I bought a M 106 Freightliner and fixed all these tow/haul issues. We pull a 44ft toy hauler with it. Not to mention the ability to go across country in comfort is a dream!
Just found your channel. Congrats on that awesome 5th wheel. It’s amazing how much things add up. In terms of removing stuff to get closer to your max weight it’s a viscous cycle that never ends. Soon as you pull something out you put something else back because you find you need it. And you have a lot of weight to remove. Best solution is a one ton. Good news is they’re not much more than 3/4 ton trucks. A single wheel will do the job. Dual wheels would obviously be better.
my truck is. 2106 f250, only difference I can find is leaf spring capacity between it and the 1 ton, plus I can’t see how ford only charged (back then) only 300 more for 800lbs more capacity
If I saw your trucks max payload sticker correctly, your truck’s max payload is 2662lbs. I come up with your payload with trailer at 3960 lbs. You are 1298 lbs over your allowed payload. Take your total truck scale weight of 8680lbs and subtract from your hitched front and rear axel weight of 12640 lbs. You need a Dudley. I have a F350 SWD 4x4 w/7.3 gas and the max payload is 3700lbs.
I pull a Solitude 280RK with a diesel Chevy 3500HD SRW longbed. My payload is 3700. I make weight with my setup, with about 500 lbs left over. My pin is 2700, and after wife, dog, etc, that's were my 500 lbs is. I believe my setup (with a GM), is about the most I could do, and stay SRW. My Solitude is the smallest one in the lineup, with the least pin weight. Longer ones, with more pin weight and GVW are in my opinion, DRW time. Also with Ford( I like them, previous truck) payload is reduced 2% for every 1,000 altitude, excluding the first 1,000. So payload goes down as you climb. You need a smaller trailer or a DRW.
Whoa! I definitely didn't know that about Ford! Dang, that must be why it felt worse in Denver. Always felt better on the East coast closer to sea level.
I went back and watched your truck video. Showing your DOT payload sticker at 2693 pounds.(no modification changes this value) Following the 15-20 % rule for fifth wheels why would you buy a trailer with at minimum 2700-2800 pounds pin weight. Hauling over your weight puts you at risk for insurance not covering anything as well as you being personally liable. There is no doubt about it to haul legally you need more truck. You posted your cat scale weights . Which also shows your way over the payload amount on the truck on steer and drive axle (front and rear). You should watch keep your daydreams payload video. To gather this knowledge ahead of time. Safe travels!
We've got a Solitude as well with a GVWR of 16,800 that I pull with a Lariat F-350 SRW. I did switch back to the 7.3 Godzilla from a diesel because I wanted to stay with a SRW, and because the diesel kills your payload capacity. I found that the 7.3 pulls the Solitude great!
We have a bumper pull 28 ft Winnebago. Dry weight 5500lb. I bought a 1 ton Silverado 18 months ago, which is worth more now than when I bought it, in anticipation of getting at 36ft 5th wheel in a few years when retirement comes. I hope to avoid your situation. Good luck. I hope you can come up with a solution.
We had a Ram 1500 and a GD XLS 22MLE. It was white knuckle from the start when it was practically empty. I was definitely under the trucks weight allowance but felt like the truck was getting bossed around by a camper ( a great excuse to upgrade to a Ram 2500) Now we’re looking at the GD 150 series fiver.
Well now if you upgraded to a F-450 or even a F-550, weight would not be an issue at all provided you don't go over 26,000-lbs GCWR. As you are pulling a house on wheels, fuel economy will be the least of your worries. As long as you're getting at least 10-mpg you are good. You need a truck with a powerful engine and heavier frame rails/axles/suspension that can take the weight and then some. As for axles and suspension on trailer, those can easily be upgraded to handle excess weight. Just get out that wallet and don't be shy.
How does your truck drive with the fifth wheel? Do you feel like you are white knuckling it or does the truck seem to handle it ok? Yes, a 1-ton and possibly a dually is needed but I am curious how it drives with it now.
