Another 5th wheel Payload question..maybe a little unique.

[SouthernFried]

This is what the yellow sticker on the side of my truck says.



I have a payload capacity of #3377 .

We are looking at a REFLECTION 367BHS Mid-bunk 5th wheel. It has a hitch weight of #2461 .

So, it seems I have around #916 lbs to account for people, hitch and cargo.

First of all, it this a correct analysis?

And then 2nd...my tow vehicle is a 2020 F250. I hear all the time you can't tow a rig like this with an F250. But, I had it special ordered to tow stuff since I am a landscaper and tow machinery, etc. all the time. I have the big 7.3 liter Engine and I got the 4.3 differential. No 4x4 taking up extra weight and it is a short bed, etc.

So, the payload is probably higher than most F250's. But, is it enough? I know you can never have "enough." But, I seriously don't want to spend 80k for another truck unless I absolutely have to. I've been towing for 50 years, so I'm pretty good at it. But, does it meet the specs?

Thanks for any help.
- Steve

 

[triplethreat]

This is what the yellow sticker on the side of my truck says.

View attachment 46871

I have a payload capacity of #3377 .

We are looking at a REFLECTION 367BHS Mid-bunk 5th wheel. It has a hitch weight of #2461 .

So, it seems I have around #916 lbs to account for people, hitch and cargo.

First of all, it this a correct analysis?

And then 2nd...my tow vehicle is a 2020 F250. I hear all the time you can't tow a rig like this with an F250. But, I had it special ordered to tow stuff since I am a landscaper and tow machinery, etc. all the time. I have the big 7.3 liter Engine and I got the 4.3 differential. No 4x4 taking up extra weight and it is a short bed, etc.

So, the payload is probably higher than most F250's. But, is it enough? I know you can never have "enough." But, I seriously don't want to spend 80k for another truck unless I absolutely have to. I've been towing for 50 years, so I'm pretty good at it. But, does it meet the specs?

Thanks for any help.
- Steve

Steve....welcome to the forum. Here are a few things to consider. 1. The pin weight that you've listed (2461) is the published pin weight for a totally empty trailer, as in the average weight without any optional equipment that may have been added that is not part of the base trailer. 2. Empty pin weight = no battery and no propane in the tanks, which will easily add another at least 150 lbs. 3. The GVWR of the trailer is right at 15,000 lb. If you calculate/estimate the pin weight for a trailer that is fully loaded to around the 15,000 lb weight, you pin weight will likely be at least 3000 lbs...plus or minus a bit. 4. That 3377 lb payload for the truck now has probably less than 300 lbs. 5 You will still need to buy a 5ver hitch, and depending on which one you select, it could be anywhere from 45/50 lbs, up to maybe 160+ lbs. Then you must consider anything and everything else that might go in the truck..passenger(s), firewood, tools and a toolbox, etc, etc.

What I'm giving you is some food for thought here. 20% of the trailer's weight is a fairly close "guesstimate" of how much pin weight a 5th wheel camping trailer will put down on the tow vehicle. You don't often see less than 20%, but frequently see 20 or more percent. I've seen people report 22, 23 percent of the trailer weight as pin weight. So to me, you might be on the ragged edge of your truck's payload capacity rating....or if you don't load the trailer up to the GVWR of 15,000 lb, you may be approaching, but maybe a few hundred pounds shy of the payload capacity of the truck. Of course it will also depend on your hitch weight, and how much other "stuff" goes in the truck and the number of passengers, as well as the trailer weight and where the cargo in the trailer is located.....forward towards the pin, or more to the rear of the trailer. It's probably going to be close for you, and only YOU know what and how much you will be loading and taking along on your camping trips. I don't think anyone here can answer that for you, but the info that I gave may help you to figure out whether or not that trailer and YOUR truck will work for you.

 

[BadDogPSD]

Your actual pin weight will likely be higher than the published pin weight. The published pin weight doesn't consider water, batteries, propane, food & beverage, camping gear, and personal belongings... with a max GVRW of 15,000 lbs, your pin weight will probably closer to 3,000 lbs (15,000 x .20). Of course you can control this to a certain extent by what you take with you and how you load the trailer.
You'll also want to take a look at your trucks rear axle rating and tire capacity.

 

[triplethreat]

Your actual pin weight will likely be higher than the published pin weight. The published pin weight doesn't consider water, batteries, propane, food & beverage, camping gear, and personal belongings... with a max GVRW of 15,000 lbs, your pin weight will probably closer to 3,000 lbs (15,000 x .20). Of course you can control this to a certain extent by what you take with you and how you load the trailer.
You'll also want to take a look at your trucks rear axle rating and tire capacity.

If he stays within the payload ratings, he won't be close to the RAWR, or the tire load capacity ratings unless he put tire on that aren't OEM size.....in other words smaller or less load capacity ratings.

 

[NB Canada]

The first thing to do is get an accurate weight of your truck
Load it up like you would be camping (gear and passengers)and weigh it
Add 150-200 pounds for a hitch if you don’t have one yet

You are just guessing without doing this first

I am sure your actual available payload is much less