Purchasing Question

[AKinLA]

Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?

[korbe]

Besides the above issues on if your truck is powerful enough to pull the 5er, one concern we had was the length. Both for our driveway and camp spots. The longer the trailer, the fewer camp spots it will fit into. Not talking about RV parks, but state and federal campgrounds.

[lawnspecialties]

donn0128 wrote:
Not enough truck!
Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.

AKinLA. You will hear this quite often on this forum. There are those who really push the limits of their truck. Then are those who believe you should be driving a Kenworth to pull a pop-up. Its all over the spectrum here.

As some have stated, what year is your truck? I would be totally comfortable for a pin weight under 2500 lbs.. Under 2000 lbs. is even better. In my opinion, you are more than fine.

[Old-Biscuit]

A 12,000# GVWR 5th wheel is a great match for an F250 even an older one.

As requested.......
Post the year/model of your F250 and the year/model of that 5th wheel



Look up your F250 HERE ----see what it is rated for

Then load it up camp ready.......you/fuel/passengers and go get it weighed at a truck scale. Then you will know what you have for capability

[NC_Hauler]

AKinLA wrote:
Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?

Couple of things already mentioned, It would be helpful information to know the year of your truck. Also, use the 5er's GVW, not it's dry or empty weight...you won't be towing it "dry" or "empty". (thus not a realistic weight)..Take 20% of 5er's GVW and get a more realistic idea of what the "loaded" pin weight might be. All this will help get a better idea of the combo you're getting ready to put together.

[rhagfo]

donn0128 wrote:
Not enough truck!
Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.

Wow! you deduced that just from the Fact he has an F250!!
He didn't state year, engine, trans, gear ratio, or any of that information.

Yes, might exceed the GVWR of the TV, but likely not by much, and will still have plenty of axle and tire rating left.

There are plenty of us with 12,000# GVWR 5er easily being carried and towed by 250/2500's.

[IdaD]

donn0128 wrote:
Not enough truck!
Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.

It may or may not be enough truck, depending on age. On the newer models, an F250 is the same thing as a SRW F350 except for an overload spring and an axle block (in some cases as I think these are optional on the F250). Even if those aren't present they can be added and you've got exactly the same truck aside from the payload sticker and the decal on the fender.

Again this depends on year. I think in some of the older models the 3/4 ton series was actually somewhat lighter built in terms of axles used and etc.

[MFL]

AKinLA wrote:
Looking to purchase a 5th wheel, this will be my first RV. I've got a F-250 and looking mostly at used trailers. Pointers on what to really look for in a used unit vs. new would be appreciated. There is one in particular I'm interested in. It has sat under cover and on concrete (2 yrs) since it was originally purchased, what concerns would the forum have with this type of unit?

Welcome to the forum,

You need to give a little more info, on your truck, and the actual model FW. It helps to know the GVWR of the FW, to get an idea of the loaded pin weight.

An F250 is a good tow vehicle! The newer ones will carry more pin weight than an older one. Most 250s should handle a middle sized FW.

PM me if you want, I tow a mid sized FW, GVWR 12,110, with a 13 F250.

Jerry

[donn0128]

Not enough truck!
Fords are heavy to begin with, and depending on year you could have a honest load carrying capacity as low as 1500 pounds. Dry pin weight is really a misleading number. You will NEVER tow a dry trailer. You may not ever see it, but lacking real world numbers take a worst case. Trailers GVWR is what you want to look at. 20% of that is your pin weight.

[AKinLA]

Appreciate the reply,

The Hitch Weight is 1,600 lbs and dry is 10,000 lbs.

[lawnspecialties]

Under a shelter is awesome if its really true. Look for soft places; especially in the floor to indicate a possible leak from rain. Inspect the roof to look for tears or cracks.

Inspect the tires for cracks and bubbles.

Run everything: lights, water, water heater, AC unit, heat, fridge, etc.

How much does it weigh? I'd try to keep a hitch weight under 2500 lbs. for an F250.