Hey! Yeah, good question. Honestly never felt like I've been white knuckling it. The truck doesn't seem to have a problem at all - bumps and all. The truck actually feels more stable with this setup than it did with our 37' travel trailer & weight distribution hitch. Don't know why other than I think our 250 is a derated 350. The only time it's iffy is when there's a lot of wind or a really steep hill decline. But then the solution so far has always been to just slow down.
Good for you! I have to pull a GD Solitude 380FL from Chimacum Washington, to Boise Idaho, and I only have an F250 Super Duty with a 6.7L diesel engine. I haven't seen anyone else pulling a large RV with an F-250 but since you are doing so. It doesn't look like your truck is squatting much. How is it that your truck is able to support the hitch weight of such a large trailer? Are you using air bags, Timbrens, or super springs?
Hey! No we never modded the truck in any way. And honestly, in all of our travels across the country (a few times) it never felt unsure or unsafe. And that includes going over mountain passes. Always accelerated, turned, passed, and braked without any issues. I'm a pretty anxious person who's kind of worried a lot, and the truck literally proved me wrong every time. It's just the legality of it all that creates the pressure for me. I don't know how the truck could handle that much weight based on specs. That's why I felt compelled to make these videos.
I'm sure you've heard this a hundred times already, but you've got too much trailer and not enough truck. Even if you get the trailer weight down to what the Solitude brochure says, you are right at your truck's payload capacity before you add the wife, the dog and the hitch. You appear to have aprox 25% pin weight (trailer gross wt divided by pin wt). Only 25% of what you unload from the trailer will count towards reducing your pin weight, currently 1000# over payload capacity. I was in your shoes. I retired, already had a pick up then thought I'd try RV-ing full time. I bought the lightest, cheapest, used pull-trailer I thought I could live in, then ran overweight for two years. Somebody once told me, "If you get in a wreck, your Insurance Company will be your worst enemy." Never again. When I decided to go big, I bought the dually first (payload 5353#) then, short of a DRV, never had to glance at the spec sheet for a fifth wheel. I certainly do wish you all the best, I know you'll enjoy your decision. But there's still a few things to work out. Best of luck!!!
Thanks! I appreciate your story. I'm definitely on edge about the insurance stuff. One of the quickest things we're going to do is get a minivan for the rest of the family, which should lighten things up a lot. But yeah, we need a bigger truck regardless, asap.
You did the math wrong on hitch weight. It should be total truck weight (front and rear axles) - empty truck weight. If I did the math right hitch weight is 4730lbs (12640-8680). That is a lot of pin weight.
@@gotogethervlog Gas or Diesel? My friend has a 22 F350 Diesel 6'6 box SRW Payload is 3,300 . My 21 F250 gas has a 3,400 payload . Diesel really kills the payload . It's almost a guarantee a dually is needed with these huge 5th wheels . And who wants that for non towing driving . Good luck in your search . Got to be safe . 👍
@@gotogethervlog Go for the 7.3 Godzilla. I have a similar setup with a 16k Solitude and pull with a SRW F350. More payload (3980 lbs) and great job pulling. Is it as smooth pulling as a diesel, no, but it has a towing capacity of 20k lbs. and pulls the Solitude great.
I bought a M 106 Freightliner and fixed all these tow/haul issues. We pull a 44ft toy hauler with it. Not to mention the ability to go across country in comfort is a dream!
Nice!!
It’s time for a Duelly truck, I needed one for my GVWR of 16000
Just found your channel. Congrats on that awesome 5th wheel. It’s amazing how much things add up. In terms of removing stuff to get closer to your max weight it’s a viscous cycle that never ends. Soon as you pull something out you put something else back because you find you need it. And you have a lot of weight to remove. Best solution is a one ton. Good news is they’re not much more than 3/4 ton trucks. A single wheel will do the job. Dual wheels would obviously be better.
