Hey since my door tag vin decal is missing I read that my RPO code C5H list my truck @ 6900 lbs GVWR.Normally trucks I see my year and style have variable GVWR with an ext cab long box 2006 silverado. Specs commonly show 6400-6700.Axle weights show on the other trucks I been looking at 3925 front axl rate and 3750 rear axl weight.Would I assume different #'s for my axles with this new found info on my RPO code C5H? It seems it gives it 200 lbs or so more GVWR .I cant for the life of me find any info on this.Can it be part of the Z85 trailer suspension pakage I have?Also Im going to get new shocks for the truck and was looking at the bilsteins. The Z85 package shows the truck came with 36mm mono tubes. Are the bilsteins compatable?Im doing this as im not sure why im getting porpoising while towing this light trailer.I use WD but the TW on the trailer is only 500 lbs or so. This worked good for my s10 but the silverado rocks like a see saw if I hit certain bumps. Can it bee the 157" wheel base?Can it be that no WD is needed and the 1000 lb WD bars are acting as a spring?

No replies, but as far as porpoising I believe the front shocks are shot... I rock the front and it keeps moving up and down a few times... Like a lot..I ordered bilsteins. I have them stock on the s 10 with 165 K miles and they are still good.. I liked the ride my s10 has so I want that on the silvy too.. I like firm truck like feel...After I install Ill post back the outcome...Otherwise im 270 bucks poorer...I know others like Cadillac ride but there are so many shocks to choose from now.. Not like the old days when there were just a few..Bils, monroe, kyb, rancho, delcos, edlebrock,gabriel, motorcraft , konietc...

The wifes '06 1500 crew cab chevy Z71 5.3 3.73 gears 5' 10" bed had a 7000 GVWR with 3950 fawr and 4000 rawr. Its gone now.....she replaced it with a same truck in a 2016 model. Odd thing is the '16 has a higher 7200 gvwr but the rear axle has 50 lbs less capacity I've carried 18 bags (80 lb bags) of concrete redi mix over the rear axles on the '06 truck building fences in muddy areas. The truck sagged less than the same load on my '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins quad cab short bed which did drop more in the butz. Her old '06 porpoised with my 10k car hauler (9660 lbs on the axles/1020 lbs on the truck) with no WD hitch ...till I installed new Bilsteins all around. No more porpoise.

Some of these comments are funny. To the op, yes 500lb tongue weight shouldn't require any real shoring up from a WD hitch on your truck, but the pic in your sig says different. It's sagging, but maybe you have a bunch of weight in the bed. As far as a new half ton sagging less than a 3rd gen 2500, somethin ain't right there either unless maybe you loaded the concrete on the tailgate of the dodge. 1500lbs barely takes the harsh ride out of factory 3rd gen leaf springs. That's the nice part about those trucks if you haul. My 07, same spring/rate as the 03 doesn't quite bottom out with my AF camper in the back with no air. It's actually driveable with 4000lbs centered over the axle. Not friendly, just driveable. But they were your trucks, so go Silverado!

As far as a new half ton sagging less than a 3rd gen 2500, somethin ain't right there either unless maybe you loaded the concrete on the tailgate of the dodge. 1500lbs barely takes the harsh ride out of factory 3rd gen leaf springs. . I don't know what your problem is with my trucks weights or sagging issues but Re read what I said. The half ton was the '06. Now here's some more funny comments.... Let me spell it out for you....my 2500 Dodge/Cummins sags more than the half ton period before the progressive over load comes to play with 18 bags of redi mix. As more weight is added above those 18 bags to the my 2500 2wd Dodge it doesn't sag much past that weight. Of course that weight (3200-3400 lbs) is well above what the '06 half ton can carry. Bags were placed on a pallet and pallet was placed over each trucks axles. Yeah my 2500 carries weight. I custom haul stock with a 16k GN tri axle stock trailer. It also pulls a 14K GN flatdeck with construction and agriculture equipment. Sorry for the hijack OP.

The wifes '06 1500 crew cab chevy Z71 5.3 3.73 gears 5' 10" bed had a 7000 GVWR with 3950 fawr and 4000 rawr.Ya thats what Im intersted in. The C5H rpo code and how that changes the axle ratings if it does at all.I assume if I get the truck weighed and take ito account my payload sticker of 1485 lbs ( which is still there) I can figure it out...I just dont have that darn vin tag with all the proper info..

C5H RPO code 6900 lb GVWR and WD issues | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

mkirsch
Nomad II
Oct 25, 2016
You're not supposed to adjust the WD hitch for "even squat" anymore anyway.

