First time user here. Looking to trade in current rig for newer one. I've done extensive research so far, but have only found a few units of what I'm looking for. Tow Vehicle - 2015 Silverado 2500 HD 4WD 6.0L Gas Standard Box 4:10 RatioCriteria:1) Front Living Room - Our family loves this "residential" style setup and having the master bed in the rear.2) Weight - Would like to have this rig on the lighter side. I'm thinking under 11,000 pounds dry. Yes, I know I'm pushing my luck here, but I did find a couple around 9,500-10,500.3) Length - This is the biggie. We would like a unit that's in the 36-38' range. 38' is likely the max we would go with. Again, from the research I've done, this really limits me. Most are easily 41'-43'.4) Storage - Need plentiful storage, preferably a full pass through area. Again, this is where I see the trade offs of a FL unit. Some storage underneath the rear bedroom slide would be nice. Some models have this.5) Hydraulic/Auto Leveling6) Power Awning/ LED Accents7) Rerfrigerator with >10 cu. ft. Usually this would be one with two doors opening to the side. 6.0 cu. ft. doesn't cut it for us anymore.8) One Step down from "Luxury" or "Full Profile" - we don't need the big country, bighorns, cardinals, etc. trying to look at one step model down, trying to find the MSRP in the $50,000-$60,00 MSRP.Units I've found so farJayco Eagle 339FLQS - Storage is absolutely pitiful underneath, otherwise love itCoachmen Chaparral 390QSMB - love the second queen bunk, but a little longKeystone Cougar 337FLS - my favorite unit I've seen so farKeystone Sprinter Wide Body 334FWFLWS - similar tot he cougar, strong candidate.

Check out Grand Design. RV. Their solitude line had one front LR. We checked out their reflection line on Monday and am very impressed. Definitely a homey feel. Good luck with your search.

1. Most of the front living room models are well over 38 feet long. Not advisable with a 2500 gasser.2.11,000 dry weight can translate into well over 13,000 loaded ready to travel. Not the brightest idea with a 2500 gasser.3.38 feet long is simply too much for a 2500 gasser.4. Storage equals lots and lots of added weight. Not good for a 2500 gasser.5. Nice, but adds weight you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.6. Again, nice but weight with a 2500 gasser?7. Again, weight penality you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.8. Good idea, but your not saving enough weight to make your 2500 gasser a reasonable TV for the fivers your dreaming of.Bottom line, not enough truck for your dreams. If you want to keep the dream, get a suitable truck, ie a diesel dually!

Old Duck wrote:Check out Grand Design. RV. Their solitude line had one front LR. We checked out their reflection line on Monday and am very impressed. Definitely a homey feel. Good luck with your search.Thanks for the tip, but that particular FP is 42.5' in length. Looking for other units like the Cougar 337FLS or Sprinter I mentioned in first post.

donn0128 wrote:1. Most of the front living room models are well over 38 feet long. Not advisable with a 2500 gasser.2.11,000 dry weight can translate into well over 13,000 loaded ready to travel. Not the brightest idea with a 2500 gasser.3.38 feet long is simply too much for a 2500 gasser.4. Storage equals lots and lots of added weight. Not good for a 2500 gasser.5. Nice, but adds weight you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.6. Again, nice but weight with a 2500 gasser?7. Again, weight penality you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.8. Good idea, but your not saving enough weight to make your 2500 gasser a reasonable TV for the fivers your dreaming of.Bottom line, not enough truck for your dreams. If you want to keep the dream, get a suitable truck, ie a diesel dually!Thanks for the reply, I looked at the 2015 Trailer Life Towing Guide, and it looks like my 2500 HD 4WD w/ 4:10 ratio Crew Cab is rated at 14,000-14,200 for 5th wheel towing? Obviously, I don't want to be right at the limit, but the Cougar being 10,090 pounds dry plus 2,000 for cargo, gas, etc. would be acceptable?

Disturbed932 wrote:donn0128 wrote:1. Most of the front living room models are well over 38 feet long. Not advisable with a 2500 gasser.2.11,000 dry weight can translate into well over 13,000 loaded ready to travel. Not the brightest idea with a 2500 gasser.3.38 feet long is simply too much for a 2500 gasser.4. Storage equals lots and lots of added weight. Not good for a 2500 gasser.5. Nice, but adds weight you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.6. Again, nice but weight with a 2500 gasser?7. Again, weight penality you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.8. Good idea, but your not saving enough weight to make your 2500 gasser a reasonable TV for the fivers your dreaming of.Bottom line, not enough truck for your dreams. If you want to keep the dream, get a suitable truck, ie a diesel dually!Thanks for the reply, I looked at the 2015 Trailer Life Towing Guide, and it looks like my 2500 HD 4WD w/ 4:10 ratio Crew Cab is rated at 14,000-14,200 for 5th wheel towing? Obviously, I don't want to be right at the limit, but the Cougar being 10,090 pounds dry plus 2,000 for cargo, gas, etc. would be acceptable?Your truck may be rated to tow that much,,, but it cannot CARRY that much... It is the weight in the bed that will kill a 2500 series truck... for giggles, look at the GVW of the trailer and divide it by 20%.. that will get you close to the PIN weight in the bed... add hitch and family...

