I'm looking at getting a 28ft 5th wheel camper, dry weight is 5040 lbs. My truck is a 1997 F150 reg cab 4x4 auto 5.4L with 3.55 gears. I have overloaded this truck before and have a new tranny in there now, don't want to over do it again. Is my truck capable of pulling this. I figure maybe 300-400 added lbs in gear/clothes/blankets and what not added to the dry weight.

Anyone have any insight on this subject???

 

I would say no. By the time you take into account the added weight of the king pin, the hitch, and some gear, you are past the limits for that truck.

 

Well the one dealership guy I talked to he said my towing was like at 7200lbs?? But this is a gooseneck camper and I allready have the hitch, so the title on this camper is 5040 (according to NADA) would it be that much more added to where I cant pull it?

 

MFR dry weight is at least 10% under what it is when you pick it up. That includes no options that people tend to buy like generators, LP tanks, etc. I bet you'd be closer to 6500 pounds when loaded up w/ little water.

5th wheel trailers are designed for 15-20% of the trailer's weight on the truck. So, 1200 pounds in your truck bed plus driver/passengers and other misc cargo quickly puts you over GVWR and probably rear axle ratings. Oh yeayh, plus the 400 pound hitch sitting in the bed. F-150's are just not designed for 5th wheel towing. While many people do it, it isn't the wisest thing for RVing which usually means long highway trips. Power is another problem for towing at highway speeds. 5th wheel traielrs have much more frontal area which means more power required to maintain 60-65mph.

 

Cowgirl,

Title weight and what the thing 'really' weighs are totally different.... My truck has a title weight of #4045!! On the scale, it's more like #5000. Add some bodies to it, my stuff and my little #5000 GVWR TT and it's around #6500! (note, that's about #250 over my trucks GVWR!)

My #5000 GVWR TT has a title weight of #3800. The first time I dragged it across a scale after picking it up and loading it for it's first camping trip, it weighed #4500. I've since added more stuff to it over the years, so I'm sure I'm pushing it's #5000 GVWR now...

What's the 5th wheels GVWR? If it's close to #8000, then you better start saving for a new trans......

Mitch

 

Your axle is likely an 8.8 It's not made to carry the Pin weight of this 5th wheel. As was said with people and hitch etc "overload". I would like to do the same thing but my 99' F250LD with 10.25 3.73LS would be overloaded.

Just a full 30 gallon water tank would add 240 lbs. Propane tanks full etc easy to add 1000 lbs. I added 1500 lbs to a 24' while trying to travel light......

 

5.4 L, 3.73, towing capacity 6300 lbs. That comes from the book at the fifth wheel dealership.

so towing up to 6300 lbs is fine. But don,t say a thing, I towed a 10,000 lbs trailer with a regular cab f150, 4.6l....not supposed to (work truck)

 

Having 3.55 gears will probably knock 1000 lbs. off that figure. Being a 4x4 knocks another 400 or so pounds off the tow rating as well.

 

Can it be done? Sure. Can it be done comfortably, safely, and with minimum wear/tear on the truck? No.

The max trailer weights are over-rated for most vehicles. You are likely to max out the gcwr and gvwr of the truck long before you reach the 7200 lbs your truck is rated for. Gross weights are what matters.