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Old 09-20-2016, 04:20 PM   #1
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What Tow Vehicle For A 2016 3950BR 5ER?

My wife (God help me) is having me try to figure out what Ford TV is needed to adequately be able to tow a 2016 3950BR 5ER loaded. Probably a truck ages 2012- 2016 but not new. Please help. Thanks in advance.

The specs are:
Dry weight 13,085 (figure 15,000# loaded)
Hitch 2850-2950
40'5"

Truck
model? F250? F350?
Engine?
Rear end?
Bed length?
Tires?
Necessary only options?
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Old 09-20-2016, 10:25 PM   #2
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Safety is critical when towing an RV Trailer. This training video discusses the importance of understanding a Truck's ratings and how these ratings limit the size of the trailer that can be safely towed. You will be provided the tools and basic understanding needed to assist your endeavor to properly match a truck and trailer, so that you can enjoy RVing safely.

Matching Trucks to Trailers
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Old 09-20-2016, 10:39 PM   #3
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Thanks and watched it already. It still doesn't answer all of the specifics.
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Old 09-20-2016, 10:52 PM   #4
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I believe that size trailer with those weights would require at least an F-350 dually diesel.

It's almost a catch 22. You won't really know your weights until you load the trailer, hitch up and weigh it. But then you can't do that until after you purchase the trailer.

My advice is to purchase a TV you know will be more than enough for the trailer your interested in. If the trailer ends up weighing more than expected, your covered. If not, well no one really complains about having too much truck.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:00 PM   #5
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At 15,000 lbs you going to have a pin weight between 3000 (20%) and 3750 (25%) add to the 200 lbs hitch and couple people at 400 lbs you probably going to have hard time find a SRW that can handle the upper end and maintain the GVWR with in specs.

Here is tow planer with some of the number you posted above
Estimating Tongue/Pin Weight from Dry Weights - Towing Planner

You probably are not going to get gas that is rated to tow that much weight.

You boarder line needing a DRW if your weights end up on heavy side. If you are interested in staying with your trucks ratings and F250/2500 is out of the question.

I will just say this if you get a SRW F350 your are going to push the upper limit of the GVWR depending on how you load the 5er and what you loaded in the truck you could be over.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:03 PM   #6
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What Tow Vehicle For A 2016 3950BR 5ER?

Loaded, that's going to have 3,400+ pounds of hitch weight. Add in you, the wife, fifth wheel hitch and some gear in the truck and that's likely going to exceed the stickered ratings of many 3/4-ton trucks (250). The 250 will pull it, you just have to decide your willingness to exceed the stickers (which is a huge debate on RV forums).

For a 40' fifth wheel, I wanted the stability (perceived or otherwise) of a dually. But, going into this- I was a neophyte at towing. I know my friends in SRW trucks are regularly talking about getting a dually next. It's not for everyone, of course. But being our daily driver, you get used to it.

Personally, I'd look for something with a payload capacity of 4,000+ lbs.

I prefer a long bed. If I opted for a short bed, I definitely would have an automatic slider. Less thinking the better for me.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:10 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tbln930 View Post
My wife (God help me) is having me try to figure out what Ford TV is needed to adequately be able to tow a 2016 3950BR 5ER loaded. Probably a truck ages 2012- 2016 but not new. Please help. Thanks in advance.

The specs are:
Dry weight 13,085 (figure 15,000# loaded)
Hitch 2850-2950
40'5"

Truck
model? F250? F350?
Engine?
Rear end?
Bed length?
Tires?
Necessary only options?
The best I can do is give you my numbers on my 2016 F350 SRW 4X4 Lariat diesel short bed.

In order to get the 11,500 GVWR the 3.55 rear axel ($390) and 20" Michelin tires/wheels are required ($1390) are required. Max tow is 15,900 and the payload is 3434.
That dry hitch weight plus hitch, cargo, and passengers would put you over my payload. Loaded I'll bet you are over 3000# on the pin. Weight savings can be found by going to the XL or XLT trim and 2 WD. I added the Husky 5er tailgate which is at least 100# less than the OEM. You could save probably 500# by going to a gasser but I'd not want to pull that 5er with a gasser. If I had to go with that 5er I'd be looking at a dually. An F250 diesel will not have the payload to cover the hitch weight. My 2016 F250 XLT 4X4 diesel has a payload of 2247.
The newly designed F series are out. There are some great deals on 2016 models.
Good luck with your purchase choice.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:27 PM   #8
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I just went from a 14,100 lbs 5er that in within 120 lbs of GVWR and 39.5 foot long to a 2017 Solitude 310GK-R that is 12,100 UVW and 34'11" because I didn't like towing that monster with a truck with only 143" wheelbase.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:43 PM   #9
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Quote:
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I just went from a 14,100 lbs 5er that in within 120 lbs of GVWR and 39.5 foot long to a 2017 Solitude 310GK-R that is 12,100 UVW and 34'11" because I didn't like towing that monster with a truck with only 143" wheelbase.
The same reasons I said we could not buy the 42'7" Columbus that had everything on our wish list! Just not going to own another dually.
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Old 09-21-2016, 06:27 AM   #10
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What is the issue with a duelly? That would be new territory for me.
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Old 09-21-2016, 06:40 AM   #11
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What is the issue with a duelly? That would be new territory for me.
Just too big. No way in the garage. Too wide for another vehicle to pass in the driveway. Park in the back 40 everywhere as parking spaces are not wide enough for most to park next to without their door hitting the rear body.
But they sure have the payload. One was just too much hassle for me. I don't like using the sub, my truck is my preferred daily driver
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Old 09-21-2016, 07:30 AM   #12
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What is the issue with a duelly? That would be new territory for me.

