New to the forum

[Steve M]

Just bought an Alpine 3700FL and excited to take it out next weekend. I tow with an F250. Looking for recommendations on a back up camera.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Just bought an Alpine 3700FL and excited to take it out next weekend. I tow with an F250. Looking for recommendations on a back up camera.

Welcome. Good news is your purchased a sweet trailer. Bad news that your truck's payload (consult white/yellow placard in driver door frame) is less that the pin weight (3750 lbs based on 23 percent of camper's gross weight). Keep in mind that "towing ratings" and "best in class" stuff are marketing hype. The advertised pin weight of the trailer is woefully inaccurate because no one camps with a trailer that is empty and has no propane in the tanks. When you add the weight of your hitch, passengers and stuff in the truck, your truck will be dangerously overloaded. Can your engine/transmission drag that camper down the road? Sure but the truck wasn't built for 42' fifth wheel. Sorry to be a downer but I would just like to emphasize the safety aspects of what you are doing.

[Steve M]

According to the trailer manufacturer the hitch weight is 2440 lbs and the payload is 3470 lbs.

[sourdough]

Here is a link to the 3700FL;

https://www.keystonerv.com/product/a...orplans/3700FL

Note the gvw of the trailer (shipping weight plus carrying capacity) is 16,500lbs. Without scaled weights you need to estimate pin weight. A good average would be 23% of the gvw = 3795lbs. The numbers you listed (manufacturers hitch weight and payload) have no bearing on what your truck can/cannot safely "carry". Also note that the manufacturer hitch weight is a "dry" weight, is meaningless and will never be seen by you or anyone else. The first battery....and anything else, eliminated it.

You don't give any details about your F250 but I can safely say that it will be WAY overloaded which is something that requires your attention right away.

[tech740]

Originally Posted by Steve M

According to the trailer manufacturer the hitch weight is 2440 lbs and the payload is 3470 lbs.

The payload you are refencing is the trailers payload. What the other members are referencing is your trucks payload. Look in your drivers door jam and there will be a white and yellow sticker that says the weight of passengers and cargo shall not exceed XXXXlbs. That is your payload. Figure 150-200lbs for the fifth wheel hitch, anything else added to your truck since it came off the line (running boards, mud flaps, floor mats etc..) anything in the bed of the truck, and the weight of passengers. Subtract that number from your payload number and that is your available weight for hitch weight. With that trailer you should be about 3700ish pin weight.

[jwfrede]

Originally Posted by Steve M

According to the trailer manufacturer the hitch weight is 2440 lbs and the payload is 3470 lbs.

Manufacturers often quote pin weights at 15% of the trailer weight. Typically 15-20% is recommended for stability so the manufacturers pick the lower number to make their trucks look good.

The door cargo capacity is the starting point for estimating what you can load. But you'll need to really check the axle ratings and the weight on them. And that's because-

What matters is your the actual weight on the truck axles and that can only come from the scales.

After the hitch and all the junk is added to that big pass through compartment who knows what the load is on the truck? I just put the deposit on a new fifth wheel and will be picking it up in the next week or so. My first stop on the way home? The scales. My next stop after loading all the stuff in the trailer? The scales.

[Captainf2]

So I understand the cargo carring capacity, I have a 2015 chevy silverado2500hd, 6 liter, crew cab, 4 wheel drive, my yellow sticker 2760. My friend just picked up a 2019 gmc Denali 3500 srw, crew, 4 wheel dura max, his yellow is 2350. Ok then, every fifth wheel needs a single cab 2 wheel drive drw to be legal then, RIGHT ?????????

I will wait on comments...........

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Captainf2

So I understand the cargo carring capacity, I have a 2015 chevy silverado2500hd, 6 liter, crew cab, 4 wheel drive, my yellow sticker 2760. My friend just picked up a 2019 gmc Denali 3500 srw, crew, 4 wheel dura max, his yellow is 2350. Ok then, every fifth wheel needs a single cab 2 wheel drive drw to be legal then, RIGHT ?????????

I will wait on comments...........

Probably need to see the friends sticker. I've seen lots of 3/4 ton diesels with payloads in that range but not a 1 ton - unless he's got some kind of super special, super heavy option on it. Your truck will have a better payload than a HD truck optioned with the diesel but the 1 ton would be better. And no, every fifth wheel does not require a single cab, 2 wheel drive drw to pull it. You would know that if you did some research.

