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Courser Farm · 08-03-2021, 01:46 PM

We are long time horse campers but now hanging up our boots. Transitioning over to camping with no horses! In the process of buying a Cougar 24 RDS. We will tow with a F450 but thinking of selling and buying F250. We needed that much to pull our big LQ but can downsize now! Thank you for welcoming us.

jasin1 · 08-03-2021, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courser Farm

We are long time horse campers but now hanging up our boots. Transitioning over to camping with no horses! In the process of buying a Cougar 24 RDS. We will tow with a F450 but thinking of selling and buying F250. We needed that much to pull our big LQ but can downsize now! Thank you for welcoming us.

Welcome to the forum! I wouldn’t be so quick to unload that f450
It’s better to have too much truck then not enough.
If you decide to get a bigger trailer or fifth wheel down the road you’ll be all set.
The f 450 might also have a tighter turning radius
Maybe wait a year and see if your happy with your current size trailer.
Most people go bigger eventually

wiredgeorge · 08-03-2021, 03:15 PM

Howdy and welcome to the forum! You have been given some pretty good advice about your truck. A 3/4 ton typically has a payload from 1900-2300 lbs. Don't pay attention to marketing hype which says a 3/4 ton can pull a zillion pounds. The issue is payload. The camper you are considering is 10K pounds gross weight and the average pin weight is 23 percent of the gross. That means 2300 lbs pin weight, then add you and passengers, the hitch, stuff in truck, etc. You will be pushing 3000 lbs pin weight on a possible 3/4 ton and likely overloaded. With a 450 you have a better turning radius and sufficient payload for most any camper. Add these things to the fact that folks are getting scalped at a dealers right now as heavy duty trucks are at a premium and used trucks are also over priced. You can likely get a nice trace in for your 450 but will get bit on the sale price of a 3/4 ton. The only reason to sell that F450 is that it may be costing more to keeping it on the road due condition/mileage, etc. but the only downsize would be an F350 which is the same physical size and engine line up but sufficient payload for a 10K camper. The "half ton towable" moniker is marketing and kind of a standing joke on this forum. Good luck and enjoy your camper!

dutchmensport · 08-03-2021, 04:35 PM

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new RV purchase.

Now, a touch of reality? Have you priced new trucks lately? If not ... you are in for a serious sticker shock. Have you tried shopping for one lately? You are in for another shock as supply is horrible. I strongly advise keeping your 450. Especially if its paid for. You've got a magnificent towing vehicle right now. I suggest keeping it.

Courser Farm · 08-03-2021, 05:07 PM

Thanks. The 450 is overkill for the camper. We have only inches in room between side of truck and the front of the trailer. Our issue is finding a 250 super duty! We are offered more than we paid for the 2019 450 but won’t do anything until we have a 250. We have horse camped with large living quarters
Horse trailer and needed the big dually. Not so much anymore. Appreciate your advice and we may change our mind- thanks for your help

jasin1 · 08-03-2021, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courser Farm

Thanks. The 450 is overkill for the camper. We have only inches in room between side of truck and the front of the trailer. Our issue is finding a 250 super duty! We are offered more than we paid for the 2019 450 but won’t do anything until we have a 250. We have horse camped with large living quarters
Horse trailer and needed the big dually. Not so much anymore. Appreciate your advice and we may change our mind- thanks for your help

Guess I can’t picture that as far as clearance…if you have your heart set on a new truck I’d skip the 250 and for a tiny bit more money …get the 350 ..and make sure it doesn’t have the 10000 gvw derate option on the sticker

You would gain an enormous amount of payload capacity and it’s just about the identical looking and driving truck as the 250…Just look through the posts on tow vehicles and people overweight with 250s….it’s a long list of posts…I was one of them…
Anyway… good luck and ask any questions you may have

Courser Farm · 08-04-2021, 04:42 AM

Thanks for your input! It all helps. We have had 350's- one had 250K on it when we sold it. A 1997. And we have another 450 we use to pull tractor etc. But we are thinking the 450 is just too much- diesel cost- etc.... and the clearance is a big deal. We cannot see ourselves going bigger as we are already old and this camper is perfect for just 2 people. Wink Wink. And the 350's have that "wobble wheel" problem. Maybe we are not locked into Ford says the hubs. I'm the techie so that's why I'm on here but these thoughts are initiated by him. Love all the input and support. Will update.

