Triplethreat -- sorry, when I copied this post due to its age it inserted before your reply. Didn't mean to "bump" you. -Howard

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Tony,
Below is a collection of information pertinent to your question. You are not the first to be confused so don't feel bad. I messed it up so bad I went through two trucks before I got it right. Don't make that same mistake!

Hope the info below helps.

-Howard

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IMPORTANT PLANNING INFORMATION
The hitch (or pin) weights on Grand Design RVs as listed on their we**ite (under Specifications) is usually less than what you'll experience in the real-world. The UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) is usually less, too.

For planning purposes, use 15% of a bumper-pull trailer's GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) as a worst-case scenario for hitch weight. For a 5th Wheel use 25% to determine worst-case pin weight. (These numbers are from the towingplanner.com we**ite referenced below.) The actual weight of your trailer's hitch or pin will probably be less, but if your truck can handle the worst-case scenario everything else on your tow vehicle should be within specifications (but always double-check).

VIDEOS
Keep Your Daydream's video on the topic (link originally provided by GDRV-Emily )



From the RV Safety we**ite: https://rvacademy.com/my-class/match...ks-to-trailers

The first 12 minutes of this video by Changing Lanes! on Youtube is recommended for those considering a 5th Wheel



WE**ITES
http://towingplanner.com/

https://www.huskytow.com/towing-calculator/

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-tow-vehicle-sizing.shtml

https://catscale.com/ All you ever wanted to know about CAT scales

www.fifthwheelst.com This we**ite has a lot of information. There are many references to the app RV Tow Check (not free).

CALCULATORS
The attached worksheet from Ford shows how to determine what you need.
Ford Towing Capability Calculator.pdf

Keep Your Daydream's spreadsheet: http://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/

APPS
https://rvtowcheck.com/ (This is not free.)

HITCH RATINGS: See post https://gdrvowners.com/forum/referen...-hitch-ratings

Hi Tony,

All of the above is absolutely correct, but is based on conservative thinking with some "traditional" assumptions. Agreed that some folks will load their 5th wheel to GVWR and the traditional weight balance puts up to 25% of this weight on the pin.

First of all . . . how does Ford get to 13,200 towing capacity for an F150? All truck manufacturers assume that a trailer has 10% of its weight on the tongue. The limit of the Class IV hitch receiver on the F150 is about 1300 lbs. This is 10% of 13,000 lbs . . . so that is where that number comes from.

Truck manufacturers also assume that a 5th wheel trailer will have 15% of its weight on the pin. There is data out there that shows that a trailer with less than 10% of its weight on the pin becomes unstable. I have never seen any data to show that a 5th wheel with 15% of its weight on the pin is unstable. For the 240RL that you are asking about, the dry pin weight is 16.5%. (1272/7691). I have seen reports that a modestly loaded Reflection 150 Series comes in at about 18% pin weight.

Now back to your question. Ford can build the truck you describe with the HDPP (Heavy Duty Payload Package) option . . . but very few dealers will stock a truck like this. This is not to be confused with the Max Tow package which is often stocked by dealers and includes the hitch receiver, trailer brake controller and a few other options. The HDPP option includes heavier suspension, a 3.73 axle ratio and LT tires. Many dealers don't seem to even know about HDPP . . . although it is described in the F150 sales brochure! (I have had to point this out to more than one dealer) The HDPP will have a payload in the 2500 lb range which puts this truck well within reach of towing the 240RL.

On the Grand Design we**ite, you will find a link to the launch video for the 150 Series. Bottom of the Gallery page. http://www.granddesignrv.com/showroo...oorplans/240rl

Rob

Tony, you're falling into the newbie trap of looking at tow capacity and not payload. As Cate&Rob and Triplethreat said, it's your payload that you need to look at. Unless you have the HDPP package I'll guess you have a payload of 1800# or so, and a 3800# rear axle rating. By the time you add a hitch, family, and camping gear my guess is you'll be overweight on the rear axle, payload, or both. My F150 was 200# over on the rear axle and gross weight towing our Imagine 2650 and it was just my wife & I in a supercab. A new F150 with the aluminum body might have worked but it still had a light axle and the gross weight went down by 400# compared to my old steel body truck. So in the end I took the leap and went with a F250 for the new truck.

Be careful when looking at only towing capacity. It can get out of control quickly.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/12...-semi-trailer/

Jim