Towing a fifth wheel with 3/4 ton?

[MagnoliaTom]

I am thinking of upgrading to a fifth wheel. 2050 pin weight. After propane, battery, and our gear, I'm guessing it'll be around 300-400 pounds more (easily). That is at the limit for what the door tags says the cargo capacity is. Also need to add wife, 3 kids, and small dog.

The people on the diesel truck forums think it'll be fine because an F250 and F350 are identical except for the spacer block at the rear leaf springs. Anyone with some real world experience with a similar set up want to give me their insight?

I know the weight police would have my drive an f550 but my truck is paid for. I may add some air bags but I'm not looking to get another truck. If I can't do it, I'll pass on the fifth wheel. I know OC pulls one with a 1/2 ton

Thanks!

[PhoneDude 8289]

Originally Posted by MagnoliaTom

I am thinking of upgrading to a fifth wheel. 2050 pin weight. After propane, battery, and our gear, I'm guessing it'll be around 300-400 pounds more (easily). That is at the limit for what the door tags says the cargo capacity is. Also need to add wife, 3 kids, and small dog.

The people on the diesel truck forums think it'll be fine because an F250 and F350 are identical except for the spacer block at the rear leaf springs. Anyone with some real world experience with a similar set up want to give me their insight?

I know the weight police would have my drive an f550 but my truck is paid for. I may add some air bags but I'm not looking to get another truck. If I can't do it, I'll pass on the fifth wheel. I know OC pulls one with a 1/2 ton

Thanks!

Not only OC but there are several of us towing with "1/2 ton" trucks. Only you can decide if you are comfortable with your rig. I have 1500# - 1800# on the pin

[rlsmith]

I am not a ford person but I am towing a 5th wheel Sabre 40+ft TBOK34 with my 06 diesel 4 wheel drive short bed with auto slide hitch . I have added airbags (good investment) and are pumped to 35psi. I have only towed in Ohio and Indiana so far with no problem. I average around 60 mph because the RV china tires I believe are rated at or below 65 mph speed rating. I run my TV tires at 80 psi, and same on my 5th wheel.

[MagnoliaTom]

Originally Posted by rlsmith

I am not a ford person but I am towing a 5th wheel Sabre 40+ft TBOK34 with my 06 diesel 4 wheel drive short bed with auto slide hitch . I have added airbags (good investment) and are pumped to 35psi. I have only towed in Ohio and Indiana so far with no problem. I average around 60 mph because the RV china tires I believe are rated at or below 65 mph speed rating. I run my TV tires at 80 psi, and same on my 5th wheel.

That's the same kind of floor plan I was looking into. What kind of hitch is yours?


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[Cajun Po-Boy]

PLENTY of folks here tow various size fifth wheels with 3/4 ton diesels...you'll be fine...Most recently I towed a pin weight of just under 2400lbs with an 05 Chevy diesel....absolutely no worries or wear issues

[rlsmith]

18k super glide

[MagnoliaTom]

Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy

PLENTY of folks here tow various size fifth wheels with 3/4 ton diesels...you'll be fine...Most recently I towed a pin weight of just under 2400lbs with an 05 Chevy diesel....absolutely no worries or wear issues

That's what I thought but after all the posts from the weight police I've read, I wanted to make sure. Thanks


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[RickV]

I was towing my Crusader 325res with a 2003 f250 7.3 and even though I was over the door sticker by about 500lbs it pulled fine actually pulled better then with our old Rockwood 8280. The DW would call me the weight Nazi because I would always worry about adding more stuff in the basement. One thing that kept popping up in the back of my mind was the "What if's". I would think about the legal ramifications if I got in an accident, I know there are bloodsucking lawyers that would figure out I was running overweight and it could make my life miserable. So I sold the F250 and bought a Used Chevy Diesel Dually. Funny thing is the new truck weighs about the same as the F250 but, door sticker has an additional 3000lbs GVWR. I have even lost the moniker of "Weight Nazi". So what it comes down to is if you feel good with it go for it.

[dwaynerz]

we travel light, as we already have a kitchen sink in our 5th wheel and dont need another. ours is a sabre 31 rets6, and it probably doesnt weigh much more with how we travel than the day the factory shipped it. maybe 1000 extra lbs, and my 3/4 ton duramax doest complain. i have measured how much the truck drops at the rear wheels when hooked up and its only 2 inches.

[SKnight]

There's a reason my TV isn't common knowledge.

I think you'll be fine. I'm over on payload by a few hundred, haven't experienced any control issues, stopping issues or other concerns.

It's your call, I'm sure the hand wringers will be along soon to threaten you with a lawsuit because you're over spec weight, but I just towed all over the southern Appalachians with my current setup and it handled, stopped, turned and pulled fine.

[MagnoliaTom]

Originally Posted by RickV

I was towing my Crusader 325res with a 2003 f250 7.3 and even though I was over the door sticker by about 500lbs it pulled fine actually pulled better then with our old Rockwood 8280. The DW would call me the weight Nazi because I would always worry about adding more stuff in the basement. One thing that kept popping up in the back of my mind was the "What if's". I would think about the legal ramifications if I got in an accident, I know there are bloodsucking lawyers that would figure out I was running overweight and it could make my life miserable. So I sold the F250 and bought a Used Chevy Diesel Dually. Funny thing is the new truck weighs about the same as the F250 but, door sticker has an additional 3000lbs GVWR. I have even lost the moniker of "Weight Nazi". So what it comes down to is if you feel good with it go for it.

That's funny. My wife thinks of me the same way.

One thing I have learned is there are only 3 things that are different between 250/350.
Badges
Spacer block on 250 is 2" where 350 is 4"
Weight rating

Many believe the rating is lower for insurance/registration/title reasons on a 250

Bet you could've kept your 7.3!


