Would This Truck be Enough?

[Dooley]

Just purchased our first fifth whell 2015 Alpine 3510 , lots of questions and planning to do from here . Unit is still at the dealer and we plan to pick it up first part of April . Looking for suggestions on delivery from dealer , what to look for ? Hidden problems and so forth .
I currently have a 2010 F350 diesel super cab and of course was told that would be a good truck for this . After looking through these fourums ,I am starting to get nervous!! Any input?

3510RE / 3511RE Fifth Wheel
Shipping Weight 13100
Carrying Capacity 2400
Hitch 2530
Length 39' 2"
Height 12' 8"
Fresh Water 66
Waste Water 82
Gray Water 82
LPG 60
Tire Size ST235/85R16G

[GaryWT]

What are the weight of the trailer, loaded and pin weight. What is the payload and tow capacity of the truck. You will need this info at a minimum to start to figure it all out.

[KanTC]

As already stated, "first" you'll need to gather all of the towing & weight(s) info specific to your truck & 5th wheel, then do the math.

Specs for your 2015 Alpine 3510RE: http://www.keystonerv.com/alpine/#/floorplans
**Shipping Weight 13,100 lbs
Carrying Capacity 2,400 lbs
**Hitch 2,530 lbs
GVWR 15,500 lbs [Shipping weight + Carrying capacity = Gross weight]

Check the ratings/numbers on the vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Label, usually found on the driver's side door post/jam.
Towing max/limit & GCWR can be found in the guide (link) below.

2010 Ford Towing Guide [See Pg 5 for 5th wheel towing]
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...RDUTYsep09.pdf


Note: the listed **weights are for a standard build 3510RE, with no "options/upgrades" [no generator, for example]

If you need help with getting the numbers in order, just ask... someone will chime-in & help.

Hope this helps,
Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

[Road-King]

Originally Posted by Dooley

I currently have a 2010 F350 diesel super cab and of course was told that would be a good truck for this .

My FIL has a 2015 3510 and pulls it with a 04 Dodge 2500 with Cummings diesel.

I would think you have plenty truck for that 5er. Some forums on-line would have you believing you can't pull a Pop-Up without a Freight-liner.

[GmaPaTime]

From what I see, I hope you have DRW.

Best case payload = 4,503 (DRW 4x2)
Worst case payload = 2,684 (SRW 4x4)

Expected Pin Weight = 3,000 (15k x 20%)

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Road-King

My FIL has a 2015 3510 and pulls it with a 04 Dodge 2500 with Cummings diesel.

I would think you have plenty truck for that 5er. Some forums on-line would have you believing you can't pull a Pop-Up without a Freight-liner.

Heck, if you get the 3510 "lite model" it's half ton towable, and.... if you load it heavy in the rear, you can tow it with a Ranger. What's to worry? It tows just fine. <stated, tongue in cheek>

Being conservative, your FIL may want to run the numbers one more time and visit a CAT scale just to be sure... That is, unless he has the "lite model", then no worries, just start 'er up and go.......

This is one of "those forums" that believes in considering all the factors related to towing, not just whether or not a truck can pull a trailer on the highway. There's more to towing than hitching a "Pop-Up to a Freight-Liner". BTW, the 2004 Dodge towing specs are here: http://dodgeram.info/2004/load-tow/2500.html

It's interesting to note that the 2015 Alpine shipping weight is more than the maximum towing allowance for all but the HO Cummins diesel, and then, there's only 450 pounds remaining before reaching maximum towing weight. None of the truck configurations have a payload greater than 3024 pounds. The Alpine empty pin weight is 2530, add batteries and propane and you're "uncomfortably close" with no cargo or hitch in the truck. Not a lot of "leeway" for having "plenty of truck".......

[Dooley]

Where are you getting the payload info from ? Just curious as I am not picking up on where those numbers come from .
Max allowable trailer weight is 15,300 (little light )according to the spec sheet numbers from Keystone @15500
GCWR is 23000 From the Ford link above
Gvwr 11400 From sticker on the truck , Where does one find the weight of the vehicle bare bones from the factory just for play numbers as I don't have a scale handy ?