Courser Farm · 08-04-2021, 04:45 AM

P.S. Tongue weight of camper is 1400 so he added 1500 pounds of weight to the truck and it only went down 1.5 inches .... hoping with the 1400 of trailer it will go down enough to be safe (for not hitting truck bed) until we decide on trucks. Again thanks.

wiredgeorge · 08-04-2021, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courser Farm

P.S. Tongue weight of camper is 1400 so he added 1500 pounds of weight to the truck and it only went down 1.5 inches .... hoping with the 1400 of trailer it will go down enough to be safe (for not hitting truck bed) until we decide on trucks. Again thanks.

I guess you didn't read what I said. Tongue weights published by Keystone are for a bare camper as it comes off the line and not loaded. As I already told you, 23 percent of gross weight is where your pin weight will be and not some figure out of a brochure. Good luck and go forth and do what you like.

Courser Farm · 08-04-2021, 08:34 AM

Sorry I guess I didn’t see that from you or didn't understand! Apologies. This is very helpful info, said Alan. We shall try it with the 450! Wont be picking it up for about a week. Thanks again. And love the face palm ….

Courser Farm · 08-04-2021, 08:42 AM

Hubs read all your post and we are feeling better about keeping the 450. It is a 2019 with 20k so no issue with condition. We are not really newbies having towed a 37 ft 3 horse with living quarters for years but we ARE newbies to 5th wheels! And excited! Thanks for being patient with me.

jasin1 · 08-04-2021, 08:45 AM

If the clearance your talking about is between the top of the bed sides and the fifth wheel where it sits over your truck bed…..you should be able to adjust your fifth wheel hitch up a little if there is an adjustment…if your using a gooseneck adaptor I wouldn’t know if that’s possible. Anyway good luck! And have fun camping

jasin1 · 08-04-2021, 08:47 AM

Also if you haven’t signed on the dotted line for your fifth wheel….take the time and don’t let them rush you to check over EVERYTHING in the camper before you leave and most importantly if you find any issues I would have them correct it before you sign for it. Before you take delivery you are a priority…after delivery you go to the back of the line

Courser Farm · 08-04-2021, 09:03 AM

Thanks for your advice. Valuable!

wiredgeorge · 08-04-2021, 10:34 AM

No issues here... when you pick up the new camper, there is an inspection list that has items most new campers won't think of floating on this forum. Take your time as it is best to get things sorted with the dealer at that time and not hope they can work you in at some point in the future as they are not as interested in fixing things once they have your money in their pocket.

jasin1 · 08-04-2021, 10:41 AM

Yep have them plug it in and run the air conditioner and furnace and water heater ..try the awnings, have them thoroughly explain how to operate the sewer and plumbing connections … I’d even connect water to it and try out the fixtures.
I hurried through mine because I didn’t want to be a pain to them but hearing from others I should have just taken my time…it is a big investment..check out the auto level if it has it and take notes or record the whole process because you WILL forget something a week later.

jasin1 · 08-04-2021, 10:49 AM

And lastly make a list of essentials …you should really buy a true EMS surge protector…not a $100 surge protector but a $350 -$450 EMS…it will protect the fifth wheel from problems at campgrounds with questionable electric boxes.
You can do a search on the forum about them. Get a good quality water filter and maybe some extra sewer hose for longer reaches.
Bunch of other stuff you can get..extra/ better batteries…leveling blocks,wheel chocks. Etc.

ask and someone will recommend

Gegrad · 08-04-2021, 10:51 AM

Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania!

spicercars · 08-05-2021, 02:59 AM

Welcome from Northern MN.

Roper46 · 08-05-2021, 04:47 AM

Welcome from south Georgia. I also used to pull horses in a three horse slant trailer when I lived in Idaho for 26 years. Had a slide in camper on the back of a GMC 2500 at the time. That's where I lived for 26 years for the last ten years of my Air Force career and retired from the Air Force there. I will say pulling a RV has been a new experience compared to horse trailers.

Before you sign for delivery of your RV, search this for forum a "predelivery checklist". This will give you a list of what to look for before taking delivery. Because as previously stated, after you sign and take delivery you move to the back of the line.

Good luck to you and safe travels.

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