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Old 08-04-2014, 05:31 AM   #1
Pugtracker
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Advice on towing weight

We have a F350 SRW 4x4 weights 8640lbs full fuel. Book says it can tow 15400lbs. the rig we are looking at is is the 3850FL and shipping weight is 12705 and can carry 3295lbs with a hitch weight of 2360lbs.

the GCWR is 23000.

When I do the math with a full loaded rig its 1640lbs over of what the the truck can haul. Am i being ignorant that i will carry only 1655lbs of gear.

We presently haul a 38 ft fifth wheel and are over weight already and are over weight as are 57% of the rigs on the road.

I know the numbers are what they are but i would like to hear what others are doing and if they are over weight.

it seems to me that the best option is a dually with the 4.3 rear end.
but thats not in the cards.

Looking for input advice words of wisdom

David
 
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Old 08-04-2014, 05:59 AM   #2
Charli
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A LOT of rigs on the road are over weight. Just look at the number of 3/4T pulling big 5ers. Our last rig, 3/4T Ram pulling Cougar XLite was over GVWR but pulled and handled fine. Haven't weighed my new rig but have weighed the truck and came in similar to yours. My 5er is lighter than yours and probably won't get much higher than 13,000 loaded (will know more when I weigh it on next trip out) so GCWR will be fine however payload will bring my GVWR close to the limit of 11,500.
At the end of the day your probably ok as long as u don't push it. My concern is, one of these days, the Hwy Depts are going require us to pull into Weigh Scales. Then watch the price of duallies skyrocket.
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Old 08-04-2014, 06:26 AM   #3
brenkco
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You're going to be close. I had a 2012 F350 SRW 4x4 crew cab. GVWR was 11,400. By the time you add passengers, hitch, cargo and the actual pin weight of your rig, you'll be close. The only way to tell for sure is to weigh your truck and rig. Specs are just indicators.

I had a 2010 3455 and was just slightly over the payload capacity of the truck. BTW, we towed with empty tanks and only a few gallons of fresh water.
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Old 08-04-2014, 07:54 AM   #4
jcurtis934
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When we went from a diesel pusher to the fifth wheel, I knew that only DRW, 4x2, and big diesel engine was going to cut it. If a new truck in not in the cards...then you are stuck with what you "bring to the dance" as they say. Tow slow and stay out of the mountains. John
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Old 08-04-2014, 09:38 AM   #5
bethandkevin
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Only you can decide. By the numbers, you WILL be over weight as are most rigs on the road in my opinion. You can beef up the suspension on your truck to level out the truck, but will the tires carry the load? Many factors come into play to make your decision such as how far will you travel while towing, what terrain, etc. I know I'm slightly overweight. My truck "pulls it fine"(favorite saying here)-it also stops it not just fine, but stops it damn well. I tow comfortably, but cautiously, doing my best to look out for idiots that don't see that big a** trailer behind me. You have to decide your own comfort level. For me , right now, I'm good with what I have. If we ever go full time, I will consider a heavier truck. By then there may be more options to choose from.
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Old 08-04-2014, 11:11 AM   #6
JandC
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

We have a F350 SRW 4x4 weights 8640lbs full fuel. Book says it can tow 15400lbs. the rig we are looking at is is the 3850FL and shipping weight is 12705 and can carry 3295lbs with a hitch weight of 2360lbs.

the GCWR is 23000.

When I do the math with a full loaded rig its 1640lbs over of what the the truck can haul. Am i being ignorant that i will carry only 1655lbs of gear.

We presently haul a 38 ft fifth wheel and are over weight already and are over weight as are 57% of the rigs on the road.

I know the numbers are what they are but i would like to hear what others are doing and if they are over weight.

it seems to me that the best option is a dually with the 4.3 rear end.
but thats not in the cards.