[JRTJH]

You won't find the bare bones weight anywhere on the truck. What you will find on the driver's door post is two stickers. On the "ID" sticker, second line, right under the "MFG by FORD" is the maximum GVW. On that same sticker you'll find the FAWR and RAWR (which is the maximum weight allowable on the front and rear axles)>

On the second sticker, the one with the yellow on it, you'll find, on the third line, the following: "The maximum allowable passengers and cargo for this vehicle shall not exceed ---kg/---pounds" that figure is your "maximum payload".

The maximum trailer weight and the GCWR are located in the owner's manual and on various charts available in the FORD website under "SPECS" for the appropriate vehicle. Note that the GCWR is different for bumper trailers and fifth wheel trailers and varies from model to model of truck. So don't expect the same "maximum trailer" on a 4x2 regular cab and on a 4x4 crew cab in the same series (F250 or F350).

[Dooley]

ok
GVWR IS 11400
GCWR IS 23000
MAX ALLOWABLE PAYLOAD IS 3388
MAX TRAILER WT IS 15300
So this appears to me on paper that it is ok, if the trailer isnt loaded to heavy.
But it will be at the up end of what the truck can handle as we sit now.

I s there anything that can bee done to the truck or fifth wheel that would effect this to make it a better fit ? Or the numbers are the numbers ?

[JRTJH]

Trailer is 13100 with a pin weight of 2530. Figure that one battery and full propane tanks will weigh about 125, so the empty pin weight is about 2655. Add 150 for the hitch, that's 2805 for the empty trailer with propane and battery. If the payload for your truck is 3388 and assuming you've added NOTHING to the truck since it left the factory, then you have 583 pounds remaining for cargo and passengers. Remember that a bed mat, spray in bed liner, tool box, running boards, GPS, maps, gloves, etc that you carry in the truck all are a part of the payload as is any optional equipment the dealer or previous owner added. So, yes, you're close, but ???

Also remember that the maximum allowable trailer is determined with an empty truck. So your maximum trailer/GCWR are "ever changing" depending on your cargo/passenger load.

For example: GVW - PAYLOAD = TRUCK WEIGHT 11400 - 3388 = 8012

GCWR - TRUCK WEIGHT = MAXIMUM TRAILER 23000 - 8012 = 14988

As the truck weight goes up, the maximum trailer weight goes down. Assume your truck is loaded to 10000 pounds with passengers and cargo/hitch. Doing the same calculation would produce significantly different allowable trailer weight:

GCWR - VEHICLE WEIGHT = MAXIMUM TRAILER
23000 - 10000 = 13000

So, loaded for a trip with hitch in the truck, your family and a bit of cargo, your available payload would go down but also your maximum allowable trailer would go down.

Do all the numbers, calculate your "real world" weights, as well as your "worst case weights" and then decide if your truck is capable of carrying the load and towing the trailer. Only you can make the determination if you're close or overweight. Don't rely on a salesman who is intent on making the sale to do the numbers and reassure you, "Your truck will tow anything on our lot". It's simply untrue to tell you that. Remember that the same salesman will, at closing, require you to sign a statement that he is not responsible for any problems arising from not having a large enough tow vehicle to handle the trailer he just reassured you that you could tow. He will be released of all "responsibility" as soon as you sign that document and they won't process the loan until you sign it, so you're "over a barrel" if you haven't done your own calculations !!!!!

[Dooley]

Thanks for all the help !!

[JRTJH]

You're welcome. Remember that loading your truck at or "slightly over" it's rating is something that many people do, but how many of them get their rig off the concrete highway and travel the Alcan? Use your better judgement and good luck.

[Festus2]

You can't "modify" the truck so that its payload will increase. Adding airbags, spring helpers, etc. may result in a smoother and more "even" ride but the "numbers are the numbers". In your case, the sticker shows that your Maximum Allowable Payload is 3388.

[Dave-Gray]

The simplest tool I know about that will assist you in knowing a realistic tow rating for any vehicle is RV Tow Check. Just enter your GCWR, GVWR and your scaled GVW. (You could use curb weight, but it's not the first choice.) I hope it will clam your nerves.