12000 Dry 16000 loaded

[gorgill]

Can 5th Wheel with 16000 GVWR be towed with F250 or Ram 2500 both with diesel engines but 2 wheel drive instead of 4 wheel drive. My concern with 4 wheel drive is it is about 4 inches higher and when leveling 5th wheel with a 12'11" height to front air I only have a 13' 3 inch clearance on storage cover. I guess the 250 with diesel has enough tow capacity, might need air bags.

[anaro]

What are the specs on the trucks? It is impossible to answer without true numbers. That said, my inclination would be to say that is 350/3500 territory.

[WildWildWest]

Originally Posted by gorgill

Can 5th Wheel with 16000 GVWR be towed with F250 or Ram 2500 both with diesel engines but 2 wheel drive instead of 4 wheel drive. My concern with 4 wheel drive is it is about 4 inches higher and when leveling 5th wheel with a 12'11" height to front air I only have a 13' 3 inch clearance on storage cover. I guess the 250 with diesel has enough tow capacity, might need air bags.

Actually, the towing capacity of the Ford F250 2WD SRW is higher than the 4X4 version. The 2WD F250 has a towing capacity of 16,100lbs while the 4X4 has a towing capacity of only 14,400lbs mainly due to the extra weight of the truck but also due to the initial ratings for towing for the initial release of the 6.7L diesel. These specs are for 2011. For 2012 models 16,100 for 4X2 and 15,200lbs for 4X4. For the 2013 and up models of the F250 the specs are 16,300 and 15,900lbs for 2WD and 4WD respectively.

Air bags and possibly a rear sway bar are exactly what you need to tow more stable. You can then adjust the air in the bags when you want to park it.

The pin weight on the Grand Design Solitude you mentioned earlier is only 2,600lbs so that isn't a problem for the 3/4 ton set up either.

[avvidclif]

Originally Posted by gorgill

Can 5th Wheel with 16000 GVWR be towed with F250 or Ram 2500 both with diesel engines but 2 wheel drive instead of 4 wheel drive. My concern with 4 wheel drive is it is about 4 inches higher and when leveling 5th wheel with a 12'11" height to front air I only have a 13' 3 inch clearance on storage cover. I guess the 250 with diesel has enough tow capacity, might need air bags.

Towing capacity is not the main concern with 5th wheel trailers. It's pin weight or how much payload capacity you have. It's posted on the door frame on Fords.

[WildWildWest]

Pin weight is only 2,600lbs on the unit he is towing. Capacity is more than sufficient with the 3/4 ton. There is no significant differences between the F250 and F350 fords. Pin weight in an F250 can be compensated for with air bags or even modified spring shackle kits. The payload capacity can match the 1 ton with minor modification.

[anaro]

Originally Posted by avvidclif

Towing capacity is not the main concern with 5th wheel trailers. It's pin weight or how much payload capacity you have. It's posted on the door frame on Fords.

X2. And remember dry pin weight is less than loaded pin weight.