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What size 5th wheel do you pull with 3/4 ton?

Toyhaulernoob
Explorer
Explorer
First post here... I will start off saying I do not own a 5th wheel toy hauler yet, I have been looking for awhile and cannot find one I like that my truck can tow, maybe I am being to anal about the weight ratings? But I do not want to cause any accidents or put anybody's life at harm because I neglected to follow the rules.

I have a 2017 4 door f250 4x4 platinum diesel that is rated for 10k, the truck empty is coming in at 8,000lb, sooo after a few passengers and a 5th wheel hitch I am stuck with a 1500lb pin weight? Every decent toy hauler I have seen even down to 32ft has a pin weight over 2,000 lbs. I know if you load some weight in the rear it reduces pin weight but no clue by how much?

Anyway, does nobody use a 3/4 ton?
Thanks
33 REPLIES 33

KeysHauler
Explorer
Explorer
JIMNLIN wrote:
The 20" tire carries more load capacity than 17" or 18".

Fords F250/F350 OEM wheel specs shows 3590 lb for 18" and 20"


thanks, one less thing to worry about

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
The 20" tire carries more load capacity than 17" or 18".

Fords F250/F350 OEM wheel specs shows 3590 lb for 18" and 20"
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

n0arp
Explorer
Explorer
18" wheels have a higher weight capacity than the 20", at least with recent GM trucks.
2000 Country Coach Magna 40',
4380W solar, 22.8kWh LiFePO4@48V, 450AH AGM@12V
2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 2.0T, cloaked on 37x13.5s

KeysHauler
Explorer
Explorer
jshupe wrote:
Dayle1 wrote:
DRW would be needed to get a more stable setup, just going to a 1 ton is no guarantee for a more stable setup.


You can get really close to the stability of a DRW by going to 19.5" tires. It's a trade-off though.


Quick question for a newbie. The tow rating inside the door show 18" wheels. This truck came with 275/65-20's. Does anyone know how that will affect towing ability? more or less weight restrictive?
thank you,
Ken

2001400ex
Explorer
Explorer
Dayle1 wrote:
2001400ex wrote:

I have felt safe every trip but wish I had a 1 ton. In heavy side wind, it's not the most stable. I'm a person that likes extra capacity so I don't have to worry about it, but I have none now and it's noticeable.


There is very little weight difference between identical 3/4 and 1 ton SRW trucks. Extra leaf spring, diff tires and wheels. and sometimes they can be options on the 3/4 ton (meaning no weight diff). DRW would be needed to get a more stable setup, just going to a 1 ton is no guarantee for a more stable setup.


An extra leaf spring would be better than my fix of air bags. In addition, I have an 08 and I'd be getting an 18. So part of the stability is 10 years of advancement in vehicles. My buddy has a 13 F350 and has a 14k dry toy hauler and it's night and day difference from mine. But yes, if I had an 08 1 ton, there wouldn't be a huge difference.
2017 Forest River Stealth SA2816
2020 GMC Denali 3500 Duramax
Anderson ultimate fifth wheel hitch

n0arp
Explorer
Explorer
Dayle1 wrote:
DRW would be needed to get a more stable setup, just going to a 1 ton is no guarantee for a more stable setup.


You can get really close to the stability of a DRW by going to 19.5" tires. It's a trade-off though.
2000 Country Coach Magna 40',
4380W solar, 22.8kWh LiFePO4@48V, 450AH AGM@12V
2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 2.0T, cloaked on 37x13.5s

Dayle1
Explorer
Explorer
2001400ex wrote:

I have felt safe every trip but wish I had a 1 ton. In heavy side wind, it's not the most stable. I'm a person that likes extra capacity so I don't have to worry about it, but I have none now and it's noticeable.


