should I upgrade

[denverpilot]

Often the vehicle will pull heavier things than it should, just fine. Until something breaks. Or until the brakes can't get it stopped.

[richf28]

This keeps confusing more and more. But here are the figures you asked.

Ecoboost F350
Front GAWR 3750 5600
Rear GAWR 4050 7000
GVWR 7650 11, 200
Payload 1960 3302

I see the difference but dont see the benefits, nor how ford and the dealers figure their response. What is my maximum fifth wheel tow capacity off thes numbers?

[jsmith948]

Based on your numbers and based on 22% of the fifth wheel's GVWR will be on the kingpin, the heaviest 5er you could tow with the Eco-boost would be 8909lbs minus the weight of the hitch, passengers and anything else you carry in the truck. The heaviest 5er you could tow with the F350 would be 15009lbs less hitch weight, passengers and anything else carried in the truck. Understand though, that some of the larger 5ers will have a heavier pin weight (percentage wise) depending on where the kitchen is, where the tanks are, etc. You've gotten a lot of good, honest advice here. Hope you heed it as opposed to a sales staff at a dealership - just sayin'

[HappyCamperMN]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Based on your numbers and based on 22% of the fifth wheel's GVWR will be on the kingpin, the heaviest 5er you could tow with the Eco-boost would be 8909lbs minus the weight of the hitch, passengers and anything else you carry in the truck. The heaviest 5er you could tow with the F350 would be 15009lbs less hitch weight, passengers and anything else carried in the truck. Understand though, that some of the larger 5ers will have a heavier pin weight (percentage wise) depending on where the kitchen is, where the tanks are, etc. You've gotten a lot of good, honest advice here. Hope you heed it as opposed to a sales staff at a dealership - just sayin'

I recently purchased a 2011 Ford F350.

GVWR = 11,000
GCWR = 19,000
Max Trailer Weight = 11,900 lbs

I agree with you 100% that the F350 can safely pull a heavier trailer (TT or 5er) based largely on payload capacity and not overloading the GVWR of the truck). I haven't weighed my F350 yet, but I'm pretty sure it weighs more than 4,000 lbs. For argument sake, the 350 weighs 6,000 lbs... 19,000 - 6,000 = 13,000. The maximum trailer that can be towed is 13,000 lbs in order to not exceed the GCWR. Of course this is basing everything off the GCWR and not paying attention to the published max trailer weight of 11,900 lbs.

Am I missing something?

[jsmith948]

No, I based my reply simply on gvwr and 22% pin weight.

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[jsmith948]

Our gcvwr is 23500, and I didn't realize the F350 gassed had the lower gcvwr - my bad and thanks for the catch.

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[PARAPTOR]

For your Eco-boost to achieve this tow of a 5th wheel Max weight of 8909 lbs, your TV can weigh no more than 5690 lbs. Any weight over that reduces that 1960 payload by that amount and thereby reduce the Max 5th wheel weight you can handle.

[richf28]

Ok.....now im even more confused. Im trying to grasp all this but im not getting it.
I can tell you this...my ecoboost at the cat scales weighed in last summer at 6080 lbs. With me in it.

[HappyCamperMN]

Originally Posted by richf28

Ok.....now im even more confused. Im trying to grasp all this but im not getting it.
I can tell you this...my ecoboost at the cat scales weighed in last summer at 6080 lbs. With me in it.

Your ability to tow is a combination of several factors.

Primarily:
GVWR
GCWR
Max trailer weight

Sure, GAWR comes into play as well, but that is usually secondary to GVWR.

To safely tow, you cannot exceed GVWR, GCWR or Max trailer weight. Most 1/2 ton vehicles get in trouble with tongue / pin weight and going over their payload capacity (GVWR) long before they exceed GCWR or Max trailer weight. (I see several posts earlier in this thread that are only looking @ GVWR, this might be what is causing some of the confusion).

Looking back to your original post... You are correct, you don't gain that much in actual trailer weight capacity from the F150 to the F350.

BUT as stated by several individuals... the F150 can't actually get to max trailer weight (of 11,300 lbs) because you will be over GVWR long before that (around 8900 lbs). So in that sense, yes the F350 does get you additional towing capacity. Whether or not you can actually get to the max trailer weight on the 350 will depend on how heavy that truck actually is and what pin weight actually is.

Hope that helps unravel some of the confusion.

[jsmith948]

Then your payload is 7650(gvwr) - 6080 (your scaled weight) = 1570. Minus any other passengers, hitch and gear

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[PARAPTOR]

Originally Posted by HappyCamperMN

I recently purchased a 2011 Ford F350.

GVWR = 11,000
GCWR = 19,000
Max Trailer Weight = 11,900 lbs

I agree with you 100% that the F350 can safely pull a heavier trailer (TT or 5er) based largely on payload capacity and not overloading the GVWR of the truck). I haven't weighed my F350 yet, but I'm pretty sure it weighs more than 4,000 lbs. For argument sake, the 350 weighs 6,000 lbs... 19,000 - 6,000 = 13,000. The maximum trailer that can be towed is 13,000 lbs in order to not exceed the GCWR. Of course this is basing everything off the GCWR and not paying attention to the published max trailer weight of 11,900 lbs.

