Fifth wheel too heavy for my truck?

My freshwater tanks are in front of my axles so that would add pin weight to my set up. Also, if you load anything behind the axles, that will lighten your pin weight because pushing down on the back will lift the front a bit. When I had my F250 I used 20 lb propane tanks instead of 30 lb tanks. Not sure how much that saved but 30-50 lbs here and there could help.

Ryno86 wrote:
So I picked up my 2017 Sundance 295BH Saturday. Stopped by the weight station on the way home. Again with me and the wife, full tank of diesel, and unknowingly a full tank of fresh water (390lbs). Front axle 4500, rear axle 5400, trailer 6820, and total 16720. Is it just me or does that seem like a lot of pin weight? Other than that it had a little squat but pull pretty well. I can definitely tell it's a heavier trailer on acceleration compared to my 6500lbs bumper pull. Overall happy with the decision just wondering about pin weight.

I think most advertised pin wts are figured on the low side. When batteries are added, propane tanks filled, that weight is right up front. Also depending on location, the full fresh water tank could add some pin wt, although most are close to axles. Your hitch will add a couple hundred to your rear axle too. Your still in great shape on weights, and will be after loading trailer.

Enjoy your new FW!
Jerry

Scaled weights come in 20 lb increments such as your 16720 gross combined weight number. Your trucks front and rear axle numbers sound like rounded off/or guesstimate...... a bit odd.
I would suspect a even number 4500 lb front and a 5400 lb rear number as being a scaled axle weight number.

Even at 5400 lbs on the rear axle the truck (6084 RAWR) still has 640 lb of capacity left.

All trucks will squat a certain amount depending on the rear suspension. My '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins has a 6000 rawr. This truck is the first year of the new 3rd gen truck. For unknown reasons Dodge didn't add a aux upper over load rear spring pack on the 2500 trucks. This truck starts sags a bit with 1500 lbs of redi mix bags over the rear axle. With a 11200 lb 5er the truck rear axle has weighed from 5260 lb up to 5420 lbs all depending on how much we load in the trucks bed and how much stuff we carry in the trailer.

So I picked up my 2017 Sundance 295BH Saturday. Stopped by the weight station on the way home. Again with me and the wife, full tank of diesel, and unknowingly a full tank of fresh water (390lbs). Front axle 4500, rear axle 5400, trailer 6820, and total 16720. Is it just me or does that seem like a lot of pin weight? Other than that it had a little squat but pull pretty well. I can definitely tell it's a heavier trailer on acceleration compared to my 6500lbs bumper pull. Overall happy with the decision just wondering about pin weight.

You are good to go. Period. Have fun! :B

Ryno86 wrote:
Hello all,
I am new to the forums and looking for some help. I currently own a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500hd 4x4 w/ duramax/Allison. I am thinking about trading in my travel trailer for a fifth wheel, but my concern is my payload. My truck has a gvwr of 9200, a payload of 2290, a max trailer weight of 13,600, and a gcwr of 22,000. The trailer I am looking to purchase has a gvwr of 9900, a payload of 1574, and a pin weight of 1660. I travel with my wife, 2 kids, and 2 dogs totaling about 525. And I assume a hitch would weight in at around 160. Is my truck going to be able to handle this or should I stick with my bumper pull? Thanks for any guidance.

The combo in my sig puts my truck over my GCRW and right at the limit on RAWR. However, I run 265 tires, which gives me about 600 lbs over the RAWR and about 900 lbs more tire capacity than the OEM 245 tires. I don't think I've ever come close to the 11,320 GVW from the sticker, but I've been well over 10k, and I feel it. Just a rough ride. Have I ever felt white-knuckled? Not really, even on the grades here in AZ. Without looking, I'd put money on you having several hundred lbs more payload than my '02. With an under-10K GVW FW, you should have no problems, IMO.

FWIW, I have little sag, but am solid on the overloads; maybe 2-2.5" drop, max.

Lyle

Ryno86 wrote:
Thank you everyone for you opinions and knowledge. As there were very few people saying it would not pull well and several people saying it would be fine (plus happy wife happy life) I am picking up the new 5er on Saturday. I installed my Curt 16k slider hitch tonight... what a pain! Tomorrow I will wire up the 7pin plug and she'll be ready to go. Again thank you.

Congrats and have fun - I had an 06 Duramax with an 11,000# 5th wheel for years. Best combo I've ever towed with. I put some airbags on the back of the truck and it all rolled down the road like a dream. Well below axle weights and well below the pulling capability of engine. Always keep an eye on the tire weight limits and axle weight limits and you are good to go.

Thank you everyone for you opinions and knowledge. As there were very few people saying it would not pull well and several people saying it would be fine (plus happy wife happy life) I am picking up the new 5er on Saturday. I installed my Curt 16k slider hitch tonight... what a pain! Tomorrow I will wire up the 7pin plug and she'll be ready to go. Again thank you.

MFL wrote:
Welcome to the forum! Yes your 2008 2500 with D/A, should be able to handle that size FW. Many of the FWs, with a GVWR of less than 10K are advertised as 1/2 ton towable. Although in many cases, that is a bit of a stretch. When most half tons reach their GVWR, they are near RAWR, when towing a FW, so not usually a good fit.

If you had that FW fully loaded to 9,900, you'd be closing in on 2K pin wt, plus the hitch of near 200 lbs. As you already know, you will likely go over the GVWR of the truck, when adding family. You will not even be close to the rear RAWR of 6K+, and should be well under tire max rating also. Most of the pin wt will stay on your rear axle, very little change to front axle wt.

You will enjoy towing a FW!

Jerry

I concur.

I would say that's an easy choice. Well within your truck's limits as long as you don't put a load of firewood in the bed :)

Our trailer has a GVWR or 11,000 and it is fine with our truck.