I apologize in advance for some duplicate info from the past, but I need some help clarifying a weight issue. My truck, 2010 GMC Sierra 4X4 HD2500 with the extended cab, standard box 3:73 gears. Towing capacity of 10,000lbs. GCVWR of 16000 lbs. actual scale readings with full gas and passengers is 6840 lbs. front axle is 3760 lbs. and rear axle is 3080 lbs. We have determined that towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 10500 lbs. or less is very doable. So here is the thought. Instead of keep looking for a light weight fifth wheel, am I ok to purchase one with an unloaded vehicle weight rating of say 9000 lbs. and add my 1000 to 1500 lbs. of stuff? This would be even if I purchase a unit with a GVWR of say 11,500 or 12,000. I know I kinda beat this do death at an early time, can't find the posting, probably 6 months ago. But we are getting closer to March / April our financial purchase time frame. Thanks for your help, I hop I have provided enough info. Jeff. OH Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

OK, do not shoot the messenger, but IMHO I think you are trying to wag the dog! I know you, like me love your truck, but find and buy the 5th wheel that suites your needs, and as I have said for years it is all about Floor Plan, Floor Plan, FLOOR PLAN! If you skimp or try and make due with something to get buy, you will end up hating the unit! Buy what will please you, then find a truck that will handle what you have bought.. Who knows you may even like the new truck better than the one you have!

jffnkrn wrote:I apologize in advance for some duplicate info from the past, but I need some help clarifying a weight issue. My truck, 2010 GMC Sierra 4X4 HD2500 with the extended cab, standard box 3:73 gears. Towing capacity of 10,000lbs. GCVWR of 16000 lbs. actual scale readings with full gas and passengers is 6840 lbs. front axle is 3760 lbs. and rear axle is 3080 lbs. We have determined that towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 10500 lbs. or less is very doable. So here is the thought. Instead of keep looking for a light weight fifth wheel, am I ok to purchase one with an unloaded vehicle weight rating of say 9000 lbs. and add my 1000 to 1500 lbs. of stuff? This would be even if I purchase a unit with a GVWR of say 11,500 or 12,000. I know I kinda beat this do death at an early time, can't find the posting, probably 6 months ago. But we are getting closer to March / April our financial purchase time frame. Thanks for your help, I hop I have provided enough info. Jeff. OH Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !What engine, gas or Duramax /Allison combo? Are you sure GCVW is only 16,000#?Please do yourself a favor and no matter what you tell yourself about what you'll load the 5er to, PLEASE ignore "dry weight" and go by GVW of the 5er when figuring what your truck can tow. Use 20% of that to figure pin weight, (better safe than sorry)...I would think that a 2010 GMC 2500 would be have no problem towing a 5er with a GVW of 10500#....I owned an 03' 2500 ext cab/short bed/4X4/D/A and towed a 5er with a GVW of 12,000#, but that was with D/A, and it only comes with a 3:73, thus the reason I asked if your truck is equipped with the Duramax...16,000# seems low for that truck or am I missing something.

NC Hauler wrote:jffnkrn wrote:I apologize in advance for some duplicate info from the past, but I need some help clarifying a weight issue. My truck, 2010 GMC Sierra 4X4 HD2500 with the extended cab, standard box 3:73 gears. Towing capacity of 10,000lbs. GCVWR of 16000 lbs. actual scale readings with full gas and passengers is 6840 lbs. front axle is 3760 lbs. and rear axle is 3080 lbs. We have determined that towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 10500 lbs. or less is very doable. So here is the thought. Instead of keep looking for a light weight fifth wheel, am I ok to purchase one with an unloaded vehicle weight rating of say 9000 lbs. and add my 1000 to 1500 lbs. of stuff? This would be even if I purchase a unit with a GVWR of say 11,500 or 12,000. I know I kinda beat this do death at an early time, can't find the posting, probably 6 months ago. But we are getting closer to March / April our financial purchase time frame. Thanks for your help, I hop I have provided enough info. Jeff. OH Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !What engine, gas or Duramax /Allison combo? Are you sure GCVW is only 16,000#?Please do yourself a favor and no matter what you tell yourself about what you'll load the 5er to, PLEASE ignore "dry weight" and go by GVW of the 5er when figuring what your truck can tow. Use 20% of that to figure pin weight, (better safe than sorry)...I would think that a 2010 GMC 2500 would be have no problem towing a 5er with a GVW of 10500#....I owned an 03' 2500 ext cab/short bed/4X4/D/A and towed a 5er with a GVW of 12,000#, but that was with D/A, and it only comes with a 3:73, thus the reason I asked if your truck is equipped with the Duramax...16,000# seems low for that truck or am I missing something.You are missing that based of the OP statement, he is likely running a 6.0 with 3.73 gears. Could he move that 12,000 GVWR 5er with the TV, likely until he came to the first real hill!!This is not a case of the tail wagging the dog, just that likely not the correct running dear to move the load.

