Puma 253-FBS

[Bert_and_Ben]

I am looking at a Puma 253-FBS, they say it is 1/2 ton towable. Is anyone out there towing this unit with a 1/2 ton?

[troubledwaters]

Look for a yellow sticker on the door of your truck that should something like: "Combined weight of cargo and passengers should not exceed _____ lbs." What does that sticker say?

[Bert_and_Ben]

First of all thanks for the replies. I have a 2015 ford F-150 4X4 super crew, with 5.0 engine and 3:55 gears. I have done all the numbers and figured I would be at the edge, or just over, of towing capacity. I talked to one person in Florida that towed with a 1/2 ton and didn't have a problem with this unit. So I was just looking for more input.From all indications I should just go to a 3/4 ton, then all should be good. Thanks again.

[lenr]

Didn't answer the OP's question, but I see that no one else did either. We tow with an F-350 SRW CCSB 6.7 diesel which will throw that trailer around like it is hardly there. 65 mph up Monteagle Mountain no sweat, but a big $ premium for that engine. If one really wants to tow the 253-FBS with a gas engine I'd look for an outgoing 2017 model F-250 or 350 with rebate--consider even the white trucks in XL and XLT packages. Fords 6.2 gas engine does well in fuel mileage tests by magazines compared to others in the 6.0 - 6.4 range and the Ford 6 speed transmission is great for towing. My son has an F-350 gas that tows a 7,000 lb. bumper pull trailer well. He says he'll never spend the money for a diesel.

[lenr]

Our 2014 Puma 253-FBS weighs 9400 with 1740 on the king pin scaled, ready to camp, fully loaded. We get about 11 mpg diesel which is about the same as we got with the previous square nose bumper pull 6500 lb trailer. I would attribute that to to the more rounded aerodynamic front end of the Puma fifth wheel. Having towed that previous trailer with a small block V8 F-150 I would guess the mileage with a gas engine is going to be down around 8 mpg. Also, based on our F-150 experience I would not consider any truck (half ton or more) that doesn't have at least a six speed transmission because you're going to spend a lot of time in lower gears with a high a high revving gas engine . If that sound doesn't bother you, then today's engines will take the revving just fine. I would also try to get the heaviest tow package available (Max Tow in Ford land) along with the heaviest payload package to take the pin weight. The Ford Eco-boost 3.5 engine has a great torque curve for towing compared to naturally aspirated engines but Ford suggests premium gasoline while towing adding to the fuel cost while getting bad mileage. Other than the Eco-boost I wouldn't consider less than a 6 liter engine for towing this Puma, so another option is to jump to a 250/2500 gasoline engine truck. You'll still experience a lot of 4th and 5th gear except when going down hill, but it will feel more solid.

DO NOT trust either a RV or truck salesman to give safe advice--do your own research. Feel free to PM me.

[Lwiddis]

Bert is MIA. Is Ben around?

[MFL]

Many 1/2 ton trucks, but some are more capable than others, when towing a FW. Some, but not all, would be able to carry the loaded pin wt of that FW. Payload and RAWR will vary. What year/make/model 1/2T do you have?

Jerry

[Lwiddis]

1,128 hitch weight...hmmm.

[darsben1]

Well it is esy to figure. Go to your truck and look at the sticker by the drivers door.
What you want is the curb weight and the Gross Vehicle weight rating. Subtract curb from GVWR and that is your payload.
Now add up the weight of all passengers and gear you plan to put in the truck.
Subtract that from payload.
You now know how much hitch weight you can handle. Hitch weight is about 15% of trailer weight and according to PUma is 1128 pounds with rig empty; if you put water, groceries, clothes etc in the rig 15% of that weight will be hitch weight (usually)
If your truck is truly a half ton payload then NO YOU ARE OVER PAYLOAD CAPACITY by 600-800 pounds

Where it states hitch weight insert pin weight

[Lwiddis]

Hey, Bert, since you didn't post the TT numbers I'll look that up. Can't look up your TV numbers since you didn't post that at all...1/2 ton doesn't tell us anything.