SOS Towing question

The best advice available concerning your tranny is just over the hill at Holtville.

John Wood Automotive.

Get the facts, not personal opinions. Get the 5th wheel towing specs (not the sticker on your door frame) for your truck from the manufacturer and read them. You are legally responsible for having an adequate tow vehicle. Only Fords towing specs will keep you out of jail if you have an accident.

bucky wrote:
Watch out for AT tread styles, they are often rated much lower that the same size in a highway tread.

Could your post a refer that supports the statement above! I do not believe that is true. The industry standards for weight rating in the USA are the same by size and load rating across all manufacturers and tread pattern. A LT245/75R16E will be rated to 3042 on all tires that size and load rating "E"!

Chris

Thank you all kindly for your input. FYI here is a Ford site with towing capacity chart. Once again thank you all, this chart answered my doubts and questions... Sweet and Safe RV'N Fivers...
RP
http://fifthwheelst.com/tow_rating_ford_truck.html

Several people have stated to weigh the truck. I agree with that, but the 5er needs weighed as well loaded as it would be for a trip. Our 14,000 gross Jayco weighs 11,600 on the road with a 2600lb pin. Quite a difference from the 14,000 rating.
Tire ratings are very important here also. Someone mentioned the 245/75r16 size. I went to a 265/75R16 Transforce because they are rated at 3415 lbs. Watch out for AT tread styles, they are often rated much lower that the same size in a highway tread. After 13 years your truck will not have the original tires, make sure you are running a LT E rated set, not a P metric set somebody sold you over the years.
I would tow the new fiver and see how it does. If a different truck is then decided on the 7.3 will bring very good money. The problem with finding used duallys is that unless they were used for private use with RV's they are beat all to hell with higher mileages.

pardon my response I don't mean to come off as arrogant, but Ive never understood threads on here and diesel forums of guys looking to just scrape by with the minimum truck.... guys saying well I don't need a dually ill just put airbags on my 2500 and be fine blah blah. As far as I am concerned you have to pay to play, if your pulling larger fifth wheels you should pull it with a vehicle that exceeds towing requirements. I would think if your on here asking the question of weather or not your truck will fit the bill for your new camper you already know you shouldn't be towing with it. Theres no doubt in my mind you should be pulling that rig with a dually.

we pull a 32' keystone Laredo, and a 20ft crestliner sportfish behind that, I wouldn't even consider hooking up with a SRW after pulling this rig with a dually.

Allworth wrote:
That payload seems unusually low for a 15 F-250. The towing guide from Trailer Life shows fiver ratings of at least 15,000# for any cab/bed configuration. Pin weight alone would be about 3,000 pounds.

Not questioning your information about your own (not mine) truck, but where did 2,200# come from? (Well, I guess I am questioning it!) That just doesn't seem right.

I firmly believe there is not one Manufacturer out there who has grasped the concept of the relationship of Tow ratings to fiver pin weights.
And I used to work for one of them. Tried in vain to get the appropriate engineers to comprehend what pulling a fiver entails.
Most 3/4 ton diesels are rated to PULL at least 15,000# but I have yet to see one that can CARRY 3000# plus occupants, hitch and other "stuff".
IMHO it should be the next step in terms of SAE tow rating specs!!

rgstarnes wrote:
If all the other specs are ok, you can increase the pin weigh number with a leaf addition to the springs and having the installer re-certify the truck max load weigh.

That "installer" will have to recertify that the vehicle meets ALL Federal Emission and Safety standards at the new weights and print a new compliance label for the door..
Good luck finding one to do that!

. Our '15 f-250 6.7L has a payload capacity of 2200#. We are well within our limits as of now with the TT. However, if we would go the 5th wheel route,

That payload seems unusually low for a 15 F-250. The towing guide from Trailer Life shows fiver ratings of at least 15,000# for any cab/bed configuration. Pin weight alone would be about 3,000 pounds.

got the number from the yellow sticker inside the door. Actually i think it was 2180. We also have a '15 Platinum and the yellow sticker on it shows 19## something.

What is the exact truck you have?

What was quoted above is wrong.. All ford trucks are rated from 12500 lbs for conventional towing to 16600 ilbs for fifth wheel towing.. It all depends on the truck body style and rear gear ratio..


With that said yoyr best bet is too ...

1. Get the truck weighed at cat scale. Full tank of gas and passengers/payload. Get individual axle weights front and back.
2. Take the yellow door tag RAWR and subtract it from the rear catscale weight. That will give you your payload.
3. Post your tires max psi and weight limit from side wall.
4. Find out what rear axle ratio you have

This will tell you what you you can tow... Without this info everyone is guessing...

I got the number from the yellow sticker inside the door. Actually i think it was 2180. We also have a '15 Platinum and the yellow sticker on it shows 19## something.

I guess the options on these trucks significantly reduce payload?