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[MagnoliaTom]

Originally Posted by SKnight

There's a reason my TV isn't common knowledge.

I think you'll be fine. I'm over on payload by a few hundred, haven't experienced any control issues, stopping issues or other concerns.

It's your call, I'm sure the hand wringers will be along soon to threaten you with a lawsuit because you're over spec weight, but I just towed all over the southern Appalachians with my current setup and it handled, stopped, turned and pulled fine.

Like your way of thinking. May need to edit my profile. 😀


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[goduc]

Not going weight police here but how can a block between the springs have anything to do with payload? I think your friends are mistaken. I may be wrong but my guess is that the 350 either has an overload the 250 doesn't or simply stiffer springs. Raising the rear of a truck simply doesn't add more payload. If that were the case then everyone would just be adding spacers instead of bags or additional springs.

FWIW my 12 Ram 2500 is the same as 3500 with the exception of the rear spring pack. And I would have no problem towing over weight with bags. I prefer RAWR's anyway. Change out your tires to some with 3400lbs+psi and add bags and go for it IMO.

[campingwilliamsons]

F250 vs F350: Larger diameter axles and ring gears (but they use the same axle housing), hydroboost brakes (supposedly starting with the 6.7 though I have not confirmed, prior they both had hydroboost, though different setups), different driveshafts and carrier bearings, different spring packs and overloads, and the 4 inch riser block in the rear.

As far as what you do, it is your choice. The F250 will squat considerably with 2500 lbs plus gear, hitch and people, the F350 will just start to hit the overloads. Airbags can solve that issue. Other than that, it is accepted liability should the worst happen (most likely this will be in civil court), accepted liability from a warranty coverage standpoint (if that is an issue or a concern) and of course accepted wear and tear from potentially overloading the truck (per the manufacturer rating). I have seen plenty of F250s pulling bigger rigs than yours, though many were riding on the bump stops, or had airbags to address the overloaded spring packs. I personally made the choice to go to a 1 ton, but I was buying my truck after I bought the trailer, and the difference was $400.00 (same trucks and options).

[MagnoliaTom]

Originally Posted by goduc

Not going weight police here but how can a block between the springs have anything to do with payload? I think your friends are mistaken. I may be wrong but my guess is that the 350 either has an overload the 250 doesn't or simply stiffer springs. Raising the rear of a truck simply doesn't add more payload. If that were the case then everyone would just be adding spacers instead of bags or additional springs.

FWIW my 12 Ram 2500 is the same as 3500 with the exception of the rear spring pack. And I would have no problem towing over weight with bags. I prefer RAWR's anyway. Change out your tires to some with 3400lbs+psi and add bags and go for it IMO.

Actually got that info from the ford truck forum. The point is there is no difference between the two. Ford just gives a higher weight rating to the f350. Springs are identical. I suppose they get away with it because of the spacer and badging


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[Ford Idaho]

I pull a 30 footer with no problems even in Denver, CO.

Stopping the thing is just as easy which is more important.

[BombDoc]

Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy

PLENTY of folks here tow various size fifth wheels with 3/4 ton diesels...you'll be fine...Most recently I towed a pin weight of just under 2400lbs with an 05 Chevy diesel....absolutely no worries or wear issues

I agree with Cajun. I have a 2013 32RCTS-6, 36' 5'er with a pin weight according to the spec sheet of 1774lbs. I am sure it is closer to 1900-2000lbs. I have a 2011 Ram 2500 Cummins and I have pulled this thing all over the place. From SC to AL twice, down to southern FL and back, and in August from SC to IN to attend the Annual FROG Rally, and have towed it over 200 miles at least 4 times since college football season started. I have had zero issues with the truck pulling, sway, or braking. I have installed Air Bags and that helped with a slight sag, but I am very comfortable towing with my 3/4 ton truck.

[ironj]

Originally Posted by MagnoliaTom

Actually got that info from the ford truck forum. The point is there is no difference between the two. Ford just gives a higher weight rating to the f350. Springs are identical. I suppose they get away with it because of the spacer and badging


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this has been topic of discussion in many threads both here and on fte, ps.org etc.....

the 350 has a bigger block and an overload spring for SURE (although if one has the camper pack on their 250 they have the same spring pack)

now it is debated that the EARLY 350's had a diff axle diameter and spline.....I can only attest to the one I removed from a friends 350 and swapped into mine....it was 27 spline....same brake booster, same brakes, same drive, same everything else...seems ford may have gone to using the same spline count after 2012, as many claim....I haven't disassembled one to check...

either way, with bags on mine and a tow rating of 2148 on the door sticker, Id happily slap 2800lbs on it with no second thought.......

do whatcha like....

[MagnoliaTom]

Thanks for all the replies. I feel reassured knowing with the airbags I'll probably be fine.


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[SKnight]

Originally Posted by campingwilliamsons

The F250 will squat considerably with 2500 lbs plus gear, hitch and people, the F350 will just start to hit the overloads. Airbags can solve that issue. Other than that, it is accepted liability should the worst happen (most likely this will be in civil court), accepted liability from a warranty coverage standpoint (if that is an issue or a concern) and of course accepted wear and tear from potentially overloading the truck (per the manufacturer rating). I have seen plenty of F250s pulling bigger rigs than yours, though many were riding on the bump stops, or had airbags to address the overloaded spring packs. I personally made the choice to go to a 1 ton, but I was buying my truck after I bought the trailer, and the difference was $400.00 (same trucks and options).

Not always. Yes, there's points of no return, but my Ram has the same rear axle as the dually, same spring pack, isn't sitting on the stops or the helper spring and not only sits level, the rear is still slightly higher than the front.

This photo is nearly 600 pounds over payload, generator and all.