Just sold my 3rd motor home and bought a 2002 Carriage 5th wheel LXI a 32' unit. This is our 3rd 5th wheel in 40 years of rving so we are not strangers to the pull type. Our objective was to down size somewhat and I feel we accomplished this ( our MH was a 38' unit) We have a Ford F250 HD with a 7.5 engine to pull with. It's border line on being strong enough for this trailer. Gross veh. weight is 18500# the fiver weighs in at 10500# dry and the truck at 6400# before the DW loads everthing on board. I'm thinking about a used F350 ford super duty extended cab dually with a Diesel. question which is the better engine the large Ford Diesel or the smaller one. Does anyone know of any major problems with either one. Your comments will be appreciated.
I knew a guy who full timed in a 2005 Holiday Rambler, and towed it with a 2005 F-350 dually with diesel engine. He was under his front and rear axle ratings, and just under the GVWR of the truck, but about 1,000 pounds more than the GCVWR of the 2005 F-350. So he trader up to a F-450 pickup.
I think his trailer was in the 18,500 pound range, like what you are looking at.
Speaking of downsizing, you are going from a 18,000 give or take RV to a 18,000 pound RV being towed by a 7,000 pound truck so well into the 25,000 pound range!
In California, you need a special endorsement when towing a trailer rated over a certain weight. I think it is 10,000 or 12,000 for a conventional trailer and 15,000 pounds for a fifth wheel. It is the Maximum GVWR rating, not the actual weight that the CHP is writing tickets for. Out of state licensed trailers do not require this special endorsement.
"I knew a guy who full timed in a 2005 Holiday Rambler, and towed it with a 2005 F-350 dually with diesel engine. He was under his front and rear axle ratings, and just under the GVWR of the truck, but about 1,000 pounds more than the GCVWR of the 2005 F-350. So he trader up to a F-450 pickup.
I think his trailer was in the 18,500 pound range, like what you are looking at."
The heaviest 5th wheel by HR is the Presidential Suite which has a GVW of 16,950#. Sounds like his F350 wasn't configured right or he miscalculated his weights. A one ton dually will easily handle any of the HR 5th wheels.
Dave
Our first fiver was 32 ft Carri Lite made by Carriage. We purchased it used in 1997 and, at the same time, bought a new F-250 PSD. That truck handled the Carri Lite just fine. Took the wife and I on many a long trip, the longest from Florida to Alaska and back.
In 2000 we purchase a new 30 ft Cameo, also made by Carriage. We pulled it with the the 97 truck. We traded our 97 truck, which at the time time had over 200,000 miles, for a new 05 F-250 PSD. We still have that combination today.
Our Cameo has been pulled over 100,000 miles and the O5 truck has 85,000 on it. We are getting older (mid 70's) and this combination will last for our remaining camping years. This summer we used this combination to go from Florida to Maryland to Califonia and back to Florida.
'05' F-250 Power Stroke
'00' 30' Cameo Fifth Wheel
Golden_HVAC wrote: I knew a guy who full timed in a 2005 Holiday Rambler, and towed it with a 2005 F-350 dually with diesel engine. He was under his front and rear axle ratings, and just under the GVWR of the truck, but about 1,000 pounds more than the GCVWR of the 2005 F-350. So he trader up to a F-450 pickup.
I think his trailer was in the 18,500 pound range, like what you are looking at.
Speaking of downsizing, you are going from a 18,000 give or take RV to a 18,000 pound RV being towed by a 7,000 pound truck so well into the 25,000 pound range!
In California, you need a special endorsement when towing a trailer rated over a certain weight. I think it is 10,000 or 12,000 for a conventional trailer and 15,000 pounds for a fifth wheel. It is the Maximum GVWR rating, not the actual weight that the CHP is writing tickets for. Out of state licensed trailers do not require this special endorsement.
Fred.
I think you miss read my post. The MH weighed in at over 22000 loaded. Plus the 3500# toad.
the GCWR of the truck is 18500 # the 5th wheel weighs 10355 dry the truck 6450 dry. load capacity of the trailer is 3800# The truck and trailer weight dry is 16805.00 dry. Thats considerably less then the MH so we did down size IMO.
Golden_HVAC wrote: I knew a guy who full timed in a 2005 Holiday Rambler, and towed it with a 2005 F-350 dually with diesel engine. He was under his front and rear axle ratings, and just under the GVWR of the truck, but about 1,000 pounds more than the GCVWR of the 2005 F-350. So he trader up to a F-450 pickup.
I think his trailer was in the 18,500 pound range, like what you are looking at.
Speaking of downsizing, you are going from a 18,000 give or take RV to a 18,000 pound RV being towed by a 7,000 pound truck so well into the 25,000 pound range!
In California, you need a special endorsement when towing a trailer rated over a certain weight. I think it is 10,000 or 12,000 for a conventional trailer and 15,000 pounds for a fifth wheel. It is the Maximum GVWR rating, not the actual weight that the CHP is writing tickets for. Out of state licensed trailers do not require this special endorsement.
Fred.
I think you miss read my post. The MH weighed in at over 22000 loaded. Plus the 3500# toad.
the GCWR of the truck is 18500 # the 5th wheel weighs 10355 dry the truck 6450 dry. load capacity of the trailer is 3800# The truck and trailer weight dry is 16805.00 dry. Thats considerably less then the MH so we did down size IMO.
You may have downsized, but quoting dry weight is misleading. Dry weights are notoriously inaccurate.
If you want to make a more accurate,realistic and safer comparisons use GVW or actual scaled weights.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
...The 5er your wanting to get is definitely in "dually" territory.
I'd get a "newer" F350 1 ton Dually...don't know if I'd go with a 6.0, only because I've seen other Ford owners have issues with it, but that would be for a Ford owner with a 6.0 diesel to answer...Just going by your 5er's GVW, you are correct, go with a 1 ton Dually. Also go by GVW of the 5er, forget "empty" weight...no one tows a 5er "empty" unless it's coming from the dealership....
Jim & Kathy
2013 Dodge 3500DRW Longhorn 4X4/CC/LB/Aisin tranny/4:10/Cummins: 385HP/850TQ
06 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ/ 4 slide/ dual pane windows/Winegard SK3005 Satellite/Splendide XC2100 W/D
Boxers;Buddy& Sheba II
USAF 71-75 Nam Vet
In California, you need a special endorsement when towing a trailer rated over a certain weight. I think it is 10,000 or 12,000 for a conventional trailer and 15,000 pounds for a fifth wheel. It is the Maximum GVWR rating, not the actual weight that the CHP is writing tickets for. Out of state licensed trailers do not require this special endorsement.
Fred.
I know this all to well as I just went through it two days ago. The weights for 5ers is over 10k but under 15k you need a simple endorsement to your class C license. You take a written test and there is no fee unless your DL expires within 6 months. Over 15K you need a class A non commercial DL which requires you to take the same written test as well as a driving test and carry a health card. It is based on the GVWR of the trailer. Don't be surprised if the DMV has no idea what you are talking about.
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