How much can I tow?

[jeepwidow]

We have a 2005 f250 4x4 cc sb bone stock. It was originally supposed to pull a jeep on a flat bed trailer netting 6k or so. Now my friend is selling his toy box for cheap cause he is behind on payments and doesn’t want it anyway. I don’t know if I can really tow that much weight. It’s a 33' weekend warrior 5th wheel which weighs about 10k dry with 6k payload. I will probably max out the payload on the trailer. So can my lil 250 pull that with a swd?

[fred_1]

I would think that you should be able to handle a 5'r fine at that weight I do with the same truck. Just make sure all of the brakes are up to par on both truck and trailer.

[JimTJr]

YOUR TRUCK will pull it. Will you be within the axle rating for the drive axle? I doubt it. Does it legaly matter with RVs..and not for hire type towing persons? That opinion will vary on here. That is ALOT of trailer for your truck, and a dually would be much more stable towing it. But it WILL DO IT,,and not tear your truck up if you only haul ocasionally,, (Not every weekend for 10k miles a year..for example.

[SmokeyWren]

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It’s a 33' weekend warrior 5th wheel which weighs about 10k dry with 6k payload. I will probably max out the payload on the trailer. So can my lil 250 pull that with a swd?

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Pull it? Yes. You have a PSD. It can pull a mountain up a mountain. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

But you'll be severely overloaded.


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2005 f250 4x4 cc sb

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GVWR 9,800
GCWR 23,000

If you load the trailer to 16k, that leaves only 7,000 pounds for the weight of the wet and loaded tow vehicle. But your wet and loaded tow vehicle is going to weigh around 8,000 to 8,500 pounds or more, so you'll be 1,000 to 1,500 pounds over the GCWR of the tow vehicle.

A 16k 5er has a pin weight of about 18 percent, or 2,880 pounds. If your wet and loaded tow vehicle weighs only 8,000 pounds, add 2,880 for pin weight (hitch weight, a.k.a. kingpin weight) and your GVW is 10,880, or 1,080 pounds over the GVWR of the tow vehicle.

If you think 1,080 pounds is not much weight, then do this test. Go to the lumber yard and buy fourteen 80-pound sacks of something. Concrete mix, play sand, something. Then drive home and find a nice stairway that will go up one full flight of stairs. Carry all 14 of those 80-pound sacks up one flight of stairs. By yourself. Then haul them back down and load them on the pickup. Then come back here and tell me how much a bit over 1,080 pounds is. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Yes, you can pull it. Lots of folks pull that much trailer with a PSD. But you'll be thumbing your nose at the engineers who determined the weight capacity of your tow vehicle. Unless you are an engineer that specializes in weight dynamics, then that sounds like a really dumb idea to me. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

What does it take to safely tow a 16k trailer? A GVWR of 12,600 pounds and a GCWR of 26,000 pounds would work beautifully. In other words, a late-model F-350 DRW with the factory TowBoss pkg. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Or if you'd rather go custom, then an F-450 with your choice of bed or tow body. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[barrelhorses]

EDIT: I didn't see Smokey's link until I finished this one. Smokey is the one to listen to regarding your question.

You will most likely exceed your GVWR. I don't know for sure what your GVWR is but guessing around 10K#. If you load up the TH to full capacity, say 16K pounds, your pin weight will be in the neighborhood of 2400 to 3200 pounds (15 to 20% of trailer weight). I know that my F350 has a GVWR of 11,400 and the sticker in the driver's door jamb says I can add up to about 3600 pounds to the truck (people, fuel, trailer tongue/pin weight, luggage, etc.)

FWIW, I think you will also be close to, if not slightly exceeding, your GCWR (Gross combined weight rating). I believe it is 23K. This weight rating includes your truck, cargo, people, fuel, total trailer weight, etc.

Having said all of the above, you will be able to pull it. You might need to add a leaf spring, get a "helper" spring, or add air bags. And as stated above make sure the trailer brakes are in proper working order. You won't be the only one on the road who is running heavy. Besides...it might give you an excuse to get a new truck sooner than later.

[jeepwidow]

Thank you for all the quick response. About the spring problem, I was planning to put air bags on it anyway so that doesn’t concern me. I was just wondering if you, the general using public think, it is safe for me and the tow vehicle. It seems like everyone agrees it will pull fine, but it’s fuzzy on the safe part. Anything else? I’m going to LOOK at the trailer tomorrow.

[Albin]

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you for all the quick response. About the spring problem, I was planning to put air bags on it anyway so that doesn’t concern me. I was just wondering if you, the general using public think, it is safe for me and the tow vehicle. It seems like everyone agrees it will pull fine, but it’s fuzzy on the safe part. Anything else? I’m going to LOOK at the trailer tomorrow.

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Good luck, but I'd listen to what Smokey has to say. I can tell you that I made a $4k decision based on what he had to say when I decided to buy a F-350 SRW vs. an F-250.

My .02.

Al

[fred_1]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vulnerable.gif[/img]I give I'm just an old guy that takes to many chances [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img] I truly would not want to get anyone hurt.