Lightweight 5th Wheels

Has anyone bothered to look at the GM towing guide? The 6.0 with 3:73s starts at 8500lbs, depending on the truck configuration, then goes up from their.

If you look at the tire loading sticker on the driver door panel, it will tell you the payload for everything in the truck, passengers, gear, hitch, and pin weight. I'm guessing 2500-3000 lbs. This is more the # you need, rather than how much it will pull.

I think GM under rated the newer 6.0 trucks, with the 3.73 gears. The same truck, with 4.10 gearing may be rated to 13,000#s pulling cap.

I think you should look at a FW with an unloaded wt about 8,000#s, and loaded wt of not more than 10,000.

You can lock out 6th gear for pulling, even 5th if needed, and tow in 4th.

Good luck with your search,
Jerry

Or it could be the GVWR of the truck. My 4x4 has a GVWR of 9200 lbs.

Lori,

I suspect that 9,400 number is for conventional towing (and is a limit of the hitch - not the truck). As Don said, get all the numbers off the weight and loading sticker on the door frame and do the calculations (you'll need to know the truck's weight with occupants, fuel, and junk). If you like, PM me and I'll send you a step-by-step that I have written up.

Rob

Where are you getting the 9400 pound number? I am confused. Depending on your trucks configuration, and load there is no reason you cannot safely tow a fifth wheel up to about 11,000 GVWR.