Fifth Wheel Suggestions | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

azjeffh
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
CJW8 wrote:
For years (up through 2013 at least)the only difference was the emblem and a 2" block in the rear springs.

I've also read one more leaf spring. However there's one important difference not mentioned, the manufacture's weight ratings.

I don't want to stand in front of someone someday saying "but I read on some RV forum that"....
CarlT100
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
CJW8 wrote:
I don't know about other makes but with the Blue Oval models there is very little difference between 250 and a 350. For years (up through 2013 at least)the only difference was the emblem and a 2" block in the rear springs. Tow rating was the same and sometimes higher with the 250. In this brand you can add 2000-4000 lbs. for the diesel engine depending on axel ratio.

That is true with SRW; but DRW definitely ups the capacity. For towing a big FW, I really like the stability of a dually, especially in the wet and high winds.
CJW8
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
I don't know about other makes but with the Blue Oval models there is very little difference between 250 and a 350. For years (up through 2013 at least)the only difference was the emblem and a 2" block in the rear springs. Tow rating was the same and sometimes higher with the 250. In this brand you can add 2000-4000 lbs. for the diesel engine depending on axel ratio.
azjeffh
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
Listen to what the others are telling you. My truck is rated to tow 16200 but its GVWR is maxed out with my 10K lb 5er. My RAWR would be maxed out at 13500.
laknox
Nomad
Jul 08, 2015
ford truck guy wrote:
Disturbed932 wrote:
donn0128 wrote:
1. Most of the front living room models are well over 38 feet long. Not advisable with a 2500 gasser.
2.11,000 dry weight can translate into well over 13,000 loaded ready to travel. Not the brightest idea with a 2500 gasser.
3.38 feet long is simply too much for a 2500 gasser.
4. Storage equals lots and lots of added weight. Not good for a 2500 gasser.
5. Nice, but adds weight you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.
6. Again, nice but weight with a 2500 gasser?
7. Again, weight penality you cannot aford with a 2500 gasser.
8. Good idea, but your not saving enough weight to make your 2500 gasser a reasonable TV for the fivers your dreaming of.

Bottom line, not enough truck for your dreams. If you want to keep the dream, get a suitable truck, ie a diesel dually!

Thanks for the reply, I looked at the 2015 Trailer Life Towing Guide, and it looks like my 2500 HD 4WD w/ 4:10 ratio Crew Cab is rated at 14,000-14,200 for 5th wheel towing? Obviously, I don't want to be right at the limit, but the Cougar being 10,090 pounds dry plus 2,000 for cargo, gas, etc. would be acceptable?

Your truck may be rated to tow that much,,, but it cannot CARRY that much... It is the weight in the bed that will kill a 2500 series truck... for giggles, look at the GVW of the trailer and divide it by 20%.. that will get you close to the PIN weight in the bed... add hitch and family...

Multiply by 20%, not divide. I agree with the others; now way you've got enough truck for the FW you're looking for. Rule of Thumb about FWs is that you decide on the floorplan you like, =then= get the truck.

Lyle
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
Not a 5th wheel but this would match up great with your 2500 6.0

http://highlandridgerv.com/Unit-Spec-Sheets/Journeyer/JT340FLR.pdf
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
Yep, been down the SRW road with my old 2500. Changed to 19.5 tires, old tires limited rear axle weight to just over 6,000 lbs. Air bags leveled it out and made it a real work horse with the 7.4 big block.

When a 3500 DRW somehow ended up in my garage, what a difference. With around 5,000 lb carrying cap and the extra stability it's great. The gasser 4.10's and six speed tranny do a great job getting down the road with my 13,500 Gross.
kaydeejay
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
ford truck guy wrote:
Your truck may be rated to tow that much,,, but it cannot CARRY that much... It is the weight in the bed that will kill a 2500 series truck... for giggles, look at the GVW of the trailer and divide it by 20%.. that will get you close to the PIN weight in the bed... add hitch and family...
To the OP, Fordtruckguy got it in ONE!
What your truck can PULL is only half the story. With a fifth wheel, the clincher is the LOADED pin weight versus remaining truck payload AFTER you load up the family, hitch the dog etc.
3/4 tons have limited CARRYING capacity.
Look on your drivers door pillar. There will be a label there called Tire Loading Information.
On that label will be a line something like "Total of occupant and cargo must not exceed xxxxlbs/xxxxKg"."
SUBTRACT the weight of the family. "stuff" and a hitch from that number.
Multiply the result by 5.
THAT is the LOADED fiver weight you can pull to stay within ratings.
It won't be 14,000# I'm afraid.
CarlT100
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
I agree with Don, Steve and ford truck guy. You don't enough truck for the trailer you want. You need a 3500/350 and preferably a DRW. Don't get too much trailer for your truck. The engine may handle it; but you have to think about suspension, braking, tires, axles and handling.
therink
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
With a 2500 gasser, you will want to keep fifth gvwr under 11,000 lbs and loaded pin under 2200 lbs. I don't think you will find a front LR model this light.