New Tow Vehicle

[billc1949]

I have been thinking of upgrading to a one ton Ford or Ram DRW, however, looking at their sites, the max towing capacity that many go them have is 13,000. I thought the dually's are supposed to pull a lot more than that. Am I not looking at the right information. Any help would be appreciated.

Bill C

[exav8tr]

You're problably looking at "standard" towing, as in a travel trailer. 5th wheel towing is much higher, look for that specifically, read ALL the fine print.....

[BB_TX]

This Ford towing web site shows the 2012 diesel SRW 5th wheel towing to be over 15,000 and the DRW to be over 21,000.
Don't know what year model you are looking for.

[H. John Kohl]

My Ram 3500 2012 dual is 12300 truck total capacity but combined grows vehicle weight (truck and trailer) of 28000, I do have the 4:10 rear end. The 13000 is just the max weight on the trucks wheels. That is the weight of the truck and the weight in the bed of the truck and passengers.
I hope this helps.

[DQDick]

X2 on what John says, plus there are a number of options that change the numbers on a Dodge and I'm sure on a Ford also. On Dodge, Mega Cab, Heavy Duty and the rear end all can change things as well as several other options. The problem is you can't trust a sales person to know either. In my case we used a "farm and ranch" Dodge dealer who really knows about heavy towing and talked with the owner who is a friend and his main diesel and heavy truck guy.

[TLightning]

Don't forget with 5th wheels, about 20% of the trailer's GVW will be in the bed of the truck as pin weight, the remaining weight is what you'll tow.

[1retired06]

21,500 tow rating for a fifth wheel on my ford.

[mlh]

Don't cheat your self. Go check out the new Chevys.
Lynwood

[bigred715]

Is that 21,500 combined weight of truck and 5th wheel? Most salesman don't know what they are talking about when it comes to the numbers. They go strictly by what the brochures say and they can be very misleading. Most of the members on this forum can give you the proper information, so I say disregard what the salesman quotes and turn to this forum for proper info. Our members are far smarter than any salesman for trucks and trasilers.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

21,500 tow rating for a fifth wheel on my ford.

Tow ratings can be very confusing, especially if you are getting them from the manufacturer. Usually, high tow ratings, like 21.5k, are based on an empty truck...which is impossible with a 5th wheel.

Stick to the standard formula, and it works out:

GCWR minus the weight of the loaded truck, equals tow rating.

[Art-n-Marge]

Sounds like 13,000 is what's often called "conventional tow" rating or travel trailer rating. This is for hitches at the bumper. When looking at towing charts there is typically a second section called "Fifth Wheel Tow Ratings", to differentiate a load carried right over the rear axle whereby much heavier loads can be carried.

For example, for my 2006 Ford F-250 4x4 with a 6.0 Diesel, crew cab, long bed and a 3.73 differential, the conventional tow rating is 12,500lb and the fifth wheel rating is 15,300 lbs or 2,800 lbs better. With nothing else different a 4x2 has the same conventional tow rating but a 15,500 lb fiver rating. Other things that change ratings are standard cab or supercab versus crewcab, short bed versus long bed, (less weight of the vehicle yields better payload or tow ratings), differential ratings (the higher the better).

You can't just look at one number and use it towards all configurations. BB_TX posted an outstanding link to a sample tow rating table (for example, click on the link, then click on number 19). The same would apply to GM, Chevy and Dodge.

Note that any 1/4 ton, F150, 1500, Tundras are definitely the way to go for Montanas or other large RVs, even though you might see these combinations on the road. Just cuz the hitch fits, doesn't make it safe. It's about the actual weights measured against the weight ratings.

In your case, the options you are looking for are correct for the weight ratings you are hoping to achieve! You just need to find the right table to verify it. If you have the year and model of the truck you are looking at then post this and we can help you find the info you need.

[Paddler]

When I was looking for my dually in 2011, I also ran across the Dodge 13K limit. Problem is... if the Dodge has 3.73 rear end you have less tow capacity than a 2500. The only way the Dodge will tow more is with 4.10 gears. My local dealer didn't order any that way, thus my 2011 GMC.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by bigred715

Is that 21,500 combined weight of truck and 5th wheel? Most salesman don't know what they are talking about when it comes to the numbers. They go strictly by what the brochures say and they can be very misleading. Most of the members on this forum can give you the proper information, so I say disregard what the salesman quotes and turn to this forum for proper info. Our members are far smarter than any salesman for trucks and trasilers.

Actually I was wrong. Tow weight is 21,600 pounds and is strictly fifth wheel weight.

[Ren]

This is what I love about ford. Easy to find towguides.

http://www.ford.com/towingguides/

My 2011 F-350 5th wheel towing capacity is 21500.

GCWR is 30000, the truck weighs 8000, so the towing capacity is pretty dang close.

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by Ren

This is what I love about ford. Easy to find towguides.

http://www.ford.com/towingguides/

My 2011 F-350 5th wheel towing capacity is 21500.

GCWR is 30000, the truck weighs 8000, so the towing capacity is pretty dang close.

I'm afraid that's not so. As was mentioned earlier, those 5th wheel tow ratings are based on an empty truck. So when you load up the truck with pin weight, hitch weight, people, etc and subtract that weight from your GCWR...you'll have your ACTUAL tow rating.

[Ren]

[quote]quote:Originally posted by Ren

quote:Originally posted by Hooker

I'm afraid that's not so. As was mentioned earlier, those 5th wheel tow ratings are based on an empty truck. So when you load up the truck with pin weight, hitch weight, people, etc and subtract that weight from your GCWR...you'll have your ACTUAL tow rating.

Pin weight would be hitch weight, unless your counting the 100 pounds for the actual hitch itself. If you have a pin weight of 2000 pounds you shouldnt add that again to the actual weight of the camper, because that weight is the camper.

So when I have a sheet that has my specific truck weight at 7980 pounds wet, figuring in 150 pounds per passenger at 4 passengers, from Ford before it left the factory, this isnt correct?

Either way, its close enough for me. It will tow whatever I want to buy.

[Hooker]

The best way is to do the numbers. Pin weight is weight in the bed and subtracted from the RV's weight, hitch weight is the weight of the hitch, and, I think you'll find your truck will be just about at GVWR when loaded and ready to go...mine was. The max tow weight will be that weight minus the GCWR. That's what I meant when I said the tow rates listed by the manufacturers are not realistic, 21.5k in this case.

[seahunter]

Here is what I just found on mine. Truck and trailer are in signature line:

9,000 pounds: Truck with two passengers, hitch, and fuel

12,100 pounds: Truck with fifth wheel pin

13,300 pounds: GVWR Truck

3,100 pounds: Approximate pin weight - no where close to brochure stated weight of 2,240 pounds

3,720 pounds: Maximum weight from camper certification

620 pounds: Buffer - my main reason for saying a one-ton dually is a must

11,250 pounds: Two rear trailer axles

14,350 pounds: Total weight of trailer and pin

23,350 pounds: GCWR - Brochure states 30,000 (added on edit)

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by seahunter

Here is what I just found on mine. Truck and trailer are in signature line:

9,000 pounds: Truck with two passengers, hitch, and fuel

12,100 pounds: Truck with fifth wheel pin

3,100 pounds: Approximate pin weight - no where close to brochure stated weight

3,720 pounds: Maximum weight from camper certification

620 pounds: Buffer - my main reason for saying a one-ton dually is a must

11,250 pounds: Two rear trailer axles

14,350 pounds: Total weight of trailer and pin

What is your GCWR?

[seahunter]

quote:Originally posted by Hooker

What is your GCWR?

23,350 pounds: GCWR - Brochure states 30,000