We have a GMC 3500 and am wondering if there are any issues with towing a HT type 5th wheel trailer. We had a 35ft Montana that we sold and want to get a 30 to 32 ft 5th wheel, but most with the floor plans we like are HT 5th wheels with a pin weight of approximately 1300 lbs and dry weight of 8,000 to 9,000 lbs. Appreciate your thoughts whether there are issues with towing with this type of configuration.Thank youDPAM

What is an "HT type 5th wheel trailer"?

fj12ryder wrote:What is an "HT type 5th wheel trailer"?X2?My guess based on the size and weights would be a “Lite” version of a 5er.So no issue towing with a 3500, even if it is DRW, just plenty of truck.

HT = "Half Ton" towable? Should be no problem towing. Only concerns would be the bed height and getting the fiver level as well as possibly the stiff suspension with that light weight causing a rough ride for the fiver. Might need to lift the fiver and consider an air ride type hitch.

Dry weights of 8,000 lbs. to 9,000 lbs. are not real world weights. Go by the GVWR to get a decent idea of what the loaded weight will actually be. But those trailers would be in the neighborhood of 10,000 lb. loaded and around a 2,000 lb. hitch weight. So I certainly wouldn't see any issues with pulling/carrying it with your truck. You don't say what year the truck is but if it's an older 3500 it shouldn't be an issue. A 3500 only a couple years old may have bed height concerns and be nose high.

Dry weights of 8-9000 lbs are high with pins only 1400 lbs. Thats barely 15% for pin weight.Biggest issue will be the height difference between the 5th over hang and the top of the trucks bed rails. 1/2 ton 5ers tend to have lower front over hangs and 1/2 tons bed rails are lower so they match up well. The issue will be that you won't hardly get any sag when dropping 16-1700 lbs in the bed. So setting up the pin and 5th hitch will be tougher when trying to get the 5er level.Best thing to do is measure your trucks bed rails and then measure the new 5th wheels front overhang and crunch the numbers. I did tow a mid profile 1/2 ton style 5er with a 3/4 ton truck and had no issues with clearance. The 5er was 1+" high in the front.

3500 truck towing HT 5th wheel - Workable? | Good Sam Community

TXiceman
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2019
Anyone ever figure what was an HT Trailer?

Ken
bpounds
Nomad
Jul 09, 2019
HT = Half Ton, also called Lite models.

Basically he wonders if using too much truck to pull one is an issue.

I think it can be an issue, with a rough ride and a lot of bouncing a lightweight trailer frame. Not ideal, but not necessarily a deal breaker either. His target of 32' is on the heavy end of the HT line.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2019
bpounds wrote:
HT = Half Ton, also called Lite models.

Basically he wonders if using too much truck to pull one is an issue.

I think it can be an issue, with a rough ride and a lot of bouncing a lightweight trailer frame. Not ideal, but not necessarily a deal breaker either. His target of 32' is on the heavy end of the HT line.
We're assuming that, but not everyone assigns acronyms the same meaning. Which is one of the reasons to spell things out.
bpounds
Nomad
Jul 09, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
We're assuming that, but not everyone assigns acronyms the same meaning. Which is one of the reasons to spell things out.

dpam wrote:
...HT 5th wheels with a pin weight of approximately 1300 lbs and dry weight of 8,000 to 9,000 lbs...

That ^ part of his question clarified it in my mind.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 09, 2019
Yeah, kind of, but really an 11,000 lb. 5th wheel may be half-ton towable, but it's got to be toward the top end of the scale.
Allworth
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2019
That 3500 will pull your house off of the foundation if you have enough chain.

Limit your search to GVW under 14,000 pounds and have fun.
troubledwaters
Explorer III
Jul 10, 2019
what if HT = Horse Trailer?
-or- maybe it was a typo and should have been HR? -or- HTT?
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 10, 2019
troubledwaters wrote:
what if HT = Horse Trailer?
-or- maybe it was a typo and should have been HR? -or- HTT?
We'll probably never know since the OP has never returned...like so many before him.

Why do people ask questions and never have the decency to at least the acknowledge the answers from all the people who replied? How tough is that?
Walaby
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
what if HT = Horse Trailer?
-or- maybe it was a typo and should have been HR? -or- HTT?
We'll probably never know since the OP has never returned...like so many before him.

Why do people ask questions and never have the decency to at least the acknowledge the answers from all the people who replied? How tough is that?

Careful. I said the same thing in this thread and my post was deleted.

Mike
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2019
Walaby wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
what if HT = Horse Trailer?
-or- maybe it was a typo and should have been HR? -or- HTT?
We'll probably never know since the OP has never returned...like so many before him.

Why do people ask questions and never have the decency to at least the acknowledge the answers from all the people who replied? How tough is that?

Careful. I said the same thing in this thread and my post was deleted.

Mike
Shoot, it wouldn't be the first time. LOL

Forum Discussion

3500 truck towing HT 5th wheel - Workable?

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Tow Truck discussion

Electric truck - tow vehicle of future ?

Lifted truck towing 5er

Truck Towing and Trailer Compatability

Truck