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Old 02-21-2015, 11:03 AM   #1
Hansel
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F-250 and 5th Wheel's????

Okay so I've read and done searches on pin weight's because in the future we (wifey and I ) plan on trading in a TT which has bunk beds for something more for just us. I want a 5th wheel but it seems like I don't think I can get much of a camper, now this is just guessing and I know I need too make a trip too the CAT scale's, but my old 2000 F-250 weighed in at 6560lbs (2WD) so now I have a 2001 F-250 7.3L 4X4 so I would guess it's over 7,000lbs easy. Now the door sticker has a 8800lb GVWR so if I understand correctly and the truck is 7000lbs I can add 1800lbs, take out me and dear wifey so know maybe 1450lbs.

So we have found a possible new camper, it's a Jayco (Sorry Don't hate us) but that is the one the camper dealer had that has the features we want, so here are the manufactures weight's

http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-...le-ht/275rlts/

Jayco Eagle HT 37.5RLTS
Unloaded 7625lbs
Dry hitch 1260lbs
GVWR 9950lbs
Cargo cap. 2325

So when looking at these number's and I know that I can't really go by them, but even thou I think my truck can handle it, is my truck just not enough for a 5th wheel or should I just stick with a TT?????

Thanks guys, but I need some guidance
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Old 02-21-2015, 11:17 AM   #2
therink
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Based on the fiver gvwr of 9950 and 20% pin weight average, the loaded pin weight will potentially weigh between 1800 and 2000. Don't forget that the hitch in your bed will weigh about 150 plus any other items you load into the truck.
I'm sure the truck will pull it fine but you will be over on the truck gvwr. It is your choice but if you plan on covering a lot of miles and in for the long haul you should consider a letter model 3/4 or 1 ton truck.
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Old 02-21-2015, 11:52 AM   #3
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As therink points out your truck will be well over its payload. The pin weight alone will be much more than the truck is allowed.

The Cougar Xlite series has some comparable weights but they will still exceed your payload considerably. The new 3/4 tons have a much higher payload capacity (mine has 3400 -4000lbs depending on which chart you look at) and allow more leeway. I guess bottom line is I would stick with a TT with your existing truck...IMO. Keystone has some nice TTs that are made for the two of you. We bought a 2014 Cougar High Country (discontinued ) basically for two folks and we love it. After spending yesterday afternoon looking at 5th wheels I came to the conclusion, for us, the only reason to get one would be the improved towing experience and the much larger tank capacities.
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Old 02-21-2015, 02:24 PM   #4
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So basically anyone with a F-250 or equivalent really can't tow a 5th wheel this really STINKS!!!!
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Old 02-21-2015, 02:41 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Hansel View Post
So basically anyone with a F-250 or equivalent really can't tow a 5th wheel this really STINKS!!!!
No. You just can't tow a big fifth wheel. There are smaller lighter fifth wheel models, but they may not have all the features your looking for. Some manufacturers make "1/2 ton towables", I don't know if Jayco or Keystone do, since I'm done looking.
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Old 02-21-2015, 02:43 PM   #6
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No. You just can't tow a big fifth wheel. There are smaller lighter fifth wheel models, but they may not have all the features your looking for. Some manufacturers make "1/2 ton towables", I don't know if Jayco or Keystone do, since I'm done looking.
Well I'm still looking but so far that one is the smallest one I've found.
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Old 02-21-2015, 02:50 PM   #7
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There has to one out there..... somewhere. Maybe an on-line search in RV trader, lots of different brands too look at, although I can say we have loved our old '97 Jayco for 13 1/2 yrs.
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Old 02-21-2015, 04:23 PM   #8
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There has to one out there..... somewhere. Maybe an on-line search in RV trader, lots of different brands too look at, although I can say we have loved our old '97 Jayco for 13 1/2 yrs.
Ya I know there has too be something I've quickly looked at the 1/2 ton 5th wheels, but there weight's seem like they might be too much for a 1/2 ton
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Old 02-21-2015, 05:41 PM   #9
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There was a post on this forum the other day and I believe the poster was referencing a 5th wheel with a pin weight of around 900lbs. That seems awfully light, and we're dealing with my old geezer memory, but I'm sure that's what was posted. The poster may have been confused between a TT and 5th wheel but it may be something to try to search for.

