Towing capacities aren't realistic, completely unachievable

[backwater83]

New to this forum, but looking for advice. My truck is a 2014 F350 SRW. Stated fifth wheel capacity is 15,900. I'm looking to buy a 39 foot 5er that weighs in at 14,400 with a pin weight of 2900. No way I can tow that because my cargo capacity is 3113. Once I put me and a bucket of chicken in the cab, I'm over weight. Pisses me off. I saw that Ford increased their super duty towing capacities on their 18-19 models.

The listed fifth wheel towing on the '19 F350 is 21,000. Problem solved. Its only gonna cost me 70 thousand dollars to get a truck that can tow the 5'er I want. I went to the dealer and looked at the door sticker on the '19. Guess what the cargo capacity is... 3200 pounds. What the holy hell! That's the same as I have now!! the '19 wont pull the camper either.

So I did some research. There isn't a 5th wheel out there over 14,000 lbs that has a tongue weight less than 2800 pounds. There is NO WAY the '19 truck with a listed 5th wheel cap can tow anywhere near the stated 21,000 pounds. ****, why not give it a 50k tow rating? 21,000 is just a meaningless arbitrary number that you'll never EVER be able to tow and stay in your weight rating!

I DO NOT want to buy a DRW truck. I put 50k miles on per year without towing, so yeah, it's a daily driver.

This is serious false advertising.

What do I do here? I'm trying to do things right but I feel like I'm going to have to tow overloaded just like the 70 percent of other people out there who I laugh at for towing WAY too much weight.

[Merrykalia]

Not all towing is of large RVs. Towing also includes boats, cargo trailers and other things. That is why you will see the trucks in commercials pulling these humongous boats, not usually large fifth wheels.

I agree that it causes great misconceptions, but it is advertising, not truthfulness.

[MFL]

The brochure tow ratings do not show ratings for the heavily optioned models. Most ratings are for cab style/bed length/wheelbase, and drive train, on basic optioned trucks. When TT tow rating is given, it is often limited by the receiver capacity, which has gone up in recent years. For FW towing, the numbers showing are similar, but not limited by receiver. A FW places most wt on the rear axle, so your axle rating/tire rating is the limiting number.

If you weigh your truck only, ready to camp, full fuel, and passengers, getting separate axle wts, you will see what is left for pin wt on your rear axle. All FWs are not the same either, as to gross wt/pin wt. One FW weighing 15,900 can have a heavier pin than another. A FW weighing 15,900 is going to have enough pin wt to be near your RAWR, depending how loaded, and what else is in bed of truck.

Jerry

[Chris_Bryant]

It has always been that way. The towing capacity is figured with a stripped, dry vehicle. I remember the Astro van, advertised as 5k capable, when you weighed everything, it was around 2k.

[4x4ord]

I think maybe some of the triple axle toy haulers might have lighter pin weights. I tow a tandem axle dually gooseneck equipment trailer that I could position my load on. I can keep my pin weight within ratings... but I probably don't. Is the 2900 lb pin weight of the trailer you're looking at empty pin weight? Being overloaded by a couple buckets of chicken has never bothered me.

[troubledwaters]

Buy a Travel Trailer. The hitch weight on a 14,000 lbs TT is only about 1700 lbs.

[backwater83]

My issue is with the truck manufacturers advertised towing capacity. That number is completely unattainable based on cargo weights being so low. Use the 21,000 lb number for example. The cargo weight is 3200 pounds. There are NO trailers that weigh anywhere near 21000 pounds that wouldn't overload the cargo cap, so you'd never be able to tow what the manufacturer boasts, the manufacturers are misleading consumers big time. Just annoying.

[jkwilson]

Your truck has seating for six, so do you expect it to meet all other specs with six 200lb people riding in it?

Manufacturer gives you maximum values and it's up to you to choose how to configure your truck and choose a trailer within its limits.

You put options on your truck that ate up the payload. SRW can have nearly 5,000lb payload with the right set of options. The options you have reduce payload but don't reduce trailer towing capacity so there is no reason for them to dumb-down the buying process so people no longer need to think.

[backwater83]

AZDRYHEAT, Thanks for the very helpful comment. *looks for 'sarcasm' button.

[REM13]

The unloaded pin weights of trailer units are published. The loaded pin weight can be estimated based on the published weight or by asking a person with experience the pin weight of specific units. The carrying capacity of all trucks is posted somewhere in every truck as set by the manufacturer. There should be no doubt about how much carrying weight a truck will bear. It is really up to the buyer to do their research before buying either a truck and/or a trailer to determine the pin weight is within the truck manufacturers set capacity. It takes a little research before buying either a truck or a trailer to make sure the trailer is within the carrying capacity of a truck. Unfortunately, a truck or a trailer is purchased before the capacities are determined. Been there, done that. There are many grossly overloaded single rear wheel trucks hauling heavy 5th wheel trailers but it seems to work for most of them.

[azdryheat]

You don't want a dually so live with it.

[topjimmy]

Man you worry too much RELAX:B you are good to go with that truck I tow that same weight with my 2004 3500 Short bed GMC Crew Cab and I am a "little" overweight but Believe me you are Good with a 2014 F350 SRW Just make sure your tires are up to the task now go out and buy that 5er and Enjoy will ya:)