A couple of questions for first 5th wheel.

packpe89 wrote:
....thinking we will go with a 5th wheel bunk. My plan will be to use our other truck ('02 Silverado 2500HD, EC, 6.5 bed, 4x4, 6.0 gas and 4.1 gears) for a couple of years until we get a new TV....

First Question, Best I can figure is max towing will be around 10K. Payload around 3K. Sound about right? Thinking look for something under 9000#. That should keep the pin weight low enough?

Second question, my truck previously had a fifth wheel from the previous owner. I know very little about hitches, but there are 4 threaded holes over my rear axle where it attached. They form about a 2.5' square. How much of the hitch do I have and what do I need to look for in hitches.

Thanks
Joe

My '04 2500HD (crew cab, 2WD) weighed 6300lbs with 2 adults and a full tank of fuel. Yours with 4X4 you can probably expect about 6,500lbs or a little less. The truck has a GVWR of 9,200lbs and a RAWR of 6,084lbs. The Axle itself is rated for 10,000lbs but the OEM tires are rated for 3,042lbs each.

Realistically to stay within the sticker values you have 2,700lbs of payload to use. If you stay within 10,000lbs on the 5er you're probably going to be okay.

Sounds like the previous owner had hitch rails in the bed. If you can post a picture it would help ID exactly what you have. For generic rails, I'd browse Craigslist or FB marketplace and find someone selling a rail hit and hitch. Since you plan to upgrade trucks I wouldn't put a lot of $$ into this setup. If you go new enough on the truck you might get one that has the newer puck system at which point the hitch you buy now won't be usable. They type of hitch you get will depend on the 5er you buy. You can get away with a non-sliding hitch if the 5er corners are radiused, but if not you'll have to get a slider.

I'll also issue my normal warning for GM trucks of that era.....check your brake lines. They were notorious for corroding and rupturing. That's a really bad thing if you're towing 10,000lbs behind you!!!!!!

KJ

If you are going to use a short bed truck, you may want to consider a sliding hitch. When I got my 5th wheel, I already had in the budget some Air Bags for my 2010 F-250. Thankfully I did not need them. My Base weight is #9700 with a hitch weight of #1800. If you believe the brochure.

Depending on configuration, you will be really lucky to have 2000 pounds of real world payload. The old 2500s just had no capacity. Even at 2000 capacity that means your limited to a fifth wheel around 10,000 loaded. Thats going to get you a pretty small unit unless you go for one of the "Ultralite" fivers.
As for hitch? Go buy a complete setup. Unless you know what the PO was using its unlikely your current setip will match anyhow.