We have a 2000 Ford F250 Superduty, 4x4 extra cab short bed pick up with a 5.4ltr V-8 gas engine and a 4.10 rear end. We are looking to buy a 5th wheel or a travel trailer. Is anyone out there using the same truck to tow? If so, what are you towing, how heavy? Any problems?
I have a somewhat similar truck, a 2001 F-250 4x2 Supercab short box, auto trans, 6.8L V-10, 3.73 gears. Rated to tow (maximum loaded trailer weight) 11,100 lbs. fifth-wheel, or 10,000 lbs. conventional towing according to the FoMoCo 2001 RV & Trailer Towing Guide I got at my dealer when I purchased the truck last spring.
Your truck (assuming it's an auto tranny) is rated at 8,800 fifth-wheel towing and 8,800 conventional towing for the 2001 model, should be same as or close to the 2000 model you have.
Now, I am not a towing expert by any stretch of the imagination, but the fine folks on this forum recommended staying UNDER the max. limits of my tow vehicle by at least 10% when I was researching last year. Some even recommended staying under by as much as 25% for safety's sake. You need a safety "cushion" or "buffer zone" so you don't end up over weight and start stressing out and prematurely wearing out/breaking your truck. Plus, too close to the max. limits of your truck, and it'll be difficult to STOP in a reasonable distance! I'm towing a '96 Dutchmen Classic 27' fifth-wheel with a GVWR of 8,800 lbs. with my F-250, and I wouldn't be comfortable putting very much more weight behind it. Just my opinion, with your truck, I'd try to stay at about 7000 lbs. max. for the GVW of a fiver or TT. The 5.4L engine you have translates to just 330 cubic inches displacement and I don't feel you'd be happy with anything much heavier, esp. in the mountains. Just my 2 cents worth, I'm sure some of the true towing experts will come to your rescue shortly...
I too tow with a 2000 F-250SD but with V10 and 3:73LS rear axle and tend to agree with Reb on this...
The 250SD is a pretty heavy truck... When fully loaded my truck weighs in at a "portly" #7650... Add my #800 of TT tongue weight and I am only #400 under max GVWR...
According to Ford specs (2002 model year) the curb weight of my F-250SD 4X4 SC (141.9" w.b.) is #5982... But this weight does not include options from the factory like the 6 way power seat and the like, nor does it include my Pace Edwards Roll Top, the Better Built Lighted Cargo Bars or the Bed Rug bedliner... Nor does it include the Pullrite hitch which I added in place of the stock Ford Class IV hitch it was ordered with... I would expect the truck to weigh in at around #6500-#6700 less passengers and cargo and maybe even a bit heavier...
Now I do carry a lot of camping "junque" in the truck bed including a couple big boxes of firewood and an extra 30 gallons of water but the truck is still heavy... If needed, I could vacate some of this weight to lighten the GVWR some...
I suspect what Reb says is pretty true regarding the 5.4L motor... While it is a good motor and was recently "retuned" by Ford to make it's torque a bit lower in RPM, it is still only 330 cubic inch displacement... As such, when considering the overall weight of the truck, you'll probably want to stay on the lighter side of the trailer selection...
I am one of those that derates by a larger factor than 10%... Well, it just happened to work out that way, but I bought the truck knowing that I would have a large weight margin just in case I wanted to upgrade to a TT with a slide which will add #500-#700... My current TT weighs about #6400+ pounds which is about 65% of my #10,000 towing capacity... As you might expect, the truck tows the 27' Nomad quite well and there is plenty of power in reserve for passing or emergency manevuers...
So my advice would be similar to Reb's in that I would recommend staying as light as you can while trying to find a TT that suites your wants and needs... I am very comfortable towing my TT at #6400 and like Reb, I would consider #7000 and maybe even a bit more, perhaps to #7500 or even #8000 but I don't believe that I would go over the #8000 mark and realistically would try to keep it as light as possible...
I recommend the same thought for you... Try to keep the TT as light as possible and give yourself some margin for error...
Best Regards,
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
I USE AN 99 F-250 BUT WITH THE 7.3 DIESEL AND 373 REARS. I PULL A 11,000 LB JAYCO FIVER WITH NO PROBLEM. THE ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED IS VERY ACCURATE. AS FAR AS THE WEIGHT MARGINS GO YOU SHOULD ASSUME YOUR RV WILL WEIGH APPROX 10% MORE THAN WHAT'S POSTED. ( I READ THAT IN TL MAG ) MINE ACCORDING TO THE MANUEL WEIGHS 8800 LBS BUT ACCORDING TO SCALES WEIGH IN AT ABOUT 11000. BIG DIFFERENCE RIGHT? I CARRY VERY LITTLE EXTRA JUNK. GOOD LUCK STAY SAFE
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