First time Super Duty towing advice

[McHaggis12]

I just purchased my first SD truck...2021 F-250 Tremor/6.7L.....she’s a beauty!
I’ve owned a few F-150’s in the past and done some light towing (travel trailer, jet ski’s, boat, etc) but I wanted to step up to the Super Duty because the wife and I were looking at buying a 5th wheel.
I’m looking for any advice on what I should be looking at as far as towing upgrades. Should I be looking at putting in an airbag system, tuner/programmer, larger pan for the transmission, aftermarket exhaust/intake etc? I got the high capacity trailer tow pkg, which I’m assuming is just the upgraded trailer hitch and receiver, which won’t help much with a 5th wheel.
I know that 5th wheels come in all shapes, sizes and weights, but being a novice to this world, what can I reasonably expect to tow (safely) with my Tremor as it sits now? I know there are a lot of towing related posts on here where words like “limits” “safety” and “max capacity” are merely relative suggestions, but I’m looking for some good solid advice. Thanks.

 

[Greg_S]

your 5th wheel choice will get you the right direction. If you have a unit in mind with specs you'll get specific experience comments.
Congrats on the Tremor!

 

[jrisalvato]

All Tremor's come with the high capacity trailer tow package. Yes it's an upgraded trailer hitch receiver (3" instead of 2") and the hitch itself is rated for 21,000lbs, but the truck is only rated to bumper pull 15,000lbs. The tow package also gives you the upgraded rear springs, same as the F-350. What will limit you on your truck with a 5th wheel is the total payload of your truck. I have a 6.7 Tremor and my max payload is 2700lbs. With a 7.3. you get over 3,000lbs payload (gas engine weighs less).

According to the Ford towing guide, your max towing for conventional towing (bumper pull) is 15,000lbs. For 5th wheel/gooseneck it's 18,100lbs. Honestly, those numbers don't matter too much, it's the payload capacity that's your limiting factor. I have a 32' TT that "only" weighs 8,600lbs fully loaded, but it puts 1,250lbs tongue weight onto the truck. That means I have 1,450lbs of payload left in the truck (passengers, fuel, gear, etc.). That's plenty of head room. But a lot of 5th wheels put about 20% of their weight on the pin. For example, my dad has a 46' 5th wheel that has a gross vehicle rating of 14,400lbs. That means it's transferring about 2,880lbs to the truck. Immediately I'm over the payload capacity of my truck and that's before any passengers or fuel. So according to that sticker on your door jam and the law, you're not safely or legally towing so there could be consequences (technically). Could a 250 safely tow that? Absolutely, but with our trucks (Tremors) you're limited by what's printed on that sticker. Even though the F-250 Tremor has the same rear end as an F-350 w/Tremor package, they rate them differently.

Oddly, an F-350 Tremor and F-250 Tremor have the same bumper pull capacities (15,000lbs) but different for 5th wheel/gooseneck trailers (250/18,100lbs - 350/21,900lnbs).

I think the differences are also to get by some states laws. Some states require a special license to drive vehicles over a certain GVWR, which automatically puts an F-350 into that category. If they rated an F-250 Tremor & F-350 the same (because they have the same rear-end components) then the F-250 would be in the higher GVWR category and you may have to get a CDL depending on which state you live in.

 

[Loshad]

Do yer homework:

Fifth Wheel Towing Weight Calculator - Interactive! - Changing Gears

Fifth wheel towing weight calculator by Changing Gears (since 2005)

changingears.com

You're welcome!

 

[PapaRaptor]

My Tremor tows heavy trailers perfect right off the shelf.

I just added the yellow Sumo bags to the rear springs as it did squat a bit. But it never really bothered me.

I think as far as upgrades to look at. BRAKES, stock are fine but they are dust makers, Look at a pad and or rotor upgrade if you are going over the road long trips and in the Mountains.

 

[Loshad]

With the Jake brake who needs regular brakes?

 

[Baja Medic]

Airbags are a must.

 

[optx002]

There are lot of things you can add to your truck to improve the experience, but the stock 6.7 is plenty capable of hauling a 5th wheel within GVWR as is. The truck has a rake so that when you add the 5th wheel it will be somewhat level. I would recommend towing it once you get a 5th wheel and then looking at upgrades. Unless you just want to add everything from the catalog then go for it. I prefer to go for a test run, then upgrade as necessary. The 5th wheel you get will also need to go for a few trips to work out the kinks. If you take it out for a test run and take it back to the shop to get things worked out, you can upgrade your truck during that time.