Also, in your situation, the truck you have just has a low GVW. Newer ones are much higher and allow for more pin/stuff weight. Your truck is your limiting factor; it's not a "3/4 tons can't pull 5th wheels" generic assumption.
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Old 02-21-2015, 05:49 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
There was a post on this forum the other day and I believe the poster was referencing a 5th wheel with a pin weight of around 900lbs. That seems awfully light, and we're dealing with my old geezer memory, but I'm sure that's what was posted. The poster may have been confused between a TT and 5th wheel but it may be something to try to search for.

Also, in your situation, the truck you have just has a low GVW. Newer ones are much higher and allow for more pin/stuff weight. Your truck is your limiting factor; it's not a "3/4 tons can't pull 5th wheels" generic assumption.
I know my truck will pull it, I'm amazed at how little pin weight it can take.Then I look at all those trucks pulling way more than they should.
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Old 02-21-2015, 06:24 PM   #11
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You're correct. In most cases anymore the engine can pull the load - just look at the max towing for all these trucks. The caveat is the payload. Over the past several years the Big 3 have been in a battle for the towing crown. Frames keep getting bigger/beefier, springs keep getting bigger along with every other chassis component. They have made a concerted effort to raise payloads because they knew it was a limitation. A new Ram 1500 can have up to 1600lbs of payload compared to your 250's 1800lbs - almost the same. My 2500 has a payload north of 3100lbs and they go up to almost 4000lbs. Big difference from the older trucks.

Pulling the trailer and pulling it safely are two different things. The newer trucks have bigger anti sway bars, electronic anti sway, bigger brakes etc. I know others pull overloaded; I see it all the time as do you. I never pulled overloaded but I pulled at the max for my 2012 Ram 1500. I knew the truck was not prepared for any kind of emergency situation. I couldn't put my wife, myself, pup or other innocent folks in harms way due to my negligence. That's just me.

Another thought: Why do you want a 5th wheel? They have some benefits but there are very nice TTs out there that provide nearly everything a 5ver does. Less weight, same amenities and something your truck won't have a problem with.
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Old 02-22-2015, 07:25 PM   #12
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You're correct. In most cases anymore the engine can pull the load - just look at the max towing for all these trucks. The caveat is the payload. Over the past several years the Big 3 have been in a battle for the towing crown. Frames keep getting bigger/beefier, springs keep getting bigger along with every other chassis component. They have made a concerted effort to raise payloads because they knew it was a limitation. A new Ram 1500 can have up to 1600lbs of payload compared to your 250's 1800lbs - almost the same. My 2500 has a payload north of 3100lbs and they go up to almost 4000lbs. Big difference from the older trucks.

Pulling the trailer and pulling it safely are two different things. The newer trucks have bigger anti sway bars, electronic anti sway, bigger brakes etc. I know others pull overloaded; I see it all the time as do you. I never pulled overloaded but I pulled at the max for my 2012 Ram 1500. I knew the truck was not prepared for any kind of emergency situation. I couldn't put my wife, myself, pup or other innocent folks in harms way due to my negligence. That's just me.

Another thought: Why do you want a 5th wheel? They have some benefits but there are very nice TTs out there that provide nearly everything a 5ver does. Less weight, same amenities and something your truck won't have a problem with.

I'm just looking into the future of what me and dear wifey want, I'd like a 5th wheel too make towing easier puting some of the length over the truck. I've found a few TT that have the floor plan we like but they are over 30+ft

We are not buying right away so we are just testing the water so too speak, we have a RV show coming up here in Atlanta in a few weeks we are going too try and go.
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Old 02-22-2015, 07:29 PM   #13
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I can tell you one thing. Once you start towing a fiver, you'll never want a bumper pull again!!
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Old 02-22-2015, 07:43 PM   #14
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I can tell you one thing. Once you start towing a fiver, you'll never want a bumper pull again!!
AMEN TO THAT !!! (Finally, I've got a post shorter than Chuckster57)
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Old 02-23-2015, 05:25 AM   #15
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Lately I've had to tow several 32'-33' TTs that weigh just under 7k lbs, I would much rather hook up to my 40' 15k lb 5er, it just pulls so much nicer and feels more secure/stable.

