Please help confirm Towability: 321RSTS

[De1taE1even]

Hello everyone,

We're very excited about an upcoming fifth wheel purchase. We've narrowed down what we want, and one model we really like is the 321RSTS. It is, however, just a bit longer/heavier than most the other models we're looking at. So I'd love some insight from folks on this forum, just in case there's anything I haven't thought of.

Here is my tow vehicle info:
2024 F250 short bed 7.3 gasser
Payload: 3574
GVWR: 10500
Rear GAWR: 6340

Even at max GVWR of the fifth wheel (12900) with an assumed 23% hitch distro, I'm looking at just shy of 3000 pin weight. That plus truck cargo and passengers, I'd be getting close to my payload, but these numbers seem ok to me. My priority is obviously the safety, but also a relatively stress free travel day (by towing standards, at least).

I'm coming from a 31ft bumper pull toy hauler at about 11k lbs with crappy hitch distribution, and that experience stinks. I'm very much looking forward to a fifth wheel with correct hitch weight.

Please let me know if there is anything I'm not considering. Thank you!

[CAG]

Originally Posted by De1taE1even

Hello everyone,

We're very excited about an upcoming fifth wheel purchase. We've narrowed down what we want, and one model we really like is the 321RSTS. It is, however, just a bit longer/heavier than most the other models we're looking at. So I'd love some insight from folks on this forum, just in case there's anything I haven't thought of.

Here is my tow vehicle info:
2024 F250 short bed 7.3 gasser
Payload: 3574
GVWR: 10500
Rear GAWR: 6340

Even at max GVWR of the fifth wheel (12900) with an assumed 23% hitch distro, I'm looking at just shy of 3000 pin weight. That plus truck cargo and passengers, I'd be getting close to my payload, but these numbers seem ok to me. My priority is obviously the safety, but also a relatively stress free travel day (by towing standards, at least).

I'm coming from a 31ft bumper pull toy hauler at about 11k lbs with crappy hitch distribution, and that experience stinks. I'm very much looking forward to a fifth wheel with correct hitch weight.

Please let me know if there is anything I'm not considering. Thank you!

There is a lot of very expert advice here but there are much better places to get the correct advice.

There are multiple calculators on line and "Can I Tow This" is one of them. Be sure you are correct because it can get ugly with weight issues if you are not.


https://canitowthis.com/

[De1taE1even]

Originally Posted by CAG

There is a lot of very expert advice here but there are much better places to get the correct advice.

There are multiple calculators on line and "Can I Tow This" is one of them. Be sure you are correct because it can get ugly with weight issues if you are not.


https://canitowthis.com/

Thanks. I know there are many calculators out there. By all calculations, my numbers are within spec. The purpose of this thread is more about anything "outside the numbers" that I might not be thinking of, coming from jayco owners.

[cariboocreek]

The only way to know for sure is to run it over a scale. Other than that, your unit will “balloon” in size in very short order. Throw a generator in the box, a few bikes, a couple of unplanned passengers in the truck, extra stuff in the basement, and poof you are overweight. Are you within your axle ratings, your tire/wheel ratings, and do you know exactly what your truck weighs? Carrying water in the tank?

[camjam]

As long as you are within specs I wouldn't worry about it. I'd just be careful not to over load it. I pulled your fifthwheels twin, a 317RLOK with a GMC 2500 with no problems at all. I now have a GMC 3500 SRW and can't tell the difference. I bet a lot more people pull that 5th wheel with a 2500 than a 3500.

[Camp CA]

Go to this link and enter your VIN to find payload, towing capacity. etc:https://www.ford.ca/support/towing-calculator.

[TaftCoach]

At the risk of not being helpful. You are coming off a bad towing experience and don't want it to happen again. Perhaps trust your gut. If you are really questioning it pass.

[De1taE1even]

Originally Posted by cariboocreek

The only way to know for sure is to run it over a scale. Other than that, your unit will “balloon” in size in very short order. Throw a generator in the box, a few bikes, a couple of unplanned passengers in the truck, extra stuff in the basement, and poof you are overweight. Are you within your axle ratings, your tire/wheel ratings, and do you know exactly what your truck weighs? Carrying water in the tank?

I've thought about this too. If I had the hitch already installed in my truck, I wonder if they'd let me weigh it. Alternatively, I've seen several posts on this forum that give real world numbers of this model, so I have confidence in my estimates. At the very least, I need to get my truck weighed. That's better than nothing.

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

At the risk of not being helpful. You are coming off a bad towing experience and don't want it to happen again. Perhaps trust your gut. If you are really questioning it pass.

This is a very fair point. I'm probably bad at conveying how I feel about it over text, though. I'm actually quite confident in the numbers and I think it'll be great. This post was just to try to catch some possible "holy crap I hadn't even thought about that" moment. Every time I look for more info on this fw, I'm taken back to this forum, which is awesome. So, since there's so much combined info on here, I figured I'd throw this post out there, to see if there's something I hadn't thought of. My gut tells me I'm good to go, but I have a habit of paralysis by analysis, and playing devil's advocate.

