Fifth wheel towing

[TXlineman83]

Well I'm not a rookie to this. I hold a class A DL. But I'm looking for opinions about a 12,000lb fifth wheel behind my 2008 F250 CCSB 4x4. Good idea. Bad idea. Upgrade my truck. Air bags as I already have a compressor and 3 gallon tank on frame rail. Trailer is 38ft.


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[Corb@CorbinShipping]

At 12 K, it is def manageable. At 35 foot, it will likely catch wind in stormy conditions, and be a major PITA to drive.... Ask me how I found that out... 40 foot, at 16 k on my 250 was just fine in perfect conditions..... In nasty rain and wind on the east coast of FL, not so much....

leveled, and raised in the back with 5 inch blocks (vs the factory 2 inch) and a helwig load pro spring assist, it handled the weight just fine. So any improvements that you make to your truck, will def help. Just wont seem to matter in inclement weather, thats all.

 

[08forddr]

I am towing a 35ft with just air bags and I am fine. I think ine is 11000lbs.

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[RedRice589]

Well I'm not a rookie to this. I hold a class A DL. But I'm looking for opinions about a 12,000lb fifth wheel behind my 2008 F250 CCSB 4x4. Good idea. Bad idea. Upgrade my truck. Air bags as I already have a compressor and 3 gallon tank on frame rail. Trailer is 38ft.


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I would not be too concerned. 12k isn't bad mine is 37ft and 17400 loaded hauling. Traction bars helped with the tail wagging and a nice wider set of tires helps too. I don't like going higher personally. It makes things worse. Traction bars and airbags (I just put my bags on) I pulled mine through the Tennessee mountains. (Not very hard) with my '12 and it wasn't too bad.

I towed it though the WVA mountains 6% grades up and down and it had no problems holding 65mph.... But it had 4.10's and 35's and it was a 350 srw.


This is mine

And stuck in the yard ( I had a 2.5" leveling kit up front with a 1" 7/8" block in rear is why it's squatting so bad.)

 

[forcefed6.4ford]

Based on length and weight. Anything over 36' and over 16,000lbs (srw) will be a fair weather tow. I too, like Corb have found to be past those manic numbers in less than ideal condition will greatly increase the pucker factor. Hence we both now have duallies.

 

[TXlineman83]

Yeah. I have the fat tires. 3.73s. No lifted or leveled. Looking at some air bags. Biggest concern is the wind with the heavy devil. 12k is being conservative unloaded. 2010 DRV 38ft. I hauled around my old 30ft bumper pull and didn't know it was there.


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[Corb@CorbinShipping]

Yeah. I have the fat tires. 3.73s. No lifted or leveled. Looking at some air bags. Biggest concern is the wind with the heavy devil. 12k is being conservative unloaded. 2010 DRV 38ft. I hauled around my old 30ft bumper pull and didn't know it was there.


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It isnt the weight that is the issue, in my opinion... The wind, was the great azz kicker.... these things make plenty of power, and the springs are strong enough. I had fat tires on 20 x 10 rims, and 4.10 gears. The 13 foot 6 inch sail swinging behind a SRW truck is the unfixable issue... Like ForceFed said, we both learned the hard way...

If you arent forced to be anywhere, and can squat for an extra day or so to avoid bad weather, you should be fine. If you dont have that kind of lee way, ehhhhh.... I wouldnt....

 

[TXlineman83]

So here's an odd ball off the wall question. What about a dually axle conversion to provide the extra grip so to speak. It seems pretty simple concept. I'd sure hate to buy a 50k truck for an extra set of tires


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[Corb@CorbinShipping]

So here's an odd ball off the wall question. What about a dually axle conversion to provide the extra grip so to speak. It seems pretty simple concept. I'd sure hate to buy a 50k truck for an extra set of tires


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Not sure about that. But... I would look into an enclosed trailer, or car hauler, if you will, with the interior set up as a camper... Lower profile, so as to avoid a little of the "wind" issue... only 9-10 feet tall, also a less expensive goose neck instead of fifth wheel...

A side note, I had my 40 foot cyclone vandalized last june, and let me tell you, they ARE NOT fire retardant.... I wont buy another one. Ever.... The all metal expterior is also less maintenance... a $1,000 annual roof seal, the sides "delaminating" due to heat, etc....

