Need your help with Tow Ratings

[cfleek]

I know this has been discussed a zillion times but I am unable to wrap my dyslexic brain around these numbers. I currently use a 2007 F-250SD as my TV. We are looking at upgrading to a 5th wheel. The 5th wheel we are looking at has the following specs:
Carrying Capacity: 2,550
UVW: 11,450
GVWR: 14,000
Hitch Weight: 2100

I understand that the F-250 would be challenged to carry this rig. If I bump up to a F-350SD SRW would I safely be able to haul this rig? I found a 2012 F-350 with a 6.7 Liter Diesel. I believe the GVCR on the truck is 13,300

If we need more numbers, please let me know.
Thank you so much!
-Craig

[bikendan]

What 5th wheel are you looking at?
What is your F250's payload capacity? Because that's more important when considering a 5th wheel.
And do you know what the F350's payload capacity is?

[cfleek]

Originally Posted by bikendan

What 5th wheel are you looking at?
What is your F250's payload capacity? Because that's more important when considering a 5th wheel.
And do you know what the F350's payload capacity is?

We are looking at a Coachmen Chaparral 360IBL
I believe:
The F-250 has a payload capacity of 3200?
The F-350 has a payload capacity of 7,110

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by cfleek

We are looking at a Coachmen Chaparral 360IBL
I believe:
The F-250 has a payload capacity of 3200?
The F-350 has a payload capacity of 7,110

Have you looked at the payload sticker on the driver's door? If your F250 has 3200lbs of payload capacity, it should be good for that trailer.
7110lbs sounds high unless it's a dually.

[TheGerman]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Have you looked at the payload sticker on the driver's door?
7110lbs sounds high unless it's a dually.

Agree, looking at 2019 Super Duties there is no SRW with more than 4900 lbs payload, and that's a regular cab. Probably gas engine too. Even for the DRW trucks there are only 3 out of 12 combinations with over 7k payload.

[whirledpeaz]

3200 sounds high for a F250 Diesel. Are you sure that's correct?

[cfleek]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Have you looked at the payload sticker on the driver's door? If your F250 has 3200lbs of payload capacity, it should be good for that trailer.
7110lbs sounds high unless it's a dually.

I found both numbers online. I don't see "Payload" listed on the white VIN sticker. I will look again. As for the new Tow vehicle we are looking at something like a 2012 F-350. Can't afford new.

[fonzie]

Originally Posted by cfleek

I found both numbers online. I don't see "Payload" listed on the white VIN sticker. I will look again. As for the new Tow vehicle we are looking at something like a 2012 F-350. Can't afford new.

Look on your F250 driver door jam for these stickers and take picture and post or post info.

[W5CI]

Look at the yellow door sticker, it will tell you

[W5CI]

this is for my 2015 RAM DRW

[67L48]

Your 5er will end up weighing around 12,750, which will yield ~2,400 lbs of pin weight. Two fully clothed adults will weigh in the 350 neighborhood. So, you'll need at least 2,700 lbs of payload before you even add the 5th wheel hitch, which is also heavy.

Anyway, build out your load of gear and people. Add that to ~2,400 lbs. That's how much payload you need your TV to have for that trailer.

I heard door jam tastes great on door toast. Check the door jamb for your payload ratings, as others have noted above. It's not a number that you can really look up on the internet very easily.

Good luck.

[cfleek]

Both images added. If I read this right it looks like the payload on the F-250 = 2407

I don't have one for the F-350 as I haven't seen any of them in person. I'm still in the "will this work phase" I really don't want to go dually if I don't have to.

[CurtPutnam]

That 2407 is as the truck was built and delivered from the factory. From 2407 you need to subtract the weight of anything & everything that you've hung on the truck since it was delivered. A better way to calculate the payload is to fill the truck up with fuel and then weigh it. GVWR - TotalWewight = Payload - TotalWeight being the cat scale's total weight for the truck.

From the payload number you get at the scales you need to subtract the weight of everybody else that will ride in it, all the gear you will load in the truck and the 5th wheel hitch, and the pin weight of any proposed trailer. If you wind up with a negative number, you need a new truck.

When shopping for a new truck use the sticker number from the door jamb, but keep on eye out for stuff on the truck that would not have been delivered from the factory such as running boards or nerf bars, bed covers or caps, drop in bed liners, etc.

