Is the F250 enough truck

[Iowacamper]

We are looking at purchasing a 2013 Raptor (velocity) 300MP
advertised-- Dry weight = 11985 Hitch= 2690
Truck 2013 F250, SRW, 156"wb, 10,000# GVWR, 5,240# Frnt axle, 6,100# Rear, 3:55 gears , 6.7 scorpion power stroke deisel.
I did have remote controlled air bags installed when purchased.
Per Fords Website--- the chart shows 5th w trailer weight at 16,100# and allowable payload 3,250#
I have not had the opportunity to actually scale the combination yet, but I intend to do so before signing the check.
I am curious if anyone has a similar combination or has an opinion on this combination. We are weekenders and although once in a while, travel up to 500 miles, most of the trips are within 150 miles.

[scuba0331]

Sorry I do not have that setup but you are within the towing capabilites for sure.

I'm sure a dually would be better but for the limited amount of time you tow I'm sure you will be fine.

Worse case scenario you trade your truck in for a F450 or F550!:D

[stevem4134]

What does the driver's door pillar tag say is the allowed payload for the F250?

[tanman32225]

No problem. I tow a Voltage 3200 which is probably similar in size and weight. It tows like a dream. I have been all over the the mountains of NC and the flats of Florida. It will perform well.

[MarkS]

My guess is you will be way over on rear axel weight. It may work, but watch your rear tires like a hawk.

[Iowacamper]

rears tires are load range E -- 3740 rated pounds.

Rear axle loading is 6100 --(no specific payload on door tag) Fords website says 3250 payload.

[MarkS]

Again guessing. If you have a crew cab, I think you are probably at 3500 rear axle with just you and a full tank. Diesels are heavy. Add 2960 hitch weight, most of which goes on the rear axle, you will be over. You will also be over the 10,000 lb limit.

You didn't say what cab you have, so it may be a little less.

Toy haulers are more difficult to predict. Depends on how you load the trailer.

Don't want to rain on your parade, but you asked. It may be worth driving over a CAT scale with your truck just to check empty weights.

People pull amazing stuff with 3/4 tones.

[Javi]

There will be a tag like this and it will have payload..."bouncey:

[stevem4134]

I have found that the data on Ford's website has conditions. Such as only taking into account a standard equipped F250 and a 150 lbs driver. The tag on the pillar takes into account the actual weight of truck you have.

For example, my truck weighs in at 8100 lbs. I have a 2011 with almost the exact specs as yours (F250 SB, Diesel, Crew cab, 10K package) . Per my door pillar my max factory recommended payload is only 2080 lbs. That is a far cry from the info that I found on the ford website and publications.

After factoring in hitch weight (actual fifth wheel hitch, about 300 lbs), passengers, cargo, and fuel, and if I stay with the factor recommended max payload, I only have room for a 1300 to 1500 lbs trailer hitch weight. What an eye opener.

Recommend you weigh your truck before determining what trailer to get.

[JRTJH]

Steve,

My new F250 is much the same. On the Ford website, it's "touted" as having a payload of 3350. On the door sticker, its payload is listed at 2747. That's 603 lbs less than advertised, a significant difference, in my opinion. Mine is a 6.2L gas engine, so it's not only the diesel trucks that have "reduced below advertised payload" issues.

[Iowacamper]

scaled the truck today
Front axle = 5,140#
Rear axle = 4,040#
total weight = 9,180#

Tag on truck payload 1,940#

GVWR= 10,000# --- guess I can not haul a fith wheel at all...

For sale - 2011 Wildcat! --JUST KIDDING

[Iowacamper]

Thanks for the tip on the 3200 -- we took a road trip today to check out a 2013 V3200... Weights are very similar. But after you mentioned having one, I looked it up online then we took our road trip today. Glad we went to look at one. Now we are leaning toward the 3200--- LOL

[rhagfo]

We are looking at purchasing a 2013 Raptor (velocity) 300MP
advertised-- Dry weight = 11985 Hitch= 2690
Truck 2013 F250, SRW, 156"wb, 10,000# GVWR, 5,240# Frnt axle, 6,100# Rear, 3:55 gears , 6.7 scorpion power stroke deisel.
I did have remote controlled air bags installed when purchased.
Per Fords Website--- the chart shows 5th w trailer weight at 16,100# and allowable payload 3,250#
I have not had the opportunity to actually scale the combination yet, but I intend to do so before signing the check.
I am curious if anyone has a similar combination or has an opinion on this combination. We are weekenders and although once in a while, travel up to 500 miles, most of the trips are within 150 miles.

