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RE: F-250 vs F-350
We are likely going to buy a new Ford with the 7.3 V-8 and 373 axles. We tow a 2 Horse Living Quarters aluminum trailer that weighs 5500 empty and has a 10,000 max GVW.
Our question is would the F-250 have a smoother ride than the F-350 when not towing? There is no chance that we will want a larger trailer so a heavier upgrade in the future is not an issue.
Currently we tow the trailer with a 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4 with a 5.9 diesel.
Gotta' do your home work when looking at F350 srw and expecting more payload than the F250.
Ford gives the F350 SRW around 19 different GVWR s ranging from 10000 lbs up to 12400 lbs and three different rawrs at 6340/6780/7230 lbs rated.
The F250 can come with 7 different gvwrs from the same 10000 gvwr up to 11200 gvwr with the same 6340 rawr.
As many Ford folks know there is a big over lap in gvwrs and rawrs with Fords Super Duty line up.
Looking at Fleet Fords weight specs shows a different number of leafs in the super duty rear spring pack which may affect ride quality or difference.
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JIMNLIN
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09/27/23 09:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck / 5th Wheel Combo - Do the numbers add up?
I’m looking at a Cougar 290RLS
Dry Wt 10,124 lbs
Hitch 1,805
GVWR 12,200
Length 33’8”
The new gen F250 7.3 gasser 6340 rawr will make a fine part time/full time tow vehicle for a 12,200 gvwr 5th wheel rv trailer.
If your looking at 14k+ lb 5th wheel rv trailer then a F350 srw with the heavier duty 7230 rawr would be a better choice.
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JIMNLIN
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09/27/23 08:35pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Ram 2500 6.4 gas Towing 5th wheel.
One of our long time members posted this about his then new 2014 2500 Ram with rear coils vs his older '07 3500 srw towing his 12k lb 5er (with both.)
*** ib516
Way up north eh
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2003
Posted: 10/05/18 12:32pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
I hooked a 14k 5er to my coil sprung 2500 and it sat level. I regularly towed a 12k 5er with no issues. In fact, the 2014 2500 with coils sagged less with the same 5er than my 2007 3500 SRW did with Torklift Stableloads installed.
Here's a 12k 5er that's 37 feet long with 3 slides (one of which is over the pin) and all stock rear suspension...IIRC, the pin weight was right around 2000# when I weighed it.***
Seems hauling tall top heavy truck campers with the 2500 Ram rear coils gets the most negative opinions.
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JIMNLIN
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09/22/23 08:42pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: lamination on 5th wheel
front cap ?? Rear cap ??
Need more tech input for a good speculation on the problem.
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JIMNLIN
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09/20/23 11:46am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Curt E16 Hookup Question
The sliding bar type I had years back was a safety catch behind a claw type hitch jaw. The pin rests against the half round claw....the sliding bar slide behind the claw keeping the claw closed around the pin. In 8 years no noise.
jaw type
I'm not familiar with Curts E16 jaw type.
OP...I would suggest dropping by the selling dealer shop and let them show/explain the proper procedures for this particular hitch. 5th wheel hitches use several different jaw type systems even in the same brands.
I'm wondering if the OP is referring to Curts E16 sliding rail hitch for short bed trucks.
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JIMNLIN
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09/10/23 08:46am |
Towing
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RE: TT Wear on one tire..only took few short trips
It could be one, or more than one, of several issues.
Your on the road so drop by a truck tire dealer with the camper. I've found they know more about tire wear issues on trailers than a rv dealer or car tire dealer down on the corner.
If its just a bad tire or loose bearing or loose wheel lugs... they can fix those issue.
If a bent axle a big rig trailer repair shop can bend the axle back to specs quickly and get you on your way.
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JIMNLIN
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09/08/23 12:03pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: TPMS - Tire Pressure Increase
Tire pressure increases while traveling. In researching I have seen where a 25% increase in pressure is fine. So at 65PSI I could expect to see pressure up to around around 81 and all should be good.
Any thoughts on this?
When I was on the road pulling non rv trailers for living we had no TPMS or inferred temp guns.
We used a tire thumper at every stop and felt the tires by hand looking for one that was much hotter or low pressure.
If one tire is hotter than the others check its pressure.
Several of reasons one tire may run hot and higher psi that a nominal pressure/temps of tires on that vehicle.
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JIMNLIN
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09/04/23 01:28pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Load range E--ST Tire
FWIW, Goodyear now has a load/inflation chart for the Endurance ST.https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf
Goodyear also says in their rvtires website "weighing your rv"...
