what type of truck would you recommend?

[Exodus]

I own a 2010 Ford F350 diesel single rear axle and am waiting to pick up a Keystone, Montana 356TBF: 40 foot, hitch is 2350, dry weight is 13234 and full capacity goes to another 2600 pounds. The tow rating on my truck is 15,800 so we,'re close to the upper end. I'm pretty new to this and getting ready pull it cross county for about 7000miles with my family of five. Will we be ok in the single rear wheelbase or is it time to get a duelly? This is our first shot at the fifth wheel, our last was a pull-behind, so any input from you experienced folks would be very helpful.

[therink]

I don't have experience with a fiver that heavy but am pretty sure that that Montana will have a loaded pin weight in excess 3000 lbs. In this case I highly recommend a DRW 1 ton.

[JRTJH]

I would suggest you load the Montana as you would for the trip, load up the family and everything that will be in the truck, go to a weigh scale and get some "real world" information. Speculating is always a "best guess" and few of us are capable of estimating how much a 8 ton box really weighs.

Once you have the actual weights of your total rig, truck, trailer, front axle and rear axle (empty and loaded) and pin weight, you'll know exactly where you stand. Whether you're "good to go" or "overloaded" at least you'll have the knowledge to make appropriate decisions, not "guess-timations".

[CWtheMan]

IMO, with a family of five and a hitch weight of at least 2850# your going to exceed your truck’s GVWR and maybe the rear axle GAWR and overload the rear tires.

Along with JRTJH I strongly recommend loading your truck with it’s expected traveling load and get it weighed and then add the estimated hitch weight to the scaled weight.

CW

[Phil/Shirl805]

Exodus

Would have to agree with others you need DRW. If you were to load up trailer
to max, you would be pushing 16K.(not to mention 40' long) 350 SRW would be over loaded.

Going by you will be traveling with a family of 5, I'm guessing you have Crew cab f350. Your GVWR should be for F350 SRW 4x4 on 18" wheels 11400 to 11500 (less if on 17" wheels ) depending on wheel base. I would guess truck should weigh in about 8500 lbs, with full tank, DW and hitch in the bed.

I have a 2010 F250 crew cab SRW 4x4 on 18" wheel with a GVWR 10000. and RAWR of 6100 short bed. As far I know the only different between F350 and my truck is the helper spring, guessing this would give you a higher RAWR. Weighed my truck at cat scale 8520 half of tank, DW and hitch.

We tow 2011 Montana High Country 323RL GVWR 12200. (dry weigh 9280)
Trailer loaded for 3-5 day trips weigh in at cat scale 18520 - 8520 for truck
= 10000 for trailer (trailer axle) 7740, pin weigh=2260. TV is now 780 lbs over GVWR. I'm still 460 lbs under RAWR.

Using your dry weight of trailer plus half of capacity = 14534 x 20%= 2906 of pin weight. If you were to load at full capacity your pin would be 3166 @ 20%
( Pin weigh should be 15-25 %) My pin end up at.22%.

As stated by other, your best bet would be loaded up and hit the cat scale.

A cross country trip is a long way, to be right on the edge or over.

If I had it to do over again, you can bet I would have at the very least a 1ton DRW long bed. (So until then I will keep being nice to DW as I try to talk her into 2015 F-450)

[rnkburg]

From real world experience in towing a 44 ft enclosed gooseneck with two mustang drag cars, tools, supplies in trailer you will want a dually. The stability alone is worth the upgrade. I am not getting into all of the specs and weights on trucks, trailers, etc. I am just saying you will thank yourself once you add the training wheels. They make a ton of difference.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

[Exodus]

Thank you folks very much for responding and for taking time to help me out! Obviously I'm new to this and really needed the help - Phil/Shirley your weights and measures info was incredibly helpful - I've been doing a lot of research the last couple of days and now that I knew what to look for I actually have answers - the weights just won't add up - I either need to get a smaller camper or a bigger truck - either way I'd rather do the extra work now than pay for it later so I'll weigh the truck tomorrow with all of us in it and go from there. Thanks again.