The Jayco 27.5 RLTS you are looking at is a very nice unit. My parents have the 30.5 RLTS, really has a lot of room in it, love the open floor plan. I know you just recently bought your 01 F-250, IMO, when you are ready to pull the trigger, don't sacrifice on camper due to the limitations of the older trucks. Look at stepping up to a newer model truck, 2011 or newer with the exhaust brake. You will have the towing/payload capacity you need, the trailer you want, and a really nice setup you'll love.
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Old 02-23-2015, 12:04 PM   #16
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Lately I've had to tow several 32'-33' TTs that weigh just under 7k lbs, I would much rather hook up to my 40' 15k lb 5er, it just pulls so much nicer and feels more secure/stable.

The Jayco 27.5 RLTS you are looking at is a very nice unit. My parents have the 30.5 RLTS, really has a lot of room in it, love the open floor plan. I know you just recently bought your 01 F-250, IMO, when you are ready to pull the trigger, don't sacrifice on camper due to the limitations of the older trucks. Look at stepping up to a newer model truck, 2011 or newer with the exhaust brake. You will have the towing/payload capacity you need, the trailer you want, and a really nice setup you'll love.
I had a 2000 F-250 2WD that was totaled and it weighed in at 6500lbs meaning that truck could carry more, granted I need too weigh my 01 which is a 4X4 so I'm guessing it's probably over the 7000lb mark making it carry less I'd love a new truck, and I'm not as in love with my 01 as I was my 2000 F-250. I've been kinda looking at a used GMC with a diesel I'm not touching Ford new diesel just yet, but my brother let me use his Chevy 2500HD because my truck was wrecked a week before camping, and I loved it!!! It was hard keeping it under 75mph towing my Laredo 284BH it was a beast too say the least.

I thank you guys for the imput, and keep it coming if anyone can shed some light on a light weight 5th wheel manufacture.
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Old 02-23-2015, 04:28 PM   #17
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I'm just looking into the future of what me and dear wifey want, I'd like a 5th wheel too make towing easier puting some of the length over the truck. I've found a few TT that have the floor plan we like but they are over 30+ft

We are not buying right away so we are just testing the water so too speak, we have a RV show coming up here in Atlanta in a few weeks we are going too try and go.
I bought a 2005 Ram 2500 SLT LWB 5.9 Cummins. Love the truck and get 23mpg empty at 65 mph and towing my loaded 11,000 lb 5ver between 60-65 mph it gets 14 mpg on flat terrain. Great truck. Fords and Chevy's are good too.
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Old 02-23-2015, 04:51 PM   #18
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Hansel, check out my truck. I scaled it many times. It comes in at 7800 lbs full of fuel and 2 adults (320 lbs about). I have a few lbs of extra rear springs, running boards and use tires rated at 3740 lb each Toyo 285x75x16 . So, you should be closer to 7800 lbs than 7000 lbs.
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Old 02-23-2015, 07:17 PM   #19
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Hansel, check out my truck. I scaled it many times. It comes in at 7800 lbs full of fuel and 2 adults (320 lbs about). I have a few lbs of extra rear springs, running boards and use tires rated at 3740 lb each Toyo 285x75x16 . So, you should be closer to 7800 lbs than 7000 lbs.
Thanks for the specs, other than the extra springs our trucks are close too dead on then, in fact we have the same tires so this just verifies I need more truck for the type of camper we want in the future. Because even the so called 1/2 ton towable 5th wheels have more pin weight than I can handle at this point which really STINKS thinking I have a Super Duty diesel and it can't tow a 5th wheel
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Old 02-23-2015, 08:21 PM   #20
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Hansel,

I had a 99 SuperDuty F250 supercab/short box 7.3L FX4 Lariat. It weighed in at 7450 with a GVW of 8800. Doing the math, my payload on that truck was 1350 pounds. That's less than the "standard" 7200 pound GVW F150's have today, which is closer to 1600 pounds. I can say that my 99 SuperDuty towed much better than my 2010 F150, but the payload just wasn't there.

By comparison, my 2013 F250 supercab long box 6.2l (gas) XLT weighs 7280 with a GVW of 10000. That's a payload of 2720 lbs. There is a member with a 2012 F250 crewcab long box XL 6.7l (diesel) and his door sticker lists his payload at 2629 with a 10000 GVW. His engine is about 500 pounds heavier than my 6.2l so the rest must be made up in the "stuff" that comes as an option on the XLT and not on the XL.

There is a big big difference in payload in trucks 10-20 years ago vs today's models.
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