Your Thoughts

MittonF · 03-06-2021, 07:58 PM

I am a NEWBIE looking to the community for some advice. I am looking at a Cougar 316RLS and a Ford 350, short box, 4x4, SRW, 6.2 Gas V8, 3.73 Axle Ratio. Will this combination work??

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience.

**JRTJH** · 03-06-2021, 08:37 PM

That trailer has a GVW of 12300 pounds. A pin weight (20-25%) would range from 2460-3075 pounds. To the pin weight, add your hitch of choice. Hitches range from the Andersen "35 pound aluminum" to a 275 pound conventional fifth wheel hitch with a sliding base. So depending on the hitch you choose, you're looking at adding that to the pin weight.

Then, with no knowledge of how many people will be in the truck, the amount of additional cargo (truck tool box, tonneau cover, generator, extra equipment, etc that you will put in the truck, you may be well within the payload of the truck or you may be "woefully overloaded"...

As for the capability of the truck with a 6.2l gas engine, with the standard 3.73 axle ratios, the maximum trailer capacity of a 2020 F350 is 12400 pounds and the GCWR (truck and trailer) is 19500 pounds. When you subtract the 12300 trailer weight from the maximum combined weight, you're left with a maximum truck weight of 7200 pounds. That's the "empty truck weight, so you're going to be "at/over" the GCWR and "close to the payload" as well as "at maximum trailer weight"

What that means to me, is that if you're a "growing family" you'll likely be overloaded, if you're a "couple who never travel with other people in the truck" and you're very careful, you should be OK, unless you start adding options like a washer/dryer and a second air conditioner and a multiple "heavy battery system" to go with that "HD fifth wheel hitch that weighs a ton"....

Yes, it's likely "doable" but even a 12000 pound GVW trailer is going to tax a gas powered F350. Problem is the 6.2l gas truck gives you the payload for a 12300 pound trailer but not the pulling power (with the 3.73 axle ratios). Go to the diesel, you get the "pulling power, but lose the payload.

**sourdough** · 03-07-2021, 05:49 AM

Some critical info is missing; what year is the truck? What tranny does it have? What's the payload off the yellow/white sticker inside the driver door? Knowing those kinds of things really helps making an assessment "from afar".

Prior to the last couple of years I would have said the trailer is out of the realm of a gas engine but if the truck has the new 10 speed, it's a game changer. At that weight the 3.73 hurts. If you're going gas why not go with the 7.3? That very well may be my next truck.

John has pointed at the weights. You and your particular circumstances will have a lot to do with that; the more you can share the better we can assess what your situation is. If you do a lot of mountain driving with that weight behind the truck I suspect you are going to be wishing you either had a diesel, lighter trailer or higher axle ratio.

wiredgeorge · 03-07-2021, 06:34 AM

I believe Missouri City a burb of Houston. Not too many mountains over there. That truck he is thinking about wouldn't be ideal but might work OK if he doesn't hit the hills.

**sourdough** · 03-07-2021, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I believe Missouri City a burb of Houston. Not too many mountains over there. That truck he is thinking about wouldn't be ideal but might work OK if he doesn't hit the hills.

Yes it is. But, if I were stuck there I would be doing everything I could to "hit the hills".

markcee · 03-07-2021, 06:58 AM

I have your target truck, but with the 4.30 rear end and the 6 speed tranny. I tow about a 9K travel trailer. Biggest grades I have pulled so far were 7% here in Arizona. Being the TT is 9K, the truck performs admirably. For me, I would not want to try it adding the addition 3K of weight.

Having 4.30's boosts my GCVWR up to 23K, but as mentioned, you will also need to check the payload sticker for the actual truck you are looking at. My door sticker payload is 'only' 3,271 pounds, so even with a so-called lightweight 5ver, I would be pushing my truck's payload limit once loaded up.

I think the 7.3 gas or 6.7 PSD would be a better route to take.

bcintx · 03-08-2021, 11:04 AM

Im looking at the same trailer. I have a 2016 F250 CC 4X4 6.7. The 81 gallon fresh water tank is at the far rear end. It seems that 650 pounds of water at the rear would go a long way to lighten the pin. Having the diesel I have the GCWR but the payload is questionable.

Javi · 03-08-2021, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcintx

Im looking at the same trailer. I have a 2016 F250 CC 4X4 6.7. The 81 gallon fresh water tank is at the far rear end. It seems that 650 pounds of water at the rear would go a long way to lighten the pin. Having the diesel I have the GCWR but the payload is questionable.

Maybe a 100 pounds or so... but the next question would be... are you going to fill it up for the trip home

notanlines · 03-08-2021, 12:00 PM

BC, Javi is correct. You'll get no more than 100 pounds off the PW at best. You need more truck. I feel like you are trying your best to just slide into the envelope so to speak, but you really can't there from here. You need to go to the truck dealer and start over. You need more truck.

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