[kgm656]

I'm looking for someone to give me an expert and honest answer because here where I live there is no such thing.
I have a 2017 F250 4x4 CC LB FX4 Off Road. Since I bought new I've installed 5k airbags, HD Belstien shocks, Hellwig fat bar sway bars and Timberens. I'm an RV Transporter and move equipment. I've hauled on gooseneck trailer up to 20k lbs. Now I'm retiring and need to know what else if any would I need to do to my truck to tow a 18,500 lb fully loaded 5th wheel?
Thanks for your help

 

[edjunior]

Honest answer? Get an F-350 or F-450. You are pulling too much for your truck. Get the right tool for the job.

 

[kgm656]

Honest answer? Get an F-350 or F-450. You are pulling too much for your truck. Get the right tool for the job.

I'm trying to avoid buying another truck frame works is the same.

 

[Greg03PSD]

You will probably need a dually to be within legal weight limits for that 5th wheel. I have a 2020 F-350 SRW (4x4 FX4 CrewCab short bed) and a 14,500 lb GVWR 5th wheel. I am very close to, but within, all of the weight limits for my truck. The pin weight of your 5th wheel would probably put your F-250 over its GVWR without anything else in the truck as well as exceeding the weight limit for the rear axle and/or rear tires. Doesn't really matter if the engine/transmission is the same as what is in the bigger trucks - they also have taller gears and extra tires to handle the extra weight of the trailer. You can add all the suspension modifications you want, but it still does not change what is on that little blue and white sticker on the door jamb - that's what the truck is legally rated for. Your truck can probably pull that trailer and stop it, but it's honestly way too much trailer for the truck - just a guess, but without knowing all of your truck's ratings I'd say you are probably 5,000 lbs too heavy on the trailer. Probably not what you want to hear, but I don't think you'll find very many recommendations telling you how to tow overweight.

 

[Stroking it]

Here is the towing guide for your truck. Just pick the year. Check your axle rating and load capacity of your tires and see what they say. It does sound like you need a smaller trailer. I have a 250 and I wouldn't tow anything longer than 36'

https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

If you go by the yellow sticker you will never be able to tow the numbers Ford says you can. You need to go by the white sticker for your axle rating and tires. As for suspension, sounds like you have it covered. Not sure why the Timbins when air bags will do the job.

 

[kgm656]

You will probably need a dually to be within legal weight limits for that 5th wheel. I have a 2020 F-350 SRW (4x4 FX4 CrewCab short bed) and a 14,500 lb GVWR 5th wheel. I am very close to, but within, all of the weight limits for my truck. The pin weight of your 5th wheel would probably put your F-250 over its GVWR without anything else in the truck as well as exceeding the weight limit for the rear axle and/or rear tires. Doesn't really matter if the engine/transmission is the same as what is in the bigger trucks - they also have taller gears and extra tires to handle the extra weight of the trailer. You can add all the suspension modifications you want, but it still does not change what is on that little blue and white sticker on the door jamb - that's what the truck is legally rated for. Your truck can probably pull that trailer and stop it, but it's honestly way too much trailer for the truck - just a guess, but without knowing all of your truck's ratings I'd say you are probably 5,000 lbs too heavy on the trailer. Probably not what you want to hear, but I don't think you'll find very many recommendations telling you how to tow overweight.

Thanks for your reply already shopping for a F450

 

[kgm656]

Here is the towing guide for your truck. Just pick the year. Check your axle rating and load capacity of your tires and see what they say. It does sound like you need a smaller trailer. I have a 250 and I wouldn't tow anything longer than 36'

https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

If you go by the yellow sticker you will never be able to tow the numbers Ford says you can. You need to go by the white sticker for your axle rating and tires. As for suspension, sounds like you have it covered. Not sure why the Timbins when air bags will do the job.

Thanks for your reply already shopping for a F450

 

[edjunior]

Thanks for your reply already shopping for a F450

I know you were trying to avoid buying a new truck, but I think this is the right decision. Good luck with the search, and keep us posted. I think you'll be very happy with the F-450.

 

[Greg03PSD]

Thanks for your reply already shopping for a F450

Good decision. My wife wants to eventually trade up our 5th wheel for a toy hauler or something a little nicer (which means it will probably be heavier) than our current one once the kids are older and we are traveling on our own. I have already "pre-warned" her that going to anything heavier than what we have now will require more truck, so she'll be aware of that expense. My F-350 handles my 42' 5th wheel just fine and I have not had any white knuckle experiences yet, but I can only imagine how much more stable and controllable everything would be with a dually - plus I would not be running everything so close to weight limits. At the very least it would be nice to spread the load on the truck over 4 rear tires instead of just 2. The trailer as it is now squats the rear of the truck quite a bit. I was hitting the bump stops whenever I would hit rough patches of road so I installed some airbags to help out with that. It rides much nicer now and gives better control over the ride height.

Good luck with your shopping. I think that is the right decision.