F250 or F350 to Haul a 5th Wheel???

[jacknjade]

Hello-

I would appreciate your advice on the size of truck to haul a 5th wheel.

We are about to purchase our first 5th Wheel (2018 Jayco Northpoint 377RLBH with GVWR 16750) for a multi-state 6month trip around the country with my wife and 2 daughters.

We are new to 5th wheels, but experienced campers/RVers.

We are looking for advice for the type of truck to safely haul this beast.

We've narrowed down to Ford.

Would you recommend an F350 or would an F250 be safe to haul up and down the mountains? Gas or diesel?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Joe Goodxrvn]

The tow capacity of a 2020 gas 6.2l F250 is 15,800 for a 5th wheel. Not enough. The 7.3 gas is somewhat higher at 19,500lbs The diesel is higher 22,800lbs. More importantly is the ability of the F250 to support the pin weight of the 5th wheel. The payload is about 4,250lbs. The payload is everything loaded in the truck in addition to the pin weight.
The F350 is here, lots of details.. https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten.../guides/20Towing_Ford_SuperDutyPU_r1_Nov7.pdf

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

After having pulled a 34' Montana 5th wheel for about 10 years before we moved to a motorhome, let me just say that it is a lot easier to be under-trucked than it is to be over-trucked. And, diesel is far superior in torque to gas, IMO.

We used a 2001 F-350 4WD with the now-discontinued 7.3 diesel (best engine Ford ever used IMO). Even pulling the Montana over the Continental Divide in passes at 8,000-feet elevation or more, we were never without sufficient power...or, braking. I still have the truck and it is semi-retired to local use and pushing a snowplow in the winter (which it does amazingly well).

The F-250 might work just as well for you, but the F-350 will leave no doubt in your mind that you have plenty of truck. Check the GCVWR and stay below 75-80% of the high end. If the F-250 fits in that scenario, it should work fine. Otherwise, go with the F-350. I would go with the F-350 anyway, but that's just me.

TJ

 

[jacknjade]

The tow capacity of a 2020 gas 6.2l F250 is 15,800 for a 5th wheel. Not enough. The 7.3 gas is somewhat higher at 19,500lbs The diesel is higher 22,800lbs. More importantly is the ability of the F250 to support the pin weight of the 5th wheel. The payload is about 4,250lbs. The payload is everything loaded in the truck in addition to the pin weight.
The F350 is here, lots of details.. https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten.../guides/20Towing_Ford_SuperDutyPU_r1_Nov7.pdf

Thanks, Joe.

 

[jacknjade]

After having pulled a 34' Montana 5th wheel for about 10 years before we moved to a motorhome, let me just say that it is a lot easier to be under-trucked than it is to be over-trucked. And, diesel is far superior in torque to gas, IMO.

We used a 2001 F-350 4WD with the now-discontinued 7.3 diesel (best engine Ford ever used IMO). Even pulling the Montana over the Continental Divide in passes at 8,000-feet elevation or more, we were never without sufficient power...or, braking. I still have the truck and it is semi-retired to local use and pushing a snowplow in the winter (which it does amazingly well).

The F-250 might work just as well for you, but the F-350 will leave no doubt in your mind that you have plenty of truck. Check the GCVWR and stay below 75-80% of the high end. If the F-250 fits in that scenario, it should work fine. Otherwise, go with the F-350. I would go with the F-350 anyway, but that's just me.

TJ

I appreciate your help.

 

[ManlyMan]

Having towed with both a gas and a diesel I would highly recommend the diesel for the mountains. Because of the size and weight of the fifth wheel you are considering you definitely should buy an F350.

 

[jacknjade]

Thanks, MM.

 

[Gronk]

Just MY experience, My trailer is a 38' with a GVW of only 12,400lbs. I had a 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins towing it and it did good, BUT I upgraded to a 3500 dually with the same engine and the difference is amazing! Side winds aren't anywhere near the issue that it used to be and it is way more comfortable with the 3500. My recommendation is go bigger with the truck. You can never have too much truck.

 

[jacknjade]

Just MY experience, My trailer is a 38' with a GVW of only 12,400lbs. I had a 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins towing it and it did good, BUT I upgraded to a 3500 dually with the same engine and the difference is amazing! Side winds aren't anywhere near the issue that it used to be and it is way more comfortable with the 3500. My recommendation is go bigger with the truck. You can never have too much truck.

Thanks, Gronk. Did you have any passengers in the back seat of your dually? I have never owned a dually but I have been told that they are very stiff and you feel every bump. My girls 10/13 years old will be riding in the back.

