Don
While I don't have a trailer nearly that big I LOVE my 2022 SRW F350 CC long bed. Yes I did have a DEF injector failure at about 8K miles, but the truck is great to drive and the replacement DEF injector appear to have cured the problem,
Two questions - what rear end ration does the truck have - I recommend the 3.55. Does it have the camper package that includes the sway bar? If not get it added. The Ford unit is good. I am having it added to mine. I assume your looking at the 6.7 with the 10 speed.. The other question the GVW should be 12400 - sticker on the door.

Get a picture of whats included the door stickers and post so we have all the facts.

Hope this helps
Keith

If you use the GVWR of the trailer, and figure 20-22% pin weight, that would be 3,000 - 3,300 lbs of pin weight. You most likely will be less, but it is best to use worse case. With a 4,000+ lb payload, can you keep the truck under that 700 - 1,000 lbs left (passengers/hitch/tools..etc). With the long bed, you can have a heavy hitch at 200+ lbs, use something like the Andersen AUH at under 60 lbs., or convert to a gooseneck which will roughly add 150 lbs. As you may already know, with a long bed, you do not need a sliding hitch.

End result, I think you will be good. I am currently towing my trailer at 14,800 lbs with my truck, that has a 3,750 payload and 11,800 lb GVWR, and I am within all numbers (CAT scale). I also am trying to stay away from a dually.

The brochure numbers GD gives on the pin (like everyone else) is for an unloaded, no battery, no propane, no what ever else they can unload trailer. Not something you will ever see.

Real CAT Scale numbers 2022 280RK and 16 RAM Diesel Dually 4 door long bed

truck only steer 5240 drive 3880 trailer axle N/A gross 9120

truck and 5er 5260 7220 10580 23060

Loaded truck steer + drive=12480# Im good to 14K

so pin = truck drive loaded - truck drive empty

7220- 3880 = 3340

weighed 10/10 at CAT scales Flying J Ft. Chiswell Va.

Wow--3340 is heavy based on the advertised 2044 lbs hitch weight on GD's website. 3,000 lbs represents 20% of the 15K GVWR (specs per https://www.granddesignrv.com/showro...-280rk-r#specs )

This is a classic example of why using the worst case scenario is, IMHO, the way to plan for a tow vehicle when shopping for an RV. (Not always a hard-and-fast rule, but is a good number to know if the RV and tow vehicle are a good match.)

Bottom line: you should be glad you have a DRW!

Howard

Kennymac:

I am looking at purchasing a 280RK R and see the 2044Lb pin weight seems a tad low compared to your actual weight. So, I contacted Grand Design (they are great btw) and gave them several VIN #s of a number of 280RK’s with and without a residential fridge… ALL of them were between 2500Lbs and 2600Lbs. Yours came in at 3340. Can you please let me know what do you have in it to add 800Lbs? (Full LP tanks, Washer/Dryer, Generator, Full closets…)?

Thanks,

There is a paper that GD send with each unit showing the actual weight when it came off of the assembly line, this will include pin weight on fifth wheels and tongue weight on TT's. These weights do not include the items you noted, propane, washer/dryer, battery/batteries. If you order with a generator this weight will be on that sheet as it is factory installed. Anything installed after the factory weight will be added weight. What lots of owners have found best for calculating pin weight is using the gross weight that the RV can weigh, then take 20% of that for pin weight. This will get you pretty close to an actual pin weight.

I am not answering for kennymac but that member has not been on since November of last year, hopefully they will come along with some input.

Brian

Country Campers Thanks for replying. None of the 280RK’s I looked at had generators. Generator should not add 300 Lbs…. I would think.

Assuming that kennymac has a 20% pin weight of max GVWR, his hitch should have been south of 3000lbs (GVWR for the 280RK is 15000Lbs). So either he has a lot of weight in the front (i.e. a generator ,lots of tools etc…) making the hitch weight something north of 22% or he is way overweight.

Some thinking out loud:
The Washer/Dryer (if so equipped) is right in front of the axles so their contribution a small fraction of the ~210 Lbs of their typical weight.
Full LP tanks only add 60 Lbs…. Assuming 100% of the LP tank weight makes it to the pin.
The 53 gallon grey and 53 gallon black tanks are right in front of the axles (the 53 gallon galley tank is behind the axles). At 8.34 Lbs per gallon of water I get a max weight right in front of the axles of 884 Lbs… assuming 30% of that makes it to the pin (most likely less) we get 265Lbs. With both the grey and black tanks FULL.

With no W/D combo, the total possible pin weight starting with a 2586Lb pin weight empty (heaviest of all the 280RKs I looked at) I get:

UVW Pin 2586
LP gas. 60
Grey+Blk. 265

Total without clothes / linens etc. = 2911

This neglects anything in the galley tank or any cooking utensils (pots, pans…) or food. All of which is against the back wall so it should subtract from the pin weight proportionately.

So another 400lbs of pin weight (3340) seems a tad high. My clothes don’t weigh that much…

Just thinkin’ out loud.

David,
Future GD Owner ;-)
Ford F 350 Platinum CC SB SRW 6.7 Diesel 11500 GVWR

The weight adds up quick, I could easily see 400 pounds on top of what you have listed. Keep in mind the propane tanks are 30 pounds net each. The tank plus propane weight is close to 70 pounds each I think. Also batteries, and as you suggest whatever you add. I would not be at all surprised if that rig ends up north of 3000 pound pin weight. Common practice is to plan for 25% of the GVWR in pin weight planning. That puts it at 3,750 worst case.

The 20% is just for reference, I have seen some use 25%. The other factor is making sure not to go over the 15,000# or even over load one tire position. It is amazing how fast adding "things" will add weight. It is good that you are looking at all of this and asking questions.

Brian

x2 on “the weight adds up quickly” . . . and most of the trailer storage is forward of the axles. I realize that you are looking at a rear kitchen model which will keep some of the weight of carried items to the rear. When we got our 5th wheel and were towing it with a truck running close to its limits, I weighed everything going into the trailer, item by item on a bathroom scale. We got past 700 lbs before we even got to the pantry and fridge!

Rob

As Rob stated, it's very easy to put a lot of stuff in there. Just my guesses but: the main power cord is probably 30 lbs, one 50' water hose - 10 lbs, 2 lawn chairs - 30 lbs, road reflectors 5 lbs, etc. Plus every basket load of clothes, towels, and toiletry items is another 30 lb or so (lets' just be nice and say 3 or 100 lbs).

Each and every thing you take across a barrier of the exterior wall of the camper adds up. Most of which easily get taken for granted. I probably have 500 lbs of stuff that just STAYS PUT. items like: 2 water hoses, water filter(s), Softener, Jack, Water Pump, Maceration pump, chairs, BBQ pit, Charcoal, Air compressor and misc tools, ground rug for door, etc.

15% is sketchy, 20% realistic and 25% more likely. Under 15% and you MAY have issues with the trailer wagging the truck. Also the lighter the pin on the trailer, the more likely you are to have issues with things like steering and stopping.

Thanks everyone. That is a lot of good advice. It is better to go large on the truck than try to just make it…. I am just not fond of a dually. I will just have to get over it :-(.

Thanks again.

David