Am I missing something?

Seems like numbers are low??

My 3500 GVWR 13025
GCWR 30,500
curb weight 7861 (dry Weight)
My guess on actual weight 8900 (gas, people, hitch)

Using your guess on your weight of 6K so 11K -6K/.22 = 22727 max 5th which can not happen according to your GCWR 0f 19K ???? (useing hitch weight 22% 0f 5th wheel)

my 2005 silverado was 9200, 22K ??

Numbers seem strange on the 2011

[HappyCamperMN]

Originally Posted by PARAPTOR

Seems like numbers are low??

My 3500 GVWR 13025
GCWR 30,500
Numbers seem strange on the 2011

My 350 is gas. Is your 3500 diesel?

GVWR of 11,000 is right off the sticker on the truck.
GCWR of 19,000 is straight out of the Ford 2011 towing guide.

GCWR for a 2011 F350 6.7L Diesel ranges from 23,500 (for 3.31 axle) up to 33,000 (for the 4.30 axle).

[jsmith948]

To the OP, if it were me, I would either buy a 3/4 or 1 ton OF forget about a fifth wheel. Period.

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[mguay]

You are so confused that you are spinning everyone else!


Keep the 150 and go buy a DRV.....don't worry...it will pull it!

[richf28]

I guess like I said earlier....everybody has their own answers to this. Im thinking its best to keep my ecoboost and a half ton towable fifth wheel. Cant believe the mess I caused. 6 pages in a couple days. I apologize, I never imagined it.

[440justin]

Originally Posted by richf28

I guess like I said earlier....everybody has their own answers to this. Im thinking its best to keep my ecoboost and a half ton towable fifth wheel. By the way....whats a DRV?

Every one is telling you the same thing about GVWR, GAWR, and tow rating!

Overloading your truck can end badly!

Dramatic RV Crash on I-17 near Sedona, Arizona: http://youtu.be/nvhW4siKV0w

An RV crash to remember: http://youtu.be/kwOqARlw1EI



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[richf28]

What do think im trying to prevent here. I want the right tow vehicle and I dont want to hear the crap about how half tons shouldnt tow fifth wheels. The rv engineers have made it posssible and people here have proved it possible. Bottom line to me is .....the mfg companies probably have the best answers. Sorry

[Bob Landry]

The Ecoboost has been out foe a while and people seem to be pleased with them, but what I read is that they are used mostly to pull mid size trailers. I think the jury is still out on how they are going to hold up to long term heavy hauling. Bottom line is that it's still a 6 cylinder and the turbos are going to generate a lot of heat that the motor is going to have to deal with and a 11K lb trailer is going to put a lot of stress on that 6 banger. To me the choice of an F250 over the EB is a no brainer, but I'm partial to big V8s. When you are crossing Colorado on I70, there's no substitute for cubic inches.

[Festus2]

Rich -
Please, there is no need to apologize. You haven't created any "mess". What seems to have happened is that you have been given conflicting advice from several different sources - dealers, manufacturer's websites and manuals, and forum members. Understandably, you have been left with a situation that is both confusing and frustrating and you are no further ahead with respect to the question you asked at the beginning of this thread - "Shall I Upgrade?"

As I see it, you have a few options to consider:

1) Stay with what you have: The Ford F150 Ecoboost and the TT.
2) Keep the Ford 150 Ecoboost and look at a "smaller" 5th wheel (something in the neighborhood of 25' - 28' with a dry weight around 7500-8500 lbs. Forget about the "1/2 Towable" spin.
3) Upgrade your truck to say a 3/4T gasser together with a somewhat larger 5th wheel around 28' - 32' with a dry weight around 10000 lbs or less.

There may be other options but this is enough food for thought at the moment. I realize that Dry Weight isn't that significant a number but I have included it as a rough guideline.

You never have given any reasons for going to a larger RV or 5th wheel. Is the TT you have too small for your needs? Do you not like pulling a TT? Or do you have "twofootitis"?

Another suggestion might be to step back and try to digest all the advice - conflicting or otherwise - before going any further or confusing yourself any more than need be. Sometimes, it's best to take a deep breath, take a break and come back to this later.

In the meantime, perhaps you could familiarize yourself with all the various terms and weights people are throwing at you so that you know what they are talking about. Some of these are more important than others and; at the end of the day, a trip to the weigh scale will tell you what you need to know. But until you have the tow vehicle and the RV that you want in tow, a trip to the scale with only the truck won't give you all the data you need to know.

So, turn your computer off, find one of your favorite adult beverages and relax. Or mow the lawn, shovel snow or go for a long walk or run. Good luck.

(A DRV is one of the high-end 5th wheels (Elite Suites, etc.) and their smallest 5th wheel has a dry weight of 13500 lbs and Pin weight of 2800 lbs. I don't think the poster was serious about his advice about towing one with a Ford 150 Ecoboost) )

[richf28]

I have 40, 000 miles on my ecoboost. I have probably towed my camper to and from Florida from Pa 3 years now and darn near every weekend somewhere within 100 miles of home in the summer. I can honestly say its held up well and im happy with the performance. Not so much the mpg though. I just thinking I would better myself with a 3/4 or so vehicle and open up more options in a fifth wheel.