 

[Apparition]

Airbags are a must.

Airbags have a purpose, they don't always do what people think they do.

 

[jrisalvato]

Airbags have a purpose, they don't always do what people thing they do.

Agreed. It's a stretch to say the that airbags are "a must".

 

[TimmyTheKid17]

My Tremor tows heavy trailers perfect right off the shelf.

I just added the yellow Sumo bags to the rear springs as it did squat a bit. But it never really bothered me.

I think as far as upgrades to look at. BRAKES, stock are fine but they are dust makers, Look at a pad and or rotor upgrade if you are going over the road long trips and in the Mountains.

Do you find that the sumo’s help with ride smoothness when not towing? The stock shocks are pretty stiff for an off road vehicle, which I understand is by design to keep the towing and payload capacity up. But when you hit a bump you definetely feel it...pretty stiff. Wondering if the sumo’s absord those bumbs a bit and make for an overall smoother ride or if that is just marketing bs by manufacturers?

 

[jrisalvato]

Do you find that the sumo’s help with ride smoothness when not towing? The stock shocks are pretty stiff for an off road vehicle, which I understand is by design to keep the towing and payload capacity up. But when you hit a bump you definetely feel it...pretty stiff. Wondering if the sumo’s absord those bumbs a bit and make for an overall smoother ride or if that is just marketing bs by manufacturers?

This helps a little bit, but when not towing I reduce my rear tires to 60 PSI down from 80 PSI for towing. I can definitely feel a difference on the road and off-road.

I don't think the Sumo's would have any affect on the truck when not towing.

 

[Baja Medic]

Airbags have a purpose, they don't always do what people think they do.

They do exactly what is needed. They provided a level ride. Ford has significantly lowered the spring rate on the trucks. My 2006 F350 could handle much more weight than my 17 both being CCLB trucks. I tow a 5th wheel, my jeep and my raptor and it just simply sags the truck too much. There are few things more sketchy than seen a vehicle overloading the rear end so the frame on damn near touching the axles. Airbags level the load on the tow vehicle. Another thing is just road nuisance with your headlight pointing so high. I have had timbrens for towing as well as long travel airbags for my high speed diesels but as far as having the vehicle tow ready airbags cannot be beat.

 

[Apparition]

They do exactly what is needed. They provided a level ride. Ford has significantly lowered the spring rate on the trucks. My 2006 F350 could handle much more weight than my 17 both being CCLB trucks. I tow a 5th wheel, my jeep and my raptor and it just simply sags the truck too much. There are few things more sketchy than seen a vehicle overloading the rear end so the frame on damn near touching the axles. Airbags level the load on the tow vehicle. Another thing is just road nuisance with your headlight pointing so high. I have had timbrens for towing as well as long travel airbags for my high speed diesels but as far as having the vehicle tow ready airbags cannot be beat.

And they can make your front end light when pulling a TT, WDH would be better in that instance.

 

[PapaRaptor]

Do you find that the sumo’s help with ride smoothness when not towing? The stock shocks are pretty stiff for an off road vehicle, which I understand is by design to keep the towing and payload capacity up. But when you hit a bump you definetely feel it...pretty stiff. Wondering if the sumo’s absord those bumbs a bit and make for an overall smoother ride or if that is just marketing bs by manufacturers?

You get several different washers with the Sumos so you can set them Tight when empty or "not engaged" when empty so its a matter of preference. I used the large and small washers on each side. Kept one of the small ones out. So its not in contact until there is some compression.

 

[McHaggis12]

There are lot of things you can add to your truck to improve the experience, but the stock 6.7 is plenty capable of hauling a 5th wheel within GVWR as is. The truck has a rake so that when you add the 5th wheel it will be somewhat level. I would recommend towing it once you get a 5th wheel and then looking at upgrades. Unless you just want to add everything from the catalog then go for it. I prefer to go for a test run, then upgrade as necessary. The 5th wheel you get will also need to go for a few trips to work out the kinks. If you take it out for a test run and take it back to the shop to get things worked out, you can upgrade your truck during that time.

Great advice....thank you??

 

[davidb1841]

If you buy a Grand Design Half ton towable Reflection 5th Wheel...your truck will likely be legal....Only the biggest 1: the 295rl will be close...but its doable..... Bigger longer and heavier 5th wheels are probably a no go unless you have the 350.....