Will My Tow Vehicle Tow My Fifth Wheel Safely

I am looking at towing a 5er (toy hauler) whose unloaded vehicle weight(UVW) data tag reads 10,258 LBS. According to my TV manual and data plate information, my max tow weight is 13,700. My TV's GVWR is 10,000 PDS. My GCWR (combined) is 25,300. The tow vehicle (on scale) with trailer hooked up, but not on scale, can have a weight of no more than 14,500. Vertical Tow Weight Rating (VTWR) is 3,425. The 3,425 is 25% of the max tow weight of 13,700 . I would not be loading out the trailer with anymore than 13,700 PDS. I haven't bought the toy hauler as of yet. I would like to get the forums advice to make sure that I've done my homework right before i actually make the purchase. The toy is a HD Ultra Classic motorcycle which weighs 900+. About 500-1000 pounds of cargo weight will also go in the trailer. There are two propane bottles and 2 batteries (in parallel.) It has a 100 gallon fresh water tank (800 LBS) for boon-docking. It has a 36 gal fuel tank for a generator, which the trailer is prepped for, but don't have. I won't be dragging the water weight around except for when i'm boon-docking on public land or without water sources. The details of my truck, hitch and future trailer are in my signature block below. If I buy the trailer based on the feedback which I get from this site I will be using the B&W hitch (found on their web site) chart/worksheet for determining my tow vehicle and trailer's actual weight using a public scale. B&W'sHitches web site has a great chart for all types of tow vehicles (2010 and up) and for all types of trailers. Thanks for helping out.
My feeling is that I will be pushing the limits of my tow vehicle. I'm looking for advice from experienced RVers to help make my decision to buy.
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2017 Silverado 2500HD DC Long Bed 4X4 LTZ
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel, Allison Transmission, 3.73 Axel
OEM (Curt) Gooseneck/5th Wheel Hitch Towing Package
Installed B&W RVK3700 Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch
Future Towing: 2018 forest River-Vengeance Super Sport 5er, Rogue Platinum Package Toy Hauler 38'L, Dry weight 10,258 LBS.

Tow Vehicles

14 Replies

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2018
Looked up his Vengeance Rogue 38' 5th wheel toy hauler 10258 dry weight.... FR website shows a 4000 CCC with a 14257 GVWR.

His 2017 2500 GM 6.6 diesel LTZ 4x4 long bed 18" wheels shows a 12400 lb 5th wheel tow rating for the crew cab or a 15700 lb tow rating for a double cab.
Seems like a lot of difference between the CC a double cab...
GM weights calculator shows his truck has a 3178 lb payload on the rear axle.

Same truck as the 3500 SRW so everything on the truck is up to the job and more however the 2500 trucks rear suspension will most likely need air bags or some type of help for the spring pack. your call.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Mar 14, 2018
Sorry guys. Response was directed mostly at the “simply don’t have enough truck comments”.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 14, 2018
stallsmi wrote:
Moral of the story: never ask a weight question on this (or any other) forum. You will get many conflicting opinions/advice and you will be back to the starting point. Do your own research until you are comfortable. Advice like "you should've asked before buying the truck" isn't very constructive. The weight nazis lurk on the forums and will pounce and beat you to death.

Some truth here ^^^, but weight Nazi, not me, I'm not even a Ram Mafia member!! Some of my forum friends are Ram guys though. Great bunch!!:C

Jerry
stallsmi
Explorer
Mar 14, 2018
Moral of the story: never ask a weight question on this (or any other) forum. You will get many conflicting opinions/advice and you will be back to the starting point. Do your own research until you are comfortable. Advice like "you should've asked before buying the truck" isn't very constructive. The weight nazis lurk on the forums and will pounce and beat you to death.
IdaD
Explorer
Mar 14, 2018
Grit dog wrote:
Good grief guys. You'll have the OP thinking he needs a semi!
A brand new Duramax will tow, haul and stop a 13-14k fiver just fine and with authority.
This exact topic comes up regularly. Look past the yellow sticker and look at how the truck is built compared to the next step up, a 3500.......it's the same except for softer rear springs.
Unless you got a dually, a 3500 would be virtually 0 upgrade.

Agree on all counts. OP should be totally fine with that combo.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 14, 2018
Grit dog wrote:

This exact topic comes up regularly. Look past the yellow sticker and look at how the truck is built compared to the next step up, a 3500.......it's the same except for softer rear springs.

I agree with you Grit dog. The RAWR, which includes springs, is why I mentioned the likely need of bags, to improve capability to 3500 level. Look at tires/wheels also, but with diesel, should be same as 3500.

Jerry
4x4ord
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2018
So In other words: Can your truck handle the trailer you're looking at? Yes.... It might need airbags. Will you be legal? Yes. Except maybe in BC Canada if you happen to get pulled over by some miserable cop who thinks your headlights are pointing to the moon. The way the BC law reads he can have your truck weighed and gauge whether you are overloaded by comparing the sum of your trucks axles to your truck's gvwr.... Likely never happen.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2018
You should have come on Here asking before buying your truck. You would have been advised to spend the extra $600 and get a 3500 srw which is identical to what you have with the addition of a rear overload spring. So now it's up to you.... you can get the trailer you want which might slightly overload your rear suspension and put you over on your gvwr or look for a smaller trailer. You can always add airbags if the trailer sinks the rear springs down further than you like. The gvwr number (which is the one you might be over on) is not a legal limit anywhere except possible in very rare cases in BC Canada. If I had a 2500 series truck I wouldn't ask people on this forum how to use it.
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 14, 2018
What is the:

GVWR of the trailer?
What is the Pin Weight of the trailer fully loaded?
What is the 5th wheel tow rating (different from trailer tow rating)?
How much does the hitch and other gear (including people) weigh in the truck?

I suspect you are right near the rated limits but you haven't given us enough info to know. By the limits, I would guess 50/50 if you are within the limits.

Safety is a different question and ratings are only a starting point.
Big1
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2018
Yeah, I know what you mean Grit dog, I tow my fiver and mines is loaded 11,500 to 12,000 no problem but op have to decide that.