Looking for input advice words of wisdom

David
Not sure what year or configuration F350 SRW you have, but mine had the optional 11,300 GVWR package and my max 5th wheel towing is listed as 16,400. My F350 weighs exactly 8,680, and that is with full fuel (plus 15 gallons), 2 people, 2 bikes, and everything else loaded for travel. My full combination weighs in at 23,580. My 3725RL fully loaded weighs 14,900. Our "stuff" we added onto the 3725RL is just over 3,300 pounds. We are full time and keep about that same weight all the time.

Keep in mind that our personal "stuff" in the 3725RL includes the extra weight of the G614 tires, dish, plus all the food/clothing/personal items.

I feel like I am right at the limit but not over. If my combination was another 1,000 pounds I would bite the bullet and get a F450 dually.
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Old 08-04-2014, 01:53 PM   #7
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by JandC

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

We have a F350 SRW 4x4 weights 8640lbs full fuel. Book says it can tow 15400lbs. the rig we are looking at is is the 3850FL and shipping weight is 12705 and can carry 3295lbs with a hitch weight of 2360lbs.

the GCWR is 23000.

When I do the math with a full loaded rig its 1640lbs over of what the the truck can haul. Am i being ignorant that i will carry only 1655lbs of gear.

We presently haul a 38 ft fifth wheel and are over weight already and are over weight as are 57% of the rigs on the road.

I know the numbers are what they are but i would like to hear what others are doing and if they are over weight.

it seems to me that the best option is a dually with the 4.3 rear end.
but thats not in the cards.

Looking for input advice words of wisdom

David
Not sure what year or configuration F350 SRW you have, but mine had the optional 11,300 GVWR package and my max 5th wheel towing is listed as 16,400. My F350 weighs exactly 8,680, and that is with full fuel (plus 15 gallons), 2 people, 2 bikes, and everything else loaded for travel. My full combination weighs in at 23,580. My 3725RL fully loaded weighs 14,900. Our "stuff" we added onto the 3725RL is just over 3,300 pounds. We are full time and keep about that same weight all the time.

Keep in mind that our personal "stuff" in the 3725RL includes the extra weight of the G614 tires, dish, plus all the food/clothing/personal items.

I feel like I am right at the limit but not over. If my combination was another 1,000 pounds I would bite the bullet and get a F450 dually.
I have the 6.4. 2008 crew cab do you have a magic pill to give me extra lol
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Old 08-04-2014, 01:58 PM   #8
Pugtracker
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by JandC

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

We have a F350 SRW 4x4 weights 8640lbs full fuel. Book says it can tow 15400lbs. the rig we are looking at is is the 3850FL and shipping weight is 12705 and can carry 3295lbs with a hitch weight of 2360lbs.

the GCWR is 23000.

When I do the math with a full loaded rig its 1640lbs over of what the the truck can haul. Am i being ignorant that i will carry only 1655lbs of gear.

We presently haul a 38 ft fifth wheel and are over weight already and are over weight as are 57% of the rigs on the road.

I know the numbers are what they are but i would like to hear what others are doing and if they are over weight.

it seems to me that the best option is a dually with the 4.3 rear end.
but thats not in the cards.

Looking for input advice words of wisdom

David
Not sure what year or configuration F350 SRW you have, but mine had the optional 11,300 GVWR package and my max 5th wheel towing is listed as 16,400. My F350 weighs exactly 8,680, and that is with full fuel (plus 15 gallons), 2 people, 2 bikes, and everything else loaded for travel. My full combination weighs in at 23,580. My 3725RL fully loaded weighs 14,900. Our "stuff" we added onto the 3725RL is just over 3,300 pounds. We are full time and keep about that same weight all the time.

Keep in mind that our personal "stuff" in the 3725RL includes the extra weight of the G614 tires, dish, plus all the food/clothing/personal items.

