Max towing capacity for Ford F-250 Diesel

[Mike&Nan]

I'm considering buying a new fifth wheel, GVWR 16,000 lbs. That's at the max of my Ford F-250 towing capacity. Don't see any problem with normal towing situations, but does anyone have any thoughts/experience towing that weight across the country. Thanks for your input.

[sail2liv]

Towing is hardly ever an issue......combined wt and axle wt and tire wt are always the issues.....

[cstover]

You will find that the payload capacity of the 250 will be too little for the pin weight of that trailer. Your pin weight will be north of 3k pounds.

[ependydad]

So, here's the deal and here's the challenge - you only hae a 16,000 pounds towing capacity *if* you are a 150 pound driver and carry nothing else in the truck with you and *if* the pin weight happens to fall within their target.

Generally, this is pretty unrealistic. For 250s and fifth wheels, you run out of payload capacity long before you hit the maximum towing capacity of the truck. The payload capacity is the difference between what the truck weighs and how much it's spec'd to carry (called the gross vehicle weight rating - GVWR). This payload capacity has to carry a few things:
- the rest of the driver if you're over 150 pounds
- all passengers
- your personal stuff in the truck (maps, activities, electronics, car seats, booster seats, blankets, coats, clothes, snacks, food,drinks as well as anything you carry in the truck bed: firewood, camping chairs, camp tables, generator, etc.)
- the weight of the fifth wheel hitch + mounting hardware
- finally, what's left over can be used for the pin weight of the fifth wheel (here's where your issue generally is)

The pin weight on a fifth wheel is generally 20%-25% of the weight of the fifth wheel. There are fringe cases where it's over/under that amount. But, it's a pretty safe bet.

If you were to load the fifth wheel to the max, you're going to have a tongue weight of 3,200-4,000 pounds. It's extremely unlikely that you have that much carrying capacity. To find out, the best way is to load your truck up like you're going camping and take it to a scale to get weighed. Then, there's usually a sticker that tells you the truck's maximum weight (GVWR). Subtract what your truck actually weighs from the GVWR and that gives you your carrying capacity.

The weight ticket will also give you individual axle weights. Your steer axle and your drive axle. Dave_Monica will be around shortly to tell you that many folks with F-250s choose to accept that they'll be over their GVWR as long as they're under the rear axle's weight rating (should be on the same sticker as your GVWR).

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by cstover

You will find that the payload capacity of the 250 will be too little for the pin weight of that trailer. Your pin weight will be north of 3k pounds.

X2...your in F350, maybe dually territory

[Dave_Monica]

Welcome to the forum!

The best way to determine the payload capacity of the truck (which will be the limiting factor) is to weigh it with full fuel, people, gear and hitch and subtract that from the truck's GVWR. Though the GVWR is 10000 lb, you'll find that the loaded truck is 8000 lb or more. You can also note the front and rear axle weight and compare them to the truck's FAWR/RAWR. Some will suggest that as long as you're under the truck's RAWR and tire load ratings, you're good to go. You'll have to make that decision.

If you truly want a 5W with a GVWR of 16000 lb, you're definitely in 1 ton dually territory for pin weight.

Dave

[WEMig]

A F250 tops out between a 11000 - 12000 lb 5th wheel by going over its cargo capacity due to pin weight. You won't reach your towing capacity unless you eliminate pin weight significantly.

[Mike&Nan]

Hey, thanks to all for the great info. Looks like we're back to the drawing board.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by mbates9592

Hey, thanks to all for the great info. Looks like we're back to the drawing board.

Better safe than sorry.
Its good your doing research on this.

So many dealers say "yeah you can pull that" and there sooooo dead wrong.
So many newbies depend on there advice and are misinformed badly!

[joelek]

16K fifth wheel is on the upper end. Mine (Columbus 320RS) is 37' long and 14K GVWR. I tow with a stock Ford 6.0L 1 ton dually. The idea with your tow truck, is to have some margin of error aka safety cushion for when situations get ugly. Ugly meaning swerving around obstacles, quick stops, slowing down in curves going downhill, etc.

You must be able to control your RV at all times. If you don't and get into an accident..........The police, insurance investigators, lawyers, etc. will be looking at your ass for a game of pin the tail on the donkey.

Lawsuit coming your way and you will not be covered by your insurance as you were technically driving in a matter they don't cover. Ask your agent about what situations would void your insurance coverage. DUI, Racing, driving for hire, driving in Mexico, etc. are situations were you are SOL.

[Mike&Nan]

Since our Ford F-250 won't carry the Cedar Creek we want to buy, we're considering a different tow vehicle. Looking at the Ford F-350 dually with a 6.7L diesel. Don't have the vehicle yet, so can't weigh it to figure out what pin weight it can handle. Does anyone know what pin weight that truck can carry? Or do you know where the info can be found. The Ford towing guide doesn't have it, and the dealer doesn't know. Thanks!

