When we purchased our 375RES, Fall of 2021, (similar pin weight to your 395MS) the only truck we could find was an F250 with the camper package. Payload capacity was 2900lbs which was the factory pin weight for the 375RES. We towed for almost a year to numerous camp sites on the east coast and even to Florida. I really like the F250 but worried about stability, braking and what would happen if we were in an accident. When a semi passed us, it was scary. The "tow police" are going to tell you that your setup is overweight, and it is, however, to answer your question we did it for almost a year because it was our only option at the time. However, I ordered an F450 that took 9 months to receive, and I can honestly say the difference between the F250 and F450 are night and day. Payload, speed, braking, etc., are no longer concerns and the DRW is incredibly stable. So, you can certainly tow the 395MS with an F250, the real question is should you knowing that you will be over the F250s limits.
You are almost certain to be in over your head with that setup. When towing big 5vers, it mostly all comes down the payload capacity of the tow vehicle. In your case, it is very likely that the pin weight of the trailer all by itself is going to exceed the payload capacity of the truck....and that's before you add in the 5ver hitch and anything/everything else that might go in/on the truck. You also have to account for any passengers you might have in the truck, as well as anything else you put in the bed of the truck......toolboxes, tools, extra fuel, firewood, anything/everything.
You didn't state which truck you have, other than F250, so you need to check the driver side door post and find out what the payload number is for YOUR truck. Better yet, take your truck to a CAT scale with it loaded up just like it would be when you would be leaving to go camping, and weigh the truck. Take that number and subtract it from the truck's GVWR number and now you know exactly how much available payload you have for the trailer's pin weight, passengers in the truck, and everything else I listed above.
CedarCreekWoody
Advanced Member
This is a great way of saying you can tow it, but you shouldn't. I hope people head your advice.
If your F250 has a cargo carrying capacity of 3500-3700lbs, you should be "legal".
Viper61
Advanced Member
Way too much trailer for a 250 series TV. The GVWR for that trailer is 22,500 lbs, If you go by the 20% pin weight theory, that alone will well exceed 4,000 lbs of payload. That trailer is a 350 series DRW TV all day long in not a 450 series TV
That is defiantly a dually required RV, imo. Yes there are folks doing it but I've seen many a rig pass me with 3/4/1 ton srw pulling very large RV's with the front end pointed way up. Just me but I wouldn't tow my 397 with it empty with a SRW truck.
Also if the TX in your post name TX395MS means Texas resident you'll need a class A non-CDL even if you keep the 250.
Also if the TX in your post name TX395MS means Texas resident you'll need a class A non-CDL even if you keep the 250.
RV2600RB
Senior Member
Agree. I wouldn’t want to tow that trailer with a 250.
I towed a 14k GVWR fifth wheel with my signature truck and that’s as much as I would want to go with a 250/2500.
Definitely dually one ton (or larger) territory.
Rich
I towed a 14k GVWR fifth wheel with my signature truck and that’s as much as I would want to go with a 250/2500.
Definitely dually one ton (or larger) territory.
Rich
Fully loaded you will be close to or over your cargo weight rating. Unloaded the trailer has a kingpin wt of 2900 lbs. Check the sticker on your door (see below)to see where you max out. Remember to add up everything, that's going to be all persons and gear in the truck, full tank of gas and all the gear in the front of the trailer.
Totally agree. This refers to towing speed too. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Has anyone besides me noticed that the OP has not been back on this forum since they started this thread? Probably all of our comments are falling on deaf ears as far as the OP is concerned. Hopefully, there may be others that read this and can learn from it.
Yeah, unfortunately it seems to be pretty common when the OP doesn't hear what he wants to hear. Seems a lot of times, the poster is more interested in vindication than real information.
LOL.....well, I calls 'em the way I sees 'em..........
[MENTION=21739]xrated[/MENTION] you beat me brining this up. I started to say something about no response from the OP yesterday but decided to just leave it alone. I also believe the guy just wanted us to tell him his idea is just fine, do it.
Kind of like the "It's been fun" thread that is now over 6 pages...
I don't understand why people need to announce their leaving.....just go.
In some ways, I can understand an "announcement" that someone is leaving, like if you have been a member here and interacted with a lot of other members, maybe made some friends along the way, or even to show appreciation for help received while here. Life is full of changes and some folks feel "obligated" to let folks know that they are leaving because of ***fill in the blank***.
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BrokeDown
Senior Member
Every year, during our travels, we see a light truck/ big RV flipped over on the road. What I have never seen is a dually/RV combo flipped over on the side of the road.
-B
-B
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