[jwfrede]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Probably need to see the friends sticker. I've seen lots of 3/4 ton diesels with payloads in that range but not a 1 ton - unless he's got some kind of super special, super heavy option on it. Your truck will have a better payload than a HD truck optioned with the diesel but the 1 ton would be better. And no, every fifth wheel does not require a single cab, 2 wheel drive drw to pull it. You would know that if you did some research.

There are some folks out there that think you need a F-450 dually to pull a pop-up, but I think there are far more people that are over loaded. I wouldn't want to buy their used pick-up.

A big part of the problem is the manufacturers advertisements and rv dealers zeal to make a sale. The manufacturers brag about towing capacity when the real limiting issue is usually payload capacity and axle limits. A lot of RV dealers just want to make the sale and tell folks they are fine when they are right on the limits or even over the capacity. And then they have a lousy towing experience. Because of this it always seems like one never has enough truck.

My first camper was chosen 5 yrs ago for light weight and ease of towing because I make cross country trips. It was rated 6500 lb total and I had a new F-150 with the 3.5l ecoboost so I could tow anything. The truck was rated 12000 lb towing so I hardly knew it was back there, except when passed by an 18 wheeler. I found out I needed that WDH cranked up to prevent lots of sway. And with a crew cab with a cap on the back I was nearing cargo capacity. I thought I was way over-trucked but in reality it was sized almost right.

So I go to a 10k lb fifth wheel(pick it up next week) and opt for the F-350 so plenty of truck right? The diesel knocks about 800-900 off the cargo so I have about 3000 lb capacity. Not sure of the actual number as I don't pick up the truck until later this week. But if I load up the front compartment of the trailer and get 20% on the pin I'm starting to head towards the limits real fast. Once again I was thinking I'm way over trucked but in reality I'm probably just about right.

Its a good thing I read these forums (I'm still on the Forrest River Forum) or I would probably be scrambling at the last minute to move from a F-250 to an F-350, or would need to drop the diesel, hard to do have you've already received the vehicle.

[kcotton69]

Originally Posted by jwfrede

There are some folks out there that think you need a F-450 dually to pull a pop-up, but I think there are far more people that are over loaded. I wouldn't want to buy their used pick-up.

A big part of the problem is the manufacturers advertisements and rv dealers zeal to make a sale. The manufacturers brag about towing capacity when the real limiting issue is usually payload capacity and axle limits. A lot of RV dealers just want to make the sale and tell folks they are fine when they are right on the limits or even over the capacity. And then they have a lousy towing experience. Because of this it always seems like one never has enough truck.

My first camper was chosen 5 yrs ago for light weight and ease of towing because I make cross country trips. It was rated 6500 lb total and I had a new F-150 with the 3.5l ecoboost so I could tow anything. The truck was rated 12000 lb towing so I hardly knew it was back there, except when passed by an 18 wheeler. I found out I needed that WDH cranked up to prevent lots of sway. And with a crew cab with a cap on the back I was nearing cargo capacity. I thought I was way over-trucked but in reality it was sized almost right.

So I go to a 10k lb fifth wheel(pick it up next week) and opt for the F-350 so plenty of truck right? The diesel knocks about 800-900 off the cargo so I have about 3000 lb capacity. Not sure of the actual number as I don't pick up the truck until later this week. But if I load up the front compartment of the trailer and get 20% on the pin I'm starting to head towards the limits real fast. Once again I was thinking I'm way over trucked but in reality I'm probably just about right.

Its a good thing I read these forums (I'm still on the Forrest River Forum) or I would probably be scrambling at the last minute to move from a F-250 to an F-350, or would need to drop the diesel, hard to do have you've already received the vehicle.

What is the gvwr for your F350? I have a 2020 F350 SRW LWB 6.7L diesel Lariat and the CCC on it is over 4200#

[Captainf2]

No his capacity is less

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Captainf2

So I understand the cargo carring capacity, I have a 2015 chevy silverado2500hd, 6 liter, crew cab, 4 wheel drive, my yellow sticker 2760. My friend just picked up a 2019 gmc Denali 3500 srw, crew, 4 wheel dura max, his yellow is 2350. Ok then, every fifth wheel needs a single cab 2 wheel drive drw to be legal then, RIGHT ?????????

I will wait on comments...........

I don't think you do understand the cargo carrying capacity. I would like to see that yellow sticker with a supposed 2350 lb max load capacity on the 3500. Not saying it isn't true, just would like to see that.

