towing 2009 Jayco Eagle 345 BHS with 2002 f250, 7.3

[mcguirehg]

Looking for thoughts on the towing on this unit. I have a great interest in the unit because of the bunkhouse and layout. The specs on my f250 say we can tow 12,800 pound 5th wheel. The listing says the dry weight is 10,945 pounds. I figure that means I just can't over load the rig, up to the GVW of the rig is 14,500. This would give me 1,500 pounds of carrying capacity. We are first times and want to be sure I'm not figuring the towing capacity of my trucl incorrectly. Thanks Dan

[Lantley]

GAWR=6084
Unloaded axle= 3200
6084-3200=2884 for pin before exceeding axle rating.
If you estimate pin at 2800 that leaves 84 pounds before exceeding axle rating.
Does your F-250 already have a hitch in it? If not you need to add another 200# to the weight of the truck
6084-3200 (unloaded axle weight)-200 (weight of hitch)-2800 pin weight=-116.00
That equates to 116# over your axle ratings. That is with an empty bed and just you and your sons.
Also Bucky has an 07' you are looking at an 09' don't assume the weigh exactly the same.
As I mentioned above trailer appears to be too large. If you really like the trailer consider upgrading your truck. You will be exceeding all the ratings.

[mcguirehg]

Bucky has the same 5th wheel that is measuring pin weight of 2,600 @ 11,600 pounds gross. If I use a 23% pin weight (high side) and keep 5th wheel weight at 12000 pounds or less that would equal a pin weight of 2,800? The total axle weight would be 6,000 if I stay at 12,000 pounds or less. At 12,000 pounds - 10,945 pounds I would have a carrying capacity of over 1,000 pounds. Am I missing something?

[mcguirehg]

The rear axle weight of 3,200 included myself, two sons and an infant, full tank of gas too and measured at 3200

[Lantley]

I don't mean to rain on your parade but is seems like you will be at least 1500 pounds over the trucks GVW and within 100-200 pounds of rear axle rating without passengers.
Unless you care to ignore all the parameters the trailer is too heavy for your current truck.

[NC_Hauler]

Also PLEASE do yourself a favor and stop using the "dry weight" to figure all this out with. Dry weight is no propane, no nothing. I figure you'll have pot's, pans, clothes, outdoor chairs, and I believe it would truly amaze one when they've loaded up the unit, sell it and unload it...If you have a wife, they'll be more, ( bed clothes too), if you have kids, there will be even more. What about a pet? You may not fill the unit to it's max GVW, but odds are you'll easily fill it to an additional 1,000# over the units empty weight. THEN, you need to take 20% of the 5er's GVW and figure that is how much weight you'll drop into the bed of your truck. So...you'll add a full tank of fuel, a 5er hitch (approx. 200#), wife, kids, pets and whatever else you'll put in the truck and THEN drop the pin weight of the 5er into the bed of the truck.

......just saying, drop the "empty" or "dry" weight, it's a joke and one shouldn't base what they're truck can tow on that number....

[Supreme_Oppress]

Remember to add the weight of passengers and cargo including weight of hitch when doing your calculations.

[mcguirehg]

Rear axle gross weight in at 3200 today...I can increase pin to a max of 2900 and not exceed axle ratings ?

[bucky]

Our 345BHS is a '07. Loaded scale weights are 11,600, with 2600 on the pin and 9000 on the axles. I can't figure out what we could possibly put in there to get to the rated 14K unless we started an anvil business. The bunk room sold us too, as I will be darned if I am going to tippy toe around in the morning in my own trailer. The DGD and parents can go in there and shut the door, and all is well. It's very hard to find the right RV used, trucks are everywhere if you need to trade up. The 7.3 will do the job, but I'd feel better about a f350 long bed or a F350 LB with hips. I have seen a SRW long bed 02 F350 7.3 2WD with a GVWR of 9900lbs.

[rhagfo]

mcguirehg wrote:
Details about Truck:
2002 f250, 7.3l
3.73 axle rating
156" wheel base
crew cab
short bed
GVWR: 8,800
GCWR 20,000
front GAWR 5,200
rear GAWR 6,084
Actual Gross weight of truck: 7,460
(.5 tank of diesel, everyday items, no passengers)

Looking at 2009 Jayco Eagle 344 BHDS with:
Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 10945
GVWR (lbs/kgs) 14500

I did a real weight of the truck and it came in at 7,460......I included details above about the trailer and my truck.....I'm looking for a clear direction on towing this 5th wheel or not?

here is the issue you need to deal with.
GVWR 8,800# - GVW 7,460 = 1,340# Available payload.