For me, the dually issues are often more about the length than width- but that's because I have 22' of truck in a crew cab/long bed truck. The width is rarely a problem (especially, for Rams, when you consider that the width of the mirrors are the same for dually or SRW). I've had my dually in small towns, cities, garages, you name it.

Don't fear the dually.
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Old 09-21-2016, 07:33 AM   #13
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It looks like a few make the 4600-4700 lbs payload with the F-350 SRW and 164" wheelbase but these are the 2017 tow specs. I have a 24' long 3-1/2 car garage but the garage doors are only normal height but width shouldn't be an issue (SRW or DRW) if it goes in the 16x7 with the zero turn mower and cycles. My wife's Titanium can go into the single. I live on acreage and a large driveway wider than the garage. It's on the road where length might be more of an issue I guess. Wow - that 6.7 turbo diesel has 925 ft. lb. torque. The gas is the same as my Eco. So a diesel F-350 it takes and duel's are better but maybe not required for the payload with the right truck.

2017 Super Duty Truck | Payload Package Selector | Ford.com
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Old 09-21-2016, 10:15 AM   #14
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If you are just a weekend warrior travelling a few hundred miles a few times a year, a SRW F350 should be fine but... if you're travelling thousands of miles each week - I would go MDT or HDT. Having a truck that weighs more than the trailer makes an INCREDIBLE difference to me. I've read on the HDT forums that you can buy & modify a HDT with 500,000 more miles of life left in it for a LOT less than a new dually.





Certainly overkill but better safe than sorry
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Old 09-21-2016, 11:23 AM   #15
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I believe we definitely fit the weekend warrior category. We will have taken eleven trips for 2016 and only one was a week long. The rest were weekends and a few long weekends. We do not plan on living in our RV or traveling much cross-country. Maybe three hundred miles one-way has been our extreme. More than that and we jump on a jet.

I hear you on the old axiom that the truck weigh as much as the RV. That sure left in a hurry as the RVs grew so much. I believe you on the lower cost of the modified big boy trucks but I do tool around the area in my truck so an SRW F350 diesel is a lot more practical although a duelly will work if needed.

Despite pulling a 9000# loaded TT I get 11.5 mpg or even a bit better with my Eco at 60-65 mph and it is a relaxing tow (36 gal tank). What mpg is common on a F350 diesel? I guess a bigger tank is better?
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Old 09-21-2016, 11:40 AM   #16
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What mpg is common on a F350 diesel?
My 6.0 is not great, roughly 10mpg pulling ~10,000lbs. I get 13-15 with mixed highway/city driving. I have heard the 6.7's are much better getting upper teens unloaded and low teens towing but someone with one can better speak to that.
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Old 09-21-2016, 11:48 AM   #17
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I was thinking the 6.7 for this setup. They are careful not to publish any info on mpg for these large trucks since it isn't required I have noticed.
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Old 09-21-2016, 12:10 PM   #18
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I just looked and my local dealer has this sitting there. Maybe a bit overpriced but they negotiate. Is the 156" bed a problem for a 5er? The guy trading it pulls a long Avon TT and gets a new TV every other year (exact same model/setup).

http://www.reutherauto.com/used/Ford...earchDepth=2:2

http://www.windowsticker.forddirect....wNK3YFUYQ8M%3D
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Old 09-21-2016, 12:21 PM   #19
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VERY NICE!! That has the 3.55 axle; I thought you could get a higher ratio but upon further investigation that is the highest without going to a DRW

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/...tyPU_Sep28.pdf
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Old 09-21-2016, 12:35 PM   #20
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I asked if the bed is too short for a 5er (156" WB). The owner's new F350 won't arrive until October so it won't be available until then.

My brother is telling me I won't like the F350 ride after riding on a cloud with my F150 Screw Lariat. lol It is very nice when now towing.
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