Agreed!
my truck is. 2106 f250, only difference I can find is leaf spring capacity between it and the 1 ton, plus I can’t see how ford only charged (back then) only 300 more for 800lbs more capacity
If I saw your trucks max payload sticker correctly, your truck’s max payload is 2662lbs. I come up with your payload with trailer at 3960 lbs. You are 1298 lbs over your allowed payload. Take your total truck scale weight of 8680lbs and subtract from your hitched front and rear axel weight of 12640 lbs. You need a Dudley. I have a F350 SWD 4x4 w/7.3 gas and the max payload is 3700lbs.
Agreed. That, or a much lighter camper.
I pull a Solitude 280RK with a diesel Chevy 3500HD SRW longbed. My payload is 3700. I make weight with my setup, with about 500 lbs left over. My pin is 2700, and after wife, dog, etc, that's were my 500 lbs is. I believe my setup (with a GM), is about the most I could do, and stay SRW. My Solitude is the smallest one in the lineup, with the least pin weight. Longer ones, with more pin weight and GVW are in my opinion, DRW time. Also with Ford( I like them, previous truck) payload is reduced 2% for every 1,000 altitude, excluding the first 1,000. So payload goes down as you climb. You need a smaller trailer or a DRW.
Whoa! I definitely didn't know that about Ford! Dang, that must be why it felt worse in Denver. Always felt better on the East coast closer to sea level.
I went back and watched your truck video. Showing your DOT payload sticker at 2693 pounds.(no modification changes this value) Following the 15-20 % rule for fifth wheels why would you buy a trailer with at minimum 2700-2800 pounds pin weight. Hauling over your weight puts you at risk for insurance not covering anything as well as you being personally liable. There is no doubt about it to haul legally you need more truck. You posted your cat scale weights . Which also shows your way over the payload amount on the truck on steer and drive axle (front and rear). You should watch keep your daydreams payload video. To gather this knowledge ahead of time. Safe travels!
Thanks! We're making changes as we speak. Many updates coming soon.
We've got a Solitude as well with a GVWR of 16,800 that I pull with a Lariat F-350 SRW. I did switch back to the 7.3 Godzilla from a diesel because I wanted to stay with a SRW, and because the diesel kills your payload capacity. I found that the 7.3 pulls the Solitude great!
3960 on pin 17620 in trailer pin weight is on whole truck not just rear axle look at your weight ticket again
We have a bumper pull 28 ft Winnebago. Dry weight 5500lb. I bought a 1 ton Silverado 18 months ago, which is worth more now than when I bought it, in anticipation of getting at 36ft 5th wheel in a few years when retirement comes. I hope to avoid your situation. Good luck. I hope you can come up with a solution.
Thanks! Working on it. Good thinking to have a truck that's ready for whatever comes next.
We had a Ram 1500 and a GD XLS 22MLE. It was white knuckle from the start when it was practically empty. I was definitely under the trucks weight allowance but felt like the truck was getting bossed around by a camper ( a great excuse to upgrade to a Ram 2500)
Now we’re looking at the GD 150 series fiver.
Yikes! Yeah, we're thinking about just getting a smaller camper instead of a one ton truck. We just really like our truck!
Well now if you upgraded to a F-450 or even a F-550, weight would not be an issue at all provided you don't go over 26,000-lbs GCWR. As you are pulling a house on wheels, fuel economy will be the least of your worries. As long as you're getting at least 10-mpg you are good. You need a truck with a powerful engine and heavier frame rails/axles/suspension that can take the weight and then some. As for axles and suspension on trailer, those can easily be upgraded to handle excess weight. Just get out that wallet and don't be shy.
Well said!
How does your truck drive with the fifth wheel? Do you feel like you are white knuckling it or does the truck seem to handle it ok? Yes, a 1-ton and possibly a dually is needed but I am curious how it drives with it now.
