Forum Discussion

ESDA's avatar
ESDA
Explorer
Aug 21, 2022

New to fifth wheels - help with trailer weight

I have had a tow behind for many years, but now am looking at fifth wheels. Want to make sure what my truck can handle. I have a 2020 GMC AT4 2500 HD Diesel that has a payload max of 3048 and trailer rating of 19,198. Starting looking a toy haulers, one in particular. It’s weight is 12,650 which should not be a problem, however the hitch weight is 3,175. Am I correct that the hitch weight on a fifth wheel acts the same as the hitch weight as a tow behind, meaning that I will be over payload. I would assume that since this is a toy hauler, when hauling a golf cart or other type of vehicle this would help balance out the hitch weight, but would it be too much if I am not hauling a vehicle?
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Aug 23, 2022
    Flashman said:

    "I believe that a toy loaded in the rear behind the trailer axles will reduce the pin weight."

    While that is a brilliant deduction Flashman, here is what you are missing!!

    The wheels are not in the center of a TH, like the teeter totter you remember.
    Much of the normal load will be in the kitchen, living area, and bedroom closets, dressers/drawers. How bout that huge basement loaded full of gear. Where are the heavy batteries, and propane tanks?

    To be fair, if your LOADED trailer pin wt is now 4K lbs, and you load 1K in the garage, yup the pin will lighten a little.

    Jerry
  • Thermoguy's avatar
    Thermoguy
    Explorer II
    Aug 23, 2022
    I have a 3/4 ton Chev a few years older. After doing some research on Toy Haulers, or at least what I would want with a rear garage, I quickly came to the decision I would need a new truck. Preferably a 1 ton dually. Adding air bags, suspension upgrades, etc, doesn't solve the problem. By the time you spend thousands upgrading, you could just upgrade to a new truck. You might still want air bags and other upgrades on the 1 ton...

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