...it weighed 11,760 lbs...almost a full ton more than the brochure suggested. Loaded pin weight today on our 30' 5'er with a GVWR of 14400 is 4050 lbs. Our Sierra weighs 8800lbs when unhitched. When hitched, we're over our 1 ton DRW Sierra's GVWR of 11900 lbs by over a 1000lbs. Imagine if we were still pulling with a 3/4 ton truck.

We have close camping friends who bought a new 34' Sanibel 2 years ago and attempted to tow it with their 2006 Ford 3/4 ton CC diesel truck. They finally gave up this year and bought a 2013 Ford F-350 CC DRW diesel.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[desiphil]

crickeydog wrote:

Missouri Man wrote:
I have found out that the pay load for my truck is 3554lbs.

Thats exactly my point!!! A 5'er with a GVWR of 14000lbs will result in approximately 3500lbs of pin weight (25% of the 5'ers 14000 GVWR). Add 300lbs for a hitch, full fuel (290 lbs), and two adults (300 lbs) and you've already exceeded your 3/4 ton trucks 3554 payload (your figure) by 890 lbs. And thats without anything else in the bed of your truck but the hitch and nothing in the cab but 2 adults.
If you plan to tow a 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs, you need a CCC of 5000lbs+...somethijng only a DRW diesel pickup is capable of. As I and others have stated, you're wasting money on a 3/4 ton truck if you plan to tow a mid or high profile multi slide 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs. Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

Understand where you are coming from, but most of the new big FW's are surprisingly light on the hitch weight. Check out some current brochures. 2500lbs is about as heavy as you'll find on the $50-60k units

[desiphil]

Of the ones you mentioned, I'd say Cardinal & Columbus. You may also want to look at the Sanibel, as its another Forest River with many similarities to the Columbus.

While the 3/4 tons out there will be rated to pull it, these are big FWs. I'd also recommend a DRW.

[crickeydog]

Missouri Man wrote:
I have found out that the pay load for my truck is 3554lbs.

Thats exactly my point!!! A 5'er with a GVWR of 14000lbs will result in approximately 3500lbs of pin weight (25% of the 5'ers 14000 GVWR). Add 300lbs for a hitch, full fuel (290 lbs), and two adults (300 lbs) and you've already exceeded your 3/4 ton trucks 3554 payload (your figure) by 890 lbs. And thats without anything else in the bed of your truck but the hitch and nothing in the cab but 2 adults. A 3/4 ton truck simply isn't rated to haul that kind of weight. It may be rated to tow it!!! But you won't find one rated to haul it.


If you plan to tow a 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs, you need a CCC of 5000lbs+...something only a DRW diesel pickup is capable of. As I and others have stated, you're wasting money on a 3/4 ton truck if you plan to tow a mid or high profile multi slide 5'er with a GVWR in excess of 12000lbs.

We're throwing ya pearls here "Missouri Man". Unless you just have some great desire to waste $50K on a 3/4 ton 2014 truck, don't make the same mistake that I and countless others have already made on buying 3/4 ton trucks to tow mid to high profile multi slide 5'ers in excess of a GVWR of 12000lbs. You're just delaying the inevetable. Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[jmtandem]

A 15,000 pound fifth wheel can have 3000 pounds or more in the bed plus a hitch that weighs 200 or more pounds. That is often at or over the payload of a three quarter ton truck. And towing 15,000 pounds is solidly in diesel terrority. I agree and concur with all the above get a one ton dually comments.

[greende]

I bought a 2008 2500HD with DMax engine. Worked great for my TT. I thought I was all set when we went to look at 5th wheels. Found out that I would have been overloaded pulling the empty 5er off the lot. We knew we would be looking at a higher end unit when the kids no longer want to camp so decided to trade up to a 3500HD DRW. Lost some money but we're glad we did. JMO.