I feel like I am right at the limit but not over. If my combination was another 1,000 pounds I would bite the bullet and get a F450 dually.
I have the 6.4. 2008 crew cab do you have a magic pill to give me extra lol
What is your rear end have for gear ratio
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Old 08-04-2014, 04:05 PM   #9
JandC
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2012 6.7 with 3.55 gear. The only option I had that would apply to extra towing capacity would have been the 11,300 package listed on my spec sheet.
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Old 08-04-2014, 04:42 PM   #10
1retired06
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Read the current post under sitting around the campfire on towing and personal liability. Three years ago we were involved in an accident which was not our fault, and the other driver got multiple tickets. Nevertheless, the trooper escorted us to the nearest weigh station to certify that we were within weight limits as part of his accident report.
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Old 08-05-2014, 01:13 AM   #11
Captain Joe
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I agree with Mike. Read the current post under sitting around the campfire on towing and personal liability. It is not about what you can tow. It is about towing within the law to limit your liability in case of an accident.
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Old 08-06-2014, 12:52 AM   #12
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Thanks for all the input, valid points. Wish I would have been smarter on truck choice a few years back, looking for a fifth wheel with washer and dryer hook ups under around 14500 loaded
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Old 08-06-2014, 05:32 AM   #13
Phil P
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

Thanks for all the input, valid points. Wish I would have been smarter on truck choice a few years back, looking for a fifth wheel with washer and dryer hook ups under around 14500 loaded
Hi

There is nothing wrong with pulling a trailer that is rated for a greater gross weight than your truck is rated for as long as you don’t load the trailer so that it is over the truck rating when on the scales.

The example is we have a 3665RE rated at 15,909 gross weight, we only load it to 15,500 and that puts us within 200 lbs of the truck rating.

As it stands today we weighed 22,500 on the scales yesterday that is 1,000 pounds less than the truck rating of 23,500 Lbs and the truck gross was 900 lbs below its GWR. We are short 750 lbs we normally carry in the basement. When we load that unit then we are at 23,300 lbs. And the truck front axle will be within about 50 lbs of it weight rating and the truck will be 100 Lbs under its GWR.

These weights are fully loaded, full water tank, full fuel tank, 2 passengers in truck, 2 dogs in truck, all the “stuff” we need in the truck and 1 cat in trailer.

All of these weights will keep you out of trouble even though the trailer is rated about 400 lbs higher than what the truck is rated for but it doesn’t weigh that much. You have to watch what you put on the truck and trailer and weigh often. I weigh every time I load to capacity to make sure we haven’t exceeded any of the vehicle ratings.

Phil P
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Old 08-16-2014, 12:26 PM   #14
Pugtracker
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Phil P

Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Pugtracker

Thanks for all the input, valid points. Wish I would have been smarter on truck choice a few years back, looking for a fifth wheel with washer and dryer hook ups under around 14500 loaded
Hi

There is nothing wrong with pulling a trailer that is rated for a greater gross weight than your truck is rated for as long as you don’t load the trailer so that it is over the truck rating when on the scales.

The example is we have a 3665RE rated at 15,909 gross weight, we only load it to 15,500 and that puts us within 200 lbs of the truck rating.

As it stands today we weighed 22,500 on the scales yesterday that is 1,000 pounds less than the truck rating of 23,500 Lbs and the truck gross was 900 lbs below its GWR. We are short 750 lbs we normally carry in the basement. When we load that unit then we are at 23,300 lbs. And the truck front axle will be within about 50 lbs of it weight rating and the truck will be 100 Lbs under its GWR.

These weights are fully loaded, full water tank, full fuel tank, 2 passengers in truck, 2 dogs in truck, all the “stuff” we need in the truck and 1 cat in trailer.

All of these weights will keep you out of trouble even though the trailer is rated about 400 lbs higher than what the truck is rated for but it doesn’t weigh that much. You have to watch what you put on the truck and trailer and weigh often. I weigh every time I load to capacity to make sure we haven’t exceeded any of the vehicle ratings.

Phil P
thanks Phil thats the plan we have met our goals and I think when we weigh in we will make it. Will be keeping our eye out for extended cab rather than crew cab and might not go 4x4
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