Hey! Yeah, good question. Honestly never felt like I've been white knuckling it. The truck doesn't seem to have a problem at all - bumps and all. The truck actually feels more stable with this setup than it did with our 37' travel trailer & weight distribution hitch. Don't know why other than I think our 250 is a derated 350. The only time it's iffy is when there's a lot of wind or a really steep hill decline. But then the solution so far has always been to just slow down.
Good for you! I have to pull a GD Solitude 380FL from Chimacum Washington, to Boise Idaho, and I only have an F250 Super Duty with a 6.7L diesel engine. I haven't seen anyone else pulling a large RV with an F-250 but since you are doing so. It doesn't look like your truck is squatting much. How is it that your truck is able to support the hitch weight of such a large trailer? Are you using air bags, Timbrens, or super springs?
Hey! No we never modded the truck in any way. And honestly, in all of our travels across the country (a few times) it never felt unsure or unsafe. And that includes going over mountain passes. Always accelerated, turned, passed, and braked without any issues. I'm a pretty anxious person who's kind of worried a lot, and the truck literally proved me wrong every time. It's just the legality of it all that creates the pressure for me. I don't know how the truck could handle that much weight based on specs. That's why I felt compelled to make these videos.
I'm sure you've heard this a hundred times already, but you've got too much trailer and not enough truck. Even if you get the trailer weight down to what the Solitude brochure says, you are right at your truck's payload capacity before you add the wife, the dog and the hitch. You appear to have aprox 25% pin weight (trailer gross wt divided by pin wt). Only 25% of what you unload from the trailer will count towards reducing your pin weight, currently 1000# over payload capacity.
I was in your shoes. I retired, already had a pick up then thought I'd try RV-ing full time. I bought the lightest, cheapest, used pull-trailer I thought I could live in, then ran overweight for two years. Somebody once told me, "If you get in a wreck, your Insurance Company will be your worst enemy." Never again. When I decided to go big, I bought the dually first (payload 5353#) then, short of a DRV, never had to glance at the spec sheet for a fifth wheel.
I certainly do wish you all the best, I know you'll enjoy your decision. But there's still a few things to work out. Best of luck!!!
Thanks! I appreciate your story. I'm definitely on edge about the insurance stuff. One of the quickest things we're going to do is get a minivan for the rest of the family, which should lighten things up a lot. But yeah, we need a bigger truck regardless, asap.
You did the math wrong on hitch weight. It should be total truck weight (front and rear axles) - empty truck weight. If I did the math right hitch weight is 4730lbs (12640-8680). That is a lot of pin weight.
Indeed. Too much.
What kind of truck are you getting ? Hard to believe you thought current truck was enough
Looking for a long bed F-350 SRW with enough rear GVWR. Some of them are rated for over 4k lbs back there.
@@gotogethervlog Gas or Diesel? My friend has a 22 F350 Diesel 6'6 box SRW Payload is 3,300 .
My 21 F250 gas has a 3,400 payload . Diesel really kills the payload . It's almost a guarantee a dually is needed with these huge 5th wheels . And who wants that for non towing driving . Good luck in your search . Got to be safe . 👍
@@kenj.8897 Ours is a diesel. So far I've been glad we have one of those but yeah it seems heavier. 3,400 lbs is a great payload in an F-250!
@@gotogethervlog Go for the 7.3 Godzilla. I have a similar setup with a 16k Solitude and pull with a SRW F350. More payload (3980 lbs) and great job pulling. Is it as smooth pulling as a diesel, no, but it has a towing capacity of 20k lbs. and pulls the Solitude great.
@@ScottJohnson80 Thank you for the tip! I wanted to ask someone about what they think of the 7.3. They're cheaper to buy, too...
Get a bigger truck
It’s not just the truck. His camper is over the weight of Gvwr as well. His truck is big enough if the Gvwr of the camper was closer to the 16,800 lb.