2013 f250 lariat

gary31 · 07-08-2016, 05:23 AM

I have been thinking about upgrading to a fifth wheel unit but really struggle with the weights of the 5ers. If anyone is currently pulling a 5er TH with my truck I would be interested in hearing from you and what type of TH you are pulling. I really do not want to buy another Truck but really would like a bigger unit.... Wants vs reality

1jeep · 07-08-2016, 06:47 AM

I had a 2011 f250 6.7 long bed crew cab last year, bought a 5th wheel that I knew would put my truck over its cargo capacity, but everybody convinced me how the 250 and 350 are the same trucks. they might be but with everything going the way it is how long before rv's start getting weighed?

long story short im now in a f350 dually and feel better about it.

**JRTJH** · 07-08-2016, 12:47 PM

I bought my 2015 F250 knowing I'd be "very close to my max payload". I'm OK with it with my XLite 27RKS. I know that if I "upgrade" the trailer, I'll be forced to buy a F350, so for me it works to have the 3/4 ton truck. If I were looking at anything bigger than a 10,000 GVW fiver with a pin weight of more than 1,100 pounds (empty), I'd completely bypass the 3/4 tons and look at SRW one ton trucks.

CaptnJohn · 07-08-2016, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary31

I have been thinking about upgrading to a fifth wheel unit but really struggle with the weights of the 5ers. If anyone is currently pulling a 5er TH with my truck I would be interested in hearing from you and what type of TH you are pulling. I really do not want to buy another Truck but really would like a bigger unit.... Wants vs reality

Check the yellow sticker on the door pillar for max cargo weight. It will be higher for a gasser and would be higher on an XLT as well. Remember, that max # is for the tires listed and any change may not be equal ~~ and it gives the tire pressure too.

I'm not the weight police, just want you to be sure of what you have to make a decision. I towed over payload even though axels, GCWR, tow rating, and tires were well within published numbers. I towed with an F250 diesel for 3000 miles. The payload was 2247#, the loaded pin was 1950, the hitch 240. That is 2190# which left 57# for everything in the bed, my wife, me, 2 dogs, and a can of Diet Coke plus a cooler and more. All totaled I figured 750 - 1000# over. Truck pulled it just fine but I now have an F350 diesel SRW with a 3434 payload.

mets721 · 07-09-2016, 04:07 PM

I bought a Cougar 327RES in April and I had a 2014 F250 Lariat CC, short bed, with the 6.2 gas engine. I was on the ragged edge with weight and that was without any water on board. The gas engine towed it but it did struggle a little on start up and when going up hill (not a real steep grade). Usually it would stay in 5th gear and 4th on the hills. I got about 7-7.4mpg. I recently bought an F350 diesel and it has made a huge difference. Not happy with the new payment but I worried too much about being overloaded, over working the transmission, etc. I think that the truck itself is capable of towing much more than it's rated for, but I guess they do put the tow ratings on for a reason, plus I have a family and other drivers to think about. I do think that a diesel engine is a must if your going to be towing a fifth wheel other than an ultra light.

Javi · 07-11-2016, 09:08 AM

See below...

first time 5er · 07-11-2016, 05:00 PM

i scaled my cougar on the way home from the dealer.
granted it was empty.
had a full tank fuel and the wife and dog

front axle 4920 decal spec 5200
rear axle 5200 decal spec 6100
trailer 8040 ford spec 15900
gross 18160 ford spec 23500

pulls and stops it fine

gearhead · 07-11-2016, 06:19 PM

You will find hundreds if not thousands of folks that say they pulled a 17,000# toy hauler with a F250. I pulled our 12,500#GVW Montana with F350 SRW and I was 200-300# over payload. Be aware that of the 3, Fords have the lowest payload.
I just couldn't do it and traded trucks.

rhagfo · 07-12-2016, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by first time 5er

i scaled my cougar on the way home from the dealer.
granted it was empty.
had a full tank fuel and the wife and dog

front axle 4920 decal spec 5200
rear axle 5200 decal spec 6100
trailer 8040 ford spec 15900
gross 18160 ford spec 23500

pulls and stops it fine

Well not that it matters, (don't ask why I say that) you are 120# over the mandated Class 2 Max of 10,000#. Once you get the 5er loaded and do the first tow, you make the choice if you want to tow over the Class 2 GVWR.
Then reweigh Fuel full, trailer loaded for the trip, you can gain as much as 900# of pin and still be within the rear axle rating.

so at 1,020# over GVWR, you could be right at Max rear axle.

