What tow vehicle for a 5th wheel

[Eitherone]

I am looking to purchase a 5th wheel in the near future. I currently have a F-250 with a 6.2 that is rated for 2900 load capacity and 12200 tow. The 5 th wheels I have my eye on are under 10000 dry. Should I stay with this truck or go to diesel. I know diesel is the best but I usually only go 2-3 times a year. Some hills and mountains occasionally.

[Chris Pastuzyn]

Welcome from New Jersey, if it's not broke don't fix it ! Know your limits with your truck & rig, why spend the $ if it isn't needed yet, That's just my opinion, Happy camping.

[jenandjon]

You will be fine with what you have.

[frank4711]

Good to go .........

[filthy-Beast]

Know the numbers from your trucks sticker on the door, not the brochure. These numbers include gas and 150# driver. Everything else including hitch reduces payload. Use GVWR of the camper not dry weight. Use 20% of GVWR for pin weight.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by filthy-Beast

Know the numbers from your trucks sticker on the door, not the brochure. These numbers include gas and 150# driver. Everything else including hitch reduces payload. Use GVWR of the camper not dry weight. Use 20% of GVWR for pin weight.

150lb driver is NOT included with full fuel tank, in the PAYLOAD capacity number.
It is included with full fuel tank, in the TOWING capacity number.
For payload capacity numbers, the driver is considered as an Occupant and their weight counts the same as the passengers.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by Eitherone

I am looking to purchase a 5th wheel in the near future. I currently have a F-250 with a 6.2 that is rated for 2900 load capacity and 12200 tow. The 5 th wheels I have my eye on are under 10000 dry. Should I stay with this truck or go to diesel. I know diesel is the best but I usually only go 2-3 times a year. Some hills and mountains occasionally.

Does your F 250 have snow plow or higher tow package? If it does according to your payload that should be good.

[jacklawless]

So this is a frequent topic on this site. Lots of good opinions. For me it came down to a question of would my insurance carrier deem that I was driving “legally” in terms of payload. Towing capacity is great on new trucks and most can handle the load you discussed. But from a legal perspective they will look at the GVWR of your trailer, not the dry weight. God forbid you have an accident that involves a fatality are you confident your carrier will cover you even if you are towing over max payload?

10,000#dry is likely 12,500-13,000# GVWR. 20% of that is 2500-2600# then add your hitch weight itself 150-200# on standard kingpin hitch gooseneck is less. You are pushing up to 2800# without passengers or gear.

Your truck can likely handle it. Maybe you would wear out an axle over time but with 2-3 trips a year probably not. But will you be covered in terms of an accident and does that matter to you? It doesn’t matter to a lot of folks.

Next thing you need to consider is do you need an upgraded driver’s license? In Texas if your combined GVWR for truck and trailer is more than 26,000# then you would need a NonCommercial Class A also referred to as Farm/RV. Your truck is likely 11,000# GVWR and your Rig 12,500# you would NOT need it at 23,500#. But if you upgrade your truck you might. Just FYI. Different rules for different states.

[Tundra 2014]

In a F-250 diesel, you may be lower in load capability than your present truck. The weight on the Diesel engine, is 700 lb. more than the gas. It comes off the cargo cap. If considering diesel, go F-350. I think you are fine w/ what you have. Just look at the weight of the pin weight, 5th wheel, tool box, fuel and anything you carry. Remember too, dry weight is for usually lower than actual weight as it is for base model. My current was almost 600 heavier than sticker.

[Kimber45]

3/4 ton diesel trucks have a lower payload then their gas counterparts. 2-3 times a year couldn't cover the expense of trade on truck.

[JJaxon]

Only you can answer your question accurately. Your numbers look good. If you start with this and find you dont have enough truck for your style of driving you have options. I think safety wise, at the weights and ratings you posted you'll be safe. At some point, you'll want a diesel to pull if you go to the mountains.

[Retired JSO]

I towed a 6,000lb W&P 25 WB with a 16 F250, 6.2, 3:73 rear and 10,000 package in 5 th gear in the Florida flats @65 mph. Slight sag with Blue Ox pro and 2,000 lb bars. I believe you will be disappointed with anything above 3:73 rear and 6.2 combination with the wind resistance and weight @10,000.

