How big can I go? Taking our time for a new 5th or TT.

IMO, the WDH should be considered part of the TV.
I would have the WDH in the receiver or stored at the rear of the truck when the "TV only" weight is measured.

I do not consider the weight of the WDH to be part of the TT's "tongue weight" or part of the TT's total weight.

Ron

When getting the weight of the TV should we have the hitch in the truck? Also when getting the weight of the TT should we have the hitch lying next to the tongue of the TT?

If the GCWR obtained from the online owners manual is correct,
it looks as though you'll be close to GCWR if you travel with full fresh water.

And, it is likely you would exceed the GCWR before you would exceed the GVWR. That's unusual -- but not unheard of.

Ron

So the GCWR of 16000# is the weight of the TV and TT. So if my TT is 8500# and my TT is 6440# then I have a total 14940# . So once I throw two teens, DW and the pooch in the TV and water in the TT I maybe over my GCWR?

BenK wrote:
GCWR is fairly new and I've only known about its existence since the mid 90's. Still tough to find it in any OEM published brochure or even specification sheets, but it is there somewhere in the OEM's information

GCWR's usually can be found in online owners manuals.

For example, the online manual for the OP's truck can be found at 2004 Chevrolet Silverado Owners Manual.

The GCWR of 16,000# and the "Maximum Trailer Weight" of 10,100# are listed on page 4-82 (372/574).

Ron

We had a 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500 with 6.0 liter, 4.10 rear end,ex cab.
We found that the truck handled the 5er in my signature that weighted in at approx. 9500 lbs loaded. On the flat we were fine power wise, but mountain passes and steep uphill grades were a challenge almost to the extent that it was not very pleasurable towing.
Weight wise there seemed to be no concerns.

Just to give you an idea --

We have the 2007 version of your truck. Recently we acquired a 2007 Jayco Jayflight 5'er. It pulls like a dream loaded at around 7800 pounds.

Then there are those who ignore all ratings, then those who only ignore GCWR, etc
Also advise to do so, as they do and done so with no issues...yet (IMHO)

Decide if you believe in the ratings system or not

If not, then do whatever but know that if you have any warranty left...they
may deny if they find out you have gone over their ratings. Or that you have
taken the OEM's off the liability hook

If yes, then here is how the ratings systems works

First, they used the 'curb' vehicle to derive most all of the ratings. That 'curb'
is the stripper with no options, other than the towing option...one 150lb driver,
and some times full liquids...other times a portion of full capacities

The only way to know where you are in reference to 'your' ratings is to load up
as if going camping and weigh the TV axle by axle

Subtract that from the GCWR and you will have the true MTWR (max tow weigh rating)
That published number is derived from a 'curb' TV, so unless you weigh 150lbs
and do not have anything loaded in or on the TV, have a stripper model, that is
NOT your MTWR...your true MTWR is after doing the simple math subtracting the
weight you got for your TV, plus the hitch and tongue weight...that is the true
max tow weight rating of your tv

PS...you will also get a few too many in my book, who will tell you
that GCWR does NOT matter and ignore it...I'm not one of those and
believe that it is a real 'rating' from the OEM. Note that it has a
'R' in that acronym, which stands for 'rating'

GCWR is fairly new and I've only known about its existence since the
mid 90's. Still tough to find it in any OEM published brochure or
even specification sheets, but it is there somewhere in the OEM's
information

There are some on this board who will insist you need a modified F-450 dually diesel to safely tow your kids wagon to the local park. Im not one of them...

Our F-250 gasser crew cab has slightly less HP than your 6.0 but the same torque and it does an admirable job of pulling our loaded Outback 31RQS (a little over 9000 lbs without water) on reasonably flat land, but the Outback is pretty aerodynamic as trailers go. Add a lot of water and it becomes very lethargic. The truck alone is about 1000 lbs heavier than yours. I don't think you'll have an issue with the tongue weight on most bumper pulls with your truck but the added height of a similar weight 5th wheel might be a tough pull for your engine if you want to run down the interstate at 70 mph. On flat land and secondary roads where you don't have to keep up / merge with a lot of traffic i think you'll be fine if you keep the weight below 9500 lbs or so. You'll probably lose a couple mpg with a 5er too but i don't know of many people who buy one to leave it sitting in the driveway.

Here you go- this fits your exact scenario:
What Can I Tow?

Essentially, you have GVWR (9200) minus truck weight (6440) = 2,760 left over for the weight of the hitch and tongue/pin weight which is typically 10%-15% for a TT and 20%-25% for a fifth wheel and possibly your weight and any family not present (plus their stuff).

That TT will likely have a tongue weight of 880-1320 pounds (well under your GVWR).

A 10k fifth wheel will likely be 2,000-2,500 pounds.

Seems like you're pretty well set for being within your ratings.