Guys,

To start with a general question .........
I can't afford to buy a new truck, have just had my 03 F150 (4.6L V8) 4x4 chipped, had upgraded brakes installed, big transmission cooler and had the suspension stiffened up with an extra leaf spring & monroe shocks ........

I'm looking at getting either a 6200lb dry KZ Sportster 26P Travel Trailer or a 7200lb dry KZ Sportster 29P Fifth Wheel. I already have an "equalizer" hitch for my current trailer.

I realise that these are heavy for the standard truck but generally which will be better for my truck a TT or a 5th wheel?

I should also add that the rear of the toyhauler will have around 1000lbs of weight which will counterbalance the tongue weight.

Any help would be appreciated as I would like to make this work.

Mick

 

Generally toyhaulers are set up with the tanks and other heavy stuff ahead of the axle and the garage behind the axle. Hitch weight on the 5th wheel toy hauler will generally be in the ballpark of 20% of the total trailer weight. Also, advertised dry weights are generally based on no options (air conditioner, extra battery, dual propane tanks) and are generally way optimistically light.

Pin weight of the 5th wheel could easily be over 2,000 pounds, and when you add the weight of the hitch, people, and extra gear in the truck you would likely be WAY overloaded. It would likely put the truck over it's gross axle rating for the rear axle, and over it's gross vehicle weight rating (maximum that both the front and rear axle of the truck are allowed to weigh).

The bumper pull will be less likely to overload the pickup's rear axle, since they don't put as high proportion of their weight in the truck, but it looks like that one will still be way over your truck's ratings. Especially when you add water, toys, food, clothes...

Looking at Ford's towing guide, it looks like 4.6 trucks are rated to tow about 6500 pounds depending on other options.

Even with your upgrades, I think you would be unhappy with how the rig would handle that much overloaded. The life of the truck would be short, and it would perform poorly.

I don't have anything against 1/2 ton trucks, and I had a F-150 before my current truck. Like anything else, they are fine for towing as long as you are within what they are rated and designed to handle...

Bottom line: I'd really suggest getting a 3/4 ton or even a single rear wheel 1 ton for what you are considering. It will be safer, handle better, and be legal.


P.S. I see this was your first post. Welcome to the forum.

 

JeffinTD,

Thx for the response.

I think that I have resigned myself to the fact that I have to get a bigger truck .....

Any thoughts on which way to go ... F250/350 or Chev/GMC 2500?

Mick

 

Were you looking for new or used, auto or stick, gas or diesel?

If you were looking for a stick diesel, getting a 5.9 c ummins wouldn't be a bad idea, so you wouldn't get all the emission stuff. For an auto, it might be worth putting up with the catalist regeneration and all that gunk on the 6.7 to get the 6 speed 68RFE over the 4 speed 48RE.

The Chevy/GMC is also quite impressive. Again, I'd try to find a leftover one that doesn't have the extra emission stuff on them. I haven't really been following the new Fords, but I think they have been doing OK.