Will it or Won't it?

[Dan and Audrey]

Here is an issue I just cant seem to figure out. I just purchased a new Montana 5th wheel, 3820FK. Now, talking to the Dealer, my truck will tow this. I have a 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty 6.7L Diesel. The side panel info is:
GVWR 10,000 lbs.
Front GAWR 5,200 lbs.
Rear GAWR 6,100 lbs.

Montana 5th Wheel 3820 FK:
Weight of cargo not to exceed 3,550 lbs.
UVW 13,200 lbs.

Fifth wheel hitch 16K

I would appreciate all the help I can get. Will this combination work safely?

r/Dan and Audrey

[awheeler]

Here you go.....
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-tow-v...derstand.shtml

[jeffba]

You have a pin weight of 2810. hitch 100 pounds. another 150 in front storage and basement. that takes you to over 3000 pounds. Now go look at your sticker inside your door of your truck and see what your carrying capacity is.
i am betting you do not have enough for you and your wife to ride in the truck.

[mhs4771]

Not to mention you have an RV with a Gross of 17K and only a hitch rated for 16K. Before you even look into the TV's numbers.

[waynemoore]

Most any combination will work but is it safe and legal that is the question. It's the pin weight that is important. Take it to the scales and get good axel weights. Be sure to be full of fuel, add enough to weight to the front that would approximate the weight you would have while traveling. Once you have that you will know where you stand.

I always recommend that one buy the rig first then the truck to pull it. Of course I did that found that the F250 would work just fine. All was good till is traded up to a larger rig and found the F250 was not all that fine. So off the the truck store and I now have a F350 SRW. I really should be a DRW but that would be a bit of a problem as I have to use it as my daily driver for about 4 months a year. The SRW is on the edge of being legal but I add water to the fresh water tank that's in the rear of the rig I can reduce the pin weight to get back to better than legal.

[Dan and Audrey]

Originally Posted by jeffba

You have a pin weight of 2810. hitch 100 pounds. another 150 in front storage and basement. that takes you to over 3000 pounds. Now go look at your sticker inside your door of your truck and see what your carrying capacity is.
i am betting you do not have enough for you and your wife to ride in the truck.

Ouch already. As a new owner, this is all new. Where did you get the pin wt from? 3,000 lbs? Keep the info flowing. It says the weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 2,193 lbs.

[Slufoot733]

NEVER listen to the RV salesman! They always say "your truck will pull it". And that is true, I could PULL it with a Datsun. But can my truck HANDLE it?
Do your own research before you buy. An F250 has the same engine and transmission as an F350, but it does not have the same springs, axles and brakes. Nor does it have the same hauling capacity.

[jeffba]

I got the pin weight off of the brochure.

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by Dan and Audrey

Here is an issue I just cant seem to figure out. I just purchased a new Montana 5th wheel, 3820FK. Now, talking to the Dealer, my truck will tow this. I have a 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty 6.7L Diesel. The side panel info is:
GVWR 10,000 lbs.
Front GAWR 5,200 lbs.
Rear GAWR 6,100 lbs.

Montana 5th Wheel 3820 FK:
Weight of cargo not to exceed 3,550 lbs.
UVW 13,200 lbs.

Fifth wheel hitch 16K

I would appreciate all the help I can get. Will this combination work safely?

r/Dan and Audrey

The carry capacity of your ford is posted on the drivers side door post but you need to know the ACTUAL weight of your truck ready to tow, full fuel passengers and everything in the truck. Example GVWR 10,000 Lbs actual weight of truck ????? 10,000lbs less Actual weight of truck is the REAL carry capacity of the truck and the PIN weight you can manage. You also need to know the ACTUAL weight of the RV to determine the ACTUAL pin weight

Example our 08 F[350 Dually has a GVWR of 13,000 lbs(ordered that way)
Actual weight of the truck ready to tow is 9215LBS..13,000 lbs less 9215 is 3785lbs which is the pin weight we can manage Actual pin weight on this 13 3402 Big sky As weighed at the fall rally was 3,000lbs . We are well within range . My guess is your truck is going to weigh close to 7500/8000 lbs ready to tow and will be hard pressed to be within pin weigh specs.

