F350 Supercab 7.3L Diesel Dually TV - Can it Pull it?

[kjmedwards]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 2002 F350 Supercab 7.3L Diesel Dually 4X4. It has 60K miles and in great shape. This truck has a GVWR of 11,500, Rear GAWR of 8,350 and Front of 5,200.

We are looking at a Heartland Road Warrior fifth wheel, toy hauler. It has a GVWR of 18,000 and a dry weight of 14,090. The hitch weight of the RV is 3,200.

I am new to the fifth wheel world and am trying to determine if my truck can handle this trailer? I wanted to see if folks had some insights that could help us make the right decision. If you need more information, please let me know.

Thanks again for any advice you might have.

[larry_barnhart]

kjmedwards wrote:
Hi,

I recently purchased a 2002 F350 Supercab 7.3L Diesel Dually 4X4. It has 60K miles and in great shape. This truck has a GVWR of 11,500, Rear GAWR of 8,350 and Front of 5,200.

We are looking at a Heartland Road Warrior fifth wheel, toy hauler. It has a GVWR of 18,000 and a dry weight of 14,090. The hitch weight of the RV is 3,200.

I am new to the fifth wheel world and am trying to determine if my truck can handle this trailer? I wanted to see if folks had some insights that could help us make the right decision. If you need more information, please let me know.

Thanks again for any advice you might have.

If you buy this truck you will find out the reverse gear is on the high side so when backing up and needing to give it more throttle to get it moving this will dump the trannie fluid on the ground. The fix is to use the 4x4 low because this will be a lower ratio and save you the problem.
chevman

[blt2ski]

jerem0621 wrote:
Just for comparison sake.

My 99 2wd V10 Gasser Crew Cab XL (no options but AC) weighs 7600 lbs scaled with a full tank of gas and a 500 lbs of people.

My truck has a GVWR of 11,200 lbs

Meaning that I have an available payload of 3600 lbs.

I think you need to scale your truck and find out where you really stand.

Thanks!

Then if one uses the total of the axels, 13500 less 7600 is around 6000 lbs of payload! if one really balances themselves out! Potentially, one has enough truck!

I would ask, which trans? the 5 sp torqueflight, go for it! the 4 sp auto.......oh dear oh me oh my! If it is rebuilt to some MUCH stronger specs you may do ok. But that is a much worst tranny to tow with vs the 5 sp torqueflights, or the manual option. First will be too tall for that total load on some grades, you will tear the trans apart, or overheat to death......... The rest of the truck will not have issues.

Marty

[jerem0621]

Just for comparison sake.

My 99 2wd V10 Gasser Crew Cab XL (no options but AC) weighs 7600 lbs scaled with a full tank of gas and a 500 lbs of people.

My truck has a GVWR of 11,200 lbs

Meaning that I have an available payload of 3600 lbs.

I think you need to scale your truck and find out where you really stand.

Thanks!

[Lantley]

352 wrote:
I must say if that don't pull anything you want than nobody else out there has anything better.

Huh There are more capable trucks than an 11 year old F350.
Nothing wrong with the 7.3 I have owned 2 of them but I would not consider that combo ideal. There are better options.

[RoyJ]

The Texan wrote:
Toy haulers start with a higher ratio for pin weight, to compensate for the heavy toys behind the wheels. Once loaded, the pin weight will be closer to normal.

Bingo. More often than not, the pin weight of a toy hauler actually drops with a fully loaded cargo bay.

Either way, the most important thing to look for is not going over the axle capacities. GVW itself is more arbitrary, which is the reason commercial DOT only look at the sum of GVAWs, and not some magical GVW.

I'd say for the OP, the truck is more than enough in terms of safety. You won't be passing people uphill at 70, but you shouldn't be to begin with!

[The_Texan]

Toy haulers start with a higher ratio for pin weight, to compensate for the heavy toys behind the wheels. Once loaded, the pin weight will be closer to normal.

[kaydeejay]

kjmedwards wrote:
We are looking at a Heartland Road Warrior fifth wheel, toy hauler. It has a GVWR of 18,000 and a dry weight of 14,090. The hitch weight of the RV is 3,200.

If that is the dry pin weight you have a relatively high pin ratio of 22%.
That means if you loaded to GVWR, your pin weight would be 4100#. Seems to me that eats up the total truck payload. You need some leftover for people, the hitch and other stuff.
Even if you load lighter (say 16K#) and can get the payload within range, pulling even 16,000# with 250 HP and a truck rated for 12,800# is not my idea of a carefree drive!
There's a reason for the 12,800 tow rating - probably the transmission, so you would be pushing an 11 year old trans way beyond its design limits.
Did I say I suggest that is not a good idea!

[352]

I must say if that don't pull anything you want than nobody else out there has anything better.

[hammer21661]

I had and pulled one about like that, mine was 40' road warrior with an 03 ram 3500 srw with 2 springs added to the pack. You do have a 7.3 though but I would think you'd be ok. Just my opinion I could be wrong. Big hills = 2nd gear unless you have a manual.

[mbutts]

The Ford Towing Guide for 2002 shows 12,000 max for a fifth wheel for a Supercab 4x4 diesel. The Ford payload guide shows 4,440 payload (you have to subtract the weight of options to get the payload for your truck).

Probably worth making a trip to the scales and investing $10 in a weigh. GVWR - truck weight = payload

[bmanning]

rhagfo wrote:

kjmedwards wrote:
The GVWR for the truck is 11,500.

GVWR is only 85% of total axle rating, 13,550# total axle rating. Install an Exhaust Brake, with a lockup TC, and even though you might be a bit over the GVWR, it will likely do OK.
Just remember i didn't endorse your actions.

x2, right down to "it's ok, but don't tell anyone I said it's ok"

LOL

Exhaust brake is a MUST.

[rhagfo]

kjmedwards wrote:
The GVWR for the truck is 11,500.

GVWR is only 85% of total axle rating, 13,550# total axle rating. Install an Exhaust Brake, with a lockup TC, and even though you might be a bit over the GVWR, it will likely do OK.
Just remember i didn't endorse your actions.

[The_Texan]

kjmedwards wrote:
The GVWR for the truck is 11,500.

Correct, the SRW F-350 was 9900, not the DRW model. Yes, you will be within the specs with that 5er and the truck will handle it very well.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

You are already asking the wrong question.

Of course the vehicle can pull the trailer (fiver).

The question to ask is "Can this vehicle carry the pin weight of this fifth wheel???"

I don't know the specs for that particular vehicle, so will not make further comments.

But please keep in mind that of all things related fifth wheel wise, the "carry" factor for the vehicle being able to handle pin weight is by far the most important.

Pulling is not so much, but can become critical also. Your vehicle has a GCVWR, which is the max weight for truck and trailer added together. Usually though the carry factor will eliminate a too heavy fifth wheel.