 

[BGMAC]

To help soften the ride, when I had my 36ft 5th wheel and Ford 350 dully Back in 2001, i had an Air Ride king pin. Made the rides much softer. They also make an air ride Hitch as well.

https://www.etrailer.com/Fifth-Wheel-King-Pin/Lippert-Components/UF35-946215.html?feed=npn&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnqH7BRDdARIsACTSAdsWM__zy23e6N3dwDuHKc_MXrA8UOwhiVak-jGU1dWh9VKVHgpAeM4aAnPXEALw_wcB

 

[jacknjade]

To help soften the ride, when I had my 36ft 5th wheel and Ford 350 dully Back in 2001, i had an Air Ride king pin. Made the rides much softer. They also make an air ride Hitch as well.

https://www.etrailer.com/Fifth-Wheel-King-Pin/Lippert-Components/UF35-946215.html?feed=npn&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnqH7BRDdARIsACTSAdsWM__zy23e6N3dwDuHKc_MXrA8UOwhiVak-jGU1dWh9VKVHgpAeM4aAnPXEALw_wcB

Cool. Thanks, BGMAC.

 

[Gronk]

Thanks, Gronk. Did you have any passengers in the back seat of your dually? I have never owned a dually but I have been told that they are very stiff and you feel every bump. My girls 10/13 years old will be riding in the back.

The only passenger in the back seat when towing has been my 90lb Shepard/Spaniel mix. My brother said my 3500 rode better than his F-150 that he used to have, BUT I do have an air ride hitch and added air ride to the trailer, so I don't feel the bumps from the trailer. Running empty, it does have a little bit of a harsher ride, but that is a trade off for the more capable truck.

 

[jacknjade]

Thanks, Gronk.

 

[DKRITTER]

The mechanical difference between a F250 and F350SRW is very minimal. I pulled a TT with 2 different F250's and they were fine. I also had a box in the back that weighed a little over 1000 lbs and both F250's sagged way to much, I had to put on air bags on both to just level. When I went to the F350SRW the 1000 lb box had almost no effect on the suspension. When we bought a 5th wheel it only dropped it a few inches.

All this to say, if I was ever to get another 5th wheel it would be pulled by a F350 at least.

 

[Gizmo]

I had a Solitude 310GK which as 35 feet and 16,800 GVWR with a factory spec of 2240 pin weight and had 2017 Ford 1 ton with a payload of 3722 on the door sticker. On paper, it all was good but pulled it the trucker CAT scale and I was over the GVWR of the truck and within 200 pounds of the axle ratings. I plan to add in washer and dryer and generator. The 5er was within just over 15,000 pounds loaded ready to camp. Some of the 2020 and 2021 have more payload then in the past but don't believe what it says on the website. Spend sometime check the door stickers on Ford dealership and see the payloads can vary on 1-ton trucks buy thousand pounds or more. A 3/4 truck isn't enough truck PERIOD. The pin weight going to be between 20 and 25% of the and I would go with 25% when buying a truck just to give some margin. So 16,000 pounds time 25% would be 4000 pounds plus you have to add the weight of the hitch and people and stuff in the truck. Don't fall into the trap that I will travel lite. Check out this site TowingPlanner - towing capability calculators

 

[jacknjade]

The mechanical difference between a F250 and F350SRW is very minimal. I pulled a TT with 2 different F250's and they were fine. I also had a box in the back that weighed a little over 1000 lbs and both F250's sagged way to much, I had to put on air bags on both to just level. When I went to the F350SRW the 1000 lb box had almost no effect on the suspension. When we bought a 5th wheel it only dropped it a few inches.

All this to say, if I was ever to get another 5th wheel it would be pulled by a F350 at least.

Thanks, DKRITTER. There seems to be agreement to get more truck than less!

 

[jacknjade]

I had a Solitude 310GK which as 35 feet and 16,800 GVWR with a factory spec of 2240 pin weight and had 2017 Ford 1 ton with a payload of 3722 on the door sticker. On paper, it all was good but pulled it the trucker CAT scale and I was over the GVWR of the truck and within 200 pounds of the axle ratings. I plan to add in washer and dryer and generator. The 5er was within just over 15,000 pounds loaded ready to camp. Some of the 2020 and 2021 have more payload then in the past but don't believe what it says on the website. Spend sometime check the door stickers on Ford dealership and see the payloads can vary on 1-ton trucks buy thousand pounds or more. A 3/4 truck isn't enough truck PERIOD. The pin weight going to be between 20 and 25% of the and I would go with 25% when buying a truck just to give some margin. So 16,000 pounds time 25% would be 4000 pounds plus you have to add the weight of the hitch and people and stuff in the truck. Don't fall into the trap that I will travel lite. Check out this site TowingPlanner - towing capability calculators

Thanks, Gizmo. Useful website, too!

 

[MapNerd]

Same boat but looking at the tow ratings, I did not feel comfortable going with a 250. You’re just too close to the line in my opinion and that truck is going to be working hard all the time.

We are finalizing our order tonight for an 2021 F-350 DRW 4x4 with a 4.10 LSD - rated to pull a bananas 34,200lbs (27,360@80% which I’d not think of exceeding). It’s the kind of truck where you just need to be pulling something very unusual to have to think much about your trailer weight other than making sure you don’t exceed your trailer’s limitations.

Edit: that was too glib of me. It’s a big truck and it pulls a lot, but there are still lots of things to consider carefully.

 

[eZAK]

Just my 2 cents, Ford F-350, Super Duty, 6.7L Power Stroke, SRW Lariat.
Don't forget to weigh your trailer/truck combo, fully loaded, Before you hit the road!