Actual towing capacity?

This is PLENTY to chew on and your collective laymen's explanation is VERY helpful. Basically there will be two adults and two motorcycles with some basic travel necessities. I will crunch a few more numbers and check back in. The trailer may end up being smaller than I expected, but perhaps that is not such a bad thing.
Just out of curiosity, how do you plan on doing a 5th wheel and 2 motorcycles?
 
Just out of curiosity, how do you plan on doing a 5th wheel and 2 motorcycles?
I was thinking this same thing.

Unless Toy Hauler then it would be part of the trailer weight.
 
Here's my rule of thumb: If I need to tow more than half of the rating (which is inflated for marketing purposes) then I get a bigger truck.
 
Here's my rule of thumb: If I need to tow more than half of the rating (which is inflated for marketing purposes) then I get a bigger truck.
Hence I got mine to pull a small tractor. But, mostly my 4500# travel trailer 🤣

Kinda scared to even use my WDH because then there won't be any weight on the tongue 😉
 
In towing ratings, as in tent capacities - the "functional" rating is usually about half of what's stated.

18k tow rating? It will do it, but it will be sketchy. 10k? Easy peasy.

A tent that sleeps 8 people? If you want to be ass-to-ankles, maybe. 4 comfortably.
 
I'm definitely with you on all the numbers being confusing as all hell. As mentioned before, the biggest number you're going to have issues with is your payload number, since you have a de-rated truck.
Just for reference, I have a 24 F250 7.3 Platinum Tremor and my payload is 3000 lbs.
We're looking at buying a 5th wheel as well, Arctic Wolf 278BHS. It has a "dry" pin weight of 1310 lbs and gross weight of 10,295 lbs. If I get closer to 20% pin weight of the camper gross, I'll be about 2059 lbs. That should leave me plenty of room since I have 3k payload.

I don't necessarily condone it but you could play around with loading your rig and take some weight off the pin to keep your pin weight down and adjust weight around as needed to keep your rig stable. Or you could run with whatever weight you want knowing that legally according to your sticker, you're overweight but know your truck can handle it since it's technically a 350 that's de-rated (by sticker only) lower than a typical 250.
 
Kinda scared to even use my WDH because then there won't be any weight on the tongue 😉
I am not sure what you are saying here or if you are even serious, but reducing tongue with a WDH is not a concern. When we say that we need a certain tongue weight it is because that is a convenient way to determine the fore and aft position of the center of mass of the trailer which is what contributes to sway and what actually matters. Although a WDH transfers a little weight from the tongue to the trailer tires and a lot of weight from the rear to the front truck tires, it does not move the center of mass of the trailer, so don't worry about it reducing tongue weight.

That being said, you probably don't need a WDH with a 4500 lb trailer and a Super Duty.
 
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I am not sure what you are saying here or if you are even serious, but reducing tongue with a WDH is not a concern. When we say that we need a certain tongue weight it is because that is a convenient way to determine the fore and aft position of the center of mass of the trailer which is what contributes to sway and what actually matters. Although a WDH transfers a little weight from the tongue to the trailer tires and a lot of weight from the rear to the front truck tires, it does not move the center of mass of the trailer, so don't worry about it reducing tongue weight.

That being said, you probably don't need a WDH with a 4500 lb trailer and a Super Duty.
Mostly joking but it will take weight off the back tires which could be detrimental, right? I don't really know, I've never used WDH before I bought this camper, and only bought it to tow it using my wife's blazer. Which is far too small by the way 🤣
Wasn't planning on using it with the super duty except maybe for the "anti-sway" feature if I have to drive in extra windy conditions at some point.
 
Mostly joking but it will take weight off the back tires which could be detrimental, right? I don't really know, I've never used WDH before I bought this camper, and only bought it to tow it using my wife's blazer. Which is far too small by the way 🤣
Wasn't planning on using it with the super duty except maybe for the "anti-sway" feature if I have to drive in extra windy conditions at some point.

When I read your earlier post I only caught something about towing a tractor, thus why I mentioned equipment trailer, I
completely missed that you were talking about the small travel trailer. 😞
 
I can't say I've seen anyone use WDH for an equipment trailer or dump trailer of any size/weight.
I never have and I bumper pull a lot.
 
Wasn't planning on using it with the super duty except maybe for the "anti-sway" feature if I have to drive in extra windy conditions at some point.
With a Travel Trailer, this is where it becomes important, ESPECIALLY for people that DON'T have a million miles professionally.
 
To the OP, how committed are you to the idea of a 5th wheel instead of a conventional tow trailer?

I'm going to make an assumption here that could be wrong, but I'm going to assume the "couple of motorcycles" you want to haul around are dirt bikes and not 1000lb+ Harleys or such, as I've always thought of toy haulers and dirt machines going together like PB&J.

Why not play to your truck's strength and let the trailer axles carry the weight (other than tongue weight)?
A quick search shows there are plenty of conventional tow toy haulers in the 25-32 foot range with GVWRs between 9k-13k lbs.

For a couple people and a couple bikes, I would think something like that would have adequate space and after deducting for max tongue weight, should even leave you with some left over capacity to put some stuff under a tonneau in the bed.

Just a thought, I know I'm making assumptions.
 
To the OP, how committed are you to the idea of a 5th wheel instead of a conventional tow trailer?

I'm going to make an assumption here that could be wrong, but I'm going to assume the "couple of motorcycles" you want to haul around are dirt bikes and not 1000lb+ Harleys or such, as I've always thought of toy haulers and dirt machines going together like PB&J.

Why not play to your truck's strength and let the trailer axles carry the weight (other than tongue weight)?
A quick search shows there are plenty of conventional tow toy haulers in the 25-32 foot range with GVWRs between 9k-13k lbs.

For a couple people and a couple bikes, I would think something like that would have adequate space and after deducting for max tongue weight, should even leave you with some left over capacity to put some stuff under a tonneau in the bed.

Just a thought, I know I'm making assumptions.
For cross country or long distance trips a fifth wheel trailer tows WAY better down the interstate.

You can still balance the weight on the trailer axles with a fifth wheel trailer. Especially a toy hauler as you can move basically all your personal stuff to the back if required. Although you do want to maintain a minimum of 10% forward bias for safe handling.

Generally long box trucks are recommended for fifth wheel RV towing. This is because it is quite easy to have the front corners of the RV contact the cab if you are turning too sharply with a short box. Its manageable to do with a short box, and a slider hitch helps, but you must always be conscious of it.
 
Although you do want to maintain a minimum of 10% forward bias for safe handling.
Is 10% enough pin weight? I’ve always read/heard minimum 15% pin weight for fifth wheels/goosenecks.
 
The Window sticker the OP posted is a 9,900 lb. GVWR truck with 7.3 and 4.30 gear - look at towing guide and see the limits are.

Will be slightly different for F-250 9,900 vs 10,500 and for F-350 trucks. Also varies based on gears - 3.73 a little lower than 4.10 trucks.

So important to know all the options before you look at the guide to determine a specific trucks actual tow rating.

Look at footnote 4 weights if it is 9,900 GVWR and footnote 5 if a Tremor - if both 9,900 and Tremor - the lower rating would apply.

If you are getting a 5th wheel - get a F-350 - you payload will be better and you have a better chance of staying within the legal limits of truck.

GL finding perfect truck for you.
 

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