All you're supposed to do is adjust it so the front end returns to unloaded height. Some instructions these days say to only return the truck HALF way back to unloaded height.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
Yes those are the correct ones. I was running them on my 9,800# 304BHS. Bought them from the dealer that sold us the TT. Your TT is only 4800# so you could go one size smaller if you wanted.

Don
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
Swap the safety chain s hooks out for this LINK

Are these hooks the right size I need? How can I be sure?
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
lawrosa wrote:
well to recap..

I bit the bullet and bought that heavy duty curt hitch unit on Amazon.. Got a good deal $190 with free shipping. Came from overstock .com from Amazon and was here in 2 days.. Amazing..

The bouncing went away and I can now get the nose to go down on the truck with the WD . Wow what a difference..

Before with that bumper mount GM piece of junk with bumper attachment point, I could not get the nose of truck down..

I'm glad you got it replaced. Your situation is just like my friend, once he installed the new receiver he was amazed at the difference in weight transfer and truck handling when towing his TT.

Also, in case you're not aware, with your torsion front suspension you will not be able to 'level' the truck. What I mean is you won't be able to get the front and rear to drop evenly. The torsion system has a urathane bumper that is in constant contact with the lower control arm. It is meant to flex in response to momentary compression and not to be constantly compressed. What you CAN DO is measure the front wheel well height when unloaded and then with the WD bars attached transfer enough force forward to bring it back down.
lawrosa wrote:

My welding buddy says round tube is actually stronger then square tube. But when I showed him the hitch he said the welds were crappy. Plus the design to use the bumper attachment points were not smart.

I can't argue the virtues of round or square tubing. As your buddy noted, using the many pieces in the bolted bumper food chain are the reason the system flexed rather than transferred weight. As in the picture you found from '03, the weak design can't handle side forces and made it easy for the metal to shear.

lawrosa wrote:

The only issue I have now is the chains from the trailer.. The hooks do not fit well.. Im not sure what to do or how to do it..

Get hooks like PerrysBurg linked to and it will solve your problem.
lawrosa wrote:

Also I had to cut off the wire harness bracket from the old hitch. My buddy welded a piece on so I could screw it to the bumper ..

That's the same problem we all had to solve when replacing the OEM receiver. The '08 and later trucks GM changed the receiver a little and abandoned the bracket welded to the cross tube. They moved the 7-way receptacle up to a place in the bumper just to the left of the license plate. When I installed new receivers on my GM vehicles I bought a new receptacle and copied that design. However, thanks to your welding buddy you solved the problem very inexpensively and it looks just fine.

KJ
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Oct 24, 2016
Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
Swap the safety chain s hooks out for this LINK

Looks like that should have been a hitch included in GM's hitch recall! You might want to look into it as you may be able to get GM to pay for your new hitch!

That was a topic of the many extended discussions here years ago. One member went so far as to perform a metallurgical analysis of a failed OEM receiver and determined the weld penetration was insufficient.

There were SEVERAL GM owners that wished we could have forced GM to pay for replacement receivers but such was not the case.

KJ
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Swap the safety chain s hooks out for this LINK

Looks like that should have been a hitch included in GM's hitch recall! You might want to look into it as you may be able to get GM to pay for your new hitch!

You can also get a replacement door sticker from GM through a dealer. At a cost though.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Swap the safety chain s hooks out for this LINK

Looks like that should have been a hitch included in GM's hitch recall! You might want to look into it as you may be able to get GM to pay for your new hitch!
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
joegray wrote:
WOW... I would have never believed the factory hitch would be such a piece of garbage. I tow a 5th now, but you never know when I might go back to a TT. First thing I will do is check the hitch. Thanks for the great pics and good info. gray

Dont know how much a piece of garbage it is... But I was not secure with it...

When I see these pics I worry...
joegray
Explorer II
Oct 23, 2016
WOW... I would have never believed the factory hitch would be such a piece of garbage. I tow a 5th now, but you never know when I might go back to a TT. First thing I will do is check the hitch. Thanks for the great pics and good info. gray
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
well to recap..

I bit the bullet and bought that heavy duty curt hitch unit on Amazon.. Got a good deal $190 with free shipping. Came from overstock .com from Amazon and was here in 2 days.. Amazing..

The bouncing went away and I can now get the nose to go down on the truck with the WD . Wow what a difference..

Before with that bumper mount GM piece of junk with bumper attachment point, I could not get the nose of truck down..

My welding buddy says round tube is actually stronger then square tube. But when I showed him the hitch he said the welds were crappy. Plus the design to use the bumper attachment points were not smart.

The only issue I have now is the chains from the trailer.. The hooks do not fit well.. Im not sure what to do or how to do it..

Also I had to cut off the wire harness bracket from the old hitch. My buddy welded a piece on so I could screw it to the bumper ..

What to do here?