 

[TXlineman83]

I spend about 300 days out of the year in it. Thus the reason I'm looking at a used high end trailer vs a recreational style rv. The build quality is on a different level. Not saying it's flame retardant. But that's the purpose behind gap insurance and full coverage. Lol.


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[B585Ford]

It isnt the weight that is the issue, in my opinion... The wind, was the great azz kicker.... these things make plenty of power, and the springs are strong enough. I had fat tires on 20 x 10 rims, and 4.10 gears. The 13 foot 6 inch sail swinging behind a SRW truck is the unfixable issue... Like ForceFed said, we both learned the hard way...

If you arent forced to be anywhere, and can squat for an extra day or so to avoid bad weather, you should be fine. If you dont have that kind of lee way, ehhhhh.... I wouldnt....

Agreed. Weight isn't an issue for these trucks. My trailer is rated at 24k (flatbed) and my SRW F350 with 3.73s and 35x12.50 does fine, but that is much different than towing a camper with all of that surface area to catch the wind. FYI, other than Tbars, I have no other suspension mods in the rear.

 

[lincolnlocker]

my dually definitely handles my 5er a lot better but the 6.7 seems to do just fine so far. i have thought about a drw conversion myself but then i remember how much of a pain it can be to travel all over the USA in a dually and not be able to park in 75% of the towns i am near.

 

[drservo]

I pull my 5th wheel (42' 15K) up and down the mountains with no problems and haven't had any concerns pulling in the wind or rain.

 

[tbsimmons]

The guys tha defend towing a heavy, long, tall trailer with a SRW have either never towed with a dually and dont know better or are in denial. I have the same trailer as Corb and warned him about it a couple years back, guess what he bought after a not so fair weather trip, F450. The biggest thing is pin weight. Truck might hold the weight but you are either overloading or near the limit of the axle, tires, etc.
Power is not a problem in the 6.4 or 6.7. It is the ability to hold the weight. My dad and brother both went from SRW to Dually and now both are back to SRW and regret it. I have been in some small towns, toll bridges, etc. with my fiver and dually. If the trailer fits the dually will, so width cant be a factor. The only difference on width between a SRW and DRW the fenders, but they are inside the mirrors so that really isnt a factor.

 

[TXlineman83]

I think pin weight is 2700


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[tbsimmons]

2700 is not bad. Like Corb said the length and height is somethign to consider also.
I towed mine with a non-stock suspension F350 SRW, only last 2-3 trips and got the 450.

 

[TXlineman83]

I'm also use to hauling super big loads on a regular basis. So I understand the wobble wobble idea. I'm comfortable with the idea behind hauling it. I know the flat footedness of a DRW would help. I believe my greatest concern was the suspension squat it may or may not have


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[Yellow1000]

Agreed there. I went to an 2011 dually 350 and will never go back to single wheel for towing again.


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[Twan]

The guys tha defend towing a heavy, long, tall trailer with a SRW have either never towed with a dually and dont know better or are in denial. I have the same trailer as Corb and warned him about it a couple years back, guess what he bought after a not so fair weather trip, F450. The biggest thing is pin weight. Truck might hold the weight but you are either overloading or near the limit of the axle, tires, etc.
Power is not a problem in the 6.4 or 6.7. It is the ability to hold the weight. My dad and brother both went from SRW to Dually and now both are back to SRW and regret it. I have been in some small towns, toll bridges, etc. with my fiver and dually. If the trailer fits the dually will, so width cant be a factor. The only difference on width between a SRW and DRW the fenders, but they are inside the mirrors so that really isnt a factor.

That it, until you use a dually you don't know.
My dad and I always had 3/4 tons. Pulled for years, dad always ran 3/4 ford and Chevys since the early 80's pulling tool trailers and 5th wheels. Bought a dually in 07, and we don't care to use the single wheel anymore

 

[TXlineman83]

I have a class A commercial drivers license. I'm very aware of the differences in hauling behind a dually and bigger. However I'd prefer not getting rid of a truck for an extra set of tires. This the reason I inquired about add ons or conversions. Trading my truck in is a last resort.


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