5th Wheel Newbie

I needed a DRW to get within specs for my 5th, which is the same weight as yours. And you can do it with a 3/4 ton?

One thing I've learned about this forum is... Someone will always jump in and say that you can tow a 16K trailer with a Volkswagen beetle.... just pack light and take it slow.

Welcome to the forum!

You have a very nice truck, but that trailer is too big for it.

You will likely be over the trucks GVWR, and many others are too. You will have to decide if you are okay with it.

You may go over the RAWR with that pin wt, and whatever else is in the truck. You may not know without weighing, if you are over the rear axle rating of the truck. You'd have to weigh, hooked up ready to travel. I would not exceed this rating at all.

Happy travels,
Jerry

OP you fell into the MFG. Magical Tow Rating marketing gambit....

Everyone looks at the mfg. tow guide...checks the 'tow rating number' but don't dig in a little deeper and find/read the FINE print.

Maximum trailer weights in pounds for properly equipped vehicles with no cargo
May vary depending on model, trim and/or powertrain.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15 (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15-25% (fifth-wheel trailer), and driver only (150 pounds).
Weight of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted from this weight.

On behalf of the weight police, I must warn you:

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the Court of public opinion. In fact, you are already guilty.
You have the right to an attorney. He is probably overweight too. If you cannot afford one, what business do you have buying a trailer?

Other than that, good luck on the road!

Just kidding!

wirenutz wrote:
Thats a big trailer, but a congrats is in order first, I have seen just what your going to do many times out there on the road, now you can expect the weight police on this sight to pounce all over your post, so what I am saying is your truck will pull it fine, but dont expect to be the first one to the top of the pass, you also may find some "chucking" between the trailer and the truck, as in your trailer will be pushing your truck, sort of a back and forth motion that you will fill in the cab of the truck, have fun and enjoy yourself and dont let this site weight police get you down

Wirenutz,
I just copied the following from your profile- "2007 All American Sport Toy Hauler, Triple Slid outs, Triple axles, 14,000 pounds Dry Weight
1999 Four Door Freightliner FL 60, Factory Rebuilt CAT 3126B motor, With 300 HP, Allison 6 Speed Automatic Transmission, Factory Rear Locker"

I have to respectively take issue with your post, you are advising this poor guy to forgot about the "weight police" advice on this site that also have actual towing experience.
Yet, you pull something close in weight & lgth to his proposed rig, however, you got yourself a much more appropriate TV for a very large 5v.
I have to ask the question, HAVE YOU EVER TRIED PULLING A 5V OF THIS SIZE WITH A 3/4T truck? Pulling a RV with your rig is not anywhere close to OP pulling comparative RV with a pickem-up truck.

The Big 3 don't just pay engineers to put dreamed-up numbers on the door post, they do extensive testing to ensure that someone buying their vehicle should have a safe towing experience, (provided they don't think they are smarter than the people that built them).

One final thought, yes I have just completed an 8000 mile trip across 13 western states with a 2009 GMC 2500DA towing a 34'FV, (combo weight of 19,400 on cat scales). Rear axle weight of almost 6000 lbs, (includes a 50 gallon diesel tank/tool box combo).
Truck towed this combo very well, however, I feel that any thing larger & heavier would be to much....

I pull an 18k# gooseneck horse trailer with a dually. I'm 400# over truck's GVWR, 3,000# over GCWR but 300# under axle rating. Completely legal and as you can tell bt that not a member of the weight police.

That is too much trailer for that truck. The trailer lightly loaded will have greater than your stated 3k# limit and that doesn't include your hitch, passengers and stuff in the truck so I suspect it might even be over your axle ratings which would make it illegal. You need to be looking for a FW that has a GVWR of less than 14k# and preferably less than 12k#

Deshler4753 wrote:
We are purchasing a 2014 Alpine and have checked all the weight specifications for my 2013 Chevy HD250 Diesel crew cab. Checked the unloaded weight of the 5th wheel, 12400 unloaded, carrying capacity is 3000 so we are under our total towing limit of 15800. Hitch is 2640 and 3000 is the allowance, the truck is a 4x4. 5th wheel is 39'so it will be a little daunting towing this for awhile. The front cap has the max turn technology so the dealer is suggesting the manual slide becuause he doesn't feel i will hardly ever need it. Just looking for any input, i would have liked to been a little lighter but everone says we will be fine, any tips, suggestions are appreciated. We are going south for the winter snowbirding to Texas which will become an annual event, not sure there though and also want to be able to tow it traveling the good ole USA once awhile during the year.

Loaded, that fiver is going to have a pin weight well north of 3000# (wherever that number came from!) and don't forget the weight of the hitch itself which can be from 100 to 300# depending on what you go with.
I know the newer 3/4 tons are stouter than their predecessors, but I do think you are pushing your limits - HARD!

Reality check time.....
What does the yellow label on your door pillar say in regard to payload capacity?
How much weight (people, stuff, tools etc) are you going to add to the truck?
Subtract that number from your payload rating - the result is what you can handle in terms of LOADED pin weight plus hitch.
You're going to find out you run out of CARRYING capacity long before you reach your Max tow rating.

wirenutz wrote:
Thats a big trailer, but a congrats is in order first, I have seen just what your going to do many times out there on the road, now you can expect the weight police on this sight to pounce all over your post, so what I am saying is your truck will pull it fine, but dont expect to be the first one to the top of the pass, you also may find some "chucking" between the trailer and the truck, as in your trailer will be pushing your truck, sort of a back and forth motion that you will fill in the cab of the truck, have fun and enjoy yourself and dont let this site weight police get you down

You are correct about the weight police... I was beat up about towing a 19,000 lb. fiver with a one ton high output with 4:10 gears. Just make sure you give yourself enough space between you and other cars in front of you. People like to hit their brakes for no reason... Congrats and enjoy.

FormerBoater wrote:
I would check the SCA's, transmission fluid, engine oil level, weigh my rig and adjust the tire air pressure accordingly. Slides in, jacks up etc.

When I approach you for the pass up the grade, I would pull as far as possible to the left in order to avoid your tail swing.

Coming down the grade I would likely engage the pac-brake and stay abaft of your location as I do not think that you will be in control of the situation.

I like my curbside mirrors, would not like to kiss yours going down the road.

What part of "Class A Forum" is a mystery here?

I guess I am not the only one who just clicks the new posts and reads the titles.

It does sound like a lot of trailer.