Comparing the two trucks mentioned is like comparing a red apple to a red pear. One is a loaded out top of the line truck and a 4 year difference. How does this matter? Well all vehichle change and typically with trucks the load capacity is higher the newer it is. Technology (lighter materials), and engineering changes make the ever changing competitive "max towing number" go higher and higher.

Now comes the "but". Towing capacity and carrying capacity are two different things. What effects load capacity? Well, it's not just the truck's frame, driveline, and suspension. It's what's on and inside the truck that affects' the amount of load capacity that's left after the truck is built. When that 3/4 ton crew cab truck comes down the line the same frame and sub assembly is used for every level of trim. So, that plane Jane, stripped down model with no options will have the highest remaining load capacity. It's simple math, the load capacity is a fixed number when the frame start's it's journey down the assembly line. The weight added to the truck i9s subtracted from that load capacity.

So, from that subassembly with the most capacity available if you opt for a diesel engine then it weight's 700 to 800 lbs more than a gasser. That's 700 or 800 lbs LESS load capacity. Then start adding the weight of all those "goodies" that come with a "top of the line" model like power seats that adjust in many many directions, power windows, power steps and running boards, powered and heated mirrors, on board air ride suspension. Leather seats that are heat and cooled. That "zone controlled" environment with all the added plumbing, air blend doors, fans, etc. The rear seat screens, the back up or all around view camera system and that nice big radio with the GPS that it displays on. That same sound system and it's bevy of speakers not only add weight but also the sound deadening so you can hear it. Those nice plush carpets, the extra fold down armrests, center console, and the nice sunvisors with the lighted mirror. It ALL comes off the payload. That payload number on the sticker will shrink substantially.

Then the customer gets' the truck and wants' to "improve" or "personalize" it. They visit the accessories dept. and get a bed liner, a tonneau cover (and if you're going top shelf may as well get the motorized one), tool box with plenty of tools, maybe a brush guard would look kewl so let's throw one of those on.

Now get ready to go camping and add a hitch, and throw some "essential" items in the bed like a generator, a chain saw, some firewood, an ice chest or two. some bikes for the kids etc. If the owner were to drive over a set of scales they would be amazed at how their "beast of a truck" that were assured "would tow anything on the lot" now is severely overloaded.

The statement "Ok then, every fifth wheel needs a single cab 2 wheel drive drw to be legal then, RIGHT ?????????" is just ridiculous. What every fifth wheel needs in an APPROPRIATELY capable and loaded truck. Folks that "go by the advertised" numbers using empty trailer "delivery weights" and tongue or pin weights, and advertised truck "max tow ratings" will be in over their heads from the start. The ones that use these numbers and often "pick and choose" which numbers to use while inputting the numbers into some BS "towing calculator" so they achieve the illusion of being able to use a truck because it will "be under the max number" (perhaps by less weight than a kids meal at McDonalds) are doomed to drown.

I hope this helps clarify why the truck you think is capable may not be.

[tech740]

George is exactly right. On the other topic though welcome and the Furrion works great for me.

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Just bought an Alpine 3700FL and excited to take it out next weekend. I tow with an F250. Looking for recommendations on a back up camera.

Congrats and enjoy just be safe out there plenty of nuts on the road and I don’t mean the kind you eat LOL. As for a camera I have the furrion system works great and haven’t had any problems once I got it set up. No knowledge of any other brands I went with furrion because my came premiered for it. So that made it an very easy install.

[Sarge2]

to the forum... Don't have one yet but mine is set up for Furrion..

[German Shepherd Guy]

Hi Steve. Welcome to the forum. Don't be bummed, these guys know their stuff. George is telling you straight. This is a great forum and these folks truly do not want to see you, or anyone else hurt in the pursuit of towing an RV.


Your 250 is under classed for the job you are asking it to do. Will it do it? Sure. Will it do it SAFELY? That's what George and Danny are talking about.


Good luck, you came to the right forum.
Oask

[dutchmensport]

Welcome, and I am another satisfied Furrion 7 inch observation camera yuppie!

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

[Uncoolron]

Welcome to the forum from NoVa. Hope you don’t get bum out too much about what our season camper are saying about your weight. I rely on their years of experience and knowledge when it comes to towing.

Anyway, I wish you happy camping and stay safe out there. I was told safety is not just for me but for my family and others.

[JDDilly]

I had a Furrion on a previous rig and lost the signal while driving. It worked great at low speeds (40 MPH) or when backing up. On my new rig, I installed a Haloview RD (range dominator) whish has and antenna your run to the front across the roof. This rig is 2 ft longer and works perfectly at 60 - 65 MPH.