Hi everyone..We will be getting a new 5th wheel next year and I am making all the effort up front to get the right TV with the right hardware to which will end up in a great tow experience.The 5th wheel that we will be getting is the Coachmen Brookstone 315RL. These are the specs for this unit:Hitch Weight 2,350 lbs. (1,066 kg)Base Weight 11,230 lbs. (5,094 kg)GVWR 14,500 lbs. (6,577 kg)Cargo Carrying Capacity 3,270 lbs. (1,483 kg)Exterior Length 34' 8" (10.6 m)We will also be towing a jet ski trailer behind the 5th wheel with three PWC on it which will end up being about 2000 lbs. max.Now for the TV. We will get a Chevy 3500. What I don't know is what config of that TV will be required and how to absolutely know without any doubt that I have enough TV to pull that 5er plus the 2000 lb. jet ski trailer without being overweight and ultimately - unsafe. I've read a lot and the numbers are all over the map and very confusing. Most of the time I've been looking at the GCWR of the truck and then the GVWR of the truck and trailer itself and it almost always goes over the GCWR. Then I see people say that it's very difficult to get under the GCWR. How do I make a Chevy 3500 TV safe to tow the 14,500 lb GVWR 5er plus the 2000 lb PWC trailer and be safe?Any help here would be appreciated.. Thanks!

Go to a Chevy dealer, find the truck similar to what you want. Open the door and get the rating info from the door tag. GVWR, F(ront) and R(ear) AWRthen you can fill out this formsure someone will tell you their ACTUAL weights.its the ACTUALS that matter2350 dry on the pin will start getting close on the RAWR.14500+2000 + truck will probably put you over on GCVWR most SRW are in the 23500 range(due to many state laws)- 16500 = 7000, and most trucks weigh more than that. My shortbed f250 weighed 8300 empty. I haven't weighed my 350 dually yet, but expect near 9000 empty.also, double tow is not allowed in all states. usually due to length limits.RAWR is also a concern. On my 250, the rating was 6100, the actual was 3380 empty. leaving 2720 total (people, fuel, stuff, hitch)ford 350 SRWs have 7000 or 7300 RAWR, adding another 900-1200 lbs over the 250 level. (sorry, giving ford numbers, don't know any correct info for Chevy, but it will get you close. that worksheet makes it easy. Samps. I traded in my 250 for a 350 DRW cause I would be right at the limit for any 5th wheel we wanted. got a 2013 Keystone Alpine, 2350 pin empty, 12457 empty, 15500 GVWR.

Get the highest rated dually that you can and be done with it. It was be more stable triple towing than a SRW truck. I do not however think GM offers different axle ratios. 3.73 is what you get and ratings are just that(what ever they are for a given year)!Chris

Just an FYI... Our rig weights dry are similar to yours. Our pin weight fully loaded is 3400 lbs. add to the pin weight the weight of passengers, the hitch weight, any other gear, tools etc., and add that to the pin weight for your total payload. If your payload is higher than your truck payload limit as shown on your door post sticker, you are overloaded. Then decide to ignore it as many do, or get a DRW truck . Your call.

sdetweil wrote:Go to a Chevy dealer, find the truck similar to what you want. Open the door and get the rating info from the door tag. Or you can just download the GM towing guide from the GM web site.

allen8106 wrote:sdetweil wrote:Go to a Chevy dealer, find the truck similar to what you want. Open the door and get the rating info from the door tag. Or you can just download the GM towing guide from the GM web site.you will of course need that too for the GCVWR which isn't on the door tag.the guide doesn't tell you anything about axle loading.. just max weights.see page 14 2013 gm towing guide

Help Choosing TV (By the numbers) | Good Sam Community

sdetweil
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
and you probably won't get to GVWR on either the truck or the 5th wheel, so you could have 3,000lb of additional capacity there..
but 29,500 - 3000 is still greater than the SRW truck GCVWR..
Allistah
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
Thanks to everyone who replied. I really appreciate the pointers. I have also come to the conclusion that I would require at least a 2012 3500 Diesel DRW to make all of the numbers work. GCWR of that truck is 30,500. The GVW of the 5er is 14,500. The jetski GVW is 2000. The truck has a GVW of 13,000. Now the math:

Truck GVW - 13,000
5er GVW - 14,500
JetSkis GVW - 2,000
---------------------
Total: 29,500 lbs.

The GCWR of the truck is 30,500 so I'm under on that side of it. I've verified that I'll be under the limit for the rear axle as well - that wasn't ever a problem with this truck. The SRW version of this truck only has a GCWR of 24,500 so I'd be overloaded for it.

Hope this helps out some others as well and thanks again to those who replied!

-Alli
KD4UPL
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
Buy the dually, hitch up and enjoy. Simple.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
sdetweil wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:
If OP is going with a 2013 or 2014 Chevy 3500 DRW truck, D/A combo, that should be enough. The GVW of the 5er is only 14,500, and another 2,000# behind that. I would recommend to go with a dually, but a 13' or 14' model Chevy 3500 Dually would handle all that weight.

...

I agree, DRW will probably be right choice. (wasn't trying to make up the OPs mind, just provide good guidance info).

Sam

....you didn't do anything wrong, it was good info:)

Jim
sdetweil
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
NC Hauler wrote:
If OP is going with a 2013 or 2014 Chevy 3500 DRW truck, D/A combo, that should be enough. The GVW of the 5er is only 14,500, and another 2,000# behind that. I would recommend to go with a dually, but a 13' or 14' model Chevy 3500 Dually would handle all that weight.

...

I agree, DRW will probably be right choice. (wasn't trying to make up the OPs mind, just provide good guidance info).

Sam
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
If OP is going with a 2013 or 2014 Chevy 3500 DRW truck, D/A combo, that should be enough. The GVW of the 5er is only 14,500, and another 2,000# behind that. I would recommend to go with a dually, but a 13' or 14' model Chevy 3500 Dually would handle all that weight.

As far as making the truck "safer"? You'll be ok as far as GVWR and GCWR of the weight of truck and extra 2,000#, but it'll be up to your driving skills towing tandem as to how safe it'll be....picking what kind of hitch for 2,000# trailer may take a little research, but there are others that do it, they should be able to give you more input.
sdetweil
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
allen8106 wrote:
sdetweil wrote:
Go to a Chevy dealer, find the truck similar to what you want. Open the door and get the rating info from the door tag.

Or you can just download the GM towing guide from the GM web site.

you will of course need that too for the GCVWR which isn't on the door tag.
the guide doesn't tell you anything about axle loading.. just max weights.

see page 14 2013 gm towing guide
allen8106
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
sdetweil wrote:
Go to a Chevy dealer, find the truck similar to what you want. Open the door and get the rating info from the door tag.

Or you can just download the GM towing guide from the GM web site.
MTPockets1
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
Just an FYI... Our rig weights dry are similar to yours. Our pin weight fully loaded is 3400 lbs. add to the pin weight the weight of passengers, the hitch weight, any other gear, tools etc., and add that to the pin weight for your total payload. If your payload is higher than your truck payload limit as shown on your door post sticker, you are overloaded. Then decide to ignore it as many do, or get a DRW truck . Your call.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 14, 2013
Get the highest rated dually that you can and be done with it. It was be more stable triple towing than a SRW truck. I do not however think GM offers different axle ratios. 3.73 is what you get and ratings are just that(what ever they are for a given year)!

Chris