*Special Considerations*
***Unless trying to resolve poor ride quality problems with an RV trailer, it is recommended that trailer tires be inflated to the pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Trailer tires experience significant lateral (side-to-side) loads due to vehicle sway from uneven roads or passing vehicles. Using the inflation pressure engraved on the sidewall will provide optimum load carrying capacity and minimize heat build-up.***
clicky link
Good advise as the first part covers those that over tire their trailer above recommendations.
The last mentions side to side loading. We see that out here in high wind areas and 40 mph side winds.
I've seen my 16" LT E tires on service trailers (3042 lbs with 6k axles) run 92-94 psi all day long in 110 degree outside temps.
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JIMNLIN
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09/02/23 12:32pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Tires
Assuming your 8000 lb trailer is a tandem axle....with those 15" load E tires at 2830 lbs X 4 tires = 11320 lbs capacity.
A 8000 lb TT may have 10-15 % hitch weight = in the 1000 lb range leaving 7000 lbs on the trailers axles.
Typically a over tired trailer with 11320 lbs of tire capacity may make for a rough ride but shouldn't cause any overloaded tire issues.
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JIMNLIN
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09/01/23 06:36am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Towing
Any suggestions for this new guy would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I would load the combo up and make a short run and see how the combo handles.
If it suits your expectations thats great....if it needs attention then is the time to fix that issue(s).
First tho.....As others mention get your trucks unladen axle weights.
Then load the trailer and hitch it all up and get truck and trailer axle weights.
JMO ..anyone who wants to carry weight in their vehicle should know that vehicles unladen separate axle weights. Don't depend on brochure weights.
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JIMNLIN
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08/30/23 12:02pm |
Towing
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RE: hauling capability
2015 Fleet Ford spec show a F350 srw crew cab 6.2 engine can have over a dozen gvwrs ranging from 10000 up to 11300 lbs every 200 lb increments or so.
Also shows a 6290 or 6730 or 7000 rawr ...all above depends on 156" or 172" wheel base and 2wd vs 4wd and 17" vs 18"/20" wheels.
Every trucker should know his trucks front and rear scaled unladin axle weights. Drop by a set of CAT scale and find your trucks axle weights with attention to the rear axle as its going to carry most if not all of a truck camper weight.
Simply subtract your trucks rawr from scaled rear axle weight = the truck actual payload.
Also works the same for the front axle . Gotta' know your vehicles loaded axle weights. You sure don't want to exceed a tire/wheel or spring pack ratings.
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JIMNLIN
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08/24/23 03:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tires- LT or ST
Carlisle HD and Endurance came out in the sept '16 and Jan '17.... both are those companies newest gen ST tires. Both have a very good service record so far.
Better service record than Maxxis ST8008 with over 30 tire complaints on this and IRv2 rv websites.
My 1997 11200 lb 5th wheel/5200 lb tandem axles, came with new Marathon ST225/75-15 D. At that time I wouldn't use a ST tire so I upgraded to 16" wheels and LT225/75-16 E BFG Commercial T/A/other recommended LT brands. I'm running in the 51k-54k mile range/7-8 years per set with no issues.
Deleted " a year range"...jim"
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JIMNLIN
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08/22/23 01:30pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: How to search for tires?
A trailers suspension (short spring length) is very stiff and rough riding vs twice as long LDT truck rear suspensions.
Best way to tell if a tire has a balance issue is read its tread wear pattern. If any odd wear then check for a tire tread that maybe starting to separate in spots....bent wheel (radial runout).
A tire..any tire that is jumping up and down on a trailer is most of the time a defective tire. Time for a replacement tire.
I, as others, don't balance any of our rv or non rv trailers tires nor have any abnormal wear patterns for not doing so.
If you feel the need or simply want a balance job done on the trailers tires as "insurance" or "peace of mind" no one is going to think badly of you for doing so.
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JIMNLIN
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08/19/23 02:15pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Carbon ceramic pads question
IF you do a high percentage of miles on a freeway interstate not having to hit the brakes a dozen times a mile, more like zero with cruise on....you will get 2-3x the mileage of the city person.
Good point.
I'm rural out here an seldom see big city stop and go type driving.
I bought a new '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins NV5600 came with a Jacobs exhaust brake thru Dodge Business link program. The Jacobs was activated with a push/pull switch on top of the tranny shifter. It stayed on 90 percent of the time. At 132k miles I got the bug to change the front OEM pads even tho they had a few more miles left.
