What size 5th wheel plate should I get?
Recently purchased a 3500 series Chevy. Vin indicates that gross is just under 20,000 max wt capability. My question is what is the best wt rating to go with. I'm looking at a 16,000 rated plate used...
Forum Discussion
Michelle.S wrote:
I must be missing something here, if the Combined Gross is 19500, that truck is probably around 8000 lbs easy ready to tow, that doesn't leave much for an RV. And agree if the previous owner was pulling 20,000 he was stressing everything on that truck.
Yeah Duck should have said 20000 GCWR (truck and trailer) as those old trucks didn't have a very high tow rating and are really down on hp/torque compared to even todays smallblock gazzers.
Plate doesn't describe a 5th wheel rv hitch either. Wrong terminology creates lots of confusion. Now if all he needs is the top plate then SAF Holland lite series would be a good choice for his truck.
I towed for a living with several old 454/manual trannies in the carburetor/throttle body/early Vortec era. A 12k trailer will be a load for the OP old 454.
The 454 can be modded for much more towing power but todays costs to do so would make it prohibitive.
A 16k-18k 5th wheel hitch with 4 way pivot in the brand you like best would be my choice. I would look at the Anderson system.