[TNVJONES]

Eitherone,
I have a 2017 F-250 6.2 that I tow another brand 5th wheel with. My unit weighs 9,340 dry and scaled at 11,166 loaded with a pin weight of 2166. My truck has a payload of 3340lbs. I have towed this setup about 10,000 miles which has included the Rockies. I think you will be good to go with your set up. I have not felt the need to move to a diesel. If I was in the Rockies day in and day out I would opt for the diesel, but for the two trips there we kept up with traffic with no problems. As others have said, if you do make the move to Diesel you will quickly run out payload on a F-250 and may want to look at F-350. Good luck with your search for a unit.

[zagain]

I recently traded my Vengeance 25V toyhauler for a 2018 Cherokee Arctic Wolf 315 tbh8 (9,346 dry weight). I towed it with a 2017 F250 6.2L with 4.3 gears, the payload capacity on the truck is 3,386 lbs. It tows great, you have a similar set up, so you'll be fine. I live in Florida, no mountains here and my trips are within the state about 10-12 times a year.

[Eitherone]

Thank you all for the replies. License is not a problem as one of you had asked. I have a class A. The pin weights on them are no more than 1500 lbs. and I don’t load with any water. Usually only clothes, food and things like that. I figured I would be fine but thought I would ask to make sure. Again thank you everyone.

[Cathcartww]

We tow a 30’ 11,000 lb gross 5th wheel with a 2018 F250 6.2 with the factory tow package, and it performs great.

[filthy-Beast]

Originally Posted by bikendan

150lb driver is NOT included with full fuel tank, in the PAYLOAD capacity number.
It is included with full fuel tank, in the TOWING capacity number.
For payload capacity numbers, the driver is considered as an Occupant and their weight counts the same as the passengers.

From the Ford 2020 towing guide.


Maximum payload and towing capabilities are for properly equipped base vehicles with required equipment and a 150-lb. driver



https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources...e_r3_Dec17.pdf


Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
(as shown in the Trailer Towing Selector charts pages 18–34) is
the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow, based on a minimum towing vehicle GVW. It assumes a towing
vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10%
(conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15% (5th-wheel trailer),
and driver and passenger (150 lbs. each). F-Series Super Duty®
Chassis Cab models also assume a second-unit body weight based
on 80 lbs. per foot cab-to-axle (CA). Weight of additional options,
passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted from this weight.

[itat]

I have a 2016 F-250 XLT crew cab with the 6.2L gas engine (lower payload than yours) and the snow plow and camper packages. It tows our approx. 11,000# fifth wheel fine and I’m within all specs (GVWR, GCWR and RAWR). If I was going to be towing in the mountains regularly I’d probably want a diesel but the gas engine is completely competent for where and what we tow.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by filthy-Beast

From the Ford 2020 towing guide.

Maximum payload and towing capabilities are for properly equipped base vehicles with required equipment and a 150-lb. driver[...]

Correct. When Ford tries to estimate the absolute maximum payload a truck can have, it includes a 150 lb driver. This is the base, theoretical, silly number on the brochure and in the commercials.

Back to reality. Each truck has a specific payload calculated at the factory. This number is on a door jamb sticker of a truck. That number does not make any allowance for a driver. It’s literally the GVWR of the truck less the weight of the truck as it rolled off the line (with fluids and fuel).

Everything you put on or in the truck counts against that actual door jamb payload value. The wood in the bed, the passenger next to you, and, yes, you the driver, as well.

The OP can simply work backwards. He doesn’t mention kids, so I’ll assume a normal couple that tips in at 350 lbs, fully clothed. Add 150 lbs for a 5er hitch. Add another 150 lbs for tools, wood, other stuff in the bed, any items in the truck, and any aftermarket gear (airbags and stuff) on the truck. So, 650 lbs of humans and crap in/on the truck.

2900 - 650 = 2250

Figure a properly loaded 5er puts about 20% of its weight on the pin. 2250/.2 = 11,250. A fully loaded 5er needs to weight 11,250 lbs or less.

Most people are going to add 1,500 lbs or so in the way of factory options, dealer installed options, batteries, generators, other improvements, food, cookware, clothes, chairs, leveling items, and everything else you bring camping.

Thus, a 5er with a dry weight of 9,750 lbs or less is probably going to fit best. So, I’d say he’s looking at the right trailers to fit will with his truck.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by Eitherone

Thank you all for the replies. License is not a problem as one of you had asked. I have a class A. The pin weights on them are no more than 1500 lbs. and I don’t load with any water. Usually only clothes, food and things like that. I figured I would be fine but thought I would ask to make sure. Again thank you everyone.

For the 5er you mentioned, at that weight, your pin weight will be substantially higher than 1500 lbs once you're ready to hit the road.