Will truck handle this?

davosfam wrote:
We have a 2005 Chevrolet 2500 Duramax crew cab and are looking to upgrade our trailer. We are considering getting a 5th wheel but are not sure if our truck can handle the ones we are looking at.

Specifically, we like the Cougar 327RES. Keystone's website says that shipping weight is 10,185, carrying capacity is 1,950, and hitch is 1,735.

I think these are pretty typical numbers for most of the 5th wheels we are looking at but I'm not sure our truck can tow it. Pull behind trailers of the same length are lighter but a 36' 5th wheel would tow better than a 36' trailer.

When we travel, it is just the two of us and our dogs so there wouldn't be a whole lot of weight in the truck.

Ignore dry weight please, but it appears as stated that the GVW of the 5er would be 12,185#, (which is shipping weight plus carrying capacity). I had an 03' Chevy 2500 D/A, the GVWR is 9200#, not sure what the RAWR is, but I towed an 03' Coachmen Somerset 3 slide 36' 5er with it through the mountains of NC, SC, TN, VA and WV. and really had no issues. It's GVW was 14,500#...yeah, I was overloaded as far as GVWR (by 900#:)), but under RAWR, though, I can't for the life of me remember what it was back then. I did have a lighter truck because it was an extended cab shortbed, (probably lighter than a crew cab?).
I never had the 5er loaded to 14,500, it was closer to 13,000#, with a pin weigh ot about 2400#

I didn't have an exhaust brake, might have been nice, but the D/A with Allison grade braking works pretty good and you do have brakes on the 5er.

I'd give it a shot...I towed heavier than you...maybe put air bags on to help level the load if you need it,( I had airbags on the 03', but again, I was towing heavier), but with GVW of 12,135#, I doubt you would load that heavy..maybe. I'd watch my psi in my 5er's tires (should be "E" rated , 80 psi, and make sure your tires on your truck are "E" rated, (should be), and adjust to correct air when you tow the 5er...I ran mine at 80 psi when towing.

All that to say, I think you should be able to do it, you might go over GVWR, but don't know about RAWR...I towed the Coachmen for over a year with my 03' 2500...don't know why you shouldn't be able to tow a lighter one with same set up:)