I see much the same on Dodge/Ram....GM Dmax/A and Ford diesel forums. it truly makes a difference in brake service life on driving style and city vs highway miles of service.
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JIMNLIN
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08/18/23 08:43pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: RV Axle Alignment Shop in Buffalo NY area
I can do the porta power and chain trick that i see on youtube, But would rather just take it to the shop and watch it being done.
When I was on the road I looked for a big rig trailer repair shop for axle work.
They have all the equipment that aligns from the pin/ball or pintle hitch receiver to the trailers front axle.
From there they can bend the axle back to alignment with the hitch....set toe angles...and check camber....and set the following axles (tandem or tri axle).
Drop by a real pro shop and let them show you how to properly align a trailers suspension.
After replacing a axle myself or a shop I always ran the trailer in service and watched for odd wear patterns in the tires tread. Pulling trailers I didn't always have time in my schedule or was close to a good trailer alignment shop.
If a odd tire wear pattern showed then was the time set up a appointment for a check or R&R.
I would run the trailer but watch the tires for irregular wear issues.
.
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JIMNLIN
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08/18/23 07:57pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How to search for tires?
Trailer hubs don't come machined balanced like automotive hubs on our cars/trucks. Adding weights on the wheel can be a hit or miss.
Also steel trailer wheels and some forged aluminum center hole and lugs are stamped at the time of process. Most stamped lug holes don't come concentric to the bead seat flange.
I've watched a old truck tire dealer/truck repair shop go through his supply of 16" trailer wheels using a engine lath/dial indicators looking for just one that didn't need several 4" long weights in one spot.
Thats a big reason commercial truck tire dealers that are savvy with non automotive wheels recommend spin the tire/wheel/hub ass'y on the trailer and measure the tire for radial and lateral run out. Something most tire shops down on the corner in town don't have much if any experience with.
And short (28"-30") stiff trailer springs are a huge damper for smoothing out of balance vibrations if any.
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JIMNLIN
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08/17/23 12:13pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Need advice if safe for my pickup to pull a heavy 5th wheel
PS: Where do you find the "max pin weight" rating? I've only ever found the GVWR and axle ratings. Or are you speaking of the rating on the hitch which is independent of the truck ratings?
Its common for rv folks to claim their trucks gvwr based payload sticker is how much pin weight or truck camper weight they can load on their trucks rear axle (in the bed).
There is no one ton srw that can carry those big gvwr based 4000-4500 lb sticker loads in the bed over the 7000-7250 lb rawr without exceeding tire/wheel an rear spring pack.
They would need higher rated tires/wheels and rear suspension.
Another fallacy of using those new high gvwr or the payload sticker to figure how much pin weight...or truck camper weight their trucks can safely carry.
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JIMNLIN
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08/14/23 02:24pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Dodge 3500 towing heavy
If I remember right the older 3500 srw Dodge trucks had 6200-6500 rawr (tire/wheel/rear spring pack). Your trucks drivers side door post certification sticker has the trucks fawr/rawr.
Drop by a set of CAT scales and weigh your truck front and rear axles separately.
Subtract the CAT scale number from your trucks rawr will give you how much in the bed payload you have to work with.
Those older trucks rear axle may weigh in the 3200-3400 lbs ...subtracted from 6200 rawr = approx 3000-3300 lbs before exceeding a tire/wheel or rear suspension.
This trucks rawr will more likely be overloaded.
The '05 truck has the AAM 11.5" rear axle good for over 10k lbs so its not a concern.
And of course if its the 5.9 Cummins it won't have any issues pulling that size trailer.
Many older 350/3500 srw truck owners with heavy truck campers...heavy 5th wheel trailer hitch loads upgraded to 19.5" tires/wheels...air bags of some type of rear suspension help
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JIMNLIN
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08/04/23 12:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Grand Kid coming
Congrats.
Enjoy them as there growing up....then scatter all over the country.
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JIMNLIN
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08/03/23 08:09pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Can I tow this?
The 6.2 engine has 420 hp/460 torque so no problems pulling in Rockies or high head wind flat lands on all day runs.
If your 2018 has the NHT tow package this gives the 1500 GM truck a 4300 rawr and good for around 1800-1900 lb payloads.
My wifes std duty '16 1500 chevy crew cab 4wd 5.3 6 speed.... rear axle weighs 2360 lbs. Your '18 rear axle will be close to that number unless you carry the kitchen sink. :).
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JIMNLIN
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08/03/23 08:04pm |
Towing
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