Future f250 and raptor 297se

My setup is heavier than yours, but I had the same dilemma. Could I hook a bigger trailer to my existing truck, and "make it work". I can tell you from personal experience that you should think carefully if you are wanting to upgrade your trailer. I have a 2000 F350 SWR 7.3 diesel, and we upgraded our trailer to a 16k Voltage 3905. I read the specs, and talked to "people who should know about these things" and decided that with a few upgrades, my well maintained, low milage truck should do the job. I am only slightly embarrassed to tell you that I learned a very important lesson, and we now own a 2010 F450 dually. The F350 is for sale. You can read my post on one of the other threads about my experience, but you should know that if you have questions about your setup, you are worried that it won't be enough. If you are worried about it, you won't be comfortable driving it and will not enjoy camping as much, and will probably not go as much as you would like to.

If Dodge is not an option, an F-350 is the only reasonable option you have left. I have an F-350 SRW, but would switch to DRW before I moved up to the Raptor. Then again, I go cross country a couple times per year, off-road sometimes, and love the mountains. I need the stability.

Just trying to learn so forgive me. I understand the roughly 15k gvw of the camper loaded. However, I would never haul water. I would haul a golf cart or harley. I can't imagine packing it with 4000 plus pounds of stuff. I can see the diesel being helpful. I won't get a drw. Would most of you still go with a f350 or 3500 chevy. Sorry dodge lovers but no dodge for me.

Without getting into a Ford/Chevy/Dodge battle,
We had a n 04 2500 HD Chevy Crew Cab, 4X4 with the 6.0 and 4.10 gears
Pulled a 10K bumper pull around OK, but not good. 3 to 4 MPG pulling fully loaded and in 2nd gear at 4500 RPM most of the time if the road was anything but flat or down hill.
On vacation without toys and water (-2,500 #'s) she got 8-10 MPG and was happy with that load.
Now pulling the same setup with a 08 GMC D-max, Crew Cab, 4X4 and 3.73 gears she gets 8-10 pulling the full load, 10-12 without the toys and water and 16-18 MPG not towing.
The gasser never overheated or broke down and always got the job done, but I was just not comfortable with working the truck that hard. I tried a tuner on the gasser and played with the program and shift points and never could get any better performance from Her.

My opinion, not enough truck for the rig you wish to pull

Agree with JIMNLIN. Need at least a F350 Diesel for that much trailer. A DRW will really be rock solid, but you can get away with a newer F350 and that trailer.

You don't need a DRW truck for a trailer that size unless you just want one. However lets look at some of numbers.

Fleet Ford Body advisory spec sheets show a F250 4x4 crew cab 6.2 smallblock has a 10k and a 6100 RAWR. The F250 comes from Ford with with a 6100 RAWR and weighs a unladin 2850 lbs. Which leaves around 3200 lbs for a max axle payload. Add another 150-200 lb for a hitch and another 200 for gear and folks leaves the truck with 2800 for a wet pin weight.

The 297se Raptor web shows a 11000 ship and a 4397 CCC = a 15400 GVWR. The pin weight from a 15k 5th wheel trailer will be in the 3000 lb range.
The F250 simply doesn't have the rear suspension to handle a 5er's pin weight that size.
I don't think you will like the towing performance from the 6.2 smallblock gas engine towing a 15K trailer. I've seen towing complaints in windy areas and the hills/mountains and poor mpgs from some smallblocks gas owners that are pulling 10k-11k.

I would look at the 6.7 diesel and the F350 SRW with 11500 GVWR and especially those bigger 7000 RAWR. With up to 4500 lbs payload, This truck fits a 15k trailer requirements very well.

I drive a F250 with 6.2 for work, and pull 6-8k bumper pull trailers regularly. 2nd gear will hold 45-50 mph uphill, but you will be on the redline rpm. I have a F350 6.7 diesel as a personal truck, it will pull circles around the 6.2 gas. Also the 6.2 gets around 7-8 mpg while towing, and 13-13.5 not towing, on highway. The diesel does 10-13 towing, and very consisted 18.7 mpg on the highway. Hope you find this useful.

You need dual rear wheels for that setup to be able handle the pin weight on the rear of your truck or will need to upgrade to 19.5" wheels and some suspension aids. I'm not sure what specifications changed for your year truck, but mine is rated for 14,400 lbs fifth wheel towing with 6100 lb rear suspension over a 9750 lb rated axle. Your power train may not be able to handle the weight without regearing your axles.

Your choice, if you decide to purchase this TH, is to spend significant money to upgrade your current truck or buy a larger one.

My buddy has one of those. It is not a light weight little TH.

Raptor 297SE Specs
Shipping Weight 11003
Carrying Capacity 4397
Hitch 2610
Length 35' 6"

gvwr 15,500#, 35' TH...
Thinking that could be time for a Power Stroke, Duramax, or Cummins, yes...?


What tires does that TH come with...?