I'm looking for some advice in towing a fifth wheel. We currently are towing a Grand Design Imagine 2800BH with our Yukon XL. It tows fine, but is at the upper end of our capability, and we are looking to upgrade to a heavy duty truck and camper in the next 6 months to a year.
Currently, I'm looking at a 2017 F350 SRW, CC, SB, Diesel truck and the Grand Design Reflection fifth wheels 311BHS and (maybe) 357BHS.
Specs on the truck
GVWR: 11,400 (optional, but planning on getting the truck with this)
5th Wheel tow rating of 18,000
Rear Axle Rating: 7,280
GCWR: 28,700
Payload (with 11,400 GVWR option): 3,830 (On a side note, if a truck has a GVWR of 11,300 the payload capacity jumps to 4,470, according to the 2017 Ford Superduty brochure)
**the only "cargo" in the truck besides fuel will most likely be myself, my wife, and 2 small kids (less than 400 pounds total)
Specs on the 311 BHS
Dry Weight: 11185
GVWR: 13995
Hitch Weight: 2180
Axle Rating: 6000
Specs on the 357BHS
Dry Weight: 12422
GVWR: 14995
Hitch Weight: 2564
Axle Rating: not listed on Grand Design's website.
Now my question is, are either of these campers too much for the truck? Simply looking at weights it appears to be okay, but I'm unfamiliar with calculating how much hitch weighs, weight on axle, etc.
I'm sure the consensus is "get a dually" but I'm really looking to stay with a SRW. I don't want to overload the truck but still safely pull it with a SRW.
Thanks in advance for everyone's help!
Currently, I'm looking at a 2017 F350 SRW, CC, SB, Diesel truck and the Grand Design Reflection fifth wheels 311BHS and (maybe) 357BHS.
Specs on the truck
GVWR: 11,400 (optional, but planning on getting the truck with this)
5th Wheel tow rating of 18,000
Rear Axle Rating: 7,280
GCWR: 28,700
Payload (with 11,400 GVWR option): 3,830 (On a side note, if a truck has a GVWR of 11,300 the payload capacity jumps to 4,470, according to the 2017 Ford Superduty brochure)
**the only "cargo" in the truck besides fuel will most likely be myself, my wife, and 2 small kids (less than 400 pounds total)
Specs on the 311 BHS
Dry Weight: 11185
GVWR: 13995
Hitch Weight: 2180
Axle Rating: 6000
Specs on the 357BHS
Dry Weight: 12422
GVWR: 14995
Hitch Weight: 2564
Axle Rating: not listed on Grand Design's website.
Now my question is, are either of these campers too much for the truck? Simply looking at weights it appears to be okay, but I'm unfamiliar with calculating how much hitch weighs, weight on axle, etc.
I'm sure the consensus is "get a dually" but I'm really looking to stay with a SRW. I don't want to overload the truck but still safely pull it with a SRW.
Thanks in advance for everyone's help!