YOUR choice.

PS: On edit your 2009 Cougar 320 SRX is a tad lighter than the Copper Canyon I tow.

first time 5er · 07-13-2016, 03:21 PM

I'm good with it brother. Just me, the wife and the dog. most of our camping is done within an hour or two from home. I don't fill fresh water tank. Just 5 gallons or so for potty stops, wife likes the a/c so we stay where we can get electric and water and dump the tanks when we leave. Sometimes i put the bike in the back so that helps the pin weight

Dave W · 07-14-2016, 03:47 AM

If you can, jump up to an F350. At least you will probably be within that weight sticker, which for and F250, only goes as high as 10,000 pounds GVWR to satisfy the many insurance companies as well as each state's registration weight police. That doesn't mean that an F250 cannot be the exact same truck as an F350. I have one. No, it doesn't have the 4" rear suspension blocks nor would it have them even if I had purchased the same setup as I have in my 250. I have both the 5th wheel and the camper package. An oddball, special order, for sure. The suspension capacity by actual part numbers is 6000 front, 6100 rears. Unfortunately that weight sticker says that I am illegal while towing our Montana HC 343RL while in actuality, I am well within the truck's design and manufacture criteria. Are my tires 'good' enough? Yes, they are 275/70x18 Michelins each with a 3640 pound capacity. The brakes? For sure as they are the Power Stop K36 Extreme Duty system. And with the 6.7, hauls our 5er very nicely over hill and dale, regardless of height and has for about 15,000 miles.

Now, with all that said, if you can find an F350 with the 5er package, you will at least be legal (probably, as long as you don't get carried away with your new 5er in size and weight) --- but the F250 can be virtually the same truck with a different weight sticker. An F450 is also nice/better hauler, and I really considered one, but all those tires and those wide rear fenders would never allow it through my garage doors........

kfxgreenie · 07-15-2016, 09:13 AM

I understand the reasoning behind everyone's sentiments on the 3/4 ton 10,000 lb weight rating, but reading trailer life performance section, J2807 towing standards, it is clear that what the manufactures prints the max towing capacity to be, has to be tested and clearly safe and capable to handle that load. I know the reasoning no one would want to be in the court of law, and have to argue a case if the inevitable happened, but do you not think any competent lawyer could fight your case if you were within the manufacture stated capacities that the Society of Automotive Engineers tested under the J2807 standards and had an accident and someone was trying to sue you for being "overweight", and how the common sense #'s don't add up if you were withing all other wight ratings other than the GVWR?

**JRTJH** · 07-15-2016, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kfxgreenie

I understand the reasoning behind everyone's sentiments on the 3/4 ton 10,000 lb weight rating, but reading trailer life performance section, J2807 towing standards, it is clear that what the manufactures prints the max towing capacity to be, has to be tested and clearly safe and capable to handle that load. I know the reasoning no one would want to be in the court of law, and have to argue a case if the inevitable happened, but do you not think any competent lawyer could fight your case if you were within the manufacture stated capacities that the Society of Automotive Engineers tested under the J2807 standards and had an accident and someone was trying to sue you for being "overweight", and how the common sense #'s don't add up if you were withing all other wight ratings other than the GVWR?

Look at the two parts I've highlighted in red and you should have your answer about today's "mystical legal system".............

Diametrically opposed forces (competency and common sense) seem to have fallen by the wayside. I wouldn't want to ever find myself in the position of being the "test case" for the above situation.

first time 5er · 07-15-2016, 04:37 PM

I see what you are saying JR

maybe if i move my personal server to the rear that would lighten up the pin and i will be ok

CaptnJohn · 07-15-2016, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by first time 5er

I see what you are saying JR

maybe if i move my personal server to the rear that would lighten up the pin and i will be ok

I tow with a full FW tank at times. That tank is at the rear of the 5er. It acts as a fulcrum as my pin weight can be reduced by well over 150#.

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