We are thinking about getting a fifth wheel. Just not sure if my old girl is up for the task? My truck is a 2001 F350 Lariat with the 7.3L powerstroke(142,000 miles runs great!!). Also the truck came with the camper pkg. Just not sure what it is? Or what was added?The trailer is a 2015 Keystone Cougar 336BHS.Dry weight- 10,595lbscarry weight- 1,695lbspin weight- 1,890lbsAny help would be very much appriciated! Kevinhttp://www.rvt.com/Keystone-Cougar-336BHS-2015-West-Hatfield-MA-ID5979064-UX129950

While a 2005 and newer F-350 SRW will have a 11,500 pound GVWR and carry about 3,500 pounds of total between cargo, passengers and options, the 2004 and earlier F-350 SRW will not have nearly as much GVWR.I think that your truck will have a limiting 9,900 pound GVWR, and a curb weight around 7,000 to 7,700 pounds, depending on cab style and options. The 7.3L does not help, it is about 600 pounds more than the V10 or 800 more than a 5.4L. Your truck should be fine with a 1,500 pound hitch weight of a travel trailer - but most fifth wheels you would need a 7.3L with dual rear wheels, or the newer ones with SRW. Even a F-250 after 2005 with a V10 will have a 10,000 GVWR (100 pounds more than yours) and have a curb weight less than yours. If your F-350 is a dually, then you will not have any problem with a fifth wheel and a 2,500 pound pin weight. Much more than that, and even the older dually can get overloaded. The 2005 and newer F-350 dually has about a 5,000 pound cargo rating, even up to 5,700 pounds when there is a basic package (not the Lariat). Lariat can add a few hundred pounds of optional sound deadening, leather, and other things. So is this post so that you can convince yourself or the better half about the need to get a newer truck or dually? The 2011 F-350 SRW will work fine with the load that you want to tow. You can get information about the towing capacity of trucks at this site. It will show all years from 2004 on. http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/ Good luck!Fred.

Iirc, those were rated for around 12k, but lots of folks tow much more than that with those old 7.3s. I would say you shouldn't have any problems with that combo. Happy trails!

Well I tow at 19,000 to 19,500# GCVW. 2001 Ram 2500 5.9 CTD. Yes over the TV GVWR, but well within axle and tire ratings, almost 700# on the rear and 600# on the front to spare.You will likely be very close to the 9,900# GVWR of the SRW F350, Yes.. Will the F350 tow it, yes! Will you be close to or slightly over the F350's GVWR. The choice to run over the TV GVWR is yours and yours alone. I will say I tow a 5er about the same weight with my 2500, with no issues. I don't have or need air bags or Timbrien's. Yes, I feel very safe and comfortable driving these roads at 55 to 60 mph. This is my experience, your may vary, I work to keep the front end tight no sloppy steering.To Golden's comment about a TT with a 1,500 TW, I would rather see a family in a slightly over GVWR with a 5er, than running a big TT, the 5er is naturally more stable to tow.Take a good look at your VIN sticker and look at the GAWR's for front and rear, are you going to be well within those? What tires are you running? What is their MAX load rating? My 265/75-16E's are rated at 3,415# each, that is 13,660#, so even if you hit 10,000# you would have 3,660# of capacity to spare.

I would tell you to keep an eye on your transmission. If I remember correctly, those engines run forever but the transmission can be weak link. I also believe there is some way to beef up the transmission, but I don't remember. Might want to head over to a 7.3 PSD forum and inquire.

Though you don't give enough info about your truck (is it a crew cab, long bed, 4x4...??), it appears you're going to be just below your trucks tow and cargo ratings, even if 5er is maxed out. The cargo limit is the only fuzzy part. You're definitely safe in the tow rating category.Yes, watch tranny temps and get an auxiliary cooler if you don't already have one.I say get the 5er and rock n roll. Spend a few minutes on any PSD forum and you'll find that 7.3L owners are consistently exceeding their truck's factory ratings without any problems.

Wondering if this trailer would be to much for my truck?

cpaulsen
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
A little heavier than mine..truck is about 7800 ready to pull and 5ver is close to 10,2000 ready to go. I pull with my V-10 and 4R100(with a 6.0 cooler) and run 4:30 gears. Have no problems.
Kevin_O_
Explorer
Nov 13, 2014
NC Hauler wrote:
Kevin O. wrote:
We are thinking about getting a fifth wheel. Just not sure if my old girl is up for the task? My truck is a 2001 F350 Lariat with the 7.3L powerstroke(142,000 miles runs great!!). Also the truck came with the camper pkg. Just not sure what it is? Or what was added?

The trailer is a 2015 Keystone Cougar 336BHS.
Dry weight- 10,595lbs
carry weight- 1,695lbs
pin weight- 1,890lbs
Any help would be very much appriciated! Kevin

http://www.rvt.com/Keystone-Cougar-336BHS-2015-West-Hatfield-MA-ID5979064-UX129950

Kick out dry weight, does you no good whatsoever....Doesn't seem like you have a lot of cargo carrying capacity in the 5er, Take the "dry" weight of 10,595# and add "carrying weight" of 1695# and it appears the GVW of the 5er is 12,290#...This is more realistic to look at...so if you load a 1,000#, 5er could weight, 11,595 with a REAL pin weight of 2300#, if loaded to 12,000#, it could have a pin weight of 2400#....(can the non-realistic dry weight and the non-realistic dry pin weight...they're useless).

