Need 5th Wheel Advice - Which Cab & Box on GM HD2500

MFL wrote:
A long bed is considered best for FW towing, but not really necessary. Most newer FWs have a rounded front for turning with a standard size bed. You do not mention what size FW you are considering, but you may want to get a 3500 instead of the 2500. Either cab style should produce nearly the same result.

Jerry

7300 lbs dry, 9950 gross. He could get pull it with some 1/2 tons, let alone any 3/4 ton.

mrnoyb wrote:
I'm trying to decide which GM HD2500 body combination is best to pull a new 5th wheel. Crew or Double Cab - Standard or Long Box?

I'm looking at a Jayco Eagle HT 26.5RLS which is well within the capabilities of any new GM 3/4 ton pickup.

Please share your thoughts. I appreciate any advice you may offer.

Thank you.

How are you using the truck when not towing, or is it just a tow rig? I use mine as a daily driver and family vehicle and in that capacity a short bed works a lot better - turns tighter, fits in parking garages better, easier to maneuver on tight forest service roads, etc. We needed a crew cab with three kids, and a short bed helps make up for the extra cab length. From a resale standpoint a crew cab is a better investment because they're more desirable on the used market.

I use an Andersen flipped back and can't turn 90 degrees backing up, but I don't hit at full lock going forward. My current fifth wheel has an old style square cab, and I expect our next one will work a little easier as most of the newer styles are designed to work better with short bed trucks.

RustyJC wrote:
If you're purchasing a truck to tow a 5th wheel, why are you limiting yourself from the start with a 2500? The best advice I received many years ago was to buy the truck for the NEXT 5th wheel, which invariably is going to be longer and heavier.

Rusty

^^^^ X2

If you're purchasing a truck to tow a 5th wheel, why are you limiting yourself from the start with a 2500? The best advice I received many years ago was to buy the truck for the NEXT 5th wheel, which invariably is going to be longer and heavier.

Rusty

depends on how close you are too the trucks capacity with your pin weight , shorter bed double cab will allow you more pin weight because truck is lighter , longer bed truck works for us we like the extra room in the truck and have a bed high box in the truck bed for the generators and other odds and ends really depends on how much your towing and how close you are to either configurations payloads. If your not close on the pin weight the long bed crew has lots of room in the truck itself and the extra bed space is always a plus . Also have to consider if this is a daily driver do you want to handle the long bed crew everyday, Our truck is used for only for towing so I am not using the DRW long bed everyday .
Mike

A long bed is considered best for FW towing, but not really necessary. Most newer FWs have a rounded front for turning with a standard size bed. You do not mention what size FW you are considering, but you may want to get a 3500 instead of the 2500. Either cab style should produce nearly the same result.

Jerry