Well my math puts you in question, 10,000 GVWR - the 3,250 payload = a 6,750# curb weight TV, not likely with a 2013 F250! Don't forget that 3,250 includes everything you put into the truck! That is you your passengers, the hitch, firewood, tools etc. 3,250 - 2,690 = 560# for all that stuff, and that pin weight is DRY, not loaded.

Just an FYI Air Bags do NOT increase Payload, they just level the load and make you think you are OK! That is the #1 reason I don't run them, if I need air bags I must be overloaded.

[Hansel]

I'm not an expert, but I think your pushing it with the F-250, I'd look into a F-350 or a smaller 5th wheel.

[T11ravis]

I have pretty close to the same set up and just went through this last fall.

First time I weighed I wanted a "worst case" number so I loaded it up. Wife, son, dog and luggage in truck, filled the water tank completely, had 2 bikes in the back, etc. Rear axle was 6360... not good. :eek:

Next time I rearranged some things from the basement to the garage, only had about 40 gals. of water and was by myself in the truck. Rear axle was 5780.

I've towed it about 4K miles and have learned that 60 mph is the limit. Anything over that and the steering starts to feel vague.

I'll be getting a F350 DRW in the next year or two.

[Jim Dow]

I tow a Montana High Country with my F250 crew cab, and it works fine even with an extra 45 gal of diesel in an extra tank in the bed. I do pay attention to the tires.

[billstuart]

I know some of you purests probably think I'm crazy, but I tow a big fiver with an F250 and feel very safe. I've added Timbren springs and Goodyear Wrangler Pro Grade tires. From what I've been able to learn, the biggest difference between an F250 and an F350 is the emblems - same power train, same axles, same brakes, maybe an extra leaf in the rear springs of the 350. If I were going to buy a new truck, I would go with a 1 ton. That said, since you already have an F250, I'd try it and see if it feels safe to you before I took a loss on it.

[dave-g]

"Just an FYI Air Bags do NOT increase Payload, they just level the load and make you think you are OK! That is the #1 reason I don't run them, if I need air bags I must be overloaded."

I all most agree- when you load any pick up - the rear springs compress-( this is normal) the head light go out of adjustment. and the *** end sits lower- all normal with out being over loaded.

But I agree 100% they do not increase payload.

Also a 2011-2012 250- and f350 srw are 100% the same except for springs. I'm sure other years are also but I have not researched those.

[tanman32225]

I am with you IowaCamper... I also have a F250. I tow a 3200 Voltage. It specs out about the same as yours. I have towed it all over the south US without any problems through rain, up and down hills and through the mountains. No airbags just OEM vehicle save for an exhaust change and it performs exceptionally well. I have had the rear loaded with two Goldwing m/c and the camper packed out. It was not scaled but I am guessing in the 15K range or more. Not a problem.

Dont let the naysayers get your down, your vehicle will perform just fine. Sure a 350 or even 450 would have been better but we go with what we can afford and what we have. Sorry guys not digging at anyone just presenting my situation also. Happy Camping.

[JRTJH]

tanman and Iowacamper,

As a recent "convert" to F250 fifth wheel towing, I came from the "old school" where I towed a smaller fifth wheel with an F150. There were countless members here (and in other forums) who said I was "unsafe" or "overloaded" not by weights, but because I was towing with an F150. I weighed my rig before I bought it (empty of course) and then weighed my rig fully loaded and ready for camping (on the way out of town the first camping trip). My weights were all well within the GVW, GCWR, RAWR and FAWR. I felt safe towing the rig because the numbers were right. All the "heavy duty truck towers" were telling me that numbers were the only way to know if I was safe or not.

Now, if I hear you correctly, tanman, you're saying that numbers don/t matter as long as you "feel safe" because you guess it's in the 15K range? I'm not criticizing your logic, but trying to understand it.

Somewhere there seems to be a "disconnect" in the thinking between "having to weigh an F150" and "feeling safe without weights in an F250." Could someone (annyone) please explain why it's OK to tow with "guessed weights" in one truck and "unsafe at any weight" in a lighter one? Somewhere, I'm not following the relative safety comparison.

[labs4life]

JRTH,

This is exactly why I have not chimed in on this thread. There is a big problem with some of the "logic" around here. You can look at my past posts and I try to stand by the, "weight rules". If you can pull a trailer with a chevette and be within weight ratings, go for it. It just is not for me. I try and never tell people to get a bigger truck just because I have whatever and don't like their truck.

I tow a TT with an 8200lb dry weight. I weighed the combo the other day and I was 4700 front axle, 4400 rear axle and 8900 on trailer axles. This is me, DW, and two kids and carseats and all the other junk they have in the truck. I have a 10k GVW truck and even with this trailer, I am only 900 away from the GVW.

