Forum Discussion

GReeves's avatar
GReeves
Explorer
Jul 22, 2018

Weight Ratings and CC Silverback

Hello all, first post here. I am making myself go crosseyed trying to figure out if I will be safe towing with the wheel/tire setup on my truck. Currently, I have a 2016 Duramax 2500HD CCSB with the 10,000# GVWR option, the truck has been leveled with 22x10 American Force forged aluminum wheels with a 3500-lb weight rating per wheel. Currently have 33x12.50 Toyo OpenCountry M/T's which I know are only rated for 2270-lbs per tire, severely reducing my cargo capacity. I am looking at putting on 285/55r22 Nitto RidgeGrappler which are rated for 3525-lbs per tire....this effectively means I could put 7K on the rear axle, limited by the wheels. Truck is around 3500-lbs on the rear axle with the hitch and fuel and myself. Does anyone have a real world hitch weight for a 2012 Cedar Creek Silverback 33REA by chance??? I know 20-25% of the GVW is the norm for a fifth wheel but I have a hard time believing that this camper will have a hitch weight around 3500-lbs(25% of 13,850-lbs). Dry hitch weight is listed at 1850-lbs. Currently, my dad tows this camper with his 2011 F-250 CCSB with 20x9 XD Badlands (3200-lb weight rating) with 35x12.50r20 Toyo OpenCountry AT-2's (3200-lb weight rating) and I don't see an F-250 and a 2500HD differing in weight by too much but maybe I am wrong. He has offered to sell me his camper for payoff and I really don't want to pass this deal up since it would be a steal for me
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2018
    Just because the wheels and tires are good for the weight, does not mean the frame, springs, cooling, etc.. If your bigger than stock diameter on the tires, you whould be figuring you capacities with the next higher gear ratio, which will definitly put you over your capacities. Bigger tires and lifts, I know nothing was mentioned about a lift, will cause leveling problems, which affect load balance weights, etc.. Just a bad combonation from the get go.
  • GReeves's avatar
    GReeves
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2018
    And just so I can relay this info to my dad as well, if I'm not mistaken, he is overloaded with his F-250 on his wheels/tires, correct? Being that his wheel/tire limits him to a max payload of 6400 lbs, figuring a 23% pin weight and assuming his trucks rear axle is somewhere between 3200-3500 empty with hitch in the bed
  • GReeves's avatar
    GReeves
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2018
    My trucks rear axle is close to 3400 with me, full tank of fuel, toolbox, and hitch in bed. Hitch might be 150-lbs on a good day, its not heavy at all.
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2018
    GReeves wrote:
    Well for one, some of us can’t afford to upsize in trucks and I can get this fifth wheel for a fraction of the price of a new one or even a nice used one. All I really want to know is if anyone had real world numbers for the hitch weight of a CC Silverback 33REA or comparable 5’er. I have basically already decided what I am going to do, and I understand that I will be “close” to the limits of a 3/4 ton, my truck as configured is rated to tow 13,900 and I know for a fact this camper doesn’t have 3,000-lbs of gear in it, so it’s well under 13,850-lbs. Just asking for simple opinions on hitch weight and tire rating to see if my math is correct before I put a hitch in and drag it to the scale


    Using 23% of the GVWR of the Silverback 33REA, the pin weight will be around 3,185 lbs. loaded. Never use published pin weights as they are calculated by the engineers with absolutely nothing on board (no propane, nothing in the basement or bedroom, no water, etc.). 23% of the GVWR is a time-tested method and is usually within a couple of hundred pounds for most fifth wheel RVs. Add in another 150 lbs. for a hitch, and weigh your truck with full fuel and all occupants to calculate available payload/rear axle capacity.

    Rob
  • GReeves's avatar
    GReeves
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2018
    Well for one, some of us can’t afford to upsize in trucks and I can get this fifth wheel for a fraction of the price of a new one or even a nice used one. All I really want to know is if anyone had real world numbers for the hitch weight of a CC Silverback 33REA or comparable 5’er. I have basically already decided what I am going to do, and I understand that I will be “close” to the limits of a 3/4 ton, my truck as configured is rated to tow 13,900 and I know for a fact this camper doesn’t have 3,000-lbs of gear in it, so it’s well under 13,850-lbs. Just asking for simple opinions on hitch weight and tire rating to see if my math is correct before I put a hitch in and drag it to the scale
  • Second_Chance's avatar
    Second_Chance
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2018
    GReeves wrote:
    If you carry a pretty good load, I feel like your pin weight would be a fair comparison to what this campers pin weight would be, which would put me in the neighborhood of 6500-lbs on the rear axle. I know my dads truck does not have a GVWR of 10,000-lbs and his wheels/tires are rated for less weight than what I will be so if he tows it ok then I think I will be fine with swapping to the 285 tires. Thanks!


    Did you come here for advice or to get someone to go along with what you've already decided? You will be too close to the limits with a 3/4-ton truck and that's a terrible tire/wheel setup for towing.

    Rob
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2018
    Doesn’t appear Don gave you an answer you wanted to hear. The old rule holds true...buy or select the TT or 5er first, then match a TV to it.
  • GReeves's avatar
    GReeves
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2018
    If you carry a pretty good load, I feel like your pin weight would be a fair comparison to what this campers pin weight would be, which would put me in the neighborhood of 6500-lbs on the rear axle. I know my dads truck does not have a GVWR of 10,000-lbs and his wheels/tires are rated for less weight than what I will be so if he tows it ok then I think I will be fine with swapping to the 285 tires. Thanks!
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2018
    Guaranteed you wont be happy. Started out pulling my 34CKTS cedar creek with a 2500 Chevy. One trip across the scales and I knew I had a problem. My Creeks GVWR was 13,750 pounds. We almost always had a pin weight very close to 3000 pounds. Putting me about 1700 pounds over the trucks GVWR. Get yourself less trailer or more truck. Its not worth spending $$$ adding stuff in hopes you can carry the load.

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