There is very little weight difference between identical 3/4 and 1 ton SRW trucks. Extra leaf spring, diff tires and wheels. and sometimes they can be options on the 3/4 ton (meaning no weight diff). DRW would be needed to get a more stable setup, just going to a 1 ton is no guarantee for a more stable setup.
Larry Day
Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders since '01
'13 Silverado 3500HD LT 2wd CCSB SRW, custom RKI bed
'19 Starcraft Telluride 292RLS
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IdaD
Explorer
Explorer
Stay within your axle and tire ratings and go have fun. Payload on a diesel 3/4 ton means nothing.
2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
KeysHauler wrote:
MartyMoose wrote:
As usual, you will get plenty of good advice here.

Just noting that I have pulled my 35ft TH for 4 seasons and 14,000 miles and have never ( thankfully ) felt like I was under-trucked with my 2012 F250.


May I ask what toy hauler you have??

thanks,
Ken


Hi Ken - Welcome aboard.

I clicked Marty's profile and it shows this: "2014 Heartland 305RW Road Warrior".

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:

  • 18 Can Am Maverick x3
  • 05 Yamaha WR450
  • 07 Honda CRF250X
  • 05 Honda CRF230
  • 06 Honda CRF230

KeysHauler
Explorer
Explorer
MartyMoose wrote:
As usual, you will get plenty of good advice here.

Just noting that I have pulled my 35ft TH for 4 seasons and 14,000 miles and have never ( thankfully ) felt like I was under-trucked with my 2012 F250.


May I ask what toy hauler you have??

thanks,
Ken

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
MartyMoose wrote:
As usual, you will get plenty of good advice here.


And some marginal advice. 😉

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:

  • 18 Can Am Maverick x3
  • 05 Yamaha WR450
  • 07 Honda CRF250X
  • 05 Honda CRF230
  • 06 Honda CRF230

MartyMoose
Explorer
Explorer
As usual, you will get plenty of good advice here.

Just noting that I have pulled my 35ft TH for 4 seasons and 14,000 miles and have never ( thankfully ) felt like I was under-trucked with my 2012 F250.
2014 Heartland 305RW Road Warrior

2012 Ford F250 Lariat

2001400ex
Explorer
Explorer
I do it with the combination in my signature. I have air bags and the Anderson hitch (which is only 35 pounds), in addition I have 18 inch rims and tires that are 3,415 per tire, quite a bit more than stock. I pull mine all over the Northwest and Montana. My GVW is 9,200, at the scales last year fully loaded, I had 10,200 total on my axles. So I'm over by 1,000 but under each axles weight rating.

So to answer your question, I do it but it's not the best. I have felt safe every trip but wish I had a 1 ton. In heavy side wind, it's not the most stable. I'm a person that likes extra capacity so I don't have to worry about it, but I have none now and it's noticeable. That being said, towing my 35 foot fifth wheel isn't drastically different than my old 24 foot bumper pull. I get about the same mileage and it's just as stable. Heavy side winds with the bumper pull it wasn't fully stable either.

You are committed on the pickup, so unless you have enough money to get a 1 ton, you can get a fifth wheel. I'd make it a small one, add air bags, and get it weighed very first thing. I'd also upgrade your tires as it's likely you'll be over weight on the rear tires.
2017 Forest River Stealth SA2816
2020 GMC Denali 3500 Duramax
Anderson ultimate fifth wheel hitch

CampingN_C_
Explorer
Explorer
If it makes you feel better I've ordered a large 5th wheel toyhauler and plan to tow it with a Ram 2500. I should be well below RAWR and tire rating. Those are the two numbers anyone who uses their truck commercially goes by. 10K is a arbitary number to keep the truck listed as a class 2. This is the most debated topic on the web concerning 2500 trucks.

Ask yourself this. How can every single 250/2500 made by all three companies with hundreds of build variations, engines, axles, cabs, etc all cap out at exactly 10K gross.
2018 Ram 3500 DRW CCLB Aisin 4.10 4x4

2018 Jayco Talon 413T
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