F-350 Towing Capacity

guido · Mar 3, 2010

Hello,
I have a question on the max towing capability of a F-350. I need a to know the safe max load, it is a 5Th wheel type towing hitch.
It is a 4wheel drive, not a duelly, with the 7.3 V/8 diesel rated at 300 H.P.
The rear ratio i think is 3.73.
Axle code for the rear is D1 and the tag on the rear housing # L7310-5LU8.
Any help will be appreciated.
Guido.

Case e · Mar 3, 2010

I have an f150 4x4 with a 300 and a 5 speed and can pull a 22' goose neck stock trailer and a 27' fifth wheel camper, so the sky is the limit!

Case e · Mar 3, 2010

I have an f150 4x4 with a 300 and a 5 speed and can pull a 22' goose neck stock trailer and a 27' fifth wheel camper, so the sky is the limit!

JDemaris · Mar 3, 2010

Safe limit is around 12,000 lbs. for the loaded trailer. My F250 turbo-diesel with 4.10 axles works hard enough on flat highways with a load like that, and really struggles up hills.

Dual-wheel F350 trucks often have GCVWR of 20,000 lbs. So, if the truck weighs 6000, there's 14,000 lbs. allowed for the loaded trailer.

That all being said, there are lots of F250s and F350s around pulling 15,000 lb. trailers - legal or not.

cjd12000 · Mar 3, 2010

An 05 ford (for example) srw 350 deisel has a gcwr of 23000 lbs with 3.73 gears and a max 5th wheel or goose neck trailer weight of 17000 lbs.
Max tongue weight of 1250 lbs. The srw can tow more than a drw but has to have less on the tongue. Here is a link with specs
http://www.fordf150.net/specs/05sd_specs.pdf

mkirsch · Mar 3, 2010

I agree with 12,000lbs as a rough estimate.

That's what you can COMFORTABLY tow with a reasonably well-maintained F-350 single-rear-wheel.

Safe is an entirely different discussion, and has nothing to do with weight. IMHO, your truck could SAFELY tow 15,000lbs. You just won't be happy driving it.

Gun guru · Mar 3, 2010

You have to worry about the POS transmission (automatic) that will blow out when you pull that much weight.

The Zed F 5 speed manual would likely work better.

guido · Mar 3, 2010

Hello,
Thanks for the replies.
The truck weights about 10.000 i was told, it sounds high to me. I thought that 20.000Lb. gross would be the limit. Tongue weight i don't know what it is. It is a 2001
Ford salesman and parts man no help.
Guido.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 3, 2010

The sky is the limit, I know this guy is asking for trouble but he's hauling loads like this all the time.
HE has over 300,000 with 2nd transmission.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 3, 2010

Sorry guess I havn't fiqured out how to post a picture.

CLTX · Mar 3, 2010

It might depend on the year. My 2001 7.3 Owner's Guide Supplement lists max CGWR at 20,000# and max conventional /class IV trailer wt. at 10,000# for all F-250 and F-350 series whether single RW or duel RW, with 3.73 or 4.10 axle ratio. Later models may be different. ("Fifth wheel trailer maximum weights can be calculated by subtraction the GVW from the GCWR"). I have had no trouble with the automatic transmission, whatsoever. My 5th wheel RV weighs close to 12,000 when fully loaded.

JDemaris · Mar 3, 2010

Somebody is telling you stories.

2001 F350 disel 4X4 with standard cab and single wheels weighs 5450 lbs.

If only 2WD it weighs 4970 lbs.

If extended cab with 4X4 it weighs 6000 lbs.

Nancy Howell · Mar 3, 2010

Why would a single rear wheel be able to pull more than a dually?

Guido. · Mar 3, 2010

Hello Jdemaris
Like a said 10.000Lb sounded high to me.
I'll see the fellow Friday and will check this out.Thanks for confirming my suspition
Guido.

Guido. · Mar 3, 2010

Hello CLTX,
That is the info i was looking for!.
This is a 2001 F350, and my guess was 20.000 gross. Guess I was right.I'll get to look at the truck Friday, and we will put on a scale. No guess work.
He is going to an RV show that was why he asked me what the next size trailer this thin can pull. I told them 20.000 Lb. gross Just like your manual says.
Guido.

JDemaris · Mar 3, 2010

By the way, don't be too afraid of the auto-transmission IF it's in good shape. Even the older and first E40Ds could last 80K-100K miles with heavy use if cared for. Weak link was the lock-up converters with single-disks and one weak center-bearing support. I redid my 94 turbo-diesel 7.3 F250, put in a dual-disk converter, a few updates and a huge cooler and put 120K miles on it since with zero problems. The newer models have been beefed up. But, if it has high miles from towing and is still original - it can wind up being a $3000 plus repair. So, I advise you check out the transmission history closely. Use it heavy and sure no fault-lights come on when it gets hot.

guido · Mar 3, 2010

Hello jdemaris,
I'll have to take a look at the dip stick when i see him next Friday.
The truck is in A-1 shape. If he buys a big trailer we may add a cooler for the tranny.
The trailer he has now is 7500 Lb. loaded with a fifth wheel type hitch.I'm guessing the gross weight 13 to 14 thousand. He's got plenty capacity left, if he wants to go bigger.
Thanks............Guido.

CLTX · Mar 3, 2010

Glad I had the info handy for you. Hope it helps. C.L.

CLTX · Mar 3, 2010

My manual shows them equal. C.L.

CLTX · Mar 3, 2010

Should read subtracting rather than subtraction.

Doug in IL · Mar 3, 2010

Ford has had some very silly ways of rating trucks for many years. I remember back in the eighties, they rated identical trucks at about 1/3 of the towing capacity with a manual transmission vs. the automatic. Remember there is nothing "legal" about those tow ratings anyway. They are merely ratings used for the warranty. Some trucks even used to say that right on the identification plate. "Warranty is void if indicated weight is exceeded". In this case, the single wheel is "rated" for more because the truck itself weighs less. Thus allowing more of the GVCW to be applied to the payload. This is often seen with 2 wheel vs. 4 wheel drive also. Because the 4 wheel itself weighs more, the 2 wheel drive is rated higher. The main thing to remeber is GVCR is pretty meaningless.

Mike M · Mar 3, 2010

Probabaly a real good thing there wasn't a scale handy when I was hauling some tractors home with the 81' F350 2wd dually dump 20+5 tandem dual gooseneck trailer with a JD70 diesel with fluid in rears and a JD620 not sure about fluid ? both on the trailer.

Doug in IL · Mar 3, 2010

GCWR! sorry!

CLTX · Mar 3, 2010

My fifth wheel puts about 1500 lbs on the truck, according to the book. I've never weighed it. I probably should.

guido · Mar 3, 2010

Hello CLTX
Right on target, but the truck is not here.
Friday i will get to the bottom. It maybe registered for 10.000Lb, but jdemaris said it
weihgs 6000.Lb thats more like the true weight.
Guido.

guido · Mar 3, 2010

Hello mkirsch,
What i meant to say was, what is the rated OEM recommended max gross weight capacity.
Or carry the load safely, but that is the same thing to me. I guess my brain misfired again, twice today! it's getting to be a habit GRRRRRR!.
Guido.

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