Looking for a new fifth wheel what are the issues w size

[Kblock108]

Hello all, my wife and I (and our two small children ages 4 and 2) are looking at a fifth wheel to pull with our F250 super crew cab long bed diesel 4x4 (i threw all in there for the tech ques later). We will always have family with us and because of that we are more interested in the bunk house model with 1.5 baths. We are noticing that many campgrounds have a max length and one in particular in yellowstone where we are committed to doing next summer says 50 feet overall length. So my questions are as follows, what size should we try and stay at to not miss out on some campground amenities. Secondly, anyone know of a nice spot in yellowstone with an oversized set up? I dont want to do the fishing bridge, I want to be a little closer to nature and have the ability to have a fire pit.

Thanks for all your time

[Peg_Leg]

Rear axle weight and tire handling weight. Remember the 2 little ones, how safe do you want to be?

[caberto]

We have the model listed in my signature. It's a loft model with a large sofa/bed in back and a larger loft bed above, not bunk model, but works great for our kids and/or guests. It has 1.5 baths and a large slide out for that rear room. GVWR of the 5er is 12K, so don't let others tell you there aren't any models within your weight range; look around. Loaded pin weight at near 2K puts my truck right at or just over its GVWR, but well under the RAWR.

At 12K loaded our Duramax handles the 5er with no issues, either up or down the steep hills in California.

[dennisgt60]

Recommend not to exceed 10, 000 GVWR 5er. Plenty of modern models to choose. We are looking at a 31 footer with 9, 200 lb.. GVWR.

[Buckeye_Chuck]

REWahoo wrote:

Buckeye Chuck wrote:
The sticker on the driver's side door of your F250 will give you the max payload probably around 31000 lbs or less) ...

Yep, far less - as in 28,000 lbs less. 🙂

Errr...one too many 0s. My bad.

[JRS___B]

I agree with BC - Also, the old rule of thumb that about 20% of a fivers total weight shows up as pin weight is just that... a rule of thumb, nothing more. I have seen numbers ranging from 16% to 26% for pin weight as a percent of dry weight. Since a second A/C unit, probably your holding tanks, and most all of your gear ends up on the pin weight side of this rolling teeter totter, the final pin weight of various manufacturers' 32 foot fivers can be vastly different. Do not just assume 20%.

[REWahoo]

Buckeye Chuck wrote:
The sticker on the driver's side door of your F250 will give you the max payload probably around 31000 lbs or less) ...

Yep, far less - as in 28,000 lbs less. 🙂

[Buckeye_Chuck]

Probably the first thing you should conceder is the pin weight of the 5er. Get your truck weighed at a Cat scale full of fuel, all gear and passengers that you will be taking on your camping trip and the fifth wheel hitch(around 400 lbs). The Cat Scale will give you the steer axel (front) weight, the drive axel weight (rear) and the total weight of your truck. With that information you will be able to determine the max weight of the camper you plan on towing. The sticker on the driver's side door of your F250 will give you the max payload probably around 3100 lbs or less) and gross rear axel weight rating (probably around 6100 lbs.) When looking at the camper be mindful that the weight on the sticker is an empty weight and does not include any dealer installed options. For your truck I would try for a max fully loaded weight of around 13,000 lbs. With all this in mind you should be able to find a 5er in the 32 to 33 ft (pin to rear bumper) range that will fit your needs.

-BC-

[CentralCoastCam]

I agree with the other posters about the weight. I wouldn't want to try and tow my bunkhouse with any less truck than I have now. My next truck will probably be a MDT, as the wife is already looking to replace the trailer with a bigger bunkhouse model.
. Also, since you're from Calif. keep in mind that a lot of the state park campgrounds have a '32 max length. At least one of them near me has a '32 foot box painted on the ground at the entrance they use to check length.
Haven't been to Yellowstone yet, though it is on the list. Good info to have about the overall length. I'm in area of '55 feet overall length. My trailer is '37 bumper to hitch, and our trucks are going to be close in length, so that should give you some idea of how long yours would be.

[CORNFED__5-0_]

I and @hmknightnc are the same page with axle and GCVW. I have an F450 (16500 GVW) due to the weight of my bunkhouse trailer ( it has 3 slides) and I pull a small boat behind it. My trailer has a heavier tongue weight then the manufacture claims. Loaded, the hitch weight is over 4K (easy). I had a F350 crew cab dwly prior to the F450 and it was almost too much for it. The trailer would push it around. I spent a lot of money to make it safe.... but legal??? Not so much.

Getting pushed around by the trailer in the wind or when you loose a tire and you have to fight to keep the rubber side down.....I'm jus sayin....

On yellowstone, you are ok with a trailer 40 ft or under. My trailer is 36.5 ft. Long, not counting the hitch or bumper, and it is hooked to a crew cab long bed. It is tight at Fishing Bridge and some people have a hard time backing in ( but you are not going there) as it is at most CG's in YS. We have never had an issue with being over 50 ft total. Only once did the camp host walk out to look at the length and all he did was look at the factory sticker that says 33'TBH. But that is just the model number and that's all I have had anyone, anywhere check.

Madison CG has some that can take a large rig and it is a cool CG. No hook-ups but campfires are ok.

P.S. I saw you are from Cal, too ( SoCal for us). We make the trip to YS every 2 to 4 years and are planing a trip next year also. Have a good trip next year, we love the place.

[tsetsaf]

Agree with the weight comments. You will want to look in the 30-32 max range bunkhouse models. Toy haulers may give you a half bath in the back area but you will lose living room space to the garage. Length does not always mean heavy the newer designs are coming in significantly lighter than my 06 for similar floorplans. Look at pin weights in the 2k range.

[hmknightnc]

azdryheat wrote:
azdryheat wrote:

Your manual should state what size 5th wheel is recommended for your truck, which might be in the 15,000 range.

I hope you are kidding. 15k# FW meaning approximately 3k# pin wieght not including family, fuel and stuff on a 3/4 ton truck even a brand new one. Nope, Nada, not going to happen. Overloaded every day of the week. You will be over your axle and tire rating both of which are legal requirements

And I'm not a member of the wieght police. Pull an 18# trailer with an '06 dually. At or slightly over GVWR of truck and a couple thousand over GCWR but within tire and axle capacity.

[hmknightnc]

x2 on more concerned with wieght than length. If it is an older F250 (more than a couple years) you should be looking at a maximum of around 12k# GVWR FW (and that might be too heavy, check your actual truck specs for payload and axle capacity). If it is newer you might be able to get away with 14k# GVWR.

You can find several bunkhouses in that wieght range around 32' however I doubt you will find one with 1.5 baths (you'll like need a dually for that configeration although a modern 1 ton SRW might and I mean might do it)

[azdryheat]

oops, double post

[azdryheat]

azdryheat wrote:

Your manual should state what size 5th wheel is recommended for your truck, which might be in the 15,000 range. The door sticker will give you some weights you can use. You should easily be able to pull a mid 30's length trailer in the 14,000 GVWR range and there are lots to choose from. That is the GVWR of my Everest, it is 37' long, and my former 2009 Chevy 2500 Duramax handled it with ease including the steep mountain grades we see out here in the west. Only thing I added were airbags and aftermarket premium shocks. It pulled the same as my new dually; can't tell any difference.

Difference is, I don't stay in national parks so I can have a longer trailer for everything else. There are some very nice rv parks, like Grizzly RV park in West Yellowstone, which was awesome.

There are some nice bunkhouse models for the kids. My friend just got one and it's great. The kid's room has it's own bathroom.