Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Considering GD 280RS - need a math check please

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Considering GD 280RS - need a math check please


    Appreciate a math check and then comments on my potential purchase please. Called the local Ford dealer, they can't validate anything. Called Ford corporate, never called me back.

    Have a 2017 F250 crew 6 3/4 box 4x4 w/ 6.7 diesel/ 3.55 rear, trailer prep. No fifth wheel hitch yet. Friend and dealer recommended B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Dual Jaw - 18,000 lbs but I need to do more research on hitches, thoughts appreciated here too.

    I'm considering the 2023 GD Reflection 150 Series 280RS. Would be first RV.

    Truck info: GVWR 10,000 lbs / Payload 2,213 (both on sticker) leaves curb wt 7,787
    Trailer: GVWR 10,995 / factory wt 8,566 leaves cargo 2,429 hitch pin wt 1,384

    GCWR is 20,995 (10,000 + 10,995). If I read the '17 Ford tow guide right I don't see that number but at a GCWR of 22,500 the max load trailer is 14,700. I think that is all right. Now when I get to the truck:

    GVWR 10,000 - curb 7,787 = 2,213 payload - (assume actual weight of hitch) 270 - pin wt 1,384 leaves 550 for payload of dog, sometimes friends and stuff in the truck bed. Does that look like my calcs are right?

    I like this model, quality, features and layout for now and the future, so just looking for experienced thoughts on these calcs (and this model appreciated)

    Also exploring 1 ton truck options as I like some of the towing and safety features on newer models, but might not be feasible given prices, interest rates, etc. I don't want two loans either

    Appreciate constructive comments, thanks for the help and enjoying the forum - very informative!
    ​
    Tags: 280rs, ford f250, towing, weight, weight limit
  • #2
    Good morning from snowy Tucson Arizona, and welcome to the forum.

    Kudos to you for doing your homework before the purchase. Unfortunately, I see a common misconception in your math. You are using the 1,384 pound pin weight from the GDRV website for the 280RS. This published pin weight is for a completely empty RV. A more realistic number to use is 20-22% of the RV's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The GVWR of the 280RS is 10,995. 20% of the GVWR is 2,199 pounds. So you'd actually be carrying (2,199 - 1,384) 815 more pounds of pin weight than the published numbers when your trailer is fully loaded. If you load heavy on the front, the pin weight will be even higher. At 22% of GVWR, it will come in at 2,419 pounds.

    Here's another option to consider. The 280RS floorplan is almost identical to the 297RSTS Reflection travel trailer. That's the model I own. If you were to purchase the TT vs. the FW, you'd have a loaded tongue weight of 1,200 to 1,300 pounds. And your numbers would work better with that model.

    Jim
    Jim and Ginnie
    2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
    GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
    GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

    Comment

    • #3
      I have a Reflection 29RS, discontinued model replaced by the 280RS. I have consistently seen pin weight of #2000 and have been on the scales a few times. I think you will be right at or probably over on your weights. I like the "1 ton thinking" as it has worked out good for us.

      Brian
      Brian & Michelle
      2018 Reflection 29RS
      2022 Chevy 3500HD
      • Likes 1

      Comment

      • #4
        PRINCR -- I agree with Jim's comments. While not a perfect method, I use the worst-case scenario to determine a truck's capability to carry a given trailer.

        http://towingplanner.com/Estimators/...onguePinWeight is an easy to use website for this purpose. Enter in the GVWR of the trailer and then select the tongue/pin weight percentage. If the numbers work with your truck at the 25% pin setting, this meets what I call the "worst case scenario", or maybe a better way to write it is max out the trailer's carrying capacity (CCC). For me and my DW that wasn't hard to do in our 315RLTS--there's way more drawer and cabinet space than CCC.
        Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

        2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by TucsonJim View Post
          Good morning from snowy Tucson Arizona, and welcome to the forum.

          Kudos to you for doing your homework before the purchase. Unfortunately, I see a common misconception in your math. You are using the 1,384 pound pin weight from the GDRV website for the 280RS. This published pin weight is for a completely empty RV. A more realistic number to use is 20-22% of the RV's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The GVWR of the 280RS is 10,995. 20% of the GVWR is 2,199 pounds. So you'd actually be carrying (2,199 - 1,384) 815 more pounds of pin weight than the published numbers when your trailer is fully loaded. If you load heavy on the front, the pin weight will be even higher. At 22% of GVWR, it will come in at 2,419 pounds.

          Here's another option to consider. The 280RS floorplan is almost identical to the 297RSTS Reflection travel trailer. That's the model I own. If you were to purchase the TT vs. the FW, you'd have a loaded tongue weight of 1,200 to 1,300 pounds. And your numbers would work better with that model.

          Jim
          Thanks for the info, I will check out that other model too.

          Comment

          • #6
            PRINCR It looks like your GCVWR is between 21,900 and 22,500. 5th wheel gooseneck rating is between 14,100 and 14,700 depending on what your trucks GCVWR is. for conventional towing you have between 14,100 and 15,000 depending on what your trucks GCVWR is. You're all within spec. It looks like payload will be the limiting factor which validates your concern.

            I have found that, as others have already stated, the published pin weight/tongue weight is very different than actual pin/tongue weight. For example, my current trailers published tongue weight is 920#. The actual tongue weight varies between 1150 and 1280# (depending on trip and how we load it). That is a 30% difference. if the 280RS pin is 30% higher than published you're sitting at about 1700-1800#, but I think Brian is probably right, you will see closer to 2000#.

            The payload on my truck is 3166# (GVWR is 10800#) and we pull a travel trailer. When fully loaded for an extended trip, we have about 400# payload to spare. That means the truck is sitting at about 10400# with a bumper pull.

            Hope this helps.
            Allen

            2021 Momentum 21G

            Comment

            Previous template Next
            Working...
            X