Looking at the weights I am going to say it's a 6.0L gas truck, which does put the tow rating at 10,000 and GCWR at 16,000. 4.10's would bump it to 18,500. What I thought was interesting was that going to a 3500 (SRW or DRW) doesn't change the GCWR. I agree with Coach, the floor plan is very important so make sure it's not a compromise too far in either direction.

AH64ID wrote:Looking at the weights I am going to say it's a 6.0L gas truck, which does put the tow rating at 10,000 and GCWR at 16,000. 4.10's would bump it to 18,500. What I thought was interesting was that going to a 3500 (SRW or DRW) doesn't change the GCWR. I agree with Coach, the floor plan is very important so make sure it's not a compromise too far in either direction.GCVWR is a function of the power train and not the ability to carry the weight. This is why changing to a lower gear ratio with the same engine and trans increases the GCVWR.

Towing help - again | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 06, 2015
NC Hauler wrote:
jffnkrn wrote:
I apologize in advance for some duplicate info from the past, but I need some help clarifying a weight issue. My truck, 2010 GMC Sierra 4X4 HD2500 with the extended cab, standard box 3:73 gears. Towing capacity of 10,000lbs. GCVWR of 16000 lbs. actual scale readings with full gas and passengers is 6840 lbs. front axle is 3760 lbs. and rear axle is 3080 lbs. We have determined that towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 10500 lbs. or less is very doable. So here is the thought. Instead of keep looking for a light weight fifth wheel, am I ok to purchase one with an unloaded vehicle weight rating of say 9000 lbs. and add my 1000 to 1500 lbs. of stuff? This would be even if I purchase a unit with a GVWR of say 11,500 or 12,000. I know I kinda beat this do death at an early time, can't find the posting, probably 6 months ago. But we are getting closer to March / April our financial purchase time frame. Thanks for your help, I hop I have provided enough info. Jeff. OH Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

What engine, gas or Duramax /Allison combo? Are you sure GCVW is only 16,000#?

Please do yourself a favor and no matter what you tell yourself about what you'll load the 5er to, PLEASE ignore "dry weight" and go by GVW of the 5er when figuring what your truck can tow. Use 20% of that to figure pin weight, (better safe than sorry)...

I would think that a 2010 GMC 2500 would be have no problem towing a 5er with a GVW of 10500#....I owned an 03' 2500 ext cab/short bed/4X4/D/A and towed a 5er with a GVW of 12,000#, but that was with D/A, and it only comes with a 3:73, thus the reason I asked if your truck is equipped with the Duramax...16,000# seems low for that truck or am I missing something.

You are missing that based of the OP statement, he is likely running a 6.0 with 3.73 gears. Could he move that 12,000 GVWR 5er with the TV, likely until he came to the first real hill!!

This is not a case of the tail wagging the dog, just that likely not the correct running dear to move the load.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
jffnkrn wrote:
I apologize in advance for some duplicate info from the past, but I need some help clarifying a weight issue. My truck, 2010 GMC Sierra 4X4 HD2500 with the extended cab, standard box 3:73 gears. Towing capacity of 10,000lbs. GCVWR of 16000 lbs. actual scale readings with full gas and passengers is 6840 lbs. front axle is 3760 lbs. and rear axle is 3080 lbs. We have determined that towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 10500 lbs. or less is very doable. So here is the thought. Instead of keep looking for a light weight fifth wheel, am I ok to purchase one with an unloaded vehicle weight rating of say 9000 lbs. and add my 1000 to 1500 lbs. of stuff? This would be even if I purchase a unit with a GVWR of say 11,500 or 12,000. I know I kinda beat this do death at an early time, can't find the posting, probably 6 months ago. But we are getting closer to March / April our financial purchase time frame. Thanks for your help, I hop I have provided enough info. Jeff. OH Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

What engine, gas or Duramax /Allison combo? Are you sure GCVW is only 16,000#?

Please do yourself a favor and no matter what you tell yourself about what you'll load the 5er to, PLEASE ignore "dry weight" and go by GVW of the 5er when figuring what your truck can tow. Use 20% of that to figure pin weight, (better safe than sorry)...

I would think that a 2010 GMC 2500 would be have no problem towing a 5er with a GVW of 10500#....I owned an 03' 2500 ext cab/short bed/4X4/D/A and towed a 5er with a GVW of 12,000#, but that was with D/A, and it only comes with a 3:73, thus the reason I asked if your truck is equipped with the Duramax...16,000# seems low for that truck or am I missing something.
Coach-man
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
OK, do not shoot the messenger, but IMHO I think you are trying to wag the dog! I know you, like me love your truck, but find and buy the 5th wheel that suites your needs, and as I have said for years it is all about Floor Plan, Floor Plan, FLOOR PLAN! If you skimp or try and make due with something to get buy, you will end up hating the unit! Buy what will please you, then find a truck that will handle what you have bought.. Who knows you may even like the new truck better than the one you have!

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Towing help - again

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