That said the total of your axle rating is 11,284# and you likely have about 2,400 to 2,800 on your rear axle. If 2,800 then the math is 6,084 - 2,800 = 3,284# of axle available, you will be over your GVWR so I can't suggest doing this.
My rig is over GVWR, but well within Both axle ratings.

[mcguirehg]

Details about Truck:
2002 f250, 7.3l
3.73 axle rating
156" wheel base
crew cab
short bed
GVWR: 8,800
GCWR 20,000
front GAWR 5,200
rear GAWR 6,084
Actual Gross weight of truck: 7,460
(.5 tank of diesel, everyday items, no passengers)

Looking at 2009 Jayco Eagle 344 BHDS with:
Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 10945
GVWR (lbs/kgs) 14500

I did a real weight of the truck and it came in at 7,460......I included details above about the trailer and my truck.....I'm looking for a clear direction on towing this 5th wheel or not?

[mcguirehg]

my truck tag reads LT265/75r16e for the tires.....I would have to check that the truck still has these same size tires on

[rhagfo]

mcguirehg wrote:
Front GAWR: 5200 , rear GAWR 6084, I'm trying to get a better understanding of the numbers and how they impact towing, but also want to evaluate this truck for the Jayco?

Well I wasn't sure what your axle ratings were going to be, but they are the same as mine. I ended up with a 8,800# GVWR on the truck, yours is likely the same.

That said, this not what I recommend, but what I am doing.

I currently tow a 12,360# GVWR 5er with a dry weight of 9,820#, loaded for a normal trip it tips the scales at 11,000# =/-. I carry between 2,00# to 2,300# on the hitch (pin), at that weight I have about 5,100 to 5,200# on the rear axle.

My truck came with the Camper Package, which which includes larger tires 265/75-16 E, compared to stock 245/75-16 E , and 3500 springs and rear sway bar. I no longer post what I am over my GVWR, but I would not be much more over than I am. Keep in mind I have not made any changes to the stock suspension other than install a set of Bilstien 5100 shocks.

That said, the package tows great, I am not speaking of driving down an interstate with wide lanes and wide shoulders and smooth easy turns, I am talking two lane roads with NO SHOULDERS and narrow lanes and 55mph to 65 mph traffic. When we dropped this rig on our truck at the dealer it hardly dropped at all maybe an inch. To say the least I was a bit surprised the first time I hit the scales with the 5er loaded for a trip and a nearly full tank of fuel.

EDIT: Info for your 5er
Dry Weight 10,945#
Payload Capacity 3,555#
GVWR 14,500#
Hitch Weight Dry 2,432#

End Edit:

This is the rig leaving on our last trip, it had about 3/4 tank of fresh water on board.

Stops well YES
Accelerates well YES
Handles well Heck YES.

[jerem0621]

Here is what a lot of folks towing RV's end up doing.

1) throw the "tow rating" out the door. Towing 12500 lbs of flat load on a flat trailer (I literally mean flat) is not the same as towing 12500 lbs of fifth wheel. Aerodynamics play a much higher role with the fiver/TT. Also 20-25% of the fifth wheels weight will be on the 'pin'.

2) your GVWR minus your UVW (will probably be different than the posted curb weight, flashlights glovebox stuff etc, all add up) will be your "official" payload. (my FIL had a 99 Supercab PSD 4x4 lariat that had a payload of 1900 lbs). With a fiver plus gear in the truck you will most likely be over your official GVWR.

3) most find that it's not what you can tow, it's what you can carry. (Again, payload)

4) there is nothing you can do to increase the factory payload capacity. No matter what you do, the official GVWR will not change. However, you can increase the capability of the truck if needed, by adding F350 springs and increased capacity tires, airbags, etc.

Hope this helps,

Jeremiah

[mcguirehg]

Front GAWR: 5200 , rear GAWR 6084, I'm trying to get a better understanding of the numbers and how they impact towing, but also want to evaluate this truck for the Jayco?