The 7.3 is a great engine...I don't know anything about your trucks GVWR, GCWR or RAWR, but would "think" that your truck should be ok to tow this light of a 5er....But you need to see what your trucks GCWR and RAWR is....

Good luck:)
Do you really think this trailer would have a pin weight of 2300lbs if i added 1000lbs to the trailer?? The dry pin weight is 1890lbs. This is what I'm trying to figure out before i buy. The GCWR and RAWR are not what I'm worried about exceeding. It's the trucks GVWR. Especially if the pin weight will be 2300lbs like you are suggesting.

My truck is

2001 F350 4x4 crewcab 7.3L
GVWR-9,900lbs
GCWR- 20,000lbs
RAWR- 6,830lbs
shadows4
Explorer III
Nov 12, 2014
Hi Kevin,
I think you would be alright with that 5er. You will probably be over on some of your weights though. Here is a link to my weights I posted this spring. My 2003 weighed in at a hefty 8140 lbs. That doesn't leave much room for payload.
You will need to decide if you are comfortable in exceeding the GVWR and if so by how much. The truck is very capable of much more than rated. However, it is your decision on how capable.
All said I think the 5er you linked to would be fine. Only thing I see is as previously mentioned payload for that trailer is a little light. Good luck, John.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 12, 2014
Kevin O. wrote:
Thanks for the info guys! Other than the GVWR(9900lbs) I'm not sure of the trucks other ratings? It's a 2001 F350 4x4 short bed. I'm not even sure if the short bed would work with a fifth wheel? Up to this point I have only owned travel trailers. Here is a pic of the setup I have now.

There are lots of members that tow a 5er with a short bed, that is not a big issues you will get a lot of assistance with the best way to do it.

With your 01, you just need to look at the VIN sticker on the drivers "B" post(rear door jam of drives door). The VIN has the following information;
Front GAWR
Rear GAWR
GVWR
It also list the minimum size tire and pressure to have those ratings.

Mine is below, you can see my ratings;
Front GAWR 5,200#
Rear GAWR 6,084#
GVWR 8,800#

well under front and rear axle ratings, but over the GVWR.

GVWR
FishOnOne
Nomad
Nov 12, 2014
jerem0621 wrote:
Yep, I would tow it with that in a heart beat with a 7.3 F350 SRW.

Man, your current rig is something I am kind of aspiring towards now and your talking about upgrading.

I guess there is always a bigger fish to catch.

Thanks for the pic, very nice rig!

Jeremiah

X2... And yes that's a very nice rig.
brirene
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
You may need to get a slider hitch for the short bed, depending on the design of the front cap. If you stay within the weights you indicated, I still think you'll be fine.
Kevin_O_
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
spoon059 wrote:
I would tell you to keep an eye on your transmission. If I remember correctly, those engines run forever but the transmission can be weak link. I also believe there is some way to beef up the transmission, but I don't remember. Might want to head over to a 7.3 PSD forum and inquire.
Oh yes, I know all about the dreaded 4R100 transmission. There are a couple big name companies out there that build them to handle big power and major abuse. But it comes at a hefty price. Mine is still original and so far i have upgraded to a much larger cooler and synthetic fluid. When towing i keep a close eye on my temps and don't push it to hard. When the time comes i will probably spend the extra $$ and get a bulletproof unit from BTS(Brian's Truck shop). It comes with a no questions asked warranty and his reputation speaks for itself.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
Yep, I would tow it with that in a heart beat with a 7.3 F350 SRW.

Man, your current rig is something I am kind of aspiring towards now and your talking about upgrading.

I guess there is always a bigger fish to catch.

Thanks for the pic, very nice rig!

Jeremiah
Kevin_O_
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Thanks for the info guys! Other than the GVWR(9900lbs) I'm not sure of the trucks other ratings? It's a 2001 F350 4x4 short bed. I'm not even sure if the short bed would work with a fifth wheel? Up to this point I have only owned travel trailers. Here is a pic of the setup I have now.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
Kevin O. wrote:
We are thinking about getting a fifth wheel. Just not sure if my old girl is up for the task? My truck is a 2001 F350 Lariat with the 7.3L powerstroke(142,000 miles runs great!!). Also the truck came with the camper pkg. Just not sure what it is? Or what was added?

The trailer is a 2015 Keystone Cougar 336BHS.
Dry weight- 10,595lbs
carry weight- 1,695lbs
pin weight- 1,890lbs
Any help would be very much appriciated! Kevin

http://www.rvt.com/Keystone-Cougar-336BHS-2015-West-Hatfield-MA-ID5979064-UX129950

Kick out dry weight, does you no good whatsoever....Doesn't seem like you have a lot of cargo carrying capacity in the 5er, Take the "dry" weight of 10,595# and add "carrying weight" of 1695# and it appears the GVW of the 5er is 12,290#...This is more realistic to look at...so if you load a 1,000#, 5er could weight, 11,595 with a REAL pin weight of 2300#, if loaded to 12,000#, it could have a pin weight of 2400#....(can the non-realistic dry weight and the non-realistic dry pin weight...they're useless).

The 7.3 is a great engine...I don't know anything about your trucks GVWR, GCWR or RAWR, but would "think" that your truck should be ok to tow this light of a 5er....But you need to see what your trucks GCWR and RAWR is....

Good luck:)