06' F-250 What can I tow

[JLH123]

I have been reading up on 5th wheel towing and wanting to purchase one. I am looking at a toy hauler that has a weight of around 12500. I have a 06 f-250 Crew Cab 6.0 and I am so confised on what I can tow. I live in florida so hills are not a major concern and will be hauling around 1500#'s in the trailer itself. No water will be in the trailee while under tow. Please help understand what I can tow. here is what I know from the door sticker:

GVWR 10000
GCWR 23500
GFAWR 5600
GRAWR 6100
Curb (Dry) 6395
Tow Capacity 15500
Front Tire Rating 3185
Rear Tire Rating 3185

Thanks very much for any help or information, I do not wat to make a huge mistake by purchasing a trialer that has to sit in the yard.

Regards,

Jeff

[TLG]

Until a couple of weeks ago, I had a 2005 supercab 6.0. That dry weight they advertise is best case senario. With a full tank of fuel and me it was 7800lbs. We went from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel last year. I took it to the scales at flying J and was suprised how much they under estimate these weights. I was fine on the axles and the combined weight, but was about 10400 on the GVWR. The truck pulled fine, but I'm just a litte paranoid about things like this. After 4 F250's, I recently went with a 350. Haven't towed with it yet, am I'm betting it won't tow any better. But' I'll feel better knowing I'm legal.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by JLH123[/quote

GVWR 10000
GCWR 23500

You misread something. Your GCWR is 23,000, not 23,500.

Anyone that wasn't behind the door when they passed out brains will tell you to never exceed any of the manufacturer's ratings.

The limiter on your F-250 is the GVWR. If you never exceed the GVWR of your tow vehicle, then you don't need to worry about any of the other weight ratings, such as
GFAWR 5600
GRAWR 6100
Front Tire Rating 3185
Rear Tire Rating 3185

The tire ratings are more than the axle ratings, and the axle ratings are more than the GVWR. So stay within the GVWR and those things will take care of themselves.

Curb (Dry) 6395

That's Ford's underestimated "dry" shipping weight. Your truck weighs a lot more than that. Install the 5er hitch, load it up with the normal stuff you take on the road - bedliner, cooler, toolbox full of tools and extra fluids, family, pets, whatever. Then go to a truckstop that has a truck scale and fill up with diesel. Then weigh the wet and loaded pickup. Subtract that weight from 10,000 and the answer is the max hitch weight (kingpin or "pin" weight) you can have without exceeding the GVWR of the F-250.

To estimate the max weight of a 5er with that hitch weight, divide the available hitch weight by 17 percent.

For example, let's say your wet and loaded pickup weighs 8,000 pounds, which leaves 2,000 pounds for hitch weight. 2,000 pounds divided by 17 percent = 11,765. So your max trailer weight would be about 11,765.

But more likely a pickup weighing 8,500 pounds. 1,500 pounds max hitch weight. 8,324 max trailer weight.

Notice that the change in truck weight significantly changes the weight of the trailer you can tow without exceeding the GVWR of the tow vehicle.

Tow Capacity 15500

Another case of invalid assumptions by the marketing department at Ford.

23,000 GCWR minus 15,500 gross trailer weight = 7,500 pounds max weight of your wet and loaded tow vehicle. If your wet and loaded truck weighs 7,500 pounds, that leaves 2,500 pounds max hitch weight. 2,500 pounds max hitch weight is only 16.13 percent hitch weight. I've never heard of a tandam-axle 5er that grosses 15,500 pounds to have only 16 percent hitch weight. Most have 18 percent or more, and a few have 17 percent.

But that doesn't matter because your wet and loaded truck is going to weigh more than 7,500 pounds. If it's a 4x4 CrewCab PSD, then probably more than 8,500 pounds. So ignore Ford's estimates and use real numbers from the truck scale.

Of course, you have a powerhouse for an engine. It will tow and haul a lot more than Ford's limits. But your engine is not your limiter - your GVWR is.

Overloading is done all the time. By folks who were behind the door. Don't be one of them.

What to do? If you can't live without a big toy hauler, but you can't afford to buy an adequate tow vehicle, then look into tri-axle toy haulers. They have less percent of hitch weight than tandam-axle 5ers of the same gross weight, so you might be able to tow one of those without being overloaded.

[JLH123]

Thank you very much for reply. This is a great help, I think I will re-look at the different options out there as far as toy haulers go. I have been looking at three axle set-ups but the pin weight still creeps up in value.

[Blue Water Runner]

You can still overload an axle without being overloaded on gross combined. I would try to stay within axle limits if possible also. I used to be a little over on my rear capacity when I had my 24' flatbed (with weight distribution)and my camper loaded. I have since sold my 24' trailer for a trailer with a lighter tongue.

[jasonlisan]

As you can see, I've towed a triple axle toyhauler with my 06' F-250. I'd say I towed around 8000 miles without any issues but I was definately over the gvwr of the truck and most likely the gcwr. My pin weight was around 3000# so air bags were a must have. I only pulled the Raptor one season (last year) and never felt uncomfortable and I live in Colorado and 90% of the towing was over mountain passes. However, I have an F-450 on order (should be in this week woohoo) just for the stability and piece of mind of being under the gvwr.

[larry_minn]

Was not standing behind the door
I also understand they have to build/rate things for folks who were...
The numbers are for WARRENTY and CYA. Go to the DMV, DOT, and get in contact with folk who run weight stations, Commercail Vehicle inspections/enforcement.
Your truck will handle that rig with EASE. Check your laws. Because of nannies/ninnies I have heard they will start to inforce 26k total. (Once they remove the RV exemption) So check for your state and if needed get a CDL/whatever needed.
The short version is. Check your tire ratings. Do NOT go over the tire ratings or axle limits. (by much) Watch your speeds and leave more room/allow for more time. You do realize ofen the only change between a 3/4 1 ton is the badge on side? (if it was camper package/dsl) The axles/brakes/transmission (until you get to dually) is SAME THING.
Talk to your insurance agents, DMV, DOT and get something in writing that you are breaking ANY law. (that a few bucks won't fix. (I.E. a higher rated DL) The truck/trailer I used was a 89 F250 4wd Dsl with ATS turbo and 32' GN trailer with 24k cargo (plus trailer. After walk around/few questions I was told its legal.

[Bob C.]

To give you something else to worry about, ask the dealer to weigh the toy hauler you want.
Better yet, go with the dealer to make sure nothing "funny" happens...
My experience has been that most of the mfg. underestimates the weight of their products. You may be very surprised. We weighed one customer's toybox 5th wheel. With 1/2 tanks of water, clothing and a couple of bicycles in it, it was within 200 # of GVW, no quads, no jeeps or sandrails were loaded yet.