[golfmedik]

Originally Posted by mbates9592

Since our Ford F-250 won't carry the Cedar Creek we want to buy, we're considering a different tow vehicle. Looking at the Ford F-350 dually with a 6.7L diesel. Don't have the vehicle yet, so can't weigh it to figure out what pin weight it can handle. Does anyone know what pin weight that truck can carry? Or do you know where the info can be found. The Ford towing guide doesn't have it, and the dealer doesn't know. Thanks!

That vehicle will pull most any 5er out there and carry the load pretty well. You will have to look through here but the max trailer 5th wheel weight is 17,500 for a 6.7L 4x4 crew cab https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...FLRVTT_gde.pdf
This truck being a dually, will have a tremendous payload capacity that you are unlikely to max pulling a 5th wheel. Most 5th wheels in the 40 foot range will weigh around 14-15,000 pounds, so the pin weight will be around 3,000-3,500 and still well within the payload capacity.

Edit*** Found this and it has a payload spec and updated towing capacities http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty...tions/payload/

[PHS79]

Here is the payload chart for 2013 Super Dutys, this will tell you roughly what pin weight the truck can handle 2013 Ford Super Duty | View Payload Specifications | Ford.com

[mhuffs9017]

I'm in the same boat! I have a deal struck now on a '12 new-on-lot 350 DRW. We haven't picked ours up yet, the 36qbok but I'm gettin really anxious about the true safety of having more truck than I need as opposed to exceeding one ratio and under the other.

PLEASE HELP!!!! What would you do, stick with what we got or take the plunge and upgrade before it's too late?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by PHS79

Here is the payload chart for 2013 Super Dutys, this will tell you roughly what pin weight the truck can handle 2013 Ford Super Duty | View Payload Specifications | Ford.com

These charts are great, but I just learned first hand to take them with a grain of salt. The difference between my door sticker and what we actually have after the family and I, our crap, truck add-ons, hitch, etc was a good almost 1,500 pounds.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by mhuffs9017

I'm in the same boat! I have a deal struck now on a '12 new-on-lot 350 DRW. We haven't picked ours up yet, the 36qbok but I'm gettin really anxious about the true safety of having more truck than I need as opposed to exceeding one ratio and under the other.

PLEASE HELP!!!! What would you do, stick with what we got or take the plunge and upgrade before it's too late?

Cool- my thread should help you a ton. I just weighed my 2013 36QBOK. You can use that thread to get an idea of pin and camper weights. Then, pack up your family and mock camping gear and traveling supplies (we take a crap ton of snacks, guides and activities for the kids) and go get your truck weighed. It'll tell you your actual available payload and from there - you can decide if you want to proceed with this truck or upgrade.

[golfmedik]

Originally Posted by mhuffs9017

I'm in the same boat!

PLEASE HELP!!!! What would you do, stick with what we got or take the plunge and upgrade before it's too late?

If you like, go ahead and trade. The reasoning, if you are already thinking your truck may not handle it like you want, you won't be satisfied. If you aren't losing too much money(subjective, I know) the I would trade up. In my opinion, you can't have too much truck. If you don't want to trade now, use the one you have until you change your mind or your situation is better.

[whj77372]

With the F250's GCWR of 23,500 lbs your 5er limit will be somewhere near 13,000 lbs because the truck loaded with pin weight will be over the 10,000 lb limit and if you subtract the loaded truck with pin weight from the 23,500 lb, that is the max that you should tow.

2011 F250, diesel, CC, longbed, RWD
2012 V-Cross 275 fiver

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by whj77372

With the F250's GCWR of 23,500 lbs your 5er limit will be somewhere near 13,000 lbs because the truck loaded with pin weight will be over the 10,000 lb limit and if you subtract the loaded truck with pin weight from the 23,500 lb, that is the max that you should tow.

2011 F250, diesel, CC, longbed, RWD
2012 V-Cross 275 fiver

I'm curious what the actual payload capacity is (advertised and actual- determined by weighing). I was surprised how much we are into our payload capacity with my 350/DRW when I got weighed.

My guess is that you'll hit the payload/GVWR before you hit GCWR.

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I'm curious what the actual payload capacity is (advertised and actual- determined by weighing). I was surprised how much we are into our payload capacity with my 350/DRW when I got weighed.

My guess is that you'll hit the payload/GVWR before you hit GCWR.

This is a bit of a guess but I weighed my 11 F250 Lariat CC 4x4 and with a full tank and no one in it, it weighed 7368. It is a 6.2 gasser so I would guess adding another 400lb should make up the difference to the 6.7 diesel. Mine has a GVWR of 9600 so my payload is pretty much right at the sticker of 2269 if memory serves me correctly (I do have a retrax bed cover and a few other things not from the factory). So a 10k gvwr 6.7 would probably be about the same payload wise I would think.