[AZDIESELPIG]

Originally Posted by De1taE1even

Hello everyone,

We're very excited about an upcoming fifth wheel purchase. We've narrowed down what we want, and one model we really like is the 321RSTS. It is, however, just a bit longer/heavier than most the other models we're looking at. So I'd love some insight from folks on this forum, just in case there's anything I haven't thought of.

Here is my tow vehicle info:
2024 F250 short bed 7.3 gasser
Payload: 3574
GVWR: 10500
Rear GAWR: 6340

Even at max GVWR of the fifth wheel (12900) with an assumed 23% hitch distro, I'm looking at just shy of 3000 pin weight. That plus truck cargo and passengers, I'd be getting close to my payload, but these numbers seem ok to me. My priority is obviously the safety, but also a relatively stress free travel day (by towing standards, at least).

I'm coming from a 31ft bumper pull toy hauler at about 11k lbs with crappy hitch distribution, and that experience stinks. I'm very much looking forward to a fifth wheel with correct hitch weight.

Please let me know if there is anything I'm not considering. Thank you!

You will be fine.

Weights
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 2,155
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 10,770
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 2,130
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 12,900

[Edutron]

Everybody is afraid to tell you that you are in dually territory and preferably a long box.. You can pull an 80K LB trailer with a 1/2 ton, but how comfortable would you be.

[Yellowssr]

Dually diesel and enjoy the ride.Been there done that.

[De1taE1even]

Originally Posted by Edutron

Everybody is afraid to tell you that you are in dually territory and preferably a long box.. You can pull an 80K LB trailer with a 1/2 ton, but how comfortable would you be.

What would you define as "dually territory"?

Originally Posted by Yellowssr

Dually diesel and enjoy the ride.Been there done that.

Lol, I have no interest in upgrading my truck, but you aren't wrong.

[Troutbound1]

I towed my 2022 321rsts with a 2019 f250 shorted 6.2 gasser. When I upgraded my truck just bought a 1 ton dually and poof no worries

[Stan&Sharon]

I've gone to CAT SCALE 4 times with our camper.
Each time the numbers are slightly different... as expected.
Here are the numbers we got:
#1
321RSTS GVWR 11,520
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,220
#2
321RSTS GVWR 12,480
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,580
#3
321RSTS GVWR 12,380
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,480
#4
321RSTS GVWR 12,080
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,009

[De1taE1even]

Originally Posted by Stan&Sharon

I've gone to CAT SCALE 4 times with our camper.
Each time the numbers are slightly different... as expected.
Here are the numbers we got:
#1
321RSTS GVWR 11,520
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,220
#2
321RSTS GVWR 12,480
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,580
#3
321RSTS GVWR 12,380
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,480
#4
321RSTS GVWR 12,080
321RSTS Pin Weight 2,009

Thanks so much for this. I'm going to weigh my truck tomorrow on our way to view a few fifth wheels, to help best understand what we're dealing with. It's great to see these real world numbers. Do you have a washer, dryer, and/or generator for those numbers?

[Stan&Sharon]

Originally Posted by De1taE1even

Thanks so much for this. I'm going to weigh my truck tomorrow on our way to view a few fifth wheels, to help best understand what we're dealing with. It's great to see these real world numbers. Do you have a washer, dryer, and/or generator for those numbers?

Nope. The last weights were lower because i switched from 3 lead acids batteries to a single lithium and we removed the Blackstone grill and shifted more to the rear if the camper.

[De1taE1even]

Originally Posted by Stan&Sharon

Nope. The last weights were lower because i switched from 3 lead acids batteries to a single lithium and we removed the Blackstone grill and shifted more to the rear if the camper.

Fantastic, thanks again.

[AZDIESELPIG]

Originally Posted by Edutron

Everybody is afraid to tell you that you are in dually territory and preferably a long box.. You can pull an 80K LB trailer with a 1/2 ton, but how comfortable would you be.

Dually?

Not even close to needing a dually.

[cariboocreek]

Dually’s…All the cool kids have one…

[AZDIESELPIG]

I think our Pinnacle is a little heavier than what you are looking at pulling, I could tow it with a1 ton SRW Diesel depending on the setup of the truck.

Our previous RV was a 32 foot Grand Design bumper pull that I pulled with a 2017 Ram 2500 Diesel, however when my wife started talking about wanting a 5ver I decided to trade to a dually not knowing what exactly we might get. I pulled that bumper pull with a dually until we bought out 5ver in 2023.

Unless you are pulling a triple axle RV, you probably don't "need" a dually. I just like having some extra breathing room on payload.

Here is a weigh ticket for the 2024 Chevy Silverado Dually I had. This was with a 50 gallon Transferflow tank that was full, 32 gallons in the truck diesel tank, and half a tank of fresh water.

I haven't weighed the Ram yet - but I suspect it will be similar.

I think your Ford has a max tow capacity of 17,200 lbs.

You can pull that 321RSTS just fine.