Fifth wheel too heavy for my truck?
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 ...
Forum Discussion
To feel more comfortable, you really need to run your rig over some scales. First of all, almost any trailer is heavier than the brochures or dealer says it is. Sometimes not by much, sometimes by more than a little. As an example, in the Spring of 2011 I bought a Voltage 3200 toyhauler. The brochure says the "unloaded" weight of the trailer was 11,636 lbs. and the hitch (pin) weight was 2,361 lbs. I went directly to the scales from the dealer - the pin weight was 2,560 lbs., and the trailer as delivered weighed 13,100 lbs. with full propane tanks and about 40 gallons of gasoline.
I have pulled that trailer about 18,000 miles with a 2003 Chevy SilveradoHD Extended cab with the Duramax/Allison combination. The truck, when ready for a trip weighs about 7,140 lbs. When the trailer was loaded for vacation, with toys in the garage, 40 gallons of water, full propane tanks, and 40 gallons of gas it weighed 15,350 lbs., 2,350 lbs. on the pin, and 13,300 lbs. on the axles. The truck was over the GVWR by about 200 lbs., but under the rear axle maximum weight rating by about 2,000 lbs. The combination was right at the GCVWR of 22,000 lbs. I did install rear air bags just to level the truck some. The trailer as delivered should be lighter and have less pin weight than does mine. I never felt uncomfortable with that set up, and living in Colorado and mostly traveling west from here there are always at least 2 10 to 11 thousand foot passes to go over.
For the record, I now tow with a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew Cab Dually.
Time for the weight police to chime in.
I have pulled that trailer about 18,000 miles with a 2003 Chevy SilveradoHD Extended cab with the Duramax/Allison combination. The truck, when ready for a trip weighs about 7,140 lbs. When the trailer was loaded for vacation, with toys in the garage, 40 gallons of water, full propane tanks, and 40 gallons of gas it weighed 15,350 lbs., 2,350 lbs. on the pin, and 13,300 lbs. on the axles. The truck was over the GVWR by about 200 lbs., but under the rear axle maximum weight rating by about 2,000 lbs. The combination was right at the GCVWR of 22,000 lbs. I did install rear air bags just to level the truck some. The trailer as delivered should be lighter and have less pin weight than does mine. I never felt uncomfortable with that set up, and living in Colorado and mostly traveling west from here there are always at least 2 10 to 11 thousand foot passes to go over.
For the record, I now tow with a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew Cab Dually.
Time for the weight police to chime in.
