Towing weight

[Buddy231]

I have a 2010 Ford FX-4x4 with a 5.4 liter V8 engine and a 3:73 rearend gearbox. A Sidewinder hitch, air-lift doughnuts and helper springs. I'm looking at a Palomino Sabre 5th wheel 35 ft with 3 slideouts. the dry weight is
9980 lbs. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and a rv dealer said I can tow 11,200lbs safely. Is this RV too much for a 1/2 ton pickup?

[fonzie]

Way too much trailer for you.....what is model of fifth wheel?

[MtnGuy]

IMHO, yes, that is way too much camper for an F150.

The problem is not going to be the towing weight, but the pin weight. That pin weight is gonna be probably be well over 1500 lbs. empty, and much more ready to camp.

Load up the family and expected camping gear and get your truck weighed. Add another 100 lbs. for hitch. Then see if you add 1500 to 2000 lbs. without going over the 7200 lb. GVWR.

And then the GCWR is a whole nudder ball game.

[ependydad]

I wrote this page for exactly this question:

http://learntorv.blogspot.com/p/what-can-i-tow.html

The other thing I've learned due to a weighing exercise is that the "dry" numbers are grossly understated. My camper has an advertised dry weight of 11,800. My actual yellow sticker is 12,300 and my "ready to camp" weight is 13,800 (which even that's low as I didn't have propane and we hadn't gone food shopping for the week). My advertised pin weight was something like 1,800 pounds but my actual weight was 2,300 pounds (with the same caveats that we were running lighter than normal).

You can read about that here:
http://learntorv.blogspot.com/2013/0...at-scales.html

Long story short- do the math and be realistic in estimates and make an educated decision from there.

[bakken]

That is WAY too much camper for a F150, no matter what configuration it is. It would be plenty for a 3/4 ton if you want to be comfortable pulling.
Better to err to the side of caution than push your luck.

[BDavis]

Originally Posted by Buddy231

I have a 2010 Ford FX-4x4 with a 5.4 liter V8 engine and a 3:73 rearend gearbox. A Sidewinder hitch, air-lift doughnuts and helper springs. I'm looking at a Palomino Sabre 5th wheel 35 ft with 3 slideouts. the dry weight is
9980 lbs. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and a rv dealer said I can tow 11,200lbs safely. Is this RV too much for a 1/2 ton pickup?

Don't do it.....had the same setup with a 7800lb trailer and it is not safe. Bought a F250 and all is good!

[Platokidd]

Too much!
There is a new standard in 2013 and ton info on the web. Some tow limits will have gone down in 2013.
J2807 tow ratings
Looks like Truck mfg. will all have to start playing by the same rules!
Tow Ratings Finally Pass the Sniff Test - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - Automobile Magazine

[MGordyan]

In my hunt for a trailer, it seemed that the dealers would show you the number that is within your limits. You need to do your do diligence to figure out the rest. Payload will be the first thing you run out of in a half-ton.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by Buddy231

I have a 2010 Ford FX-4x4 with a 5.4 liter V8 engine and a 3:73 rearend gearbox. A Sidewinder hitch, air-lift doughnuts and helper springs. I'm looking at a Palomino Sabre 5th wheel 35 ft with 3 slideouts. the dry weight is
9980 lbs. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and a rv dealer said I can tow 11,200lbs safely. Is this RV too much for a 1/2 ton pickup?

Yep...too much trailer, either get smaller unit or bigger truck...I say bigger truck!

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Buddy231

I have a 2010 Ford FX-4x4 with a 5.4 liter V8 engine and a 3:73 rearend gearbox. A Sidewinder hitch, air-lift doughnuts and helper springs. I'm looking at a Palomino Sabre 5th wheel 35 ft with 3 slideouts. the dry weight is
9980 lbs. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and a rv dealer said I can tow 11,200lbs safely. Is this RV too much for a 1/2 ton pickup?

My 3/4 ton GMC 2500HD is maxed out with my 9200 pound 5th wheel due to payload availability. I have the diesel engine and Alison transmission and carry a small generator in the bed (in addition to the slider hitch) that reduces "the book" payload somewhat.

Your truck must have an available payload and axle load to "carry" 2240 pounds of pin weight AFTER you load the truck with all your gear, family, and the hitch of your choice. Expect that to be significantly less that what the dealer, who wants to sell you the biggest most expensive rig he thinks you can pull off the lot, says you can pull.

If you break down at the first traffic light, he won't be accepting your phone calls.

[Oakman]

Originally Posted by Buddy231

I have a 2010 Ford FX-4x4 with a 5.4 liter V8 engine and a 3:73 rearend gearbox. A Sidewinder hitch, air-lift doughnuts and helper springs. I'm looking at a Palomino Sabre 5th wheel 35 ft with 3 slideouts. the dry weight is
9980 lbs. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and a rv dealer said I can tow 11,200lbs safely. Is this RV too much for a 1/2 ton pickup?

With the hitch and the beefed up suspension that you mention it looks like you were already towing a fifth wheel. I'm curious, what was the weight of that fifth wheel?

Normally I'm not in the same corner as the "weight police" but in this case I am. I think you would be making a big mistake buying that Sabre to mate with your current truck.

[Buddy231]

The unit is a Palomino Sabre 2012 model year and model number is 31RLTS-6.

[Buddy231]

The truck does not have the hitch or helper springs or the air lift doughnuts yet...the dealer said he would add these for installed for $1500.00. I have never had a trailer (5th wheel), this will be my first experience towing and using a travel camper.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Buddy231

The unit is a Palomino Sabre 2012 model year and model number is 31RLTS-6.

Almost maxed out with my sabre and 3/4 pickup.
Look for a bigger truck my friend.

Dry weight or uvw means nothing. Ignore that figure on ANY trailer you buy.

On your door of your truck look at the
Payload number or ccc then look at the pin weight on the camper and I can guaranty that alone will overload you.
The pin weight only goes up as you start adding your camping gear and items.

[TURBS]

1615 lb pin weight.

Now look on the door of your pickup for the ccc or payload number.

[ependydad]

What Turbo said. The dry pin number is going to max out your F150, never mind that it's artificially low. IMO, bad combination.

That said - I have a fundamental problem with a 35' fifth wheel only have 2,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity. By the time you add your necessities and personal effects, you're going to be butting up against the maximum carrying capacity of the camper itself. But, that's just my 2 cents looking at specs online.

[TURBS]

Btw you'll love the sabre ! Just not behind that 1/2 ton.

If your dealer says you can tow that camper and is going to "beef" yours to do it I'd find a new dealer.

And air bags or air donuts or anything of the like will NOT raise your towing capacity!

[dustman_stx]

I concur with Oak. I don't normally see GVWR as a brick wall like many do. But you are going WELL beyond what the F150 needs to be towing. Fully loaded, you'd likely exceed the GVWR of many 3/4 ton trucks, but I would think a 3/4 would be fine.

[fonzie]

without doing too much math, you will be 1000 lbs over your gvwr of the vehicle. The pin weight will be close to 2000 lbs and your truck rear axle can take app. 1000 lbs. No helper spring, air bag etc will make it safe and legal.....


Model 31RLTS-6
UVW 9,842 lbs.
Hitch Weight 1,615 lbs.
Axle Weight 8,227 lbs.
Exterior Length 35' 11"
Exterior Width 96"
Exterior Height 12' 4"
Ceiling Height 80" +
Fresh Capacity 42 gal.
Grey Capacity 84 gal. (2 tanks)
Black Capacity 42 gal.

[Herk7769]

So....

Find a new dealer.

If he is lying to you BEFORE the sale; Just think of what your are going to get AFTER the sale...