[mxdad]

Originally Posted by cfleek

Both images added. If I read this right it looks like the payload on the F-250 = 2407

I don't have one for the F-350 as I haven't seen any of them in person. I'm still in the "will this work phase" I really don't want to go dually if I don't have to.

Will it work? Probably.
Will you be under every weight? Probably Not. The weight police will give you in infinite detail how/what to look for.
Is it safe? Depends - what is your comfort level with this size trailer and how is your truck mechanically?

My 2017 F250 has the same axle ratings and GVWR as yours, but I have about 150# more payload. I tow a 41' OR371MBH with a hitch weight of 2500# and the truck handles it well. Of course, safety is more related to how you drive then what you drive.
I would strongly recommend doing some research. I'm not sure how your truck is, but the only difference between my F250 and an F350 are 2 leaf springs and the axle in some cases. Brakes, frames, powertrain....everything else is the same, which is why I'm comfortable towing the camper I do.....your experience and decision may differ.

[cfleek]

Originally Posted by CurtPutnam

That 2407 is as the truck was built and delivered from the factory. From 2407 you need to subtract the weight of anything & everything that you've hung on the truck since it was delivered. A better way to calculate the payload is to fill the truck up with fuel and then weigh it. GVWR - TotalWewight = Payload - TotalWeight being the cat scale's total weight for the truck.

From the payload number you get at the scales you need to subtract the weight of everybody else that will ride in it, all the gear you will load in the truck and the 5th wheel hitch, and the pin weight of any proposed trailer. If you wind up with a negative number, you need a new truck.

When shopping for a new truck use the sticker number from the door jamb, but keep on eye out for stuff on the truck that would not have been delivered from the factory such as running boards or nerf bars, bed covers or caps, drop in bed liners, etc.

So if I'm reading this correctly, when it comes to a 5th wheel, I need to be focused on the payload weight. The pin weight and people/accessories not to exceed Payload?

[CurtPutnam]

"So if I'm reading this correctly, when it comes to a 5th wheel, I need to be focused on the payload weight. The pin weight and people/accessories not to exceed Payload?"

The 1st thing to look at is what the trailer, people & gear are going to do to your payload. If that works then look at your axle weights if the payload is close to limits. Then look at GCVWR - which the total of the fully loaded weights of both the truck and trailer.

The focus is on payload because that is where most match-ups fail. It is possible to overload 1 or all trailer axles and still have other limits within spec.

[Wolf26]

I would like to know how these engineers come up with these numbers? An odd ball number like 2407, really ? As if 2408 would make it automatically implode or something.

[Slow Moon]

Your 10,000 GVWR is a nice round number that many say is set for lower tax & registration limits, not structural limitations.

There’s a guy with same make and model truck, similar assembly date, slightly lower GVWR and slightly higher sticker-allowable payload. His 5er spec GVWR and Hitch Weight almost exactly match your selected 5er. He puts over 1,000 lb in the truck and towed that fully loaded 5er 14,000 miles (no mountains) no problem. He felt confident at 70-75 mph, but now thinks 62 is good.

That guy would absolutely tow your selected 5er with his truck, no hesitation.
If serious about your selected 5er, you could buy it and see if you can handle it. That’s what that guy did in your situation. He’s VERY glad he did.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by Slow Moon

Your 10,000 GVWR is a nice round number that many say is set for lower tax & registration limits, not structural limitations.

Exactly, no Ford engineer has any say in that other than to try to lighten the truck to allow more payload.

[cfleek]

Originally Posted by Slow Moon

Your 10,000 GVWR is a nice round number that many say is set for lower tax & registration limits, not structural limitations.

There’s a guy with same make and model truck, similar assembly date, slightly lower GVWR and slightly higher sticker-allowable payload. His 5er spec GVWR and Hitch Weight almost exactly match your selected 5er. He puts over 1,000 lb in the truck and towed that fully loaded 5er 14,000 miles (no mountains) no problem. He felt confident at 70-75 mph, but now thinks 62 is good.

That guy would absolutely tow your selected 5er with his truck, no hesitation.
If serious about your selected 5er, you could buy it and see if you can handle it. That’s what that guy did in your situation. He’s VERY glad he did.

Very tempting... I've never understood why these blasted tow vehicles have to cost so much. I just want to know I'm not placing my family in harm's way.