I usually give an opinion when I feel the OP is genuine, otherwise I sit on the sidelines and watch the fireworks!! :)

[Javi]

I'm pretty comfortable with someone towing with a '11, '12 or '13 Ford F250 diesel and staying within the ratings of the (same years) F 350 SRW if they have the tires and wheels to match those ratings. I've researched the parts myself and yes they are all the same except the spring pack and spacer, so if someone wants to make adjustments for those things I see no reason other than possible legal issues for one to say no.

[tanman32225]

I know nothing about an F150 I dont own one nor never have so that part of the equation is null. All I am saying I can tow safely up to nearly 16000 so I just round out that figure there. I know my unit is in the 11600 range without load. I add a couple of thousand pound motorcycles in the bay and my gear it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out an approximate load. round it up for "safety" if that word make you feel better and I am in the 15k range. Lets say for the fun of it I am 16500. I dont feel threatened by a few extra pounds. It still tows and handles like it has less. I cannot tell the difference in towing , pulling or stopping.
There is no disconnect it is just plain math.

[JRTJH]

The issue as I see it is that it isn't "plain math" it's more an estimate of what you "think" or "hope" or "estimate" or "round it up" to be. That is exactly what the OP stated caught him in the rear when he finally went to the scales and realized how overloaded he was with the RV he "estimated" to be well within the limits of his truck's capability.

You say you can tow "safely" up to nearly 16,000 lbs, then you say you load about 2,000 lbs of bikes and your gear into the RV. That's well above 17,000 lbs, significantly over your "feel safe" towing limit.

If you "feel safe" with your rig (but don't know the reality of what it is), you may be fooling yourself and placing yourself and those around you in danger by "estimating" what you tow.

If you look "realistically" at pin weights, using your 15,000 pound trailer weight, the 15% calculation is 2250 lbs and the 25% calculation is 3750 lbs.
Using your expected load, let's say at 17,000 lbs, 15% is 2550 lbs and 25% is 4250 lbs. No matter how you cut it, those figures are going to put your F250 in the overloaded category. Even if you load carefully, trying to keep your pin weight down, clearly, somewhere in that range, there's a percentage of your gross RV weight that will cause you to be overloaded. Feeling safe and being safe are not necessarily the same thing. Granted, a number of people take the "ostrich approach" and stick their head in the sand, choosing not to know the facts. Many of them never have an issue with their tow vehicle or RV. However, that approach is filled with people who help build the statistics in the state accident files.

All I'm saying is that the general consensus was that when towing with a half ton, the driver really should know his weight calculations. I'm suggesting that the same advice really applies to all trucks regardless of capacity. Three quarter ton trucks are not "beasts of burden" they are machines just like half ton trucks are machines. They all have limitations and they all can be overloaded. That can easily lead to accidents and damage to property as well as injury to people.

[SAABDOCTOR]

So if I read this correctly, some of you (not john or I) would get on an airplane the captain comes on the intercome gives the normal speech and says. "Well we may have exceeded the gross take of weight and the center of gravity should be ok it all feels safe to me, We will see as soon as we get airborne" This would be acceptable to you? NOT ME! don't guess your life my depend on it!:eek:

[JRTJH]

Barney, You can always overservice the nose gear strut. That will push the nose up and offset the "too far forward" COG. What the heck, just get it in the air, as long as we have enough power and airspeed, even a bath tub will fly..... Hmmmm Like you, not with me onboard !!!!!

[Javi]

Barney, You can always overservice the nose gear strut. That will push the nose up and offset the "too far forward" COG. What the heck, just get it in the air, as long as we have enough power and airspeed, even a bath tub will fly..... Hmmmm Like you, not with me onboard !!!!!
Just move the fat guy to the back..:D

[JRTJH]

Just move the fat guy to the back..:D

Hey now !!!! He paid for the "big seat in first class" and he's gonna demand to sit in it for the "remainder of the flight" (regardless of how long we can keep it in the air) :banghead:

[zuley]

Just move the fat guy to the back..:D

Let's not get personal... I'm trying to loose weight!!

[T11ravis]

It was not scaled but I am guessing...


... it is just plain math.

:confused: I'm not understanding your math.

[pjhansman]

My Laredo is just under 10k lbs dry. Hitch weight, gear, and passengers put me slightly over the GVWR on my F250.

I've added airbags for levelling. It tows and handles great, and tire wear hasn't been an issue.

That being said....I expect to see a 350 dually in my future. One less thing to stress about when I'm retired.

[SAABDOCTOR]

It's the "new math":D oh and hey I am the fat guy they keep moving!!! Ha HA HA.