Can I Tow My Cougar 369BHS With a GMC 2500?

autoteacher

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Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Posts
22
Hello All, We've been camping for the past 15 years but this is our first 5th wheel. We just purchased a 2019 Cougar 369BHS and have been towing it with my 2001 F350 7.3 diesel dually. The truck pulls it ok locally but we plan on going cross country next year and not crazy about using a 24 year old truck on the trip. Anyway I've been locking at used diesel trucks (2015 to 2020) and most of them are short beds and 3/4 ton. Can I use a GMC diesel short bed to pull my 5th wheel? In a perfect world I would stick to a 1 ton dually but I'm having trouble finding one. Thoughts? Thanks
 
What’s wrong with your current truck? In 2009 I used my 1994 F350 dually (in sig) to drag a ‘97 Jayco 323 RKS from Calif to Connecticut and back.

IMO you have one of the best engines Ford used in the super duties. I would change fluids and go for it.
 
The OP said he was uncomfortable taking cross country trips in that old a truck. Suggest that if you do buy a newer truck, your combined pin weight and cargo (passengers, hitch and stuff in the truck) will put your payload at over 4000 lbs. Most 3/4 ton trucks will not have a payload in that range. Some 1 ton trucks won't have that much payload or you will be right on the edge. Keep in mind the higher the trim level of the truck, diesel and 4WD and crew cab all decrease potential payload capacity so just keep an eye on the payload placard in the driver door frame. Your old F350 won't have one I think as they started putting those in later. Keep an eye on autotrader.com, craigslist and facebook market place and don't be afraid to ask what the truck's payload sticker says if inquiring from a seller.
 
Thanks guys, I guess I'll keep working the ol' 7.3 Powerstroke for now. It's a great truck with NO emissions.
 
Here's the "2019 brochure specifications" for your 369BHS:

Length 39'4"
Empty weight 11547
Cargo capacity 2553

GVWR 14100

Now calculating the tongue weight at 20-25% would range 2820-3525

That is "trailer pin weight only"... you still have to add hitch weight, cargo weight in your truck and any passengers and their "stuff" to that pin weight to get a "total truck cargo weight" that you'll be adding. With 2 175 pound people, their "stuff" at 100 pounds (maps, coats, drinks, books, the firewood in the truck bed, a 2.5 gal DEF jug, plus whatever else you normally carry) then add a cooler, generator, gas for generator, tools, etc, and you can easily add 500-800 pounds of "cargo" to the truck.

So, lets figure 3000 pounds for trailer pin and hitch (minimum weight) and 500 pounds of additional people and stuff. Now we're at 3500 pounds of weight added to the truck payload....

Most 3/4 ton DIESEL trucks have a payload between 2000-2500 pounds....

NO WAY to add 3500 pounds and not be critically overloaded by 30% or more above the truck's capacity.

You'll be somewhere between impossible to find a 3/4 ton with the payload capacity and ending up with a 1 ton SRW at "bare minimum capacity".... Your trailer, if you have more than two people that travel, will be in the 1 ton dually category if you're going to do any extended travelling.
 
Well when we were looking used we used auto trader and car gurus, set search distance at 500 miles. Found our current TV about 270 miles away.
 
An actual payload sticker number tag, or GVWR? I didn’t think those came out until about 2006.

My bad...just went out and looked, it has the white GVWR and axle weight ratings.

Front 4400 lbs and rear is 7400 lbs, GVWR is 10,000
 
Your F350 doesn't have all the niceties the newer vehicles have but it is more than adequate to tow your rig. I only just traded my 2000 f350 in last year. We went with another F350 with the diesel and it is better than the ole 7.3, which I just loved.
 

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