Did I pick the wrong tow vehicle?

[buckeyefan]

I?ve read the forums over and over again and thought I knew how to figure out what I can tow. I didn't want to bother the community....
I am looking to move up to a 5th wheel, but want to know what would be a safe range for my truck.
I used the online calculators and if I understand my numbers, I?ve come up with a hitch weight max of no more than 1400 lbs and a trail weight of no more than 8900lbs.

I was hoping my 2010 F250 6.4L 4x4 3:55 Short bed can tow more, so I am hoping you can tell me if I am looking at it correctly.
Here are my numbers from the door:
GCWR=23000
GVWR=10000
Front GAWR=5600
Rear GAWR=6100

Actual:
Gross weight= 8632 lbs (me, wife, full tank)
Actual Front= 5140
Actual Rear= 3492

I am looking at a couple of 5th wheels that have dry hitch weights in the 1400?s lbs and in the 1900?s lbs.
The dry weights are 9500lbs and 10900 lbs respectively. They are between 32-36? in length.

We will not be in the Rockies or anywhere that challenging.
We are usually no more than 200 miles from home with the Smokey?s as the hurdle to get over, but only 2 times a year.

Should I forget a 5th wheel and stay with a travel trailer?
Thanks for any input!

 

[Honest John]

Well I'm no expert, but the rear axle loading looks OK even with the heaver 5th wheel pin weight.  The only thing that concerns me is that you are using the dry weight for the fifth wheels.  You should be looking at the gross weight of the fifth wheels.  That will give you a much better idea if your truck will handle it.

 

[Carl L]

Well according to Trailer Life's 2010 Tow Ratings,  if you have a regular cab, you have a tow rating of 15,800 lbs;  a crew cab, 15,300 lbs. 
 
Reduce those ratings by 10% you get 14,220 lbs for the regular cab and 13,770 lbs for the crew cab.  That allows for truck cargos like passengers, gear, and hitch assembly.    Your trailer should have a GVWR of no more than those reduced ratings.  However:

Your rear axle scaled weight is 3492 lbs.  Its GAWR is 6100 lbs.  That leaves a gross trailer pin weight capacity of  2608 lbs.  A trailer with a GVWR of 14,220 lbs will likely have a pin weight of around 2844 lbs (20%).  With a GVWR of 13,770 lbs, that pin will be around 2754 lbs.  Both exceed the allowable truck rear axle GAWR.

It would seem to me that your RAWR is going to rule your choice of trailers.  A gross trailer pin weight capacity of 2608 lbs will limit you to trailers with a GVWR of about 13,040 lbs or less.  That should still give you a pretty decent choice of units.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Carl gave you the spec numbers, and your own axle weights bear those out. Your truck + you + wife = 8632. Subtract that from the 23,000 lb GCWR and it leaves 14,368 for a trailer and 5W hitch, so figure about 14,000 lbs for the trailer gvwr.  Pin weight on a 5W in that range will be about 2800 lbs, or a bit over your 2608. The 5W hitch sits over the rear axle too, so that weight also has to be covered. I'd say you need to be looking at trailers with a gvwr of 13,000 lbs or less to stay in good, safe limits. As Carl says, that should leave a wide choice.

 

[Joezeppy]

Here are my numbers from the door:
GCWR=23000
GVWR=10000
Front GAWR=5600
Rear GAWR=6100

Actual:
Gross weight= 8632 lbs (me, wife, full tank)
Actual Front= 5140
Actual Rear= 3492

Maybe I'm missing something but if the truck's GVWR is 10000 and the actual weight is 8632, doesn't that only leave 1368 for max pin weight? A 2600 lb pin would put it over the GVWR, right?

Joe

 

[buckeyefan]

Joezeppy - that is what i am trying to understand. What is the Pin weight I should not exceed.
Of course the dealers are saying I can town anything, but I want to error on the side of caution.

Here are the specs of the trailers.
Trailer A
Dry Hitch Weight 1,860 lb. (844 kg )
Dry Ship Weight 10,229 lb. (4,640 kg )
GVWR 12,020 lb. (5,452 kg )
Cargo Carrying Capacity 1,791 lb. (812 kg )
Exterior Length 34 ft. 10 in. (10.6 m)

Trailer B:
Dry Hitch Weight 1,995 lb. (905 kg )
Dry Ship Weight 10,205 lb. (4,629 kg )
GVWR 12,115 lb. (5,495 kg )
Cargo Carrying Capacity 1,891 lb. (858 kg )
Exterior Length 39 ft. 7 in. (12.1 m)

I assume if I follow the GVWR of both then the pin weight would be over 2000 lbs wet.

I need to keep my truck so upgrade is not the option.
I am just wanting to know what the max are that I shouldn't go over.

Are both of these unsafe with my current truck?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You guys are right - I missed the 10,000 lb GVWR. I'm also having trouble believing that an F250 could be limited to 1300 lbs of payload with only one passenger onboard. Ford rates the F250 at 2400-2900 lbs of payload with full fuel and a 154 lb driver onboard. Surely you & the wife don't weigh that much more... (don't answer!).

Interestingly, Ford doesn't say anything about GVWR in their 2010 Towing Guide, but does caution about GAWR and GCWR.

 

[buckeyefan]

So Gary, are you advising against a 5th wheel with a dry king pin around 1500lbs or do you think I will be OK since the rear weight will not exceed 6100 lbs?

 

[BobP]

You  might consider a set of super springs (camping world has them).  Increases the over axle load.  You can pull the weight without trouble, and with added over axle ability you should have no problems.