I recently upgraded fifth wheels from a 1993 Jayco eagle to a 2005 285BHS Coachman Chaparral Bunkhouse. I know I need a larger truck to pull this as it's UVW is 7771 and it's GVRW is 9450lbs. I want to stick to gas as it will be used to pull on the weekends, generally a half hour away, sometimes 3 hours away. Does anyone pull a fifth wheel of this weight with a 2500HD with 4.1 gears? If so, how does it pull and what is the general fuel mileage? The truck will be a crew cab with standard box. Does the 6.0 gas have enough torque or do I need to look at a V10 Ford?

Look at the Cargo Capacity of the truck. If it can CARRY 2500lbs +/- then you will be ok. A larger cargo capacity on your rear axles is always better for a 5er truck.I think you will be fine with any 250/2500 truck and a 5er with a GVWR of under 10,000lbs but that is just a generality not a for sure.Without knowing the cargo capacity/rear axle weight rating of the truck and the hitch weight of the 5er you cannot get an exact answer.You should get around 9=10MPG and my 2500 diesel pulls my 10,000lb fiver like it is not there...at least until we hit a steep hill and it downshift. ;)

I had an 2003 2500HD 6.0, 4.1 crew cab 4x4. I used to pull a Keystone sprinter 303BH. Dry weight 7570. GVWR of around 9500 can't remember exactly. The only issue I had was in South Dakota. My temperature gage would climb. Truck never really over heated. I traded off shortly after that and went with the one in my signature. The 2003 was actually raged for towing 10500. With GVWR of 9200 for truck.Good luck.

I think you will be fine. Check on the truck's tow and haul ratings.BTW I don't know exactly when ford dropped the V 10 in the F 350 and below. Maybe around 2011.the ford 6.2 pulls my fifth wheel fine for me.

We are towing with the V10 now, not sure the axle ratio. It does fine with a similar size 5er.You are in Iowa so not too many high altitude grades to worry about. Check the tow ratings and if it fits, it should be fine.

I think the 2500 6.0 4.10, would be a good match for your new to you FW. The V-10 Ford 250, would work great too, just a little harder to find.Good luck with your search, and welcome to the forum!Jerry

Need new tow vehicle | Good Sam Community

rskeans
Explorer
Mar 06, 2015
In 1999 I pulled a 14K lb 5ver with an F350 V10 w/4.30 ratio. It did it, but it was painful. I think your biggest concern would be pulling with a 2500. My V10 averaged 8.0 mpg from CA to Montreal. I thought that was good, but I rarely went over 60mph.
Bamaman11
Explorer
Mar 06, 2015
There's just no substitution for a diesel for any trailer over 10K total weight or for an owner that's going to put many miles on a truck. They just pull so much easier and last so much longer.
laknox
Nomad
Mar 06, 2015
mprice11 wrote:
I recently upgraded fifth wheels from a 1993 Jayco eagle to a 2005 285BHS Coachman Chaparral Bunkhouse. I know I need a larger truck to pull this as it's UVW is 7771 and it's GVRW is 9450lbs. I want to stick to gas as it will be used to pull on the weekends, generally a half hour away, sometimes 3 hours away. Does anyone pull a fifth wheel of this weight with a 2500HD with 4.1 gears? If so, how does it pull and what is the general fuel mileage? The truck will be a crew cab with standard box. Does the 6.0 gas have enough torque or do I need to look at a V10 Ford?

IMO, a 2500 gasser with 4.10 gears would pull that weight without an issue, especially in Iowa. Now, will it CARRY the pin? That's the $64,000 question. Figure at least 2k lbs on the pin, so you need to have a truck that's capable of carrying that much pin PLUS the hitch, people, fuel and "stuff".

Lyle
RLGetman
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
Got a 2011 Ford F450 Lariat for sale if anyone needs a tow vehicle.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 05, 2015
mprice11 wrote:
The V10 would be in an 2006 F350 crew cab long box. What could I expect for fuel mileage both pulling and non pulling?

I get 8-10 mpg towing, with my 6.2 Ford. I got 13-14 non towing, on the hi-way, but that was during break-in, so was speeding up, slowing down.

A V-10 CC 350, should get a little less, towing, and non towing.

You will not be bragging about mileage, whatever heavy truck you get. If it has the power, 6.0, 8.1, V-10, 6.2, they will be thirsty, towing or not!

If you found a nice 06 350 V-10, it will be a good towing machine, with good payload, and give you the option, of going a little bigger, on a future FW.

Good luck,
Jerry
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
I tow a 10k GVWR TT all day long with my Ford F-250 V-10/4.10 combo and don't think twice about it. I also have plenty of payload to pull the same weight in a 5th wheel but just don't like them. Can't speak to the 6.0L but a Ford 6.2L would do it as well.
mprice11
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
The V10 would be in an 2006 F350 crew cab long box. What could I expect for fuel mileage both pulling and non pulling?
mprice11
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
Thanks for all the replies. I believe the FW has a hitch weight of 1500 lbs, I assume this is dry weight as well. The 2500HD's appear to have a towing capacity of 10600 lbs with the 4.1 ratio according to nada. However, I have seen other tow rating capacities listed at 9900 lbs. Max payload is 3437 lbs and GVWR is 9200.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 05, 2015
I think the 2500 6.0 4.10, would be a good match for your new to you FW. The V-10 Ford 250, would work great too, just a little harder to find.

Good luck with your search, and welcome to the forum!

Jerry
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 05, 2015
We are towing with the V10 now, not sure the axle ratio. It does fine with a similar size 5er.

You are in Iowa so not too many high altitude grades to worry about. Check the tow ratings and if it fits, it should be fine.

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