Going from Class A to 5th wheel

jdart wrote:
Trading my class A 35ft. Diesel for 38ft 5th wheel, Towing it with a 2007 Quad cab
2500 Dodge Big Horn Diesel. Will it handle it OK, 38 ft is a long trailer. Have towed boats before but never a 5th wheel.

You've given us a length to ponder whether your truck will be able to handle it ok...With an 07' 2500, I'd be more concerned as Old Biscuit stated, with the GVW of the 5er...Not "dry" or "empty" weight, or "dry" pin weight...but GVW of the 5er and go from there. To "ballpark" how much weight you'll put in the bed of the truck, add approx. 200# for a 5er hitch and take 20% of the GVW of the 5er you want to purchase to figure pin weight that will be sitting on the hitch...and go from there.

Look at GVW of the 5er and go from there....We don't know what brand or model, so we don't know if it's a light 5er or a heavy 5er.....Length, to me, isn't as big a concern as the GVW of the 5er and the amount of pin weight (approx. 20% of 5er's GVW), I'll be dropping in the bed of the truck...

I don't know what the GVWR/RAWR/GCWR of an 07 2500 Dodge would be...Cummins will more than handle it...don't know about suspension/tranny.....but again, this ALL hinges on the GVW of the 5er you're talking about towing with the truck , and it's pin weight.

I would have to agree with Old-Biscuit. The truck will pull it but you may have issues with your GCVW ( Gross combined vehicle weight). With the nation wide crack down on over weight vehicles, due to fatal accidents, you could cause yourself some issues, especially if involved in a major accident.

I have been on scene where a tow vehicle was not up to par for the trailer / weight being towed. When major injuries or death is involved a "MAIT" (Major Accident Investigation Team) investigates the accident same as a homicide, which it is, and jail can result along with the civil nightmare that follows.

I admit this is worse case but, it happens all the time and I have set in criminal court, as an officer, feeling sorry for a guy that is dealing with a death and a criminal case. Just saying.

JMHO.

Length isn't always the issue
Really depends on weight of trailer, pin weight and truck payload capacity.

My 5th wheel weighs 14K, has a 3000# pin weight and maxes out by 2007 3500 Quad Cab and it's only 34' long.

So my 'scientific wild ass guess' is NO. Gonna be to heavy of trailer