[mtlakejim]

This subject always stirs up a heated debate. What I usually like to tell folks is that it isn’t so much what the ratings say your truck can haul. It’s what do you feel safe with. For me SAFETY trumps everything including how easy the tow vehicle is to park. For that reason I lean toward buying the next size larger than required and going dually for the stability it offers. Get the popcorn ready

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

This subject always stirs up a heated debate. What I usually like to tell folks is that it isn’t so much what the ratings say your truck can haul. It’s what do you feel safe with. For me SAFETY trumps everything including how easy the tow vehicle is to park. For that reason I lean toward buying the next size larger than required and going dually for the stability it offers. Get the popcorn ready

Yeah, but Jim this one should be easy. He is squarely in dually territory. I just want to see his wife's face when he tells how big the truck is and how bad the dealer lied. tehn break out the popcorn

[Twopetes]

Just for reference - my 2011 F-250 SRW diesel tips the scales at 8050 pounds. Plenty of towing power, but a little iffy on pin weight. That big oil burner up front is HEAVY!


One thing I have never understood is the total of the front axle weight limit plus the rear axle weight limit is way more than the truck total - something doesn't add up - literally!

[beeje]

That is a heavy camper, clearly in (newer) dually tow vehicle territory no matter how you look at it. You are only fooling yourself towing that with any 3/4 ton truck. You will be 1000,s over the payload capacity.

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by Twopetes

Just for reference - my 2011 F-250 SRW diesel tips the scales at 8050 pounds. Plenty of towing power, but a little iffy on pin weight. That big oil burner up front is HEAVY!


One thing I have never understood is the total of the front axle weight limit plus the rear axle weight limit is way more than the truck total - something doesn't add up - literally!

Mine is rear axle 9k Front 6K with the snow plow package and the camper package with a 13K GVW. That means you can not have MORE than 9K on the rear and 6K on the front both not both at the same time.It is in the Ford Manual.

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

This subject always stirs up a heated debate. What I usually like to tell folks is that it isn’t so much what the ratings say your truck can haul. It’s what do you feel safe with. For me SAFETY trumps everything including how easy the tow vehicle is to park. For that reason I lean toward buying the next size larger than required and going dually for the stability it offers. Get the popcorn ready

The specs are there for a reason and it does not take much to figure out were you stand.What you do with that information is your call but at least you know.
Cal Ford, GM, Dodge and ask them if their specs are just suggestions. Note that another poster stated his similar truck weighed in at 8050 lbs that would leave the poster if accurate 10,000 less 8050= 1950 left for pin weigh. For me safety also is the determining factor.

[kc8lvy]

I also have a 3820FK. I hauled it to our site with my 3/4 ton Dodge from the dealership which was 40 miles away. It was heavy and definitely knew it was back there compared to my 33ft 5th wheel I traded in for it. When I get ready to move it again I will have a 1 Ton truck. We live in it full time and also work full time. We live at a great RV Resort in southern Florida. When we travel we usually fly because vacations are usually short. You will know when we are ready to move because you will see a 1 ton Dually in my signature.
I also work at the RV Resort and see people pulling big rigs with 3/4 ton trucks all the time and I always wonder how safe are they on the road. I know my truck will pull it but not safely because of the weight. Like a lot of other people here have said SAFETY comes first.
Good Luck

[beeje]

I am not unusually a big rules and regulation kind of guy, but this is one area where there needs to be some that are put in place. You should NOT be able to tow any trailer off a dealers lot without having an adequate tow vehicle. As much as I hate to say it, I think that all vehicle's towing anything down our nation highways should have to pull into weigh stations just like the big rigs and be checked out to be sure they are being operated in a safe manor within their designed capabilities.

[twindman]

I am not convinced of the need for duallies. On the really big rigs, probably. But I think the new 350's and 3500's have a GVWR of 11,500. And as stated above, empty weight is around 8000, so 3500 pin weight allowed.
I foolishly didn't look at the 3500 Chevy because I thought it would be way more expensive. Later found it was only $1500+ or so more. Dang!

[dieselguy]

Once again people that full or long time here on the MOC start out with the absolute maximum weight your trailer could weigh. If you will full time perhaps ... if you just pull it for recreation ... you'll find you'll not come close to the supposed 17K. Weigh it loaded as you would normally travel, then start beating the tambourine if needed.

[mtlakejim]

Ok if you use your tow for a daily driver or your an experienced tow driver just ignore the following. We all get that it is your money and you will buy what you want. This is just SUGGESTIONS for folks new to the game.

I like the analogy of carrying water in a bucket. You can carry 5 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket if your careful but it is sure a lot easier with a 6 gallon bucket! On the other hand a 15 gallon bucket would be to bulky to manage. Moral of the story, get the next size larger than you need and don’t worry about it. As someone mentioned above cost difference over life of the truck is insignificant. But same could be said for difference between SRW and DRW or 2x4 and 4x4. Cost between all those options is insignificant. Safety first and then application should be primary considerations right?

When it comes to DRW vs SRW. My analogy is stand with your feet together and have someone push your shoulder. When you stand back up spread your legs about 18” and have them shove on you again....That little lesson is why I own a dually!