2014 2500 HD Chev.

[reddog7571]

How big of a 5th wheel will this unit tow safely??

[therink]

reddog7571 wrote:
How big of a 5th wheel will this unit tow safely??

Truck payload rating and pin weight is the deciding factor. Also depends on which 2500 and what the yellow sticker in the door jamb says the truck can carry. In a crew cab 4x4 my guess is stick with a fifth wheel with 11,000 gvwr or less.
Like others said, you should weigh the truck loaded as if going camping and add 250 lbs for hitch. The remaining balance of available payload is what you have to work with for pin weight.
I've been down this road and is why I have a 3500 to tow my 12k lb fifth wheel (has 2400 lb pin loaded).

[kaydeejay]

dballentine wrote:
More to keep in mind...

The published payload is before options. The published payload for my Silverado (3500HD, Long Bed, 4WD, CC, D/A) is about 4100lbs, but the number on that door sticker is 3739 lbs.

Since most of the cargo we carry is added to the basement storage or the bedroom above, probably more than the dry pin ratio is added to the pin load. I've seen estimates of as much as 50% of the added weight appears on the pin.

Payload isn't just the pin load, it includes the hitch (100-150lbs), cargo in the pickup bed, and passengers.

For our 36' Reflection 337, the math works like this:

Dry Pin 2100, Dry Total 10,500.
Loaded FW (est.) 12,000
Loaded Pin (est.) 2,850

Payload Minus Loaded Pin = 850

So I have 850 lbs available for the hitch, bed cargo, passengers and fuel.

The published payload is the MAXIMUM achievable for a specific range of trucks. It NEVER applies to individual vehicles. (Other than perhaps a base Work truck)
Payload varies depending on Powertrain, cab configuration, box length, 2WD or 4WD and other heavy options (like leather seats for example).
Truck Manufacturers CANNOT provide a single number that represents all variations of trucks, even within a specific series, such as 250/2500s.
That published number really is a MAXIMUM and will represent a bare bones truck (Regular cab, short box, 2WD, gas engine etc.)

The number on that door post label is the ACTUAL rating for the truck that it is applied to and is the only correct number available.

[dballentine]

More to keep in mind...

The published payload is before options. The published payload for my Silverado (3500HD, Long Bed, 4WD, CC, D/A) is about 4100lbs, but the number on that door sticker is 3739 lbs.

Since most of the cargo we carry is added to the basement storage or the bedroom above, probably more than the dry pin ratio is added to the pin load. I've seen estimates of as much as 50% of the added weight appears on the pin.

Payload isn't just the pin load, it includes the hitch (100-150lbs), cargo in the pickup bed, and passengers.

For our 36' Reflection 337, the math works like this:

Dry Pin 2100, Dry Total 10,500.
Loaded FW (est.) 12,000
Loaded Pin (est.) 2,850

Payload Minus Loaded Pin = 850

So I have 850 lbs available for the hitch, bed cargo, passengers and fuel.

[kaydeejay]

reddog7571 wrote:
How big of a 5th wheel will this unit tow safely??

That really depends on a couple of things.....
1) The payload rating of the truck (Hint, Crew cab 4WD long box diesel will have a lower payload than a 2WD standard box gas unit.)
2) The pin weight ratio of the trailer. This can vary from 15% to 25% of the fiver weight.

So,
- look at the fiver you want
- Estimate the pin ratio (empty pin weight/dry weight of trailer)
- Add 1000 - 1500# to the trailer weight for "stuff"
- Add the pin ratio of that extra weight to the "dry" pin. (eg 20% of 1500# would be 300#)
- Figure out how much you will load in the truck (people, pets, tools, accessories etc.
- Add the weight of the hitch you will need.

Figure out the total of the pin weight and what is in the truck.
Buy a truck that has AT LEAST that much payload available. If you have access to a potential truck, look for the yellow/black Tire loading info label on the drivers door pillar. On there is a number for "Combined weight of occupants and cargo must not exceed XXXX". THAT is your max payload rating!

As for the Towing weight, you will max out on payload before you exceed what the truck is rated to pull.

FWIW a 2500 will limit the size of the fiver.
The truck in my sig has 2815# of payload. I'm using all but 200# of that with a 27' 9600# fiver.

Good luck.

[Me_Again]

Should have gotten the 3500

2014 Chevy Silverado 3500HD Towing and Hauling
The 3500HD model offers the same powertrain choices as the 2500HD, but its heftier build provides even higher performance ratings, with a max payload of 4,585 pounds, a max towing capacity of 17,400 pounds, and a max GVWR of 11,100 pounds.

Engine Max Towing Capacity Max Payload Max Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
Vortec 6.0L VVT V8 Flex Fuel
Conventional: 13,000 lbs
Fifth Wheel: 14,500 lbs
4,625 lbs 10,400 lbs
Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8
Conventional: N/A
Fifth Wheel: 17,400 lbs
4,585 lbs 11,100 lbs

[Me_Again]

To the lake and back or to see America! 5th wheel pin weight is usually the limiting factor.

2014 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Towing and Hauling
The 2500HD model raises performance to a level befitting serious heavy-duty towing and hauling on the worksite, with a max payload of 3,670 pounds, a max towing capacity of 13,000 pounds, and a max GVWR of 9,900 pounds.

Engine Max Towing Capacity Max Payload Max Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
Vortec 6.0L VVT V8 Flex Fuel 10,200 lbs 3,670 lbs 9,300 lbs
Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 13,000 lbs 3,431 lbs 9,900 lbs