Hey all first post hereWe had decided to move up to a fifth wheel so upgraded the truck and bought a fifth wheel and all was good or so we thought. I am supposed to pick up the trailer this Wednesday(in 3 days) and while searching on slide or no slide I found I made a big mistake. We bought a f150 ecoboost with the max tow package thinking that gave me 3000lb cargo and 11000lb tow. Found out that for the 3000lb I need the max cargo option I don't have. We purchased a cougar xlite 28rbd with a tow weight of 7000lb and pin of 1400lb. To make sure I don't do a repeat on the truck I'm Herero make sure I don't miss anything. I am now looking at an f250 crew cab 4x4 6.5' box. Dealer has listed it on the website as 2800lb cargo and 9300lb tow capacity even though it has listed the tow package option. Will this truck/trailer combination make a good pairing? If not what specific features/options do I need? I need to figure out something quick or I will have to start paying storage on the new trailer so I am limited on truck options. Thanks in advance

Real world diesel 2500 series is going to scale around 8000 pounds, gas motor version maybe 7500 pounds. What is this trucks GVWR as posted on the drivers door post?The fivers numbers you listed, are those GVWR or dry numbers from the brochure? Again, you need the fivers GVWR from the tag on the left front corner. Pin weight will be approx 20% of loaded, or for you the fivers GVWR. As long as the numbers work out in the worst case you should be OK.

Are you going to keep the trailer at your home ? If so, you could look into what it what cost to have an RV hauler put it there for you. The dealership would know of local ones. Or ones coming in with a load and having a side paying job could help someone from having to dead head back.This would give you time to make a decision and lessen the potential financial loss from having to make a hasty decision.As far as the truck, what is the difference in the options on the truck you already have ? Is it springs (fixable, not a terrible amount of money), rear-end gears ( a more pricey, but fixable issue) or what. If you could upgrade your truck to what you need for less than what you are going to lose by trading again then you could be further ahead UNLESS you intend to upgrade the trailer again and need a bigger truck.You need time to look into engine combinations, rear gear ratios all the stuff that will come into play depending on where you intend to go with the unit. At least that is my take on it as 1 hasty decision can lead into another if you don't have the latitude to step back buy correctly this time.

For the trailer that is the dry weight cargo weight is 2000lb. For the truck I am unsure as I have not yet spoken with the dealer only what is on the web. The other part that makes this more urgent is that we are currently in a 10 day camping trip in our current trailer. Wednesday I was to spend the day driving the current trailer to the dealer and swap trailers then continue our trip. Our trailer has already been sold by the dealer so if I can't correct the truck then trip is over Drcook I was under the impression legally there is nothing I can do aftermarket to increase the cargo rating of my truck? The only feature the current truck is missing is max cargo which I believe the major change there is an axel and wheel upgrade along with springs.

There is nothing you can do to increase the cargo RATING, that is, the sticker on the door. There is much you can do to increase the load handling ABILITY of the truck, that is, what it is physically capable of doing. Upgrading the wheels, tires, axles, springs, etc. will indeed increase the ability of the truck to carry additional weight.In your case, I take it your trailer's GVWR is 9,000 pounds. I would assume around 1,500 to 1,800 pounds of pin weight. Add to that the weight of the hitch and whatever passengers and gear will be in the truck. I think you will quickly reach 2,500 pounds. I would be looking for a more capable truck, not sinking money into the one you have to modify it.

KD4UPL wrote:. I think you will quickly reach 2,500 pounds. I would be looking for a more capable truck, not sinking money into the one you have to modify it.I agree that is why in the original post I gave the specs on an F250 to replace the f150. The trailer is supposed to be 1/2 ton towable according to keystone which was what caught our attention. At this rate I'll have to have a 1 ton dually before I'm done.

Truck/trailer weight help | Good Sam Community

Shipwreck2
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
On my way to hopefully buy a 2011 f250 with the 6.7L diesel fully loaded and only 60k I'm (~40k miles)
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2015
Secondly I hadn't looked at any numbers but cargo capacity as if I was pulled over I assumed this would be the number.

Actually roadside dot doesn't use any trucks payload sticker numbers for weighing a overloaded vehicle. The payload sticker is something new the last few years so most trucks on the road out here don't even have one.

What did we do before the payload sticker ??
Just stay under the RAWRs/tire load ratings or a registered gross weight if your state/province uses any, and if your ever pulled over there will be no vehicle over weight ticket.

op wrote:
For a 2011 or newer f250 is there any specific options in regards to towing or cargo loading I need to make sure I get to maximize capabilities?

Look for the F250 with the heavy service package which is the same package as the F350 SRW 7000 RAWR. See my post above.
Shipwreck2
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015
For a 2011 or newer f250 is there any specific options in regards to towing or cargo loading I need to make sure I get to maximize capabilities?
Shipwreck2
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015
I am starting to figure out part of my confusion. First the capacity stickers on the door and published don't quite match. Secondly I hadn't looked at any numbers but cargo capacity as if I was pulled over I assumed this would be the number.

Now I realize my current f150 does not have the capacity and am not disputing it. It will be replaced so if I refer to it, it is only for reference or my understanding.

I still like like the f150 better then the f250 both in looks and styling. There is a F150 heavy duty with the upgrade 4800lb rawr, 7 lug hubs and e rated tires. Actual cargo sticker is 2242lb on a crew cab 6.5' box 4x4. I know if I filled the camper cargo to max I would be pushing it but I know I don't come close to it and the only time my tanks have liquid is in the campground. What are the thoughts on this as a tv?
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2015
op wrote:
Looking at theF250 specs for a 2015 with the crew cab and 4x4 it drops down to 2100lb capacity. My 150 crew cab 4x4 is 1800 (door sticker). Does the 250 really only get me 300lb more? And if I go diesel it's even less.

I am so confused.

JFI the F250 with the heavy service package has the same package as the F350 SRW with the 7000 RAWR.

You keep referring to your F150 which simply doesn't have enough RAWR to carry a load and pin weight from that size trailer
There is no F150 that has enough RAWR to carry Fords 3000-3300 lb payload number in the bed or on the F150's rear axles/tires. All you have to do is add 3000 lbs to the F150 road ready rear axle which can weigh in the 2000-2500 lb range.

Now when we step up to a 250/350 we get a 6100 RAWR on up to 7000 RAWR for much more usable load carrying capacity. Both trucks have the same rear axle....just different spring packages and suspension blocks.
Just about any 250/2500 will have around 2800-3200 lb for a payload on the trucks RAWR as its carrying all the load.

Choose a truck with plenty of RAWR to carry the load with some reserve and enough motor to pull the trailer with ease.

Any 250/2500 diesel will carry the load and pull a 10k-11k 5th wheel trailer with ease.
MFL
Nomad II
Oct 09, 2015
Shipwreck2 wrote:
Thanks for all the help so far. I was able to get the trailer dealer to do me a huge favour so now the trailer is good until spring. Gives me area months to finds truck which is going to be hard most of our Canadian trucks see to be headed to the states with the current exchange rate

Looking at theF250 specs for a 2015 with the crew cab and 4x4 it drops down to 2100lb capacity. My 150 crew cab 4x4 is 1800 (door sticker). Does the 250 really only get me 300lb more? And if I go diesel it's even less.

I am so confused.

Shipwreck2, I sent a PM
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2015
That very well could be true, that's the reason many suggest just going for the 350/3500 series Trucks with srws, increased capacity and from what I understand very little difference in price. I know a few years back I was looking to order a Chevy 2500 and the Dealer gave me a better deal on a 3500 Dually with all the features I was after. Didn't really need the Dually at that time, but glad I did the deal as it made it much easier when we moved up to a 5er.
Shipwreck2
Explorer
Oct 08, 2015
Thanks for all the help so far. I was able to get the trailer dealer to do me a huge favour so now the trailer is good until spring. Gives me area months to finds truck which is going to be hard most of our Canadian trucks see to be headed to the states with the current exchange rate

Looking at theF250 specs for a 2015 with the crew cab and 4x4 it drops down to 2100lb capacity. My 150 crew cab 4x4 is 1800 (door sticker). Does the 250 really only get me 300lb more? And if I go diesel it's even less.

I am so confused.
1jeep
Explorer II
Oct 06, 2015
OP...I drive a ford super duty but if i had to make a choice between a f250 with the 5.4 and a ram 2500 with the hemi, well i guess i would be a dodge guy. I honestly think the 5.4 is a good engine, but way underpowered for that truck.
RangerEZ
Explorer
Oct 06, 2015
Excellent questions OP. I'm looking at that exact camper. I am researching a similar dilemma with my 2500... for me I have 2300# payload which runs out quick with the 1450 hitch weight yet still have plenty of axle capacity left with 6100# RAWR. So, I tend to agree with those above who note RAWR as a key number to watch. FYI, I have two friends with max/max F150 EB trucks. They're very